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

Chapter 78 I had anticipated this!

"Thirty thousand?" Zhu Di suddenly stood up.

"Just to thank Lin Yue for flood control?"

Emperor Yongle's face was filled with disbelief.

In his memorial to the throne, Suzhou Prefect Tang Zong praised Lin Yue for his "effective dredging, which brought peace and prosperity to the people." After receiving the memorial forwarded by Tang Zong, Xia Yuanji strongly supported Lin Yue's water management strategy, calling it "a contribution that will last for generations." Even Ji Gang's previous secret memorial, which accused Lin Yue of hiring private laborers, did not deny the effectiveness of his water management efforts.

The fact that such effective flood control led 30,000 people to spontaneously travel to the capital to express their gratitude is an exaggeration.

A brief silence fell over the hall, with only Zhu Di pacing back and forth.

His brow furrowed, his mind racing as he considered the situation.

An ordinary emperor, seeing this scene, would likely be wary of the people gathering and causing trouble, and would immediately order them to disperse or be sent back.

Zhu Di, however, was different; he seized the throne through the Jingnan Campaign, and his legitimacy was questionable.

He desperately needs a tangible achievement, a legitimate proof that can convince the world.

The support of the people is precisely the most irrefutable and orthodox basis in the world.

Zhu Di thought to himself, "Thirty thousand people are traveling to the capital together. This is a great thing. We must make a big deal out of it."

Seeing that Emperor Yongle was lost in thought and remained silent, Ji Gang cautiously pressed him for an answer.

"Your Majesty, these people carried farming tools and banners, and did not commit any offenses along the way; they only wanted to see you."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request your instruction: Should we send someone to persuade them to return to their place of origin, or should we bring them into the city?"

Ji Gang spoke cautiously, after all, he had recently impeached Lin Yue for allegedly separatism, and now a large number of people were spontaneously coming to the capital. If things did not go smoothly, things could become very bad.

"No need to persuade them to turn back!" Zhu Di suddenly stopped and burst into laughter.

Emperor Yongle raised his hand, his voice booming.

"By imperial decree, immediately dispatch personnel and officials from Shuntian Prefecture to set up water stalls and porridge shops along the way to properly guide the people into Nanjing territory!"

There must be no negligence whatsoever, and no one is allowed to make things difficult for us!

Zhu Di walked to the palace gate, looked at the clear blue sky outside the palace, and spoke with a firm tone.

"I will receive these people on the imperial road outside the Meridian Gate!"

He turned to look at Ji Gang and said in a stern voice.

"I want the world to see how my Ming Dynasty truly puts the people first and how the people's hearts are with me!"

Ji Gang was startled and quickly bowed to accept the imperial decree: "Your subject obeys! I will make the arrangements immediately!"

As long as it's not related to Lin Yue, Ji Gang acts very decisively.

He immediately dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard and officials from the Shuntian Prefecture to set up checkpoints at all the gates of Nanjing. They were to thoroughly search the people's belongings to prevent them from smuggling weapons and contraband, while also being humble and guiding them along the way.

After all, Emperor Yongle wanted to meet with the people, not kill them like some other "perfect old man".

Soup sheds and drinking water stations were set up along the streets and alleys, and officials held wooden signs to guide the way. Although the number of people was large, the 30,000 people flowed in in an orderly manner, like streams flowing into the sea.

Below the Meridian Gate, civil and military officials stood in rows on both sides according to their rank, all dressed in neat court attire, each with a different expression.

Minister of Personnel Jian Yi stroked his long beard, turned to Zheng Ci, Minister of Justice beside him, and whispered, "Lord Zheng, do you know why these tens of thousands of people have suddenly entered the capital?"

Zheng Ci frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the dense crowd below, and shook his head slightly: "I am also completely confused."

"Yes, it's very strange." Jian Yi stroked his beard and pondered. "Minister Xia did submit a memorial mentioning that Lin Yue's flood control efforts were quite effective and the disaster situation in Suzhou and Songjiang prefectures had eased."

