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

Chapter 72 The Wind of Justice (Seeking First Subscription)

Taking advantage of the standoff between the common people and the Imperial Guards, Lin Yue began to struggle violently.

Upon seeing this, Lin Yue's chestnut warhorse suddenly raised its head and neighed, then rushed closer.

"Hiss—!"

With a sway of its head and a stretch of its leg, the two imperial guards escorting the prisoners stumbled and fell to the ground.

Lin Yue was overjoyed at the sight. He leaped onto the horse's back, grabbed the reins, patted the horse's neck with his right hand, and laughed heartily, "Good horse, wonderful!"

The chestnut horse galloped forward, carrying him towards the people.

The people immediately made way for Lin Yue to ride in, then quickly closed the path again, raising shovels and sticks to firmly protect him in the center.

Lin Yue reined in his horse and shouted at Ji Gang.

"Lord Ji! There's an old saying that a general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders!"

The floods in Jiangnan were devastating; in Shanghai County, refugees were everywhere, and riverbanks were on the verge of collapse. If I were to leave, countless people would perish at the hands of fish.

Today I must go to Shanghai County to deal with the disaster. Once the floodwaters have subsided, I will go to Nanjing to apologize. I beg you, sir, to show leniency!

Ji Gang's face was ashen.

Show leniency? If he releases Lin Yue, will Emperor Yongle show him leniency?

But the crowd of people in front of him was densely packed, their eyes filled with anger, and they all looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy, which made his situation very difficult.

He was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in charge of the imperial prison and arresting treacherous officials, but he had never seen a commoner protect an official who defied an imperial decree like this.

If they really took action, swords have no eyes, and if it incited a popular uprising and they accidentally killed a talent valued by Zhu Di, then they would be finished.

After all, Lin Yue didn't suffer severe punishment for beheading the county magistrate, so Zhu Di clearly valued talent and just wanted to bring Lin Yue back to Nanjing to avoid doing anything too extreme.

Seeing Ji Gang hesitate, Lin Yue burst into laughter, his voice shaking the heavens and the earth.

"Lord Ji! Heaven's will is the will of the people. Now the people are wholeheartedly focused on controlling the floods, why do you go against the tide?"

He turned to the people behind him and shouted loudly before spurring his horse away: "Fellow villagers! Follow me to Shanghai County to quell the flood and protect our homes!"

A river breeze, carrying the scent of damp earth, wafted over Lin Yue from behind, causing his robes to flutter loudly.

The winds of justice are blowing from behind him, from among the millions of people.

"Let's go! We'll follow Lord Lin to Shanghai County!"

The people echoed in unison, crowding around Lin Yue's warhorse as they marched eastward into the city.

Liu Zhong watched the departing crowd, then couldn't help but step forward and whisper.

"Lord Ji, are we just going to let them go like this?"

The disaster in Shanghai County is even more severe, with refugees everywhere. If Lord Lin goes... I'm afraid he'll unleash another massacre!

He had followed Lin for several days and knew the imperial envoy's temperament all too well.

They couldn't tolerate corruption and bribery, nor could they bear to see the people suffer. As soon as they saw displaced people, they would expose the unscrupulous merchants who hoarded goods and killed the inactive officials and gentry, which would lead to another bloodbath.

"Otherwise what?" Ji Gang retorted angrily, "Then tell me, are you going to attack the people, or am I?"

A bizarre scene unfolded.

Ahead was Lin Yue riding a chestnut horse, in the middle were commoners carrying farm tools and walking hurriedly, and behind them followed a group of Imperial Guards.

Ji Gang spurred his horse forward and lagged far behind Lin Yue, earnestly trying to persuade him.

"Lin Yue, Lin Gejian, Lin Xueshi, Lord Lin, do not act foolishly!"

His Majesty was only slightly angry, but considering your merit in controlling the floods, he did not really intend to punish you.

"Come back to the capital with me, sincerely apologize, and a bright future awaits you. Why defy the imperial decree and ruin your future?"

He thought his words would sway Lin Yue, but little did he know that they only strengthened her resolve.

Lin Yue was secretly surprised.

He acted so recklessly, yet he was only slightly angry?

Then wouldn't all his efforts in beting his time by beheading the county magistrate and confiscating the property of wealthy households have been in vain?

