[3][a] Zhu Jianshen was often depicted by painters as robustly built, with full cheeks, sharp eyes, large earlobes, and a trimmed mustache and beard.

[10] The council consisted of six officials: Senior Grand Secretary Li Xian, Minister of Personnel Wang Ao, Minister of Revenue Nian Fu (年富), Grand Secretary Peng Shi (彭時), Minister of War Ma Ang (馬昂; 1399–1476), and Grand Secretary Chen Wen (陳文; 1405–1468); four eunuchs: Liu Yongcheng (劉永誠), Xia Shi (夏時), Fu Gong, and Niu Yu (牛玉); and two military generals: Sun Jizong (孫繼宗), Marquis of Huichang,[b] and Sun Tang (孫鏜), Marquis of Huaining.

[15] In order to secure her position, she closely monitored the emperor and even forced other women to have abortions to prevent the birth of a potential rival son.

[14] It was not until June 1475, when the emperor lamented his lack of an heir at the age of twenty-eight, that a eunuch present impulsively informed him of the existence of a five-year-old son being raised by the former Empress Wu.

[17] Her chief eunuch, Liang Fang (梁芳), was in charge of the imperial warehouse in Beijing, giving him the opportunity to sell goods at inflated prices to cover up the sale of offices organized by Lady Wan.

[18] However, Wang Zhi soon clashed with Grand Secretary Shang Lu (商輅) and Minister of War Xiang Zhong (項忠), leading to their dismissal.

In 1483, his rival from the Eastern Depot presented accusations that gained the emperor's trust, resulting in Wang Zhi being transferred to guard the imperial tombs in Nanjing.

[17] Trade was further bolstered by the rapid development of transportation, which was spurred by a surge in bridge construction following the devastating floods in central and southern China in 1465.

[27] As a result, coins began to disappear from circulation and the government, similar to earlier banknotes, attempted to support their value by requiring payments to be made in them.

[35][g] In an effort to assist the population, the government implemented measures such as constructing irrigation canals and providing millet from state reserves[34][h] during the famine in the Beijing area.

[17] The emperor was renowned for his skill in calligraphy,[40] as evidenced by his surviving work, a color scroll painting from 1481 depicting the mythological demon warrior Zhong Kui, titled Sui chao jia zhao (歲朝佳兆).

[7] He was widely praised for his efforts to restore the reputation of those who had been unfairly treated in the past, and he also implemented measures to aid areas that were suffering from famine.

[7] However, his efforts to reconcile differences among factions did help to reduce conflicts, although there was still some tension between northerners and southerners, with the emperor showing slight favoritism towards the latter.

[43] After 1464, the most influential position in the government was held by Grand Secretary Li Xian, who continued to hold significant power even during the final years of Emperor Yingzong's reign.

Under the Chenghua Emperor'reign, it expanded and strengthened[47] and its power began to be formally recognized—an example of this was the appointment of eunuchs to the imperial council formed after the death of Yingzong.

These armies were led by officials who were also involved in military affairs, including Han Yong (韓雍; 1422–1478), Wang Yue (王越; 1426–1499), Xiang Zhong (1421–1502), and Ma Wensheng (馬文升; 1426–1510).

Previously, soldiers from various provinces were sent to the Three Great Camps (三大營) for training: Wujun (五軍營) for infantry, Sanqian (三千營) for cavalry, and Shenji (神機營) for units equipped with firearms.

In May 1464, the emperor ordered the reinstatement of a unified training corps (which had previously existed from 1449 to 1457) and divided it into twelve divisions (十二團營), each consisting of ten thousand soldiers.

[8] Marquis Sun Jizong was in overall command of these divisions, but the military side was actually led by eunuch Liu Yongcheng, a 73-year-old veteran from the Yongle Emperor's reign.

[11] The newly trained Beijing corps played a crucial role in successful campaigns on the northern frontier, defeating the Mongols in 1471, 1473, and 1480, as well as the Jurchens in 1467 and 1479.

[57] In 1466, Han Yong attacked the heart of the rebel territory in two columns drawn from Huguang from the north and from Guangdong from the west,[55] and conquered them in a series of fierce battles.

General Li Zhen (李震) repeatedly defeated them on the border of Guizhou and Huguang, instilling fear and terror among the subjugated areas.

[62] In response, the government sent troops led by Zhu Yong (朱永), Count of Funing, and Bai Gui (白圭), Minister of Works.

[66] The Ming presence beyond China's borders was merely symbolic, limited to granting titles, ranks, and trade privileges without interfering in the daily lives of those affected.

However, the Mongols were not hesitant to resort to raiding in order to expand trade and acquire more iron, grain, handicrafts, and luxury goods, much to the dismay of the Chinese.

[69] During the Chenghua Emperor's reign, the Ming dynasty's interests in Central Asia were limited to attempting to gain control of Hami, a Silk Road city located in present-day Xinjiang.

However, in the early 1470s, the ruler of Hami was killed by a prince from Moghulistan who declared himself the Sultan of Turpan and immediately engaged in conflict with the "pagan" (non-Muslim) Oirats.

Within a few months, 40,000 soldiers built a 1777 li (1000 km) long wall, standing 9 meters high and equipped with numerous towers and other supporting structures.

In both military and civil affairs, the emperor is highly regarded for his willingness to listen to the advice of capable politicians, such as Li Xian and Peng Shi.

Additionally, military expeditions to Luzhou in 1465 successfully eliminated the threat posed by natives in Sichuan, ensuring safe passage along the Yangtze River.