Could this matter be related to Lin Yue?

The two spoke in hushed tones, while the other officials also whispered amongst themselves.

Before long, bells and drums sounded in unison, and a eunuch announced loudly, "His Majesty has arrived!"

The officials stood solemnly and bowed, while the people below held their breath.

Zhu Di, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and with a jade belt around his waist, slowly walked up to the Meridian Gate tower, the twelve imperial symbols shining brightly in the sunlight.

As soon as he appeared, the people below knelt down like a tide, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" The sound shook the heavens and the roar continued for a long time.

After the cheers subsided, Zhu Di raised his hand to signal people to rise and whispered a few instructions to the eunuch Hou Xian beside him.

Hou Xian then bent down and relayed his words to the Imperial Guards at the edge of the city wall. The Imperial Guards then loudly relayed the message to the strong men below, who then relayed it layer by layer.

Through this process of relaying messages, Zhu Di's words were finally clearly conveyed to the ears of every citizen.

The imperial edict stated:

I, Zhu Di, have not been emperor for long, and I cannot sleep at night because I am very worried that I have let down the people and my parents.

Today I heard that people from Jiangnan have come from far away to gather in the capital. I am very happy, but also very curious.

Why did the villagers travel hundreds of miles to the capital, undeterred by hardship?

Because of Zhu Yuanzhang's background and the Ming Dynasty's ancestral precepts, Ming emperors spoke to the common people in a very straightforward manner. Their edicts often used colloquialisms such as "tell the people every day" and "you". For example, when encouraging farmers, they would say directly, "You must plant mulberry trees and raise silkworms. You are not allowed to be idle." When warning officials, they would directly threaten them, "If you are lazy and do not work hard, you will be beaten and sent to the army."

Zhu Di largely inherited his father's style, often beginning his imperial edicts with "you" or "we," and frequently engaging in casual conversation with ordinary people. Even the later Jiajing Emperor, a highly cultured riddle-solving emperor, spoke to the people of his hometown in a concise and clear manner, so that even children could understand what he meant.

Due to the significant increase in literacy rates during the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, a strange inverted phenomenon even emerged: the common people's speech sounded more refined than the emperor's.

After the words were spoken, the crowd fell silent for a moment. Then, a thin figure stepped out from the queue. It was the villager whom Ji Gang had arranged in advance.

What he didn't know was that this person was actually a young man under the command of Battalion Commander Zhao Hu, and one of the first people from Songjiang Prefecture to follow Lin Yue to manage the floods.

He was dressed in a faded short-sleeved shirt, his face was dark, and he walked to the center of the imperial road, bowed deeply, and said loudly.

"Your Majesty! We are all commoners from Suzhou and Songjiang prefectures. We have come not to ask for anything, but to express our gratitude!"

He began by saying what Ji Gang had instructed him to say: "At the end of April, a sudden downpour hit Jiangnan, lasting for days. The water level of Taihu Lake rose sharply, and the Wusong River and Loujiang River became silted up and impassable, with floods coming in.

Houses collapsed, fields were flooded, and countless livestock drowned. We were truly living in misery, clinging to driftwood to escape, and we couldn't even get food!

At this point, the scene of fleeing famine involuntarily appeared before his eyes, and his voice gradually became choked up, clearly showing more sincerity, but his words also deviated from Ji Gang's prior instructions.

"Just when we were at our wits' end and thought we were doomed, His Majesty, with his keen insight and concern for the people, specially dispatched Imperial Envoy Lin to Jiangnan to control the floods!"

He suddenly sat up straight, his eyes fixed intently on Zhu Di atop the city wall, and shouted loudly.

"When Imperial Envoy Lin arrived in Jiangnan, he immediately devoted himself to flood control and executed corrupt officials who hoarded grain and abandoned the people, thus avenging our people!"

Disregarding his own safety, he personally went to the front line of the river and led us to dig canals, dredge them, and reinforce the river embankments.

