Why did Zhu Yuanzhang declare that he would liberate China from Mongol rule?

Zhu Yuanzhang’s decision to declare the liberation of China from Mongol rule was a strategic evolution in his rise to power. Initially, his movement was one of many localized rebellions against the Yuan dynasty, driven by widespread economic hardship, excessive taxation, and the Mongol ruling class's inability to manage agricultural crises or establish rapport with the Chinese population.12

As Zhu expanded his influence, he sought the guidance of educated members of the gentry class. These advisors played a crucial role in persuading him to shift his public image from that of a popular rebel leader to a national figurehead fighting for the restoration of Chinese rule. By framing his campaign as a mission to liberate China from foreign Mongol authority, Zhu successfully consolidated support among the Chinese elite and unified various factions under his leadership. This ideological shift provided the legitimacy necessary to establish the Ming dynasty in 1368, ultimately allowing him to drive the Mongols out of the capital and restore indigenous governance.324