Chapter 77: Ming Reinvigoration Under Emperor Hongguang
On March 12th, 1641, Zhu Yousong succeeded his father as emperor of Ming China, adopting the regal name of Hongguang. Upon his ascension, Emperor Hongguang had to deal with the plague that had taken the life of his father. It would dissipate by 1645 but not before killing 200,000 people, including 20-25% of the population in and around Beijing. Once it cleared, he was finally able to focus on the greater governance of China. Fortunately for the emperor, his father had shepherded the realm throughout his own life from collapse as China faced the Jurchens, famines, natural disasters, disease, and peasant rebellion. Emperor Zhenchun had also maintained a cautious foreign policy, ensuring that Ming China’s commercial relations were free from foreign control and influence. Thus, Hongguang found himself with a realm without any serious threats. Taking advantage of this, the emperor would focus on the agricultural and economic revitalization of provinces stricken by the recent disasters and turmoil. He elevated a minor bureaucrat named Song Yingxing in this task in order to utilize the man’s vast knowledge of technical processes, all compiled in the encyclopedic work Tiangong Kaiwu. The literary work illustrated many Chinese innovations and processes, from agricultural cultivation to sericulture and metallurgy, and its enormous detail greatly impressed the imperial court. Song Yingxing would travel to the stricken regions and directly supervised many of the recovery efforts, walking amongst the local bureaucrats and farmers and distributing the knowledge imparted in his encyclopedia. Thanks to his efforts, provinces like Shaanxi were able to bounce back from their calamitous years. The contributions of Song Yingxing as a civil servant and writer would not be forgotten, for the Tiangong Kaiwu would quickly become a widely circulated book throughout Ming China albeit with moderate distributive regulation by Beijing [1].
Illustration from the
Tiangong Kaiwu of the puddling process of smelting iron ore, where wrought iron is derived from pig iron
Emperor Hongguang also focused on reinvigorating Chinese influence in its traditional sphere of extension via its tributary system. During his father’s reign, other Asian powers had risen in strength and influence, most notably Japan, Joseon, and Siam. In particular, Beijing could not help but continuously watch Azuchi send embassy after embassy to far-flung lands and establish a new network of diplomatic relations with a sense of both concern and jealousy. The Middle Kingdom had previously always been the front-facing face of the region to the rest of the world, the realm of unimaginable power, prestige, and wealth that everyone else desired to trade with. Now, though, a previously decentralized archipelago had come together under the might and direction of the Oda clan and they were now the ones attracting the latest global attention. They had already briefly seized complete control of foreign trade along the Chinese coasts until Macau was reopened by Emperor Zhenchun in 1638. Although merchants across the world still prized trade with Ming China for its large supply of exotic luxury goods and vast resources as well as being a main importer of silver, the emperor knew some change had to occur for his realm to not fall behind in political and hegemonic relevance. On September 5th, 1646, Hongguang celebrated his 39/40th birthday [2] and for this occasion invited dignitaries from not only all of the Ming’s longtime tributary nations but also representatives from the English and Dutch East India Companies as well as the Casa da India [3] and the Spanish Philippines as a way to impress upon the world the power and prosperity of Ming China. The highlight of the day was a parade that was the largest recorded up to that time meant to display the splendid wealth and sophistication of Ming China. Masses of dancers, including lion dancers, followed flower girls covering the road leading to the Forbidden Palace with petals. The highlight of this display was the emperor himself, carried in a golden yellow palanquin and surrounded by imperial troops, including cavalry and arquebusiers. The firework show was last and it was said to be the biggest one yet according to first-hand sources surviving from this day. The next week saw Hongguang receive every single dignitary and their tribute and praise. Importantly, the representatives of the East India companies did as well, albeit they probably were no doubt biting their tongue submitting to a foreign power outside Europe.