"If it weren't for His Majesty's wisdom in dispatching such a loyal and courageous minister, and if it weren't for Imperial Envoy Lin's selfless dedication, we would have long since perished at sea. Where would we be today?"

These words came from the bottom of his heart, and the people below echoed them, shouting loudly.

"The grace of Imperial Envoy Lin in saving my life" and "Your Majesty is wise."

A wave of cheers swept in, even more enthusiastic than the previous shouts of "Long live the Emperor!"

Zhu Di looked at the passionate and enthusiastic people and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

This scene of popular support is exactly the legitimacy he needs most.

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering what was going on with Lin Yue, who had managed to win the people's love and respect in such a short time.

Zhu Di then spoke to Hou Xian beside him, his words gradually amplifying as they were relayed through the ranks.

"Fellow villagers, I understand your sentiments!"

The floods in Jiangnan have been a constant worry for me, keeping me awake at night.

Since the devastating rains in April, I have urgently mobilized grain and selected capable ministers to restore peace and tranquility to you all!

The imperial court will certainly follow Imperial Envoy Lin's method, dredging the waterways and building dikes, so that the Jiangnan region will no longer be troubled by floods!

"Your Majesty is wise!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud shout suddenly erupted from the crowd, belonging to Zhao Hu, who was mingling among them.

He took two large steps forward, knelt down, kowtowed, and cried out, "Your Majesty's kindness is something the people of Suzhou and Songjiang in Jiangnan can never repay in their lifetime!"

Zhao Hu looked up at the city tower and wept bitterly, saying, "We, your humble servants, humbly request Your Majesty to allow us to build a shrine for you, to be worshipped in all four seasons, with Imperial Envoy Lin as your attendant."

Imperial Envoy Lin is a true benevolent official, executing corrupt officials and controlling floods; he even risked his life for us!

Although he acted rashly, it was all to save the people from suffering. I beg Your Majesty to remember his merits and not to punish him too harshly!

When Zhu Di heard that the people wanted to build a shrine for him, he was overjoyed and could not hide the smile on his face.

New vocabulary! This is clear evidence of the people's support for him and excellent proof of consolidating his legitimacy!

Emperor Yongle sighed inwardly. Lin Yue was arrogant and conceited, but now he seemed to be a loyal minister and general who cared for the country and its people. Unfortunately, he was already seriously ill and on his deathbed.

Thinking of this, Zhu Di looked thoughtful.

Since that's the case, I might as well go with the flow and do him a favor, which would both show my magnanimity and allow me to claim the credit for flood control.

After all, Lin Yue was going to die anyway, so it didn't matter whether he was killed or not.

So Zhu Di said, "I have no reason not to grant the requests of my fellow villagers."

Emperor Yongle's expression turned solemn, and he began to revise history, talking at length about his crucial role, keen insight, and decisive actions.

"I am already aware of what Imperial Envoy Lin has done!"

Before he went to the south of the Yangtze River, I bestowed upon him an imperial eight-sided Han sword, granting him the authority to act expediently and allowing him to execute corrupt officials first and report later!

I foresaw the corruption in the Jiangnan officialdom. Without the power to make decisions independently, the water management would be hampered!

Fortunately, Imperial Envoy Lin has lived up to my expectations, which has led to today's results. It's just a pity...

Zhu Di then changed the subject, adding a touch of regret: "It's a pity that Imperial Envoy Lin has been working tirelessly day and night to control the floods, fulfilling his duties with loyalty and dedication, and surveying disasters and caring for the people, which has led to him falling ill from overwork."

Imperial Envoy Lin is now critically ill and bedridden.

I have dispatched the best imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to treat him, hoping he can recover soon and serve the Ming Dynasty again!

Below the city gate, Jian Yi, the Minister of Personnel, and Zheng Ci, the Minister of Justice, exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and understanding in each other's eyes.

So that's how it is! No wonder His Majesty hasn't taken any action against Lin Yue; it turns out he was critically ill. That makes sense now.

