Abolition of the Chancellor and Stronger Imperial Power

Zhu Yuanzhang held that the Yuan had fallen because of decentralized local power and over-powerful court officials, so while restoring the economy he took a series of political measures. Locally, he abolished the Branch Secretariats and set up three commissions: the Provincial Administration Commission for civil affairs and finance, the Provincial Surveillance Commission for justice and supervision, and the Regional Military Commission for military affairs. Their heads were appointed by the center, were not subordinate to one another and answered directly to the center, preventing regional separatism. At the center, in 1380 Zhu executed the chancellor Hu Weiyong on a charge of "treason" and used the case to abolish the Secretariat and the chancellorship; the emperor directly managed the six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice and Works, whose ministers answered to him alone, and he held all power himself. The chancellorship, which had lasted in China for over a thousand years, was thus abolished and autocracy was strengthened as never before. As state business was heavy and one emperor could hardly handle it, Taizu appointed Grand Secretaries as advisers. Under Chengzu, Hanlin Academy officials were chosen to serve in the Wenyuan Pavilion and take part in state affairs, called the Grand Secretariat, which gradually became the central body assisting the emperor with government, though its Grand Secretaries could only advise and the final decision rested with the emperor. To tighten control over officials, Taizu also created the secret-police organ the "Embroidered Uniform Guard" answering directly to the emperor, and under Chengzu the Eastern Depot, run by eunuchs, was added.