Since the middle period of the Ming Dynasty there had been, apart from the Emperor, three major powers in Liao-Dong(遼東) area. These were the Taiguan(太監), an organisation of eunuchs, the inspection committee, which impeached the misconduct of the government officials, and an atmy commander, who governed the military administration. They cooperated with each other and manipulated the independent tribes of Mongolia and Nuzhen(女眞) by giving them economic advantages through the horse and timber markets. 'The Taiguan, the high-ranking eunuchs, played an important part in executing the Emperor's special order as the Emperor's right-hand men. However, although a few of the eunuchs were praised for their good deeds at the borders of Mongolia and Nuzhen, it was revealed that most of the high-ranking eunuchs in Liao-Dong area practised misconduct. They had formed a network in connection with the organization of Taiguan in Silijian(司禮監) which held the power of the Central governrnent, and became influential in rhe Liao-Dong area. Thus, these eunuchs were inevitably condemned by the officials for abusing their power under the protection of the Emperor.