What role did Chen Xuan play in restoring the Grand Canal?

Under the reign of the Yongle emperor, Chen Xuan played a pivotal role in securing the grain supply necessary for the relocation of the capital to Beijing. Initially, Chen Xuan oversaw a highly successful reorganization of coastal transport around the Shandong Peninsula.1

As the emperor sought to restore the Grand Canal to replace the perilous sea route, Chen Xuan led the rehabilitation of its southern segments, completing this work by 1415. Following this success, sea transport was abandoned in favor of the canal system. Chen Xuan served as the supreme commander of the Grand Canal system until his death in 1433, managing an army-operated waterway complex that stretched from Hangzhou to the outskirts of Beijing. His efforts ensured the reliable delivery of grain in quantities sufficient to meet the needs of the northern capital, with annual deliveries exceeding 3,000,000 piculs (200,000 tons) by 1421.1