Brief: This article covers the Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di)’s reign. After taking the throne via civil war, he solidified power, built the Forbidden City and moved the capital to Beijing. He sent Zheng He’s treasure fleets to explore the Indian Ocean, expanded territory, and strengthened central rule, leaving a dramatic and far-reaching Ming legacy.
The Fire at the Palace and the Mystery of the Missing Emperor
As Zhu Di approached the imperial palace, he saw smoke engulfing the sky and flames consuming the buildings. Upon hearing that the northern army had breached the city, the Jianwen Emperor had ordered the palace to be set ablaze. When Zhu Di entered, the fire had subsided, but the emperor was nowhere to be found. A charred corpse was presented as the Jianwen Emperor. Though Zhu Di feigned grief, saying, “Why did you drive yourself to this?”, he was inwardly relieved that his rival was dead and his throne secure.
Zhu Di executed officials loyal to Jianwen, such as Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng. He summoned the renowned scholar Fang Xiaoru to draft the accession edict. Instead, Fang Xiaoru wailed in mourning and challenged Zhu Di’s legitimacy, asking why he didn’t install the emperor’s son or brother. When Zhu Di claimed it was a family matter and demanded the edict, Fang threw down his brush, refusing to write and cursing the usurper. Enraged, Zhu Di ordered his execution, ignoring the monk Dao Yan’s warning to spare him.
In 1402, Zhu Di ascended the throne as Emperor Ming Taizong (later honored as Chengzu), with the era name Yongle. However, rumors quickly spread that the Jianwen Emperor had escaped disguised as a monk. Troubled by the possibility of his nephew plotting a return, Zhu Di dispatched his confidant, Hu Ying, on a secret, lifelong mission to find him.
Consolidation of Power and the Rise of Eunuchs
Possessing far greater administrative capability than his predecessor, Emperor Chengzu prioritized national defense and expansion. He aimed to weaken the feudatory princes, eliminate the Northern Yuan remnants, secure the northeast, establish a province in Guizhou, build roads to Tibet, and open maritime trade. To manage these tasks, he established the Grand Secretariat (Neige) in the Wenyuan Pavilion, appointing talented officials like Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Xie Jin.
However, Chengzu also institutionalized the power of eunuchs. He mandated that memoranda from the Grand Secretariat be reviewed by the Directorate of Ceremonial (Silijian) and established the Eastern Depot (Dongchang), a secret police agency run by eunuchs to monitor officials. This reliance on eunuchs planted the seeds for future political corruption, though it also produced capable figures like Yishiha. A former captive from the Yuan dynasty, Yishiha was sent to patrol the northeast, establishing administration over the Nurgan region and Sakhalin Island, marked by the Yongning Temple steles.
Zheng He’s Maritime Expeditions
Even more famous was the eunuch Zheng He (originally Ma Sanbao). A Muslim from Yunnan with knowledge of foreign customs and Buddhism, Zheng He was chosen to lead a grand maritime project to showcase Ming power and foster trade. Utilizing China’s advanced shipbuilding and navigational technology, a massive fleet was constructed, including “Treasure Ships” measuring 44 zhang long.
In the summer of 1405, Zheng He and his deputy Wang Jinghong led a fleet of over 60 ships and 20,000 men from Liujiagang. They visited Champa, Java, and Sumatra. At Palembang (Old Port), they encountered the pirate Chen Zuyi. Feigning surrender, Chen attempted to ambush the fleet. Zheng He, a seasoned warrior, defeated the pirates and captured Chen, securing the sea lanes. The fleet continued to India, returning two years later.
Over the next two decades, Zheng He led six more voyages, visiting over 30 countries and reaching the east coast of Africa (Malindi and Mombasa). These voyages, occurring long before Columbus or Magellan, established China’s global prestige. Zheng He dedicated his life to this mission, dying in Calicut during the return of the seventh voyage. His body was brought back by Wang Jinghong.
The Northern Campaigns and the Move to Beijing
While celebrating maritime success, Chengzu remained concerned about the Northern Yuan. He relocated the capital to Beijing to better command the northern defenses, constructing the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. In 1421, the newly built Three Great Halls were struck by lightning and burned down, which critics cited as divine punishment. Simultaneously, the Tatar leader Arughtai rebelled.
Chengzu suppressed dissent by imprisoning Minister of Revenue Xia Yuanji and forcing Minister of War Fang Bin to suicide before launching his third campaign. During the fourth campaign, the secret agent Hu Ying finally returned from his decades-long search for the Jianwen Emperor. After a private all-night meeting at Xuanfu, Chengzu stopped mentioning his nephew, implying the matter was resolved.
Despite his aging body, Chengzu launched a fifth campaign against Arughtai. Too weak to ride, he traveled in a carriage. The enemy fled, and the campaign yielded no battle. Regretting his stubbornness, the emperor expressed a desire to retire and let the Crown Prince rule. However, the warrior emperor never returned to Beijing alive, passing away during the retreat.
Note
Zhu Di (Yongle Emperor / Emperor Chengzu)
Prince of Yan who won the Jingnan Campaign, seized the throne, moved the capital to Beijing, built the Forbidden City, and launched Zheng He’s treasure fleets.
Zhu Yunwen (Jianwen Emperor)
Deposed emperor whose palace was burned; his true fate remains a mystery.
Fang Xiaoru
Famous Confucian scholar who refused to draft Yongle’s accession edict and was executed.
Zheng He (Ma Sanbao)
Muslim eunuch admiral who led seven grand treasure voyages across the Indian Ocean.
Hu Ying
Secret agent sent by Yongle to search for the missing Jianwen Emperor for decades.
Yishiha
Eunuch who administered the far northeast (Nurgan) and erected the Yongning Temple steles.
Chen Zuyi
Pirate leader defeated by Zheng He at Palembang, securing Southeast Asian sea routes.
Grand Secretariat (Neige)
New advisory body created by Yongle to assist imperial governance.
Eastern Depot (Dongchang)
Eunuch‑led secret police for monitoring officials and the public.
Directorate of Ceremonial (Silijian)
Eunuch office that reviewed state documents, boosting eunuch power.
Treasure Ships
Gigantic Ming vessels used in Zheng He’s expeditions, symbols of national power.
Burning of the Palace
As Zhu Di entered Nanjing, the Jianwen Emperor set fire to the palace and disappeared.
Zheng He’s Maritime Expeditions
Seven voyages (1405–1433) to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Africa, promoting trade and prestige.
Moving the Capital to Beijing
Yongle Emperor shifted the capital from Nanjing to Beijing to strengthen northern frontier defense.
Northern Campaigns Against the Northern Yuan
Yongle Emperor personally led several campaigns against Mongol tribes to secure the border.
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