ABSTRACT
A few days after the young Emperor reached Peking he held an audience. The first to approach and pay their respects to him were the eunuchs. The high officials of the Board of War were indignant at this, and, remonstrating with those who had charge of the ceremonials of the court, declared that they were only fit to sweep the floor and not to have access to a monarch. The result of this remonstrance was that an order was issued forbidding the eunuchs for the future to hold any official posts under the crown, an injunction that is in force at the present day.
