The Wall of Inner City Π

The third phase of construction was during Zhengtong period. The main content of construction was to build city gates and turrets. Yingzong Emperor ordered eunuch Ruan An, General Shen Qing and Minister of Works Wu Zhong to lead tens of thousands of workers and soldiers to build the nine city gate towers. The project lasted for four years. Compared to the city gate towers of Yuan Dynasty, Ming city gate towers were much more splendid. After repairs, the turrets were more imposing, which can be evidenced by the remaining southeast turret of the Inner City. Besides, the emperor also ordered to widen and deepen the city moat. At some important places, moat band were built with bricks and stones. Originally, wooden bridges were built over the moat to link the nine city gates with the outside. This time, the wooden bridges were all replaced with stone bridges with water lock. Over all, the wall of the inner City(the main wall of Beijing)was completed after numerous repairs and enhancement in a long period of time. This grand and arduous project lasted for nearly 70 years, from the first year of Hongwu reign to the period of Zhengtong (1368-1436). Before its demolishment, the Inner City wall was 20 kilo- meters long, in a shape of rectangular with the east and west sides longer than the north and south sides. The walls were extremely strong, with rammed earth inside, stone and bricks covered outsides, and huge rectangular stone supported the basis. The actual height of the wall was 11.36 meters. The crenels were 1.8 meters high. Altogether, the wall was 13.2 meters high, 19.84 meters wide at the basis and 16 meters wide at tho top-secure against assault.