The Great Ming had twenty-four yamen within the Imperial Court, namely the Twelve Monitors, the Four Departments, and the Eight Bureaus.
These internal government offices held authority over customs duties, salt and mineral operations, weaving, porcelain, military provisions, palace expenses, and even a part of the construction of national projects.
One could say they were essentially half of the Ming Dynasty's purse strings.
Before Emperor Jiajing's reign, the twenty-four yamen had always been controlled by eunuchs in the palace.
But since Emperor Jiajing came to power, and Dragon Tiger Mountain was conferred as the state religion, the situation underwent a drastic change.
