The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

Chapter 112 Unexpected People

The tender moment was short-lived, as the sound of a young eunuch bowing and announcing his arrival could be heard from outside the hall.

"Lord Lin, His Majesty has decreed that you proceed to the Longjiang Shipyard immediately. Lord Zheng He has already led his fleet and is waiting at the dock, awaiting your departure."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue reluctantly released Kuai Yue from his arms.

Kuai Yue nudged his arm, forcing herself to remain calm, and said, "State affairs are of utmost importance. Go quickly, lest His Majesty remain waiting."

Even so, her hand first touched his collar, gently smoothing out the wrinkles at the neckline of his court robe, and then straightening the jade belt at his waist, over and over again, even smoothing out the fine lines on the hem of his robe that had been lifted by the wind.

The person who had just advised him against indulging in a life of pleasure was now refusing to let go.

She took a hand-sewn medicine pouch from the table, put it in his arms, and whispered, "Inside are pills to ward off the cold and seasickness. The sea is rough and the wind is strong."

Be sure to eat three meals a day on time; don't let work ruin your health.

After a long while, Kuai Yue finally made up her mind, took half a step back, and bowed deeply.

"The journey across the vast ocean is long and fraught with danger. Please take care of yourself. I wish you a safe and secure return."

Lin Yue turned to look at her, sighed softly, and then strode away with the eunuch.

As they arrived outside the palace gates, a tall, chestnut-colored horse was already prepared, its saddle and bridle gleaming. Zhao Hu stood outside the gate, holding the reins, and rushed forward when he saw him come out.

Wei Yao mounted his horse and was about to whip it towards the shipyard when he encountered an unexpected person blocking his way.

The newcomer was Yao Guangxiao, dressed in a black monk's robe, with disheveled hair and a pale face, completely lacking the solemn and composed demeanor of the former "Black-Robed Prime Minister".

Lin Yue was taken aback and immediately reined in his horse.

He glanced around; the palace road was deserted, with only the imperial guards on duty and some attendants who would accompany him on his mission to Korea.

Lin Yue rode forward, his tone tinged with surprise: "Master, you've been waiting here specifically to see me?"

Yao Guangxiao raised his eyes, without a word of pleasantries or formalities, and went straight to the point, his voice hoarse: "Lin Yue, tell me, what exactly is exploitation in this world?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue was completely taken aback. He never expected that Yao Guangxiao would deliberately wait for him at the palace gate, not asking about the corruption in the imperial examinations or his important mission, but instead asking such a seemingly random question.

Lin Yue was only momentarily stunned before regaining her composure.

He pulled on the reins, and the chestnut horse reared up, snorted, and stood firmly in the middle of the palace road.

Lin Yue looked down at Yao Guangxiao, not answering directly, but instead raising an eyebrow and asking, "Master, you wear monk's robes, enter the court, and have seen through half a century of rise and fall. You already have your own opinions, so why come all the way to ask me?"

Yao Guangxiao grinned and said, "That's right, I have my own answer."

He took half a step forward, his gaze ruthless, and uttered a startling statement: "I have worn monk's robes all my life and recited Buddhist scriptures for half my life, but I have never believed in the equality of all beings or karma and retribution."

In my opinion, exploitation is nothing more than the law of the jungle.

So-called exploitation is never an evil thing that goes against the natural order, but rather the natural law of the world where the strong prey on the weak.

Tigers prey on sheep, eagles hunt rabbits; the strong exploit the weak, profiting from their labor for their own enrichment—this has always been the way of nature, something that cannot be changed by human effort.

"The emperor collects taxes from the land, officials and gentry collect rent from the fields, and merchants earn profits from the price difference between buying and selling. They are all essentially the same thing, only differing in strength and the names used to make profits."

Yao Guangxiao sneered: "From ancient times to the present, there has never been a world without exploitation. So-called chaotic times are nothing more than the strong taking without restraint, forcing the people to live to the point of rebellion."

