Ming Wei Garrison Military System

Timeline

1. 1361–1365Jianghuai region · JianghuaiDuring his wars of unification, Zhu Yuanzhang followed late Yuan military household practices, experimenting with thousand- and hundred-household units in his forces and running self-sustaining military colonies, laying the organizational and provisioning foundation for the later nationwide wei-suo system.
2. 1368Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) · JiangnanAfter founding the dynasty, the Ming founder promulgated wei-suo regulations, with the Five Military Commissions commanding the guards, establishing hereditary military households, fixed garrison stations, and self-sustaining military colonies, marking the Ming military system's entry into an institutionalized stage.
3. 1369–1370Eastern China and northern frontier defenses · ChinaIn the second and third years of Hongwu, the court established guards and battalions on a large scale in key Jiangnan locations and along the northern frontier, incorporating surrendered troops and military households into the garrison system, forming the prototype of a network guarding the capital and controlling coastal and frontier defenses.