Zhu Yuanzhang

Name: Zhu Yuanzhang
ISBN: 9787559447593

Yinshan DuJiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaDec 2021

4.0

Word count: 180K words
Chapters: 72
ISBN: 9787559447593

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Summary

Build high walls: establish a foundation. In the chaotic late Yuan, when warlords fought everywhere, Zhu Yuanzhang had a full strategic plan from the start. He fixed his eyes on Jinling, the vital town commanding the Yangtze. Not only was it strategically located and easy to defend, but it was also wealthy, providing inexhaustible resources for his campaigns. So while others scrambled for territory, Zhu concentrated on taking Jinling and made it his base. Stockpile grain: consolidate the rear. He immediately set about restoring agriculture, improving livelihoods, and stabilizing social order. Before his base was secure, he would not rashly expand like his rivals. A year later, Jinling had ample grain and a stable population; a solid rear area made him invulnerable. Delay claiming kingship: shun empty titles and develop quietly. While rivals of comparable strength—Xu Shouhui, Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng—declared themselves emperors or kings, Zhu resisted the temptation and low-key called himself only "Duke of Wu" in Jinling. As his enemies drew attention and were pursued by Yuan armies, he developed in peace, grew strong, waited for the right moment, defeated all rivals, and founded the Ming dynasty that lasted nearly three centuries. Open this book to see how Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang won the empire through these nine words and three maxims.

Editor's review

This book uses the nine-word, three-maxim strategy—"build high walls, stockpile grain, delay claiming kingship"—as its thread, tracing Zhu Yuanzhang's strategic choices from securing Jinling to founding the Ming. Author Du Yinshan focuses on the logic of decisions: first establish a base, then restore production and stabilize the rear, and finally exercise restraint while rivals declare themselves kings, biding his time. The book avoids dramatic embellishment, explaining the trade-offs of a chaotic era clearly so readers can see how "steady progress" turned step by step into advantage. For readers who want to understand the late Yuan–early Ming landscape without drowning in dense historical sources, this is an accessible popular history. Watch for the sequence among the three strategies and Zhu's patience while rivals took royal titles—these are the core points the book returns to throughout.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in late Yuan–early Ming history who want to understand Zhu Yuanzhang's rise
Popular history readers who enjoy reading history through strategy and decision-making
General readers who need an easy introduction that maps out the warlord landscape
Anyone curious about the "build high walls, stockpile grain, delay claiming kingship" strategy

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers expecting rigorous academic verification and extensive source notes
History readers who prefer psychological portrayal or literary narrative
Readers hoping one book covers every detail of Zhu Yuanzhang's entire life

Reading tips

Start with the chapters built around the nine-word, three-maxim strategy to establish the overall strategic framework
When rivals declare themselves kings, compare Zhu's choices and consider the costs and benefits of "delay"
Read alongside a simple map of late Yuan warlords to clarify Jinling's position relative to other forces
After finishing, retell the sequence of the three strategies in a few sentences to check your understanding

About the publisher

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1958

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on literary publishing while also covering the humanities, social sciences, and books on art and daily life. Its approximately 1,535 titles in the database span social novels, world history, design, science fiction, classic works, and film and television: they include modern Chinese literary classics by Lu Xun such as A Madman's Diary: The Complete Short Stories of Lu Xun, Call to Arms, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, as well as foreign literary memoirs like Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday. In science fiction it offers Asimov's Galactic Empire series, while in architecture and art it publishes Liu Dunzhen's Classical Gardens of Suzhou and design titles from Phoenix Space. Its authors are concentrated among classic writers such as Lu Xun, Zweig, and Asimov, with translators including Liang Xijiang, Zhong Haonan, and Ye Lihua. Its overall character is built on classic works while embracing genre fiction and visual culture. Public information is limited, and this introduction is based on the titles in the database.

版权信息
第一章出身布衣，稳扎稳打往上爬
从和尚开始
投奔郭子兴
独立事业的起点
称王干什么
巧树威信
从老三到老大
渡江战役
第二章步步为营，从吴国公到吴王
夹缝中讨生活
方国珍与刘伯温的算盘
龙湾大败陈友谅
解救韩林儿
缓救南昌
决战鄱阳湖
吴王朱元璋
第三章目标明确，南征北战灭劲敌
对张士诚开战
剪除张士诚的胳臂
韩林儿的归宿
消灭张士诚
横扫南中国
北伐元王朝
第四章大明开国，皇帝也搞小动作
安插杨宪
宰相之争
杨宪之死
李善长退休
廖永忠之死
与老百姓同治腐败
空印案
朱元璋式分封制
第五章疑心深重，诛杀功臣
胡惟庸是个什么玩意儿
占城朝贡事件
神秘的胡家井
收网行动
“飙车”事件
胡惟庸之死
朱亮祖案
死因成谜的李文忠
一封实名举报信
追赃：消灭富户
胡惟庸案的“二次传播”
李善长被捉
解缙的一封信
“发疯”的朱元璋
捉住臣子的“小辫子”
第六章防患未然，挑选接班人
太子朱标的父皇和母后
父子矛盾
巡抚西安
谁是接班人
战神蓝玉
朱元璋布局
教育朱允炆
第七章加固皇权，扫除仅存的障碍
傅友德的小聪明
朱元璋审核郭英
耿炳文哭了
酒鬼汤和
傅友德之死
冯胜之死
加固朱允炆皇权的“三板斧”
第八章一生勤勉，拼到最后一刻
相信《烧饼歌》
五千宫女事件
两位辅臣
一个箱子
朱元璋的遗嘱
后记

FAQ

What exactly are the "nine words and three maxims"?

They refer to building high walls, stockpiling grain, and delaying claiming kingship. The book treats these as Zhu Yuanzhang's core strategy: first take Jinling to establish a base, then restore agriculture and secure the rear, and finally stay low-key while rivals declare themselves kings, avoiding attention and waiting for the right moment to defeat them.

Is this a rigorous academic work?

It leans toward popular history, using a strategic thread to narrate Zhu Yuanzhang's rise; the writing is clear and accessible. For rigorous source verification or extensive notes, look for academic works; this book is suited to building an overall picture before delving deeper as interest dictates.

Why did Zhu Yuanzhang insist on not claiming kingship?

The book stresses that "delaying kingship" was about shunning empty titles and developing quietly. While rivals such as Xu Shouhui, Chen Youliang, and Zhang Shicheng declared themselves emperors or kings and drew Yuan armies after them, Zhu called himself only Duke of Wu, allowing him to develop and grow his strength in peace while biding his time.

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About the author

Yinshan Du Author · Chinese · 1979

Yinshan Du, born in 1979, is a Chinese history writer and an expert on Wang Yangming's School of Mind. He holds a master's degree in history from Renmin University of China and is the founder of the Shenzhen Yangming Culture Academy. His work centers on Chinese history and Eastern philosophy, spanning social psychology, politics, biography, classics, and world history, with 35 titles held in the collection. His representative work, the Knowing and Acting as One: Wang Yangming series, has had wide influence, alongside bestselling histories such as Genghis Khan: Will Conquers the World and Zeng Guofan: Conquering the World the Slow, Stupid Way. His writing translates historical figures and the philosophy of the mind into accessible narratives for general readers, balancing readability with knowledge and exerting broad influence in popularizing history and Wang Yangming's thought.