How did Zhu Yuanzhang govern the Nanjing region before becoming emperor?

After capturing Nanjing in 1356, Zhu Yuanzhang established an effective administration by seeking the guidance of educated men from the gentry class. Rather than roaming to plunder, he followed their advice to build a stable government alongside his military structure.1

His governance of the region included several key measures:

• Administrative Development: He assembled a rudimentary government and established an effective local administration.12
• Agricultural Reform: He encouraged agriculture by granting unused land to landless peasants.1
• Strategic Restraint: He refrained from aimless movement, focusing instead on consolidating his position in the strategically located city near the Yangtze River delta.12
• Political Positioning: While building his power base, he initially presented himself as a leader against the Mongols rather than a mere rebel, and he nominally acknowledged the Song dynasty pretender Han Lin'er as his superior.12

Through these efforts, Zhu transformed Nanjing into a secure headquarters, providing the foundation for his eventual rise as the Hongwu emperor.12