Ming Jiajing Longqing Period Studies

Throughout the rule of the Ming Dynasty, the issue of Mongolia has always beenthe primary scourge of the Ming government. In the beginning of the JiaJing era, AltanKhan unified all the Mongolian tribes. During this time, Mongolian tribes were in arelatively stable period because of their drastically developed economy. However, thelack of essential raw materials for living in the Mongo regions, and the prevalence ofplague and other natural disasters led to extremely high tributary trade demand betweenthe Mongols and the Ming. If the demands were not satisfied, both sides often resortedto force. For example, the outbreak of the Gengxu-War was one of the results of thisdiscontented demand.Nevertheless, the Ming Dynasty implemented a very harsh refusal tribute policy. Inaddition, they also ignored Mongolia’s normal demand for contribution. Theseconditions caused Ming and Mongolia to be in a long state of war. As a result, thisperiod brought tremendous damage to both sides. Consequently, peaceful exchangebetween both sides became inevitable for the development of both sides.With the increasing development of the Baishin Region, smuggling productsamong the people in the Ming Dynasty became prevalent. As a result, the situation roseto its climax between the Mongol and the Ming Dynasty. Nonetheless, in the MingDynasty, after Muzong succeeded to the throne, he rectified the frontier governance,appointed the elites, and strictly reformed the empire. With his efforts, Ming Dynasty’snational strength improved significantly and ultimately he seized the opportunity of the“Bagha-achi” event to effectively restored peace with the Mongols.