The Imperial Guards were a special military organization during the Ming Dynasty, primarily responsible for maintaining the security and stability of the royal family. However, there has been controversy regarding the identification of the Imperial Guards in history. This article will analyze the historical background, organizational structure, and duties to determine the true identity of the Imperial Guards.

First, we need to understand the historical background of the Imperial Guards. Founded during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Guards were initially established to protect Emperor Zhu Di's safety. Over time, the Imperial Guards gradually expanded their responsibilities and became the primary force for maintaining royal security and stability. In the mid-Ming Dynasty, due to the expansion of eunuch power, some eunuchs began to enter the Imperial Guards and gradually gained control of this organization. Therefore, some believe that the Imperial Guards were a special military organization composed of eunuchs.

Next, let's look at the organizational structure and duties of the Imperial Guards. According to historical records, the Imperial Guards were divided into two parts: internal and external. The internal part consisted of core members appointed directly by the emperor and was primarily responsible for the security and maintenance of order within the palace. The external part was a special operations force that carried out tasks externally, led by commanders and thousand-household officials. In terms of responsibilities, the Imperial Guards were primarily responsible for combating political dissent, maintaining the stability of royal power, and protecting the emperor's safety. It can be said that the responsibilities of the Imperial Guards did not correspond to the political status of eunuchs, so they cannot be simply attributed to eunuchs.

Finally, let's look at specific cases. In the history of the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Guards participated in the handling of many political events, such as suppressing the Jingnan Rebellion and attacking the Donglin Party. One of the most famous cases was the "Wei Zhongxian Case". In this case, Wei Zhongxian abused his power in the Imperial Guards to persecute and execute those who opposed him. This incident caused a lot of controversy regarding the identification of the Imperial Guards.

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