This is what His Majesty meant by making arrangements in advance; I wonder if it's true or not.

The officials all nodded in agreement. As the saying goes, a person's debts are settled with their death. Since Lin Yue is going to die, then his unauthorized killing of the county magistrate will be forgiven.

The people are currently in a state of high spirits, so it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to cooperate with the emperor to win over the hearts of the people.

Upon hearing that Imperial Envoy Lin was critically ill, the people outside the Meridian Gate were instantly in an uproar, discussing the matter with great concern.

"Is Imperial Envoy Lin really that ill?"

"God help us, Imperial Envoy Lin must recover!"

"How could such a good official become so ill?"

"I've heard that Imperial Envoy Lin has no relatives or children. Does this mean he will die without an heir?!"

"Heaven is so unfair! Imperial Envoy Lin saved our whole family, how can we let him leave like this!"

The crowd that had been shouting "Long live the Emperor!" suddenly erupted in a chorus of weeping, with men, women, and children all shedding tears and pounding their chests in despair.

The cries of grief rose and fell, echoing for a long time within the palace walls.

Someone in the crowd made a loud suggestion.

"Your Majesty, we beg your permission to see Imperial Envoy Lin so we can thank him in person for saving our lives!"

These words instantly ignited everyone's emotions, and the people echoed them.

"Your Majesty, please grant us permission to see Imperial Envoy Lin one more time!"

More than 10,000 people knelt down in unison, creating a spectacular scene.

Zhu Di stood atop the city tower and immediately issued an edict appointing him.

Following the labor organization system left by Lin Yue, the people spontaneously and quickly elected five representatives in their respective battalions. All of them were battalion leaders who had made outstanding contributions during the flood control efforts, and Zhao Hu was one of the leaders.

Led by the eunuch, the five of them passed through layers of palaces and arrived at the side hall where Lin Yue was recuperating.

The hall was filled with the fragrance of medicine, and the curtains were drawn. Lin Yue lay on the couch, his face as pale as paper, his lips bloodless, and his eyes tightly closed. His usual vigor and spirit were nowhere to be seen, only the faint rise and fall of his chest remained.

"Lord Lin, how did you become so ill?"

A thin-faced battalion commander spoke, his voice trembling and choked with emotion.

The others also shook their heads and sighed, their eyes filled with grief. They slowly approached the bed and silently shed tears.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Hu was struck as if by a heavy blow. His burly body collapsed, and he knelt on the ground. Tears welled up in his eyes instantly, and he wept bitterly.

"Lord Lin! You are the best official I, Zhao Hu, have ever met in my life!"

During the flood control efforts, you lived and ate with us, never complaining about simple meals. When we didn't know how to dredge, you taught me how to read blueprints and identify water flows step by step. You never put on airs of a high-ranking official, always treating people with respect and kindness.

When you encountered stubborn local gentry, you dealt with them severely, seeking justice for the people. Seeing the people starving, you saved your own rations to give to your children, cherishing the people as you would your own flesh and blood.

Zhao Hu pounded the ground, making the bluestone slabs thud loudly.

"You devoted yourself to controlling the floods day and night, so how did you fall ill and become bedridden?"

Heaven is truly unfair; why doesn't it have pity on a good person like you!

Behind the carved screen on the west side of the side hall, Zhu Di and Ji Gang were quietly observing.

Zhu Di looked at Zhao Hu, who was weeping bitterly by his bedside, and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He couldn't help but sigh again.

"Lin Yue is indeed a good minister of the Ming Dynasty, and he is so loved and respected by the people."

It's a pity that fate is cruel to such a talented person; he fell seriously ill at a young age. My loss of him is like Emperor Gaozu of Han losing Zhang Liang—it is truly heartbreaking.

However, Zhu Di was also somewhat puzzled. Did Lin Yue have two different faces when facing the common people and when facing him? How come he didn't know that Lin Yue was gentle and refined?

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