Brief: This article tells how Zhang Juzheng rose to power in the Ming Dynasty. He ended decades of war by negotiating Han‑Mongol border trade using Altan Khan’s grandson as a diplomatic key. He also appointed top generals like Qi Jiguang to secure borders. Meanwhile, Hai Rui enforced land justice but was dismissed. The Longqing peace laid ground for later reforms.
The Unyielding Justice of Hai Rui
Upon his release from prison, Hai Rui felt immense gratitude toward Xu Jie, the Grand Secretary who had saved his life. However, when Hai Rui was promoted to the Governor of Yingtian and arrived in Xu Jie’s hometown, he was confronted with a harsh reality. The local gentry had seized vast amounts of farmland, leaving the poor destitute. The greatest landowner of all was the retired Grand Secretary Xu Jie himself, whose family held nearly 80,000 mu of land, far exceeding the registered amount.
Determined to address this injustice, Hai Rui issued an order for the wealthy to return excess land to the government for redistribution to the poor. Xu Jie reluctantly returned 10,000 mu, but Hai Rui, unsatisfied, wrote to him: “Your kindness to me is unforgettable, but your land return is insufficient. Please rectify this.” This demand angered Xu Jie, especially after his son was also investigated and exiled. Leveraging his connections in the court, Xu Jie prompted official Dai Fengxiang to impeach Hai Rui for oppressing the gentry. Consequently, Emperor Ming Muzong dismissed Hai Rui, who returned to his hometown in Hainan. He would not return to office until decades later, passing away shortly after at the age of over seventy.
Zhang Juzheng’s Strategic Vision
Following Xu Jie’s retirement, power in the Grand Secretariat shifted to Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, both former tutors to Emperor Ming Muzong. While Gao Gong focused on political purges, Zhang Juzheng, a native of Jiangling, possessed a grand vision. Having witnessed the corruption, poverty, and military weakness of the empire in his youth, he believed that only a figure with great resolve could break conventions and save the Ming Dynasty from a fate similar to the Song Dynasty.
Upon gaining power, Zhang Juzheng prioritized national security. He appointed the capable local general Li Chengliang to guard Liaodong, securing the northeast for over two decades. To protect the capital’s perimeter, he transferred the renowned general Qi Jiguang to command the Jizhou and Changping defense lines. For the critical Xuanfu and Datong regions bordering the Tatar tribes, Zhang appointed Wang Chonggu, a seasoned commander with experience in suppressing pirates.
The Turning Point: Bahananaji’s Defection
A pivotal opportunity arose when Altan Khan, the leader of the Tatars, caused internal strife within his family. At over sixty, Altan Khan forcibly married his granddaughter, Zhongjin Khatun (the Third Lady), who was betrothed to Aor Dusi. To appease Aor Dusi, Altan Khan gave him the fiancée of his own grandson, Bahananaji. Enraged by this betrayal, Bahananaji defected to the Ming Dynasty, seeking refuge at Datong under Wang Chonggu’s protection.
Wang Chonggu immediately reported this to the court. While some officials, like Ye Mengxiong, feared this would provoke a war, Zhang Juzheng saw a diplomatic opportunity. He advised Emperor Muzong to accept the defector. The court appointed Bahananaji as an officer, treating him with honor. As predicted, Altan Khan marched on the border to demand his grandson’s return. Wang Chonggu, prepared for negotiation, sent envoy Bao Chongde to meet the Khan. Bao Chongde persuaded Altan Khan that peace and trade were superior to endless war. Moved by the safety of his grandson and the promise of stability, Altan Khan agreed to peace on the condition of opening border markets.
The Establishment of Border Markets
Despite opposition from officials like Minister of War Guo Qian, who argued against appeasing the “barbarians,” Zhang Juzheng convinced Emperor Muzong that trade was mutually beneficial and distinct from the humiliating tributes of the Song Dynasty. The Emperor approved the peace, conferring the title “Prince of Shunyi” upon Altan Khan and officially opening border markets.
These markets, located at Great Wall passes, became vibrant hubs where Han Chinese traded tea, silk, and grain for Mongolian livestock and furs. The resumption of trade brought prosperity to both sides, ending years of conflict and deprivation.
The Legacy of the Third Lady
A prominent figure in these markets was Zhongjin Khatun, known as the “Third Lady.” Intelligent and capable, she had become Altan Khan’s most trusted advisor. She frequently visited the markets to resolve disputes, earning the respect of both Mongols and Han officials for her fairness and authority.
After Altan Khan’s death, his son Huang Taiji succeeded him. Although the Third Lady initially left due to personal animosity, the Ming court recognized her importance in maintaining peace and persuaded her to return. She eventually married the third Prince of Shunyi, wielding real power for over thirty years. Her dedication to peace earned her the title “Lady of Loyalty and Obedience” from the Ming court, and the city she governed, Guihua (modern-day Hohhot), was affectionately known as “The City of the Third Lady.”
The peace achieved during the Longqing reign, orchestrated by Zhang Juzheng and supported by Emperor Muzong, stabilized the northern frontier. However, Emperor Muzong died after only six years on the throne, leaving his ten-year-old son, Zhu Yijun (Emperor Shenzong of Ming), to inherit the empire. The question remained whether the new young emperor would continue to support Zhang Juzheng’s ambitious reforms.
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