Why did Zhu Yuanzhang initially recognize Han Lin’er as his superior?

Zhu Yuanzhang initially recognized Han Lin’er—a pretender to the Song dynasty throne—as his superior primarily as a strategic political maneuver.

During his rise to power, Zhu was advised by scholars to present himself as a national leader fighting against the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty rather than merely a popular rebel. By acknowledging Han Lin’er, who was considered a legitimate claimant to the Song imperial line, Zhu gained a degree of political legitimacy and a broader base of support among those opposed to Mongol rule. This recognition allowed him to consolidate his authority in the Nanjing area while maintaining a facade of loyalty to a higher, traditional cause, even though Han Lin’er was ineffectual and Zhu remained the true power in his own territories.1