 The financial drain of the Imjin War in Korea against the Japanese was one of the many problems — fiscal or other — facing Ming China during the reign of the Wanli Emperor ( 1572 – 1620 ) . In the beginning of his reign , Wanli surrounded himself with able advisors and made a conscientious effort to handle state affairs . His Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng ( 1572 – 82 ) built up an effective network of alliances with senior officials . However , there was no one after him skilled enough to maintain the stability of these alliances ; officials soon banded together in opposing political factions . Over time Wanli grew tired of court affairs and frequent political quarreling amongst his ministers , preferring to stay behind the walls of the Forbidden City and out of his officials ' sight . Scholar @-@ officials lost prominence in administration as eunuchs became intermediaries between the aloof emperor and his officials ; any senior official who wanted to discuss state matters had to persuade powerful eunuchs with a bribe simply to have his demands or message relayed to the emperor . 