However, everything has a dialectical nature. From another perspective, his actions in Jiangnan were too restrained. In the future, he should be more assertive, expose more traitors who harm the country and the people, and carry out more thorough investigations and executions.

Lin Yue turned to Ji Gang and said loudly, "Lord Ji, there's no need for further words. The people of Shanghai County are still waiting for me. I will not return to the capital until the flood is quelled."

Ji Gang looked helpless upon hearing this.

This was the most helpless day he had ever experienced since becoming a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, even more so than when Zhu Di asked him to find Emperor Jianwen, which he could not find no matter what he tried.

In the Imperial City of Nanjing, in front of the Fengtian Hall, the atmosphere of the court assembly was solemn.

Minister of Rites Li Zhigang stepped forward, his court robes billowing, and with hands clasped, loudly impeached the official.

"Your Majesty! Hanlin Academician Lin Yue has acted recklessly and disregarded the laws of the court!"

The Great Ming Code states that "officials may not execute without a joint trial by the three judicial departments," which is the foundation of ancestral regulations!

Even if the magistrate of Wu County had committed a fault, he should have been sent to Nanjing for punishment. Lin Yue, however, drew his sword and beheaded him in the local area; this was an overreach of authority and a violation of the law!

He spoke with righteous indignation, quoting classical texts and speaking with resounding force: "The Rites of Zhou says that the people should be restrained by punishment and officials should be governed by law. Lin Yue's actions are neither official nor lawful!"

The floods in Jiangnan have not yet subsided, and the people are restless. Yet he has arbitrarily executed an official, disrupting the imperial court. This may cause local officials and the people to become alienated, and the great cause of flood control may be ruined. I humbly request Your Majesty to recall him immediately, punish him according to the law!

Zhu Di, seated on the throne, remained calm and composed.

He was already dissatisfied with Lin Yue's overly flamboyant behavior. Although Lin Yue had made some contributions to flood control, he disregarded the regulations of the court. Granting permission to recall Lin Yue was exactly what he wanted. As for whether or not to punish him, that was another matter.

The eunuch at the rear bowed and hurried in, holding up the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard with both hands.

"Your Majesty, Lord Ji Gang has sent an urgent report."

Zhu Di was somewhat taken aback. He glanced at Hou Xian with slight displeasure, wondering what kind of information required to be presented at court.

Upon opening the secret report, the Yongle Emperor was immediately enraged.

Lin Yue was attacked and assassinated at the Songjiang Prefecture post station, but escaped with the help of imperial guards!

"How dare you!" Zhu Di slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, his face contorted with rage.

"For an official from Jiangnan to dare assassinate an imperial envoy, it seems the local administration is corrupt, and there must be corrupt officials colluding with them!"

He paced around the hall, his gaze sharp, his previous dissatisfaction with Lin Yue instantly replaced by suspicion.

Jiangnan is a region with heavy tax revenue, and now it is plagued by floods and officials protecting each other. If Lin Yue is easily recalled, the truth may never come to light.

Why not let Lin Yue cause a huge uproar, so that it will be easier for him to take action to purify Southern Zhili?

After a moment's thought, Emperor Yongle said in a deep voice, "This matter will not be discussed for now. The floods in Jiangnan are of utmost importance. Send more manpower and supplies to aid in flood control!"

Li Zhigang stood in the hall, his face slightly pale.

He hadn't expected the assassination attempt to occur halfway through, which completely disrupted his plan to recall Lin Yue.

However, Li Zhigang quickly regained his composure and bowed again.

"Your Majesty is wise, but the management of the floods in Jiangnan requires someone to oversee the overall situation. I recommend Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue, to take charge!"

Lord Xia is renowned for his virtue and is an expert in water conservancy; he will surely be able to quell the floods and pacify the region!

Li Zhigang's actions were by no means motivated by recommending talented individuals for the country; in fact, he had ulterior motives.

He secretly acquired tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in Songjiang Prefecture, all of which were fertile lands that people were forced to sell at low prices due to floods. Now that Lin Yue is stirring up trouble in Jiangnan, it is hard to guarantee that he will not be investigated.

