Dynasties of ChinaMing dynastyMing dynasty lineage
Hongxi · Reign 1424—1425
The weak and sick Emperor Shoucheng, who had been in power for less than a year, stopped his overseas voyages and purchases, lenient sentences to show mercy to the people, and started the "Government of Renxuan".
Zhu Gaochi is the eldest son of Ming Chengzu, and his mother is Xuhuanghou. He is fat and has difficulty moving, but he is good at reading and has a generous temperament. During the Jingnan Campaign, he stayed in Peiping, resisted Li Jinglong's army with more than 10,000 troops, and protected the Yan army's base. In 1404, he was established as the Crown Prince. After that, he supervised the country many times during Chengzu's northern expedition. However, he was always squeezed and framed by his younger brother Zhu Gaoxu, King of Han Dynasty, and the officials in the East Palace were repeatedly imprisoned.
After taking the throne in August 1424, he stopped the treasure ships and purchases from various places, pardoned the families of Jianwen ministers, released Xia Yuanji who was imprisoned for admonishing the Northern Expedition, relied on Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong and other cabinet ministers to improve the status of the cabinet, and changed his political style. He also planned to return the capital to Nanjing and ordered the Crown Prince to go to Nanjing first to take charge. However, he died of illness in Qin'an Palace in May of the following year, and his reign lasted only ten months.
Renzong reigned for less than a year, but he stopped voyages and purchases, forgave Jianwen's involvement, and relied on virtuous ministers. He reversed the situation of weak people in the late Yongle period and established the tone of the "Government of Renxuan". He raised the status of cabinet ministers and made the cabinet increasingly important in the subsequent political situation. Historians often praise him for his benevolence, but it is a pity that he died long ago and many of his ideas were not implemented.
MilitaryHold on to Peiping
King Yan led the main force to aid Daning, and Li Jinglong took the opportunity to besiege Beiping. The crown prince Zhu Gaochi and his mother, Princess Xu, led the defenders and women in the city to hold on. According to legend, water was poured into the city at night and the ice froze, making it impossible for the enemy to climb until the Yan army returned to repulse the official army.
PoliticsEstablished as Crown Prince
Chengzu favored his second son Zhu Gaoxu, who had repeatedly made military exploits during the Jingnan War, and hesitated for a long time about establishing him as heir apparent. According to "History of the Ming Dynasty", Jie Jin impressed Chengzu with the sentence "Good Saint Sun" (referring to Zhu Zhanji), Zhu Gaochi was established as Crown Prince, and Zhu Gaojiu was named King of Han.
PoliticsThe Prison of the East Palace
When Chengzu returned from the Northern Expedition, the Crown Prince sent people to greet him a little late, and the wording of the memorial was inappropriate. The King of Han took the opportunity to slander him. Huang Huai and Yang Pu, officials of the East Palace, were sent to Jinyi Guard Prison. Yang Pu was imprisoned for ten years and was not released until Renzong came to the throne.
PoliticsAscend to the throne and abolish bad government
After taking the throne in August, he issued an edict to stop the treasure ships sailing to the West, stopped the purchase of horses from the Western Regions and Yunnan and Jiaozhi, summoned officials who were still purchasing overseas, reduced taxes in the disaster-stricken areas, and rested with the people.
PoliticsForgive Jianwen’s old ministers
An edict was issued to pardon the family members of Jianwen ministers who were imprisoned in Jiaofangsi, Jinyiwei, Huanyi Bureau, or were enslaved in the homes of meritorious officials due to involvement, and their property would be returned to the people. This brought an end to the 20-plus years of troubled relations.
PoliticsCabinet status improved
Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Jin Youzi and other cabinet ministers were awarded high official titles such as Shangshu and Shilang. The rank of the bachelor was not high, but he was respected by the senior class as well as the leader of the ministry. The status of the cabinet in the center has been significantly improved since then.
PoliticsPlan to return the capital to Nanjing
In March, an imperial edict was issued to rename the yamen in Beijing to "Xingzai" in preparation for moving back to Nanjing. In April, Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji was ordered to go to Nanjing to visit Xiaoling Mausoleum and stay there. Before the capital move could be implemented, Renzong died of illness in May, and the proposal was shelved.
He entered the Wenyuan Pavilion based on his studies and worked hard to protect the Crown Prince in the East Palace for many years. After Renzong ascended the throne, he became a bachelor of Huagaidian and was known as the "Three Yangs" together with Yang Rong and Yang Pu. He assisted in the administration of the four dynasties.
The Crown Prince was an official. He was imprisoned in 1414 for welcoming a king. He spent ten years in prison studying hard. After Renzong came to the throne, he was released and served as a Hanlin bachelor. Later, he entered the cabinet and became one of the "Three Yangs".
Queen Renzong, biological mother of Xuanzong. He was a wise man and managed many things when the King of Han tried to capture the Crown Prince. After Yingzong ascended the throne at a young age, she presided over political affairs as the empress dowager, trusting San Yang and restraining the eunuch Wang Zhen.