The End of the Warrior Emperor
During his fifth northern campaign, the Yongle Emperor fell gravely ill at Yulinchuan. Realizing his end was near, he expressed deep regret for imprisoning Xia Yuanji, a loyal minister who had only sought to protect the empire’s resources. With the words “Xia Yuanji loves me,” the Emperor passed away, ending a twenty-two-year reign defined by military expansion and monumental projects.
The Succession Crisis: Ambition vs. Tradition
Upon the Emperor’s death, a succession struggle loomed between his second son, Zhu Gaoxu, and his eldest son, Zhu Gaochi. Although Zhu Gaoxu was a valiant warrior who had saved his father during the Jingnan Campaign, the court officials favored Zhu Gaochi for his benevolence and filial piety. Crucially, the scholar Xie Jin advised the Emperor to secure the succession for Zhu Gaochi to ensure the throne would eventually pass to his brilliant son, Zhu Zhanji. Yielding to this advice, the Yongle Emperor named Zhu Gaochi as Crown Prince, while granting Zhu Gaoxu the title of Prince of Han, sowing seeds of resentment.
The Rebellion of the Prince of Han
Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne as the Hongxi Emperor but died suddenly after only ten months. His son, Zhu Zhanji, became the Xuande Emperor. Seizing the opportunity, Zhu Gaoxu prepared to rebel, hoping to ambush the new Emperor on his way to Beijing. When that failed, he mobilized his troops in Le’an, citing the “Jingnan” precedent. However, his plot was exposed by his own conspirators. The Xuande Emperor personally led an expedition to suppress the rebellion. Surrounded and abandoned by his supporters, Zhu Gaoxu surrendered. Later, while under house arrest, he tripped the Emperor; in retaliation, he was burned to death under a bronze censer.
The Compassionate Hongxi Emperor
The Hongxi Emperor was known for his empathy toward the suffering of common people. Before becoming emperor, he once delayed an inspection to allow freezing soldiers to finish their breakfast. On another occasion, seeing peasants eating wild grasses during a famine in Shandong, he immediately distributed relief funds and criticized local officials for their negligence. As Emperor, he released unjustly imprisoned ministers like Xia Yuanji and urged his court to speak the truth rather than flatter him. He halted the collection of exotic tributes to reduce the burden on the populace, prioritizing stability over imperial luxury.
The Cultured Xuande Emperor
The Xuande Emperor continued his father’s policies of resting the people and reducing taxes. A man of culture and martial ability, he often reflected on the hardships of farmers and weavers, composing poetry and commissioning paintings to remind the court of the people’s toil. He frequently discussed history with his ministers, praising rulers like Emperor Wen of Han while criticizing those who sought immortality or indulged in excess. Under his rule, the government focused on integrity and efficiency. This era, supported by capable ministers such as the “Three Yangs” (Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Yang Pu), became known as the “Ren-Xuan Zhi Zhi” – a golden age of peace and prosperity in the Ming Dynasty.
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