Introduction: This article covers the final reform of the Yuan Dynasty. Emperor Toghon Temür and Prime Minister Toghto overthrew tyranny, revived exams, and fixed the Yellow River. But court intrigue and a seduction plot turned the emperor corrupt. Toghto was framed and killed; the army collapsed. The last hope for Yuan was gone.
Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398) was the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1368 to 1398. Born into extreme poverty in Zhongli, Haozhou (present-day Fengyang, Anhui Province), his original name was Zhu Chongba (or Xingzong), and his courtesy name was Guorui. After ascending the throne, he adopted the temple name Taizu (“Grand Progenitor”) and…