The Ming Dynasty's Zhengde Emperor (r. 1505-1521) was a bamf. While the scholar-bureaucracy tried to rein him in to his ceremonial role, Zhengde repeatedly scoffed at the formal expectations placed upon him, and figured out ways to slip out of the strict role he was meant to play. After arranging things such that he was able to go lead the Ming armies against the Mongols for four months - during which time he issued few orders or responses to petitions or memorials - he messed with the officials upon his return. While the officials stumbled over themselves trying to make sure they performed all the ceremonial things properly, "The day before [the emperor's] arrival [back in Beijing,] he ordered palace attendants to distribute to all officials silk fabrics of imperial design, with pythons and flying fish - up to this time reserved for rare honors - now to be handed out in large numbers. The badges of military and civil ranks were completely mixed up. The shape of the hats was designed by the emperor. That night the recipients of the textiles were told to have their costumes made in time for the welcoming assembly outside the city wall the next morning, which was to take place without a rehearsal. When the courtiers were further instructed to display banners and posters stating welcoming messages, they were in a dilemma as to how to find a proper way of addressing themselves: because His Majesty now chose to call himself 'General of the Army of Greater Valor,' it would have been inappropriate for the officials to sign themselves 'Your loyal subjects.' On the triumphal day it rained and snowed. The emperor, arriving on a chestnut-colored horse, stopped at the city gate for the ritual glass of wine handed him by the first grand-secretary, then galloped directly toward [his residence], leaving thousands of officials stumbling and slipping behind him in the muddy streets." -Ray Huang, 1587: A Year of No Significance, Yale University Press (1981), 97.