Correction As a sith lord fighting the evil within, he pretext creating his own empire in order to keep the true sith secret allow to use 40% of the true empire ground forces, him to keep distance from vitiate in his report he was wrecking the republic destroying everythings, in reality he was helping the republic to build a war economy, and was carefully taking the defence instalation while make minimal civilians causalties.
Remember Gnost dural timeline about the problem of a democratic governement? Revan totaly knew it because he have been in contact with the great sith emperor vitiate. So his decision explain a lot and would have taken the control of the republic if Malak never betrayed him.. He have also planned to build a star forge at malachor V...
He also stabilise the republic, by eliminating some disturbing members.... This an echani ambassador and then he kill Yusanis : (the husband of his old secret master Aren Kae now Darth Traya) in a Kagath duel with a small portion of his fleet and board his ship an kill him in a regular duel.... He left Darth Traya at malachor V before creating his own empire. Traya disagree he ragdoll her an put her K.O under 3 second, he spar her by respect for his previous master.
Revan knew the existance of Malachor V since the begining of the mandalorian war he studdy at the trayus academmy 1 years before to be join by his master Aren Kae who get exile for having a daughter with Yusanis (in fact the council know this since 10 years but she play the bouc emissaire for Revan actions...)
They studdy the unlimitted field of knowledge offer by the 500 sith holocron for 2 years more. So he studdy at Malachor for 3 years.
When he tracked the mandalorian to Domund Kaas Vitiate after kicking them (Revan and Malak) with a mega giga force storm and corrupting their mind, vitiate teached to Revan via the force everything he could teach in only one minute... He also increase his mental barriers. That's why when the council capture him they had to use the dark side to reprogram his mind... Even if he was amnesic....
Strangly enough Revan recover quicly from the brain washing, he also return to malachor V and Traya take him as an apprentice (that was before he ragdoll her okay? Do you follow me?) she was glad than Revan finaly return to her in the past she was supplicating him to abandon his lubby to save the republic etc....
Revan while cherching the star map, land on Korriban he found the exar kun apprentice they quicly project to build an other sith academmy here.
So Revan discover many holocron but he let them in place, he found Tulak hord holocron, where Tulak hord record everythings about his deadly dueling technics....
I've also found than Darth Revan was sapring with Malak regulary and he was using HK-47 to keep malak angry (or rather insane Malak was the original meat-bag).. Because he was testing Malak skill to be sure to keep the upper advantage, Malak was a blizting user of form VII cappble of quicly finding the adversary weaknesse capble of dodging any attacks... Th mind preset used by Malak was a pain in the ass for Revan preco fortunatly Revan was a complete master at controlling his own emotions, using them casting them. So he let the force flow his mind leading him where he want to be lead. Instead of relying on a cold an cool tactical mind...
He also can use his own emotions or surface tough to hide his real toughs and real goals.
He also on Lehon or Rakattas prime slain armies of Rakattas warriors and rancors and other war beast etc... With alter environement (Rakattas called it elementary magic because they didn't know what it really was) he was controlling fire, air, earth, and even summoning lightning from the sky.