Xu Jie Enters the Grand Secretariat

Timeline

1. 1551Beijing · North ChinaXu Jie had previously served in the Hanlin Academy, as an education official, and in key local and central posts, renowned for his Neo-Confucian learning and practical ability; in 1551 he was promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel, entering the core of central decision-making.
2. 1551Grand Secretariat Duty Rooms, Forbidden City · BeijingXu Jie entered the Grand Secretariat as Vice Minister of Personnel, serving alongside Yan Song. Yan Song had by then been Chief Grand Secretary for years; Xu Jie's entry meant the formation of a long-running rivalry between the upright faction and Yan's clique, laying the groundwork for a later political reversal.
3. 1551–1560Beijing · BeijingAfter entering the Grand Secretariat, Xu Jie acted cautiously under the dominance of Yan Song and his son, preserving himself while secretly building ties with opposing forces; through the late 1550s he gradually accumulated political capital, laying the foundation for toppling Yan Song in the 1560s and steering policy adjustments after Yan's fall.