The celebration was just Hongguang’s first step towards reinvigorating Ming prestige abroad. In a move that stirred the criticism of a minority of the Confucian-aligned bureaucracy, the port of Guangzhou was opened to European merchants to allow them access to Chinese goods outside of Macau. The opening of Guangzhou would in particular increase trade with the English and later the French. The English East India Company’s power was marginal compared to that of the Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish in the Far East and they had not previously been able to break through and establish a strong base in Macau. Thus, Guangzhou’s opening would be a particular blessing for them. Emperor Hongguang would also ease restrictions upon native merchants and incentivize greater activity among them overseas in an effort to indirectly export Chinese political and economic influence.
Sketch of 17th century Guangzhou
Hongguang’s moves towards reinvigorating Chinese influence and prestige through the tributary system also strengthened ties with polities beyond the northern frontier in Beijing’s favor, namely the Northern Yuan and the remnants of the Jin khanate. By Abhai’s death in 1643, the Jin khanate had split into two unstable halves. Abhai’s eldest son, Hooge, succeeded his father in the southern half, to be known as the Lesser Jin. The northern half, meanwhile, centered in the Amur river basin, became known as the Amur Khanate and was ruled by a Jurchen noble outside of the Aisin Gioro clan named Sahaliyan [4]. The two khanates conducted raids against one another’s lands and frequently engaged in border skirmishes, with the more Sinicized Lesser Jin covertly supported by Joseon. To keep the region stable but sufficiently divided enough to pose no threat to the dynasty, Beijing used its symbolic supremacy and power to force a truce upon the two khanates in 1649 under the guise of excluding them from the tributary system and its benefits if they refused to agree. Meanwhile, infighting had emerged among the tumens of the Northern Yuan after the death of Ligdan Khan’s eldest son and successor, Ejei Khan, in 1641. The latter had actually been in the middle of building a pan-Mongolian coalition with the remnants of the Four Oirat Confederation, including the Dzungar Khanate, when he passed. His 6 year old brother, Abunai, succeeded him, putting a halt on the coalition as different tumens began to squabble for influence and power in Karakorum. Beijing would intervene and prop up the young khan to similarly keep the northern frontier stable but also to prevent antagonistic forces from taking over and successfully build a pan-Mongolian coalition against powers like the Ming and the Kazakhs.
For all of these moderate successes, however, Ming China would not be saved from one issue: succession woes. Emperor Hongguang, having sired no sons, elevated his cousin Zhu Yousi as the heir to the throne. Hongguang would die in 1651 at the age of 44 and the 38 year old Zhu Yousi became the new emperor, adopting the regnal name of Titian. However, his accession would be disputed on the basis of primogeniture by Zhu Ciran [5], the grandson of the executed first son of Emperor Wanli, Zhu Changluo. In contrast, Emperor Titian was the son of Wanli’s 5th son, Zhu Changhao. Zhu Ciran quickly gained supporters and began organizing a rebellion from the city of Luoyang. Before the rebellion could progress further, the emperor ordered an army to march against Luoyang. This combined with Zhu Ciran’s paranoia and impatience alienating many of his supporters caused his coup attempt to disintegrate and the prince himself would be beheaded by a turncoat, his severed head sent directly to Beijing. The new emperor for now had been saved from internal strife and civil war and could begin to forthrightly lead China.
Official portrait of Emperor Titian
[1]: IOTL, the Qing dynasty’s heavier economic interventionism prevented this from happening and most of the work's original copies have been discovered in Japan.
[2]: In Asia, you’re 1 year old upon your birth, hence his birthday being celebrated in 1646.
[3]: The Portuguese state-run commercial entity that oversaw Portuguese trade and its overseas possessions
[4]: Inspired by the Manchu name of the Amur river, Sahaliyan Ula.
[5]: Zhu Ciran is the son of OTL’s Emperor Tianli who died in the Wangchonggang Explosion. Tianli himself had been spared ITTL and allowed to be an imperial prince even after his father had been executed.
