Recognizing the extent of the chaos caused during his father's lengthy reign, the emperor worked to restore order in the state administration.

The emperor also successfully repelled Altan Khan's Mongol army, which had breached the Great Wall and reached Beijing.

One particular eunuch, Meng Cong (孟沖), who was supported by Grand Secretary Gao Gong, gained control over the inner court towards the end of the emperor's reign.

Despite a promising start, the Longqing Emperor quickly neglected his duties as a ruler and instead focused on personal pleasures, much to the disappointment of his reform-minded advisors.

[1] His death caused the Jiajing Emperor to feel immense sorrow and regret, as he believed he had not listened to the supposed advice of his Taoist priest Tao Zhongwen, who had warned him that "two dragons should not face each other".

For thirteen years, he lived outside the Forbidden City, gaining experience of conditions beyond the Imperial Palace and developing an understanding of the country's issues.

The Jiajing Emperor ensured that he and the officials treated the third and fourth sons equally, sparking speculation at court about who would be the new successor.

This speculation was further fueled by the Jiajing Emperor's fondness for the mother of the younger Zhu Zaizhen, with whom he spent a lot of time.

[1] Despite being 29 years old at the time of his accession to the throne and having a Confucian education,[7] Zhu Zaiji lacked deep knowledge in statesmanship and was not adequately prepared to govern an empire.

[6] The area in West Park, which was built by the Jiajing Emperor and modeled after the Taoist Immortal Lands, was dismantled.

[11] In the long term, the most noteworthy event during the early days of the Longqing Emperor's reign was the selection of Zhang Juzheng as Grand Secretary.

[11][6] In the years that followed, the reforms persisted,[12] with the Longqing Emperor approving changes proposed by experienced statesmen such as Gao Gong, Chen Yiqin, and Zhang Juzheng.

[8] A contemporary commentator sadly remarked on this, noting that such capable men were unable to work together for the good of the empire and instead became mortal enemies.

[7] Gao Gong, who had been one of the Longqing Emperor's closest mentors during his youth,[10] was able to consolidate power as the head of the Grand Secretariat (and also held the title of Minister of Personnel) more than any of his predecessors.

This led to the restoration of maritime inspection offices and the legalization of foreign trade, primarily in Yuegang (Moon Port) in Fujian.

In addition to the southeast coast, the northern borders were also opened as part of a new reconciliation policy, allowing for trade with the Mongols.

(Bronze) coins, also known as coppers, were primarily used along the Grand Canal in the mid-16th century, causing a shortage in other areas and hindering trade.

[17] In 1567, Minister of Revenue, Ge Shouli (葛守禮), suggested resuming production of these coins due to their importance in the daily lives of urban citizens.

However, their proposal was met with opposition from Gao Gong, who argued that having two currencies would lead to the state manipulating their exchange rate and causing mistrust among the population.

[14] The vibrant spectacle, with the emperor at its center, was meticulously planned by Zhang Juzheng, who was dedicated to fortifying border defenses and revitalizing the military.

[20] Immediately after the parade, the Mongol army led by Altan Khan breached the Great Wall and ravaged the northern border regions.

Prior to this, there had been fighting in the winter of 1567/68, during which Ming troops not only defended their territory but also made several forays into the Mongolian steppes.

Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, in addition to strengthening the border troops, pursued a policy of appeasement and negotiated peace with Altan Khan in 1571.

The fourth son, Zhu Yiliu (1568–1614, posthumous name "Jian"), held the title of Prince of Lu and resided in Weihui, Henan.