The core political system of the central government in the Tang Dynasty was the system of three provinces and six ministries. In the Tang Dynasty, there were actually six provinces: Zhongshu Province, Shangshu Province, Menxia Province, Dianzhong Province, Secretary Province, and Internal Affairs Ministry. The Tang Dynasty is a hierarchical decision-making mechanism. Decisions are made at the top where there is no precedent. Specific matters are decided by the six ministries and twenty-four departments.

Division of labor among the three provinces

Political Affairs Hall (in charge of the emperor)

Relations between the three provinces:

Six official ranks

nine temples

Fifth prison

Note

Yushitai

Judge Wang

administrative level

The military pressure caused by the Anshi Rebellion also brought financial pressure, which led to adjustments in the personnel structure. Missions appear in large numbers.

Supervision location: Shidao interview handler:

Searching and fleeing households: envoys to households and envoys to persuade farmers:

Rectifying water transportation: Jianghuai and Henan transshipment envoys:

Military border defense: Jiedu envoy, Jinglue envoy...

① Not destined to be Cao Siyi - the person will be directly selected by the high-level organization without going through the original selection process. Not restricted by six ministries and twenty-four divisions, it has more power to respond dynamically.

② Special orders - always report directly to the emperor or the political hall.

More envoys appeared. Since the Shangshu Province could not direct the envoys, the government had to rely on the political hall to integrate the old and new systems, which eventually led to changes in the central system.

The name of the political affairs hall was changed to "Zhongshumenxia", and five rooms were listed behind it. One was called the official room, the second was called the cardinal room, the third was called the military room, the fourth was called the household room, and the fifth was called the punishment room. . "New Book of Tang"

official room

cardinal room

barracks

Household

torture room

The three provinces have a clear division of labor and mutual checks and balances. The Government Hall is the central government's highest government adjudication and execution agency. It is the meeting place for the three provinces' chief ministers, rather than an entity outside the three provinces. Decision-making and administration are separated in the three provinces.

Under Zhongshu's door is the prime minister's office, which is superior to the three provinces. It decides the government affairs of the three provinces and directs the envoy system: its power not only reflects the agreed political policies, but also directly controls the government affairs. The decision-making under Zhongshu's sect is integrated with administration.

During the reign of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty, privy envoys were first established, served by eunuchs. They were responsible for accepting the performance of officials in Beijing and various places, and conveying the emperor's orders to the two provinces under the Zhongshu family. They could be regarded as running errands specifically for the emperor. But in the later period, as the eunuchs became more powerful, the power of the Privy Council became stronger, and they were even able to suppress the prime minister for a time.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, Zhu Wen appointed his close confidant Jiang Xuanhui as the privy envoy, and scholars began to replace eunuchs as privy envoys. Jiang Xuanhui's task was actually to monitor Tang Zhaozong who was under house arrest.

Zhu Wen usurped the Tang Dynasty and successfully established the Later Liang Dynasty. He changed the Privy Council to the Chongzheng Yuan. The Chongzheng Envoy was the Privy Envoy, with the same power as the prime minister. He was responsible for giving advice, deliberation, and advisory duties. In the Song Dynasty, it developed into the Privy Council in charge of military affairs.