Hongxi Emperor

The Hongxi Emperor (16 August 1378 – 29 May 1425), personal name Zhu Gaochi, was the fourth emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1424 to 1425. He was the eldest son of the Yongle Emperor and ascended the throne after the death of his father. His reign lasted less than a year.

As a prince, the Hongxi Emperor received a traditional Confucian education and was noted for his literary abilities. He served as regent in either Nanjing or Beijing during the Yongle Emperor's campaigns in Mongolia. After ascending the throne, he discontinued Zheng He's treasure voyages and halted the trade of tea for horses with Asian nations. He pardoned officials who had been disgraced by the previous regime and restructured the government, appointing his trusted advisors to key positions. He also strengthened the authority of the Grand Secretariat, the highest governing body. He abandoned his father's unpopular militaristic policies, reformed the financial and tax system, and encouraged the return of displaced peasants, particularly in the lower regions of the Yangtze River. His efforts to promote Confucian ideals influenced the style of governance for the next century.

The Hongxi Emperor decided to relocate the capital back to Nanjing, but died in May 1425, reportedly from a heart attack. His 26-year-old son, Zhu Zhanji, assumed the throne as the Xuande Emperor and continued his father's progressive policies, which had a lasting influence. Later historians have noted the Hongxi Emperor's adherence to Confucian ideals, and praised his attempts to address the shortcomings of the Yongle era.

Source: Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongxi_Emperor