Editing Tumu Crisis (section)

==Aftermath==
[[Empress Dowager Sun]] and [[Empress Qian]], who were leading the court, learned of the battle and the emperor's capture on the night of 2–3 September. They quickly sent gifts to Esen, along with a request for the emperor's release. Panic spread as the Beijing garrison was left with less than 100,000 soldiers and the fate of Datong and Xuanfu was uncertain.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=18}}

Reader-in-waiting Xu Cheng,{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=18}}{{efn|Hanlin Academician Reader-in-waiting ({{zhi|t=翰林院侍讀}}), rank 5b}} a native of Suzhou known for his military strategy skills and familiarity with the border situation, suggested temporarily moving the capital to the south to keep it safe from the enemy. Minister of Rites Hu Ying opposed this plan, arguing that the tombs of the Yongle and [[Xuande Emperor|Xuande]] emperors could not be abandoned.{{efn|The founder of the dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor, was buried in the south and the Beijing authorities remained formally "auxiliary" (''xingzai'') until 1441.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=19}}}} Vice Minister of War Yu Qian then strongly opposed the idea, even threatening to execute anyone who suggested it.{{efn|There was a precedent for Yu Qian's attitude. 450 years earlier, the then [[Grand chancellor (China)|chancellor]] of the [[Song dynasty]], [[Kou Zhun]], used the same threat when the [[Liao dynasty|Khitan]] attacked the Song capital of [[Kaifeng]].{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=19}}}} This calmed down the panicking officials, as Yu Qian was supported by influential eunuchs and Grand Secretaries Chen Xun ({{zhi|t=陳循}}) and Shang Lu ({{zhi|t=商輅}}). Although Empress Dowager Sun reluctantly approved staying and authorized any necessary actions to defend the capital, many officials chose to flee south, and some sent their families there for safety.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|pp=17, 19}}

Meanwhile, the Mongols approached Xuanfu and demanded entry into the city for the captured Emperor Yingzong and his entourage. The defenders of the city responded by shooting at them. The Mongols then retreated to Datong. In a separate message to Beijing, the emperor requested that supplies be provided for the Mongols. The local commanders at Datong also refused to open the gates; they cited imperial orders as their reason for not surrendering.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=20}} Regional commander Liu An went to the Mongol camp to meet with the emperor, followed by several officials and officers from the city, but the city was not surrendered. Liu An only handed over the local silver reserve (140,000 ''liang'') to the emperor, who then distributed it among the Mongol chieftains.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=21}}

On 4 September, Minister Wang Zhi requested the empress dowager appoint the Prince of Cheng to govern the country. The empress dowager agreed, but limited his authority by labeling it as "special" and "temporary".{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=21}} Additionally, she also promoted the two-year-old [[Chenghua Emperor|Zhu Jianshen]],{{sfnp|Goodrich|Fang|1976|p=291}} eldest son of the captured emperor, to the position of crown prince. This appointment was made on 6 September.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=21}}

Yu Qian used his position as the highest-ranking official in the [[Ministry of War (imperial China)|Ministry of War]] to oversee defense preparations. He ensured that grain was transported from the granaries in [[Tongzhou, Beijing|Tongzhou]], located near Beijing, where almost half of the grain stocks were stored.{{efn|Tongzhou had been a center of Mongol settlement since the time of the Yuan dynasty, and was now suspected of being in alliance with the enemy.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=22}}}} The Prince of Cheng also supported Yu's plan to gather military units from nearby provinces and the south, as well as levies from the metropolitan area. On 7 September, Yu was appointed as Minister of War. On the same day, commanders in Datong were warned against responding to the captured emperor's requests.{{sfnp|de Heer|1986|p=22}}

===Enthronement of a new emperor and the defense of Beijing===
{{Further|Defense of Beijing}}
On 15 September, officials in Beijing urged the Prince of Cheng to assume the role of emperor{{sfnp|Twitchett|Grimm|1988|p=326}} to stabilize the government and reduce the importance of the captured Emperor Yingzong in the hands of the Oirats.{{sfnp|Goodrich|Fang|1976|p=294}} Although initially hesitant, the prince eventually ascended the throne as the Jingtai Emperor on 17 (or 23){{sfnp|Twitchett|Grimm|1988|p=327}} September. He declared his captive brother as the "[[Taishang Huang|emperor emeritus]]" ({{zhi|c=太上皇帝}}; ''Taishang Huangdi''), a title that was purely honorary.{{sfnp|Goodrich|Fang|1976|p=291}}

In response to the threat of invasion from the Mongols, Yu Qian withdrew 80,000 soldiers from Xuanfu and other areas to defend Beijing. He also called in reserves from northern China, including transport and training units and coast guard units.{{sfnp|Twitchett|Grimm|1988|p=327}} New commanders were appointed and defenses were organized. Meanwhile, Esen once again approached Datong, this time claiming to be defending Emperor Yingzong's right to the throne. His claim was rejected by the garrison at Yanghe Pass. He then marched on Beijing with the intention of restoring Emperor Yingzong to the throne. The defenders at the Jijing Pass held off the Mongol army for several days before being outnumbered. Esen finally reached Beijing on 27 October. With 220,000 men at his disposal, Yu Qian was able to fend off the 70,000 Mongol troops. After five days of fighting, the Mongols realized they did not have the strength to take the city and returned to their homeland. Following Esen's failed campaign, the Ming troops were able to drive out the remaining smaller Mongol forces from China.{{sfnp|Twitchett|Grimm|1988|p=328}} As a result of Esen's defeat, Mongol unity began to crumble rapidly. Just a few days after his departure from Beijing, Toghtoa Bukha Khan sent an envoy with tribute to the Ming court.{{sfnp|Twitchett|Grimm|1988|p=329}}

In the following weeks, the Mongols continued their border raids, sometimes involving numerous detachments. The Ming army, commanded from Beijing by Yu Qian, responded by strengthening the defenses of the passes, while the Ming cavalry cleared the border steppes. The operations of the Ming troops did not have significant results, but they faced difficulties in supplying their troops due to the destruction of the surrounding area.{{sfnp|Twitchett|Grimm|1988|p=329}}

Esen then offered to release Emperor Yingzong, but the Jingtai Emperor was hesitant to accept, as he wanted to solidify his position in the palace and government before allowing his brother to return.{{sfnp|Twitchett|Grimm|1988|p=329}} As a result, Emperor Yingzong was not able to return until September 1450, remaining in captivity for twelve and a half months.{{sfnp|Goodrich|Fang|1976|p=291}} Upon his return, the Jingtai Emperor felt threatened by Emperor Yingzong and ordered him to stay in the Southern Palace within the [[Forbidden City]], limiting his contact with the outside world. Essentially, Emperor Yingzong was under house arrest.{{sfnp|Goodrich|Fang|1976|p=291}}