The Rise of a Powerful Chancellor

In the bustling capital of Nanjing during the early Ming Dynasty, Chancellor Hu Weiyong stood as one of the most influential figures in Emperor Hongwu’s court. His grand residence, sprawling across vast grounds, was said to be so large that sunlight took considerable time to travel from its eastern walls to the western ones. Yet beneath this opulence lay brewing tensions—symbolized by the decaying camphor tree in his courtyard, its rotting leaves fouling the well water. This minor neglect mirrored a far greater political oversight that would soon unravel his career.

Hu Weiyong’s ascent to power was no accident. As a trusted advisor to Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu), he helped consolidate the emperor’s rule after the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty. However, by the 1370s, Hongwu—ever wary of concentrated authority—began dismantling the centralized administrative structure that had empowered Hu’s Chancellery (Zhongshu Sheng). The emperor’s reforms replaced provincial systems with fragmented regional offices, weakening Hu’s grip on governance.

The Emperor’s Calculated Moves

The power struggle escalated in 1376 when Hongwu uncovered Hu’s alliance with retired statesman Li Shanchang, sealed through a strategic marriage between their families. Recognizing the threat, Hongwu restructured military and surveillance bureaus to counterbalance the Chancellery’s influence. By 1378, he decreed that critical military affairs bypass Hu’s office entirely—an unmistakable blow.

Hu retaliated by rallying disgraced nobles like Lu Zhongheng and Fei Ju, secretly mobilizing forces. Though not treasonous, these maneuvers aimed to pressure Hongwu. The emperor, however, outflanked him by reinstating Li Shanchang alongside his adopted son Li Wenzhong to oversee key ministries, further marginalizing Hu.

The Decisive Scandal: Neglecting Diplomacy

The tipping point came in 1379 with the “Champa Tribute Incident.” Envoys from Champa (modern Vietnam) arrived bearing gifts, including prized Champa rice. Protocol demanded immediate imperial notification, but Hu—distracted by his feud with Hongwu—dismissed them. His colleague Wang Guangyang, often drunk and negligent, compounded the lapse.

When Hongwu’s spies reported the envoys’ presence, the emperor erupted. During the ensuing confrontation, Hu and Wang shifted blame, while the Ministry of Rites denied receiving any documents. Wang’s fatal mistake? Admitting his concubine was a criminal’s daughter—a violation of dynastic law. Hongwu exiled Wang to Hainan (where he was later executed) but spared Hu, leaving observers baffled.

Cultural Shadows and Lasting Legacy

The affair exposed deeper tensions in Ming governance. Hongwu’s paranoia about bureaucratic overreach led to purges that killed hundreds, foreshadowing Hu’s eventual downfall in 1380 for alleged treason. The abolition of the Chancellery thereafter marked a permanent shift toward absolute imperial control.

Historians debate Hongwu’s motives for delaying Hu’s punishment. Some suggest he awaited a pretext to dismantle the entire system; others argue Hu’s temporary reprieve served to expose more conspirators. The rotten camphor leaves in Hu’s well, ironically, became a metaphor for decay at the heart of his power—a warning about ambition unchecked by caution.

Today, the Hu Weiyong case exemplifies Ming authoritarianism’s roots. Hongwu’s tactics—fragmenting authority, exploiting minor infractions, and eliminating rivals—set precedents for later emperors. Meanwhile, the Champa rice incident underscores how diplomatic rituals masked fierce domestic power plays. For modern readers, this episode offers timeless lessons about the fragility of political favor and the high stakes of courtly intrigue.