From Obscurity to Ambition: Zhu Yuanzhang’s Early Struggles

In the mid-14th century, China was in turmoil. The Yuan Dynasty, established by Mongol rulers, was crumbling under corruption, famine, and widespread rebellion. Among the countless rebels and warlords vying for power, one man stood out—Zhu Yuanzhang, a former peasant and Buddhist monk who would later found the Ming Dynasty. His journey began in the small, insignificant town of Hezhou, but he quickly realized its limitations. “Hezhou is too small,” he reportedly said, recognizing that greater ambitions required greater territory. His gaze turned toward Jinling, the strategic and historically significant city later known as Nanjing.

The Allure of Nanjing: A City of Kings and Emperors

Nanjing had long been considered a city of imperial destiny. Nestled along the Yangtze River, its geography was steeped in symbolism: the Purple Mountain coiled like a dragon, while the Stone Mountain loomed like a crouching tiger—a configuration known as “dragon coiled, tiger crouched.” Beyond its auspicious feng shui, Nanjing was a logistical and economic powerhouse. It had served as the capital for six previous dynasties, and under the Yuan, it was known as the prosperous Jiqing Circuit. The city was not only a military stronghold but also a hub of agriculture, trade, and river transport—essential advantages in an era when travel by land was slow and perilous.

The Call to Arms: Feng Guosheng’s Fateful Advice

Zhu Yuanzhang’s ambitions found a crucial advocate in Feng Guosheng (also known as Feng Sheng), a visionary military strategist. Feng urged Zhu to cross the Yangtze and seize Nanjing, arguing that control of the city would provide the resources and legitimacy needed to challenge the Yuan. The proposal resonated deeply with Zhu, who resolved to make the bold move. However, one major obstacle stood in his way: he lacked a navy.

The Pirate Who Changed History: Yu Tonghai’s Naval Power

Enter Yu Tonghai, a former pirate turned warlord. Though officially recorded in Ming histories as a “naval commander,” Yu was essentially a river bandit, operating much like the outlaws of Water Margin, extorting merchants and controlling waterways. To Zhu Yuanzhang, however, Yu’s ruthlessness was an asset. With Yu’s fleet of repurposed fishing boats—hardly a professional navy—Zhu launched his campaign, first capturing Caishi and Taiping before setting his sights on Nanjing.

The Bloody Road to Nanjing: Setbacks and Opportunism

Initial attempts to take Nanjing in 1355 ended in failure. Zhu underestimated the city’s defenses, and his makeshift fleet proved inadequate. Yet these defeats had an unexpected silver lining: his nominal superiors, Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou, perished in battle, leaving Zhu as the undisputed leader of the rebel forces. By 1356, Zhu personally led a three-pronged assault, finally breaching Nanjing’s walls after ten grueling days. Renaming the city Yingtian (“Responding to Heaven”), Zhu declared a new era—but his struggles were far from over.

The Perilous Neighbors: Surviving Among Giants

Zhu’s control of Nanjing placed him in a precarious position. To the east lay Yuan loyalists in Zhenjiang; to the southeast, the powerful warlord Zhang Shicheng ruled Suzhou; to the west, the Red Turban leader Xu Shouhui held sway; and to the north, the Yuan armies loomed. On paper, Zhu was surrounded by stronger rivals who dismissed him as a minor nuisance. Yet this underestimation worked in his favor. While his neighbors warred among themselves, Zhu bided his time, consolidating power.

Crucially, the Red Turban rebel Liu Futong acted as a buffer in the north, diverting Yuan forces away from Zhu. This created an ironic dynamic: those who could crush Zhu had no interest in doing so, while those who wanted to destroy him—namely the Yuan—were too preoccupied. Zhu exploited this window of opportunity, recognizing that his true threats lay not in the fading Yuan but in his ambitious neighbors: Zhang Shicheng and Chen Youliang.

The Cultural and Strategic Legacy of Nanjing’s Capture

Zhu’s seizure of Nanjing marked a turning point in Chinese history. The city became his base for administering justice, reforming land policies, and building a disciplined army—key factors in his eventual victory. Moreover, Nanjing’s symbolic weight lent legitimacy to his rule, reinforcing the ancient belief that controlling the city meant controlling the Mandate of Heaven.

From Rebel to Emperor: The Ming Dynasty’s Birth

The capture of Nanjing was just the beginning. Over the next decade, Zhu would eliminate Zhang Shicheng and Chen Youliang, defeat the Yuan, and proclaim himself the Hongwu Emperor in 1368. His rise from destitution to the throne remains one of history’s most dramatic reversals of fortune, and Nanjing’s role as his foothold cannot be overstated.

Modern Reflections: Why Zhu Yuanzhang’s Story Still Matters

Today, Zhu Yuanzhang’s conquest of Nanjing is studied not just as a military campaign but as a masterclass in opportunism, adaptability, and long-term strategy. His ability to turn weaknesses (like a ragtag navy) into advantages, and his shrewd reading of geopolitical rivalries, offer timeless lessons in leadership. Meanwhile, Nanjing’s enduring significance—as a cultural and political center—echoes the choices Zhu made over six centuries ago.

In the end, Hezhou was indeed too small for Zhu Yuanzhang. But Nanjing? Nanjing was just the beginning.