August ndash the 
Hongwu Emperor of the 
Ming Dynasty of 
China scraps the Office of Reports Inspection established in 1370 for a new Office of Transmission, in his efforts to create a more efficient communicatory system in the empire. A month before this he noted that anyone could send petitions to the throne commoners often did, although the only times their petitions were read aloud to the emperor was when they called for the impeachment of local officials that were not up to par with their official duties.