Why was Nanjing strategically important to Zhu Yuanzhang’s rise to power?

Nanjing was strategically vital to Zhu Yuanzhang’s rise to power primarily due to its geographic location near the fertile lands of the Yangtze River delta.1

After capturing the city in 1356, Zhu utilized Nanjing as a secure base of operations to consolidate his authority. By establishing an effective administration in the region with the guidance of scholars, he was able to move beyond the tactics of a wandering rebel force. This stability allowed him to encourage agriculture by distributing land to the landless, which strengthened his local support and provided the resources necessary to sustain his military campaigns against rivals and the Yuan dynasty.1

Ultimately, Nanjing served as the foundation for his transition from a regional rebel leader to the national leader of the Ming dynasty, eventually becoming the capital of a united China in 1368.213