Língzhōu

Lingzhou occupied a place on the northwestern Shandong plain that later became Dezhou, an important stop on the Grand Canal. In 1374 the Ming moved the seat of Dezhou west to this city, while the former seat became a separate county. Canal traffic brought officials, merchants and foreign envoys through the town. In 1417 the eastern king of Sulu died here while returning from a visit to the Ming court. He was buried with royal honours, and members of his family remained to tend his tomb.