It repeats itself endlessly, without exception.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue immediately retorted, "Master's words are completely wrong."

"Tigers eat sheep and eagles hunt rabbits; this is the way of different species to eat each other, which is the way of birds and beasts. But humans are of the same kind and origin, so how can they be compared with birds and beasts?"

If we apply the rule of killing one another to one’s own kind, then what is the difference between humans and beasts?

If, as you say, the law of the jungle is the way of heaven, then why did Jie and Zhou, who relied on their strength to exploit the people, lose their empires? Why are Yao and Shun, who protected and cared for the people, remembered for eternity? Why were the tyrannical and incompetent rulers of all dynasties overthrown by the common people?

"Furthermore, the taxes collected by the court are also used to repair water conservancy, defend against foreign aggression, and provide relief to the people in need. The so-called 'taking from the people and using for the people' is true. However, the excessive collection of rent by officials and gentry and the hoarding and exploitation by unscrupulous merchants are like sucking the marrow from the bones, satisfying their own selfish desires, and harming the lives of countless families."

These two things should not be confused; it's merely a high-sounding excuse for those who bully the weak.

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao smiled dismissively: "All empty words, yet spoken with such force and conviction."

"What do you think these powerful rulers and heroes rely on to achieve their great deeds and leave their mark? It's never benevolence or morality, but the blood and sweat of the people, and the exploitation of their wealth!"

He took half a step forward, his gaze sharp as a knife as he stared at Lin Yue: "Qin Shi Huang conquered the six kingdoms, and Emperor Wu of Han drove the Xiongnu far away. Which of these unparalleled achievements was not built on the taxes of the world and the strength of the people of the four seas?"

Even if Your Majesty had seized power and established the dynasty, how could you have conquered Nanjing and ascended to the throne if you had not taken the wealth and resources of Jiangnan to support the powerful troops in the north?

Throughout history, the strong have survived and the weak have perished; the law of the jungle prevails. This is an immutable law of nature, and you cannot change it with a few empty words.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue not only did not get angry, but instead reined in his horse and laughed loudly.

He didn't argue forcefully, but simply followed Yao Guangxiao's lead and slowly said, "Let's not discuss whether it's right or wrong to have always done it this way."

Since the master said that the world is a place where the strong prey on the weak, I will follow his words.

If we truly consider strength and weakness, victory and defeat, the strongest will ultimately stand firm and endure.

They must be people who can unite the masses and contribute to the prosperity of the nation, not those petty people who only know how to bully the weak and sacrifice the common good for their own selfish interests.

He raised his hand and pointed north: "The tribes of the grasslands live by following the water and grass. The law of the jungle prevails a hundred times more than in the Central Plains. Fathers and sons kill each other, brothers fight each other, and the strong take the wives, daughters, cattle and sheep of the weak as if it were commonplace."

But they repeatedly invaded the south, and when they compared themselves with our Chinese civilization, what was the final outcome? For thousands of years, they have lost more often than they have won.

"Our Chinese nation reveres benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, teaching all people to abide by the rules and regulations, share joys and sorrows, build water conservancy projects to ensure the safety of agriculture and sericulture, establish laws and regulations to protect the vulnerable and the weak, and when faced with foreign enemies, the whole country is united in heart and mind, sharing a common hatred for the enemy." Lin Yuele turned his horse around, his face gleaming.

"Those who only know how to exploit and suck the marrow from within may seem like powerful people who have gained all the advantages, but in reality they have eroded the people's morale and severed the foundation of the nation. In the end, they are nothing more than a pile of loose sand, which is vulnerable to attack."

The master spent half his life practicing Zen, and must have understood the rise and fall of dynasties, so why didn't he see through this simple truth?

How can a tyrant rely on strength and the law of the jungle prevail over a government that unites the people and brings peace and prosperity to the nation?

