Grand Canal Grain-Transport Maintenance in the Ming

Timeline

1. 1391Yuanwu · HenanIn the 24th year of Hongwu, the Yellow River breached at Heiyang Mountain near Yuanwu; its waters spread east over Anshan Lake, completely silting the Yuan-era Huitong Canal. The Shandong section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was cut, blocking north-south grain transport and becoming the root of decades of transport difficulties.
2. 1395–1400Huai River–Yellow River–Wei River transfer route · ShandongAfter the Huitong Canal silted up, the court turned to sea transport and combined land-sea routes: Jiangnan grain either went by sea to Tianjin, or floated down the Huai into the Yellow River to Yangwu, then was hauled 170 li overland to Weihui and shipped north via the Wei River to Beiping. Sea routes were perilous and overland hauling arduous, making transport costs very high.
3. 1395–1400Jining · ShandongFrom the late Hongwu era through the Jianwen era, the Ming government repaired breached sections of the Yellow River and carried out partial dredging, but full navigation of the Huitong Canal was never restored. These transport difficulties were an important backdrop to the Yongle Emperor's later decision to dredge the Huitong Canal after moving the capital to Beijing.