Zhengtong Emperor
Esen encouraged hundreds of Mongol, Hami, and Samarkand-based Muslim merchants to accompany his missions to the Ming Emperor. Beginning in 1439 Taisun Khan and Esen sent envoys to the Ming, often numbering more than 1,000. They asked for more and more gifts. In response to this inflation of numbers, the Zhengtong Emperor (1427–64; 大明英宗正統皇帝；明英宗) decreased trade with Esen and Taisun Khan, and closed border trade with the Northern Yuan.