How strong was the eunuch force in Lord Trinh’s palace?

Talking about the space in Lord Trinh’s palace and activities there, the book Description of the Outer Kingdom (published by Omega and Social Science Publishing House) by author Samuel Baron – who was born directly in Tonkin, with a Dutch father and a native mother, revealed: “The Lord’s Palace is as splendid as it is. King’s Palace. The family of God is also like that, the eldest son succeeds the father. However, the ambitions of other children of God often cause riots to destroy each other in order to succeed. The people of Tonkin have a saying: ‘The death of a thousand kings did not put the country in danger, but when one god died, everyone was confused, the people were insecure, the government was in turmoil.

Lots of flattery eunuchs

In Lord Trinh’s palace, the eunuch force was very numerous and powerful, from 400 to 500 people. They are arrogant, overbearing and unreasonable, making people both afraid and hateful but don’t know what to do. However, God favors them, using them in most of the internal affairs and also in major national affairs. The cited book adds: “After about 7-8 years of serving in the forbidden palace, they will gradually advance to high positions in society, even being placed in prestigious positions such as the head of the province. or army generals. Meanwhile, many more deserving people, such as bureaucrats and martial arts officials, were disgraced and fell into poverty…”.

The Kingdom of Tonkin had 6 towns, not including Cao Bang and a part of Bowes (the book belongs to two provinces of Hung Hoa and Tuyen Quang). In Giang province – adjacent to Dang Trong, the leader here must be especially trusted by God, because if he creates treason and colludes with Dang Trong, the consequences are incalculable. Previously, this Giang province was guarded by a eunuch, but because of the funny story below, God decided not to appoint any eunuchs here anymore.

Author Samuel Baron said: “The Cochinchinese hated eunuchs and never used them for important purposes. When they heard that the new eunuch had taken office, the Cochinchina people sent him a silk bib as a gift, something that women often wear, and asked him to use it often. The implication of this is that the eunuch is closer to the weaker sex, rather than as a general or a provincial ruler.” Because Lord Trinh put too much trust in useless eunuchs and thus often had to trade too many things that were contrary to the good of public policy, even sometimes having to show his face just in exchange for some benefits. little bit of these people.

In contrast, among these, there were also a few very successful eunuchs in Lord Trinh’s palace that are recorded in history books, most prominently the three great officials: Ong-Ja-Tu-Le, Ong-Ja-Ta-Foe-Bay and Ong-Ja-Ta-Foe-Bay and Ong-Ja-Ta-Foe-Bay, and Ong-Ja-Ta-Foe-Bay. Ong-Ja-How-Foe-Tack (foreigners often call mandarins by title: Ong-Ja is Old Man).

The eunuch Ong-Ja-Tu-Le, has now been identified through historical documents and he is described quite carefully in the documents of the Dutch East India Company – that is the old man Tu Le, ie. official Hoang Nhan Dung. Book Description of the Kingdom of Tonkini by Samuel Baron writes: “This man became a priest but was later executed for conspiring against God. Book Dai Viet history book In 1653, Nhan Dung was a beloved eunuch, made to the position of Tu Le Giam, young Bao, stripped of Duke, given the name Trinh Lam. The right to fortune is too great, so he is increasingly arrogant and liberal, secretly plotting with his underling, Tran Nhan Lien, to hide a person with magic, Tuyen Duc, to go down. Being discovered, brought to court for trial. Nhan Dung’s head was beheaded, and Nhan Lien and Tuyen Duc’s people were all lynched and displayed.”