The Rise of Xu Jie and the Seeds of Conflict

The Ming Dynasty in the mid-16th century was a period of political intrigue, where power struggles within the imperial court often determined the fate of the empire. At the center of this drama were two formidable figures: Xu Jie, the shrewd and patient Grand Secretary, and Gao Gong, the bold and ambitious minister. Their rivalry would shape the course of Ming politics for years to come.

Xu Jie had spent years carefully navigating the treacherous waters of the imperial court, even enduring the corrupt reign of Yan Song before finally orchestrating his downfall. By the time Emperor Jiajing died in 1567, Xu Jie had positioned himself as the most influential statesman in the empire. His drafting of Jiajing’s posthumous edict—a document that reversed many of the late emperor’s unpopular policies—cemented his reputation as a reformer.

But not everyone was pleased. Gao Gong, a fellow Grand Secretary known for his sharp intellect and fiery temper, saw Xu Jie’s actions as an overreach of power. When Zhang Juzheng, a rising star in the bureaucracy, joined the Grand Secretariat, tensions between Xu Jie and Gao Gong erupted into open conflict.

The First Clash: A Battle Over Legitimacy

The confrontation began during a routine cabinet meeting. Before Xu Jie could finish his opening remarks, Gao Gong stood and accused him of bypassing protocol by drafting the late emperor’s edict without consulting the other Grand Secretaries.

“You acted alone!” Gao Gong shouted. “By what authority?”

Xu Jie, caught off guard, hesitated. Zhang Juzheng, ever the diplomat, stepped in to defend his mentor—only to be silenced by Gao Gong’s retort: “Sit down! You weren’t even in the cabinet when this happened!”

The tension was palpable. Gao Gong, sensing victory, pressed further: “Explain yourself!”

Zhang Juzheng, quick-witted, countered: “We searched for you, but you were absent.” The implication—that Gao Gong had neglected his duties—struck a nerve.

Xu Jie, regaining his composure, turned the tables: “You agreed the edict was just. Why quarrel now?”

Gao Gong, forced to concede, sat down in frustration. But the battle was far from over.

The “Jingcha” Purge and Political Warfare

In 1567, the imperial bureaucracy underwent its six-year review (Jingcha), overseen by Yang Bo, a close ally of Gao Gong. The results were suspicious: nearly all dismissed officials were southerners, while northerners—particularly those from Gao Gong’s faction—remained untouched.

Xu Jie’s protégé, Hu Yingjia, accused Yang Bo of bias. The emperor, sensing foul play, ordered the cabinet to deliberate. Gao Gong demanded Hu’s dismissal, and with the support of fellow minister Guo Pu, he prevailed.

But the victory was short-lived. The censors—imperial watchdogs known for their fierce independence—turned on Gao Gong. Led by the relentless Ouyang Yijing, they accused him of corruption and compared him to the infamous Song Dynasty traitor Cai Jing.

Gao Gong, enraged, fought back—only to find himself outmaneuvered. Xu Jie, ever the strategist, allowed the censors to attack while maintaining plausible deniability.

The Fall of Gao Gong

Cornered, Gao Gong lashed out. His ally, censor Qi Kang, counterattacked Ouyang Yijing—but the censors, now a unified force, overwhelmed him.

Zhang Juzheng, witnessing the chaos, urged reconciliation. But Gao Gong, stubborn to the end, refused. When the southern censors joined the fray, his fate was sealed.

In May 1567, Gao Gong resigned. His ally Guo Pu soon followed. Xu Jie had won—but at a cost.

The Decline of Xu Jie

With his rivals gone, Xu Jie expected unchallenged dominance. But the new emperor, Longqing, was disinterested in governance, preferring lavish entertainments. When Xu Jie protested, the emperor grew resentful.

Eunuchs, eager to undermine Xu Jie, whispered of his hypocrisy: while criticizing imperial excess, his own sons lived in luxury. Censor Zhang Qi delivered the final blow, accusing Xu Jie of disloyalty, opportunism, and incompetence.

In 1568, Xu Jie resigned. His legacy, though mixed, endured—not least in the rise of his protégé, Zhang Juzheng, who would later become one of the Ming Dynasty’s greatest reformers.

Legacy and Lessons of the Conflict

The Xu Jie-Gao Gong struggle reveals much about Ming politics: the power of factionalism, the role of censors as both watchdogs and weapons, and the delicate balance between emperor and bureaucracy.

Xu Jie’s downfall also highlights a recurring theme in Chinese history: the peril of overreach. Even the most skilled politicians could fall when their enemies united against them.

Yet the most enduring legacy was Zhang Juzheng’s rise. Trained by Xu Jie, tempered by the conflict, he would later implement sweeping reforms—proving that even in defeat, the battles of the past could shape the future.