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There were altogether six Grand Secretaries , though the posts were not always filled. The most senior one was popularly called Senior Grand Secretary (??, shoufu). The Grand Secretaries were nominally ranked as mid-level officials, ranked much lower than the Ministers, heads of the Ministries. However, since they screened documents submitted to the emperor from all governmental agencies, and had the power of drafting suggested rescripts for the emperor, generally known as piàoni ?? or tiáozhi ??, some senior Grand

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