How can a nation that fights alone and relies on the survival of the fittest possibly defeat a nation that is united, loving, and benevolent?

Lin Yue said loudly, "If this world is truly a world of the strong preying on the weak, and it has never changed since ancient times, then our China, by following this way of the king and raising this army of the king, should also be the true strongman who will establish the world."

Even the greatest valor of a tyrant, though unparalleled in his time, is ultimately weak and isolated. Throughout history, powerful dynasties and nations have invariably achieved their dominance by uniting the hearts and minds of their people and concentrating the strength of the entire nation.

Following the logic of the survival of the fittest, individual heroism is too weak. All the world's powerful nations emphasize patriotic education and strengthen national cohesion.

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao stood still, his brows furrowed.

His disdain and arrogance vanished completely. Known as the Black-Clad Prime Minister, his desires differed from those of ordinary people. He did not seek wealth or power, but only to leave his name in history and become famous throughout the world.

He had seen through half a century of rise and fall, witnessed the changing of dynasties, and believed himself to have attained the truth, considering himself a grandmaster of his generation.

It wasn't until he met Lin Yue this year that he began to think again, trying to understand the world anew through Lin Yue's extraordinary words and actions.

Seeing that he was lost in thought, Lin Yue did not press his advantage, but instead returned to the question from the beginning.

"Since the master asked what exploitation is, I will explain it to you in detail."

The essence of exploitation is nothing more than the ruthless seizure of the surplus profits generated by the people's labor.

He paused, then used the most familiar example of farming to explain it clearly and simply: "People work with their hands, cultivating land, spinning yarn and weaving cloth, and the grains and cloth they produce are all the benefits of their labor."

The common people who could contribute their labor ultimately received barely enough to make a living, while the profits generated from their labor far exceeded this. The extra portion was simply the surplus profit that was taken away by others.

"The root cause of this exploitation lies in the fact that the very things that people need to live and make a living are monopolized by others."

Lin Yue looked into the distance towards the streets and alleys of Nanjing and said in a deep voice, "In this great Ming Dynasty, the most obvious thing is the division of land ownership."

The gentry and powerful families controlled vast tracts of fertile land, oxen, farming tools, seeds, and granaries, while ordinary people possessed nothing but their physical strength. To survive, they had no choice but to sell their labor to the landowners.

Yao Guangxiao raised an eyebrow and immediately retorted: "Isn't this just the tenant farmer system that is found all over Jiangnan?"

Tenants cultivate the landlord's land, and the landlord provides rent rice to the tenants to sustain their lives. This is a mutually agreeable arrangement, and has been the case since ancient times. What's wrong with that?

Lin Yue shook his head: "The master only looks at voluntariness, but he didn't see through the unfairness and coercion in this distribution."

With their monopoly on land, powerful families seized seven or eight tenths of the profits earned by the people through their labor. After a year of hard work, the tenants received very little, and the remaining grain and goods all ended up in the pockets of the powerful families.

Such a distribution is utterly unequal; how can it be considered fair?

"If this continues, the rich will own vast tracts of land, while the poor will have nowhere to stand. Land annexation will intensify day by day, forcing the people to the brink of starvation, leaving them with no choice but to rise up in rebellion."

Lin Yue's voice was ethereal: "The so-called dynastic changes that occur every three hundred years are rooted in this excessive exploitation."

His words truly captured the essence of the rise and fall of dynasties.

Yao Guangxiao shuddered, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He spent half his life meditating and half his life strategizing, witnessing the fall of the Yuan Dynasty and the rise of the Ming Dynasty, and the flames of the Jingnan Rebellion. At first, he thought that the cause of the cycle of rise and fall was destiny, but as he grew older, he believed that the cause was strength and weakness.

Only today, after hearing Lin Yue's words, did I realize that the root cause of the rise and fall of dynasties lies in exploitation.

For a moment, Yao Guangxiao felt a sudden realization, but then an endless chill ran through him.