Xia Yuanji was always cautious in his actions. The handover of affairs and the survey of the terrain would take at least five days and sometimes half a month. As long as he could delay this period, he could clean up the documents and land deeds of the merged land and erase all traces.

He didn't believe there was anyone in the world who could travel tirelessly like Lin Yue.

The transition period was his chance to escape.

Zhu Di first glanced at Xia Yuanji, and seeing that he neither stepped forward to refuse nor expressed his agreement, his attitude was clearly somewhat subtle.

Emperor Yongle pondered for a moment. Xia Yuanji was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, familiar with the allocation of money and grain, and had previous experience in flood control. With him stationed in Jiangnan, he should be able to keep an eye on Lin Yue.

He immediately nodded: "Granted! Issue an imperial decree to Xia Yuanji to depart for Jiangnan immediately to take overall command of the flood control efforts!"

After the court session ended, Zhu Di secretly summoned a palace attendant: "Quickly convey an oral message to Ji Gang that Lin Yue need not return to the capital for the time being, and continue to deal with the floods in Jiangnan."

But he was instructed to temper his arrogance, refrain from arbitrarily killing officials again, and prioritize stability in all matters!

Meanwhile, in the territory of Shanghai County, Songjiang Prefecture.

Lin Yue, riding his chestnut horse, had just entered the county town when he was so shocked by the sight before him that he reined in his horse.

Wu County was flooded, Huating was surrounded by waterlogging, and Shanghai County had become a vast expanse of water.

Shanghai County in the Ming Dynasty was located at the confluence of the Wusong River and the Huangpu River. The two rivers flowed eastward into the sea after they met here. It was originally a vital waterway, but it also became a severely flood-prone area.

The turbid river water overflowed the streets and alleys. In the waist-deep water, broken bed boards floated, and occasionally, bloated animal carcasses drifted with the current.

Lin Yue stared at the tragic scene before him, a surge of rage welling up in his eyes.

The corruption in Wu County, the abandoned people in Huating, the assassination in Songjiang Prefecture, and now the devastating scene of the flooded land in Shanghai County—the chaos in Jiangnan is far more severe than he imagined.

The common people and imperial guards behind him arrived one after another. Seeing this scene, they all fell silent. Even the impatience on Ji Gang's face was somewhat diluted by the tragic scene before him.

As soon as Lin Yue landed, he waved his arm and shouted, "Young and strong, follow me to dig ditches! The old and weak, carry bamboo baskets and transport wooden stakes! Dig open channels along both sides of the street to divert the accumulated water into the two rivers!"

The people responded enthusiastically, and the able-bodied men grabbed shovels and plunged into the mud, carrying the mud to higher ground to form mounds.

Someone brought wooden stakes and, as instructed by the forestry regulations, nailed them to the side of the canal to prevent the ditch wall from collapsing.

Shanghai County is located at the confluence of the Wusong River and the Huangpu River. The accumulated water is mixed with river sand, which is extremely viscous. Open channels need to be reinforced with piles to ensure their longevity.

Lin Yue, a man with some modern knowledge but limited skills, was already the most capable of flood control among these people.

After quickly making arrangements, Lin Yue turned around and jumped onto a wrecked ship.

"Liu Zhong, take your imperial guards and row the boats! Prioritize rescuing those on rooftops and over walls!"

Upon hearing the order, Liu Zhong glanced at Commander Ji Gang, unsure whether to obey. He froze in place, caught in a dilemma.

Although the wrecked boat was dilapidated, it could still cleave through the waves and rescue the people who cried for help along the way.

As the day progressed, more and more rescued people gathered, but manpower for digging ditches and rescuing people remained scarce.

Lin Yue caught a glimpse of Ji Gang standing on the high slope with his Imperial Guards, his face grim, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Lord Ji! You dare not arrest me, nor are you willing to return to the capital to report back. Are you just standing here like an idiot?!"

The common people are soaking in the water, and your Imperial Guards just stand by and watch?

Absolutely useless! If you have nothing better to do, just come down and save people!

Ji Gang's face turned from green to white, and then from white to red.

Under the watchful eyes of the people, who were struggling desperately in the mud, the Imperial Guards, dressed in their flying fish robes, stood out conspicuously on high ground.

Having exhausted all other options, Ji Gang gritted his teeth and said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Emperor's personal army; it is their duty to relieve the suffering of the people! Follow me!"

