Xia Yuanji

Xia Yuanji (Chinese: 夏原吉) (1366–1430) was a Ming Dynasty government minister. He was born in Xiangyin County, Hunan Province, which was then part of Huguang Province. His ancestral home was Dexing, Jiangxi. Xia read the Classical of Poetry and became a Xiucai at the age of 23, joining the Guozijian. Early in his career, he saw service under the Hongwu Emperor and Jianwen Emperor. After the Yongle Emperor came to the throne, he was sent to inspect Suzhou Creek. Xia opposed both Zheng He's overseas and the Yongle Emperor's campaign against the Mongols. The latter caused him to be imprisoned, and he was released after the Yongle Emperor's death by the Hongxi Emperor.