Lin Yue spoke at length, and knowing he had said too much, he immediately spurred his horse to take his leave: "That's all I have to say. Your Majesty is in a hurry to depart, so I must take my leave."

Having said that, he was about to whip his horse when Yao Guangxiao suddenly stepped forward and shouted a question.

"Lin Yue, since that's the case, do you think it's possible to create a world without exploitation or annexation, where people can enjoy a peaceful and prosperous era forever?"

Must all people in the world be condemned to endless cycles of slaughter in this chaotic world?

Lin Yue paused, and the chestnut horse stomped its feet twice and snorted. It wondered why the human on its back was moving forward and backward. It was starting to doubt Lin Yue's driving skills.

Lin Yue stood on horseback, initially wanting to give an affirmative answer, but soon a sense of confusion welled up in his heart.

This question has been asked and answered by countless sages throughout the ages, but who can truly do it?

In this world, who can say for sure what will happen before it's actually done?

After a long while, Lin Yue suddenly shouted, then cracked his whip and led Zhao Hu and his entourage at high speed toward the Longjiang Shipyard.

The crimson hem of the robe fluttered like a flag in the autumn wind, disappearing in an instant at the end of the palace road.

Before the empty city gate, only one sentence echoed.

"Do good deeds and don't worry about the future; a thousand years is too long, seize the day!"

Yao Guangxiao stood beneath the palace wall, gazing in the direction he had gone. He stood silently for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Laughter pierced the clouds and split rocks, its sound shaking the surrounding fields, startling the imperial guards on duty who all turned to look.

"This old monk dons his robes, yet he is ruthless and cruel. May the Buddha be merciful and vanquish demons." Yao Guangxiao's demeanor suddenly changed, and he took the initiative to enter the palace, a rare occurrence since the Jingnan Rebellion.

Yao Guangxiao is going to take action against the cheating in the imperial examinations!

Lin Yue rode his fine horse and galloped westward along the official road on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

The river breeze swept away all traces of the tender moments in the palace and the impeachments and disturbances in the court.

He galloped and surged along with the rhythm of the horse's hooves, feeling the vastness of the world and the boundless road ahead. Only a sense of magnanimity remained in his heart, without the slightest hesitation.

In less than half an hour, the continuous docks of Longjiang Shipyard could be seen in the distance, with giant masts like a forest, piercing the sky, and the Yangtze River waters crashing against the dock embankment, making a rumbling sound.

Lin Yue reined in his horse, and the chestnut horse reared up, snorted, and came to a steady stop in front of the main gate of the shipyard.

He dismounted, tossed the reins to Zhao Hu, and intended to go directly to find Zheng He, but then he discovered an unexpected person near the shipyard.

This man was Xie Jin, dressed in a blue robe, with his hair disheveled and not even tied up. He stared intently at the bluestone slabs beneath his feet, his back hunched, completely devoid of the spirited demeanor of a former Hanlin scholar and cabinet minister.

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow and stepped forward curiously: "Scholar Xie? What are you doing here?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Jin slowly raised his head. He no longer had the strong desire to argue that he used to have when they disliked each other. Instead, his eyes were filled with an unyielding dejection.

He stared at Lin Yue for a long time, then sighed softly, "His Majesty has issued an edict, stripping me of all my official positions and exiling me."

Scholar Lin is quite fortunate; His Majesty has actually sent you to Korea at this time.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat, and then he pondered to himself.

Xie Jin has always been arrogant and conceited, plunging headlong into the quagmire of factionalism among the scholars of Jiangnan. He is completely ignorant of the ways of advancement and retreat in the imperial court. Now that he has been exiled to a remote prefecture, he has avoided the vortex of right and wrong in the capital, which may not be a bad thing.

At least I won't die from being drunk and lying in the snow anymore.

However, Lin Yue was still very curious about Xie Jin's exile.

So he asked:

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