Before the words were even finished, the fifty Imperial Guards, who were already prepared, all took off their outer robes, revealing their tight-fitting clothes, and jumped into the waist-deep water.

The Imperial Guards who came with Ji Gang were much slower, still pulling and tugging, and some even dared to go into the water without taking off their leather armor.

After a day of fierce fighting, as the sun began to set, Lin Yue was directing the people to reinforce the temporary dike when several strong young men escorted a man towards them.

The man was soaking wet, his clothes were tattered, his hair was disheveled, his face was covered in mud, and his feet were white and swollen from being soaked in the water.

Upon asking, Lin discovered that he was actually Wang Ji, the magistrate of Huating County.

He fled to the vicinity of Baoshan in a covered boat, but the tide suddenly rose and the boat was capsized by the waves. He was trapped on the shallows and was spotted by the local people.

Lin Yue sized him up and said coldly, "Magistrate Wang, did you ever imagine you'd fall into my hands?"

Wang Ji sneered and said disdainfully, "If it weren't for the flood, I would have already fled far away!"

"Now that things have come to this, you may kill me or torture me, it's all up to you!"

"Pretty tough, huh?" Lin Yue was furious upon hearing this and drew his eight-sided Han sword.

Upon seeing this, Liu Zhong's eyes twitched violently, and he quickly turned to look at Ji Gang, giving him a quick signal with his eyes.

If Wang Ji and Lin Yue were to talk alone, how could they possibly survive?

Ji Gang, being a close confidant of the emperor, was extremely perceptive and instantly understood Liu Zhong's gaze.

He stepped forward and shouted, "Scholar Lin, stop! Officials appointed by the imperial court cannot be acted upon lightly!"

He strode forward, taking two steps at a time, and quickly moved towards Lin Yue's direction.

"Wang Ji is a seventh-rank county magistrate appointed by the imperial court. Even if he has committed a crime, he should be sent to the Nanjing Three Judicial Offices for joint trial according to the law!"

Our Imperial Guards can handle the detention and handover on your behalf.

""

Ji Gang reached out to stop Lin Yue's arm, but he was a beat too late.

Lin Yue completely ignored his shouts, and with a flick of his wrist, the eight-sided Han sword slashed down with a whooshing sound.

A flash of sword light, and Wang Ji's head rolled into the mud, his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Huh?! He didn't even interrogate me, he just attacked!

He was certain that he was the key figure in Songjiang Prefecture's ineffective disaster relief efforts, and that Lin Yue would definitely detain him for interrogation to extract more information. At the same time, as an official appointed by the imperial court, he was sure that his life was safe, so he was quite defiant.

Normally, it shouldn't be Lin Yue questioning him about why he abandoned his post and fled, and Wang Ji trying his best to defend himself, spouting nonsense about the severe flooding and other irrelevant ramblings.

Then Lin Yue had no choice but to send him to Nanjing to go through the proper procedures. Why was he killed so easily? This is not how you play the game in the Ming Dynasty.

He, Wang Ji, will not accept this!

Lin Yue sheathed his sword, drops of blood dripping down the spine of the blade to the ground. He glanced at Ji Gang, his tone calm.

"Wang Ji abandoned the city and fled, leaving the people displaced. What use is such a corrupt official?"

For him, Wang Ji's abandonment of the city and his subsequent escape, which nearly caused the dike to collapse in Huating County, was a death sentence.

He didn't care about the intrigues and corruption within the court; he only cared about whether the floods could be effectively controlled and whether the people could return to their homes.

Upon hearing this, Ji Gang immediately flew into a rage. With a roar, he pounced like a leopard and once again knocked Lin Yue to the ground.

He twisted Lin Yue's arm behind his back and shouted sternly, "You audacious scoundrel, today I will take you back to Nanjing to be brought to justice!"

Lin Yue was caught off guard and restrained. He struggled frantically but to no avail. He thought his trip to Jiangnan was about to end, but then he saw the chestnut warhorse charging at him again.

With a muffled thud, Ji Gang was caught off guard and kicked away by the warhorse.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Yue broke free from his restraints, turned around, patted the warhorse's thick neck, and laughed loudly: "Truly a fine horse! It has saved me from danger twice!"

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