Prince of Yan Zhu Di's Military Preparations in Beiping

Timeline

1. 1399Prince of Yan's Palace, Beiping · BeipingThe court ordered Commander Song Zhong to garrison Kaiping, transferred away the frontier troops under the Prince of Yan's command, and placed Zhang Bing, Xie Gui, and Zhang Xin in charge of Beiping's military and civil affairs to monitor Zhu Di. Zhu Di feigned grave illness and sat by a stove in midsummer to lull the officials into complacency, while secretly plotting with Daoyuan to rise in arms.
2. 1399Rear garden of the Prince of Yan's Palace, Beiping · BeipingZhu Di secretly trained troops in the rear garden, built thick-walled underground chambers to store weapons, and used the noise of raising geese and ducks to mask the sounds of military drilling. At the same time he had Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng smuggle 800 warriors into the Prince of Yan's Palace as guards, preparing for the seizure of the gates.
3. 1399Beiping · BeipingYanshan centurion Ni Liang reported the plot; the court arrested Prince of Yan's officials Yu Liang, Zhou Duo, and others, executed them, and issued an edict rebuking the Prince of Yan. Zhu Di claimed grave illness; Zhang Bing and Xie Gui stationed troops around the palace, but storehouse clerk Li Youzhi secretly informed Zhu Di. The Yan forces completed their preparations, numbering roughly tens of thousands, awaiting only the right moment to seize the gates and rise in arms.