就等于有了他们的把柄
“means the reform”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
有了这些 朝中重臣的卷宗
“Material like this on every major figure”
就等于有了他们的 把柄
“means the reform”
不愁新法不成
“is as good as done.”
“We can now control and blackmail them to force our reforms through.”
In traditional court politics, gathering 'babing' (vulnerabilities or dirt) was often considered essential for pushing controversial political or bureaucratic agendas against entrenched factions.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
is equivalent to / amounts to
Used to equate an action or possession directly with its decisive consequence.
having leverage over them / holding dirt on them
A common idiom meaning to hold incriminating evidence or vulnerable secrets against someone.