Longqing Emperor

The Longqing Emperor (4 March 1537 – 5 July 1572), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Muzong of Ming, personal name Zhu Zaiji, art name Shunzhai, was the 13th emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1567 to 1572. He was initially known as the Prince of Yu (裕王) from 1539 to 1567 before he became the emperor. He succeeded his father, the Jiajing Emperor.

After the death of the Jiajing Emperor, the Longqing Emperor inherited a country in turmoil due to years of mismanagement and corruption. Recognizing the extent of the chaos caused during his father's lengthy reign, the emperor worked to restore order in the state administration. He reinstated talented officials who had been previously exiled and dismissed corrupt officials and Taoist priests who had surrounded the Jiajing Emperor. Additionally, he lifted the ban on foreign trade, boosting the empire's economy, and reorganized the border troops to strengthen security on the inland and coastal borders. The seaports of Zhejiang and Fujian were fortified to defend against coastal pirates, who had been a constant nuisance during the previous government. The emperor also successfully repelled Altan Khan's Mongol army, which had breached the Great Wall and reached Beijing. A peace treaty was signed shortly after, allowing for the resumption of the exchange of horses for silk.

The Longqing Emperor, like many previous Ming emperors, relied heavily on court eunuchs. 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. The emperor also made contradictory decisions by re-employing Taoist priests, whom he had previously banned at the beginning of his reign.