This article explains the Case of the Stick Strike during the Wanli reign. A long succession dispute lingered between the emperor’s eldest son (Zhu Changluo) and favored son (Zhu Changxun). A man broke into the crown prince’s palace with a staff, arousing conspiracy suspicions. The emperor covered up the case to protect Noble Consort…
This article describes the Wanli Emperor’s greedy exploitation. To fund his luxury and mausoleum, he sent eunuchs as mining and tax commissioners, who extorted and oppressed people nationwide. Popular uprisings broke out. Though he pretended to stop the tyranny, he soon broke his promise, severely shaking the Ming Dynasty’s rule.
This article narrates Zhang Juzheng’s powerful regency and bold reforms under the Wanli Emperor. He enforced official assessments, carried out national land surveys, and launched the Single Whip Law to unify taxes. He also tamed the Yellow River. After his death, the resentful emperor reversed his legacy, confiscating his family’s property and ruining his…