Ming Great Wall Reconstruction (late Yongle to early Xuande)

Timeline

1. 1421Beijing · Northern ZhiliIn Yongle 19 the Ming court moved the capital to Beijing, shifting the political and military center northward. The Chengzu Emperor promptly adjusted the deployment of the Nine Frontier Garrisons, ordering the Ministry of War and Ministry of Works to survey the condition of passes and beacon towers along routes including Jizhen and Xuanfu, laying the policy and logistical groundwork for subsequent large-scale Great Wall repairs.
2. 1422–1424Xuanfu Garrison · Xuanfu GarrisonAround Yongle 20, the court repeatedly ordered repairs to frontier walls, walled passes, and beacon towers along the Xuanfu, Datong, and Jizhou routes. The works used brick-and-stone casing and added watchtowers, strengthening early warning and obstruction against Mongol cavalry raids. Even during the Chengzu Emperor's personal northern campaigns, grain and funds were still allocated from the rear to maintain construction.
3. 1425–1426Jizhen · JizhenAfter the Yongle Emperor's death, although the Hongxi and Xuande reigns advocated halting warfare and resting the people, investment in the Great Wall defense line continued. The court approved repair plans for collapsed sections of frontier walls along various routes and improved the beacon tower watch and garrisoned pass system. This ensured that repairs begun in late Yongle were not interrupted during the regime transition, providing a material foundation for northern frontier defense during the subsequent Reign of Ren and Xuande.