Work had begun under the Yongle Emperor to reinstate the ancient Grand Canal of China, which had fallen into disuse and dilapidation during the previous Yuan Dynasty.

Between 1411 and 1415, a total of one hundred and sixty-five thousand laborers have dredged the canal bed in Shandong, built new channels, embankments, and canal locks.

Four large reservoirs in Shandong have also been dug in order to regulate water levels instead of resorting to pumping water from local tables.

A large dam is also constructed to divert water from the Wen River southwest into the Grand Canal.

This improvement to the grain shipment system of tribute traveling from south to north towards his new capital at Beijing solves the ongoing problem with the lack of food supply.