Dr Clarke's hypothesis that the genro continued less publicly after their acknowledged members died differs from most of the books he has read, and he acknowledges that it may be wrong. The argument rests on the political usefulness of senior imperial advisers. Ministers could not control these personal appointments, and trusted advisers could challenge the emperor or communicate his wishes without requiring his direct intervention. Their standing also made them difficult for hostile ministers to remove. The continuity and membership of any less public successor group remain uncertain.
Notable Point · 35:50-38:29
Did imperial advisers continue after the official genro?
An explicitly disputed hypothesis proposes that personal imperial advisers continued less publicly after the acknowledged genro died.