Emperor Hongwu's Reputation for a Harsh and Cruel Disposition Was

Emperor Hongwu's reputation for a harsh and cruel disposition was tempered in which of the following ways?

A) His wife,Empress Ma,was known for her compassion and emerged as the kinder face of the regime.
B) He placed governance in rural regions into the hands of sympathetic local leaders.
C) He emphasized social equality in order to earn loyalty from the marginalized members of society.
D) His prime minister took responsibility for the care of the poor.