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

Chapter 87 Extravagant Spending and the Mastermind

Zhu Di was feeling pleased with the arrival of the various vassal states to pay tribute when he heard this, and he immediately flew into a rage.

In the imperial court, there was actually someone who dared to oppose the granting of rewards to vassal states and even dared to call his decree a "chaotic order." Which official from the Six Ministries was tired of living?

Emperor Yongle glared angrily, about to erupt, but when he glanced around and saw that it was Lin Yue who was speaking, he swallowed his anger.

Zhu Di shook his head helplessly.

It's that arrogant scoundrel again. He really thinks he can keep contradicting me just because he has some talent.

Zhu Di took a deep breath, his anger subsiding, and said in a deep voice, "Lin Hanlin, explain carefully what exactly is wrong with my bestowal of rewards upon the vassal states?"

"In the past, Emperor Taizong of Tang held a grand gathering in Lingzhou. He generously rewarded the people who surrendered and formed marriage alliances. Instead of resorting to war, he used kindness and power to win them over. This led to the prosperous Zhenguan era, with vassal states from all directions vying to come to the capital. For decades, there was no war on the border."

"Now that I have inherited the legacy of the founding emperor and brought peace and stability to the country, it is my duty to display the might of the Ming Dynasty to all corners of the world. The vassal states come to pay homage, recognizing the Ming Dynasty as the common ruler of the world. If I were to bestow meager rewards, wouldn't that make the Ming Dynasty appear stingy and chill the hearts of its vassal states?"

The more Zhu Di spoke, the more convinced he became of his point. He snorted and retorted with a question to Lin Yue.

"Lin Qing, you have always been full of wisdom and dare to speak frankly."

However, everything I have said today is based on evidence, and wise rulers throughout history have followed this path. Tell me, what exactly is wrong with what I have done?"

Lin Yue met Zhu Di's gaze and loudly refuted him.

"Your Majesty is mistaken! The Great Ming should be a nation that commands respect and submission from all corners of the world, not a ruler that seeks the favor of foreign lands!"

Foreign lands are barbarian lands, and barbarians are beasts; they fear power but do not cherish virtue!

Emperor Taizu Gao once issued an edict stating that the people of the Western Barbarians were mostly not virtuous, and some were afraid of his power!

These barbarians, yet His Majesty treats them with such generous rewards. He thinks this shows the Ming Dynasty is weak and easily bullied, and that only by using the Ming Dynasty's military might will they submit and dare not act rashly.

"Your Majesty has always praised Emperor Taizong of Tang, but do you know how he obtained the title of Heavenly Khan?"

Lin Yue stepped forward and spoke with great passion.

"Emperor Taizong of Tang was not able to become the Heavenly Khan by means of generous rewards."

After the Wei River Alliance, Emperor Taizong of Tang endured hardship and humiliation, carried out military reforms for three years, re-established the Fubing system, raised hundreds of thousands of horses in Longyou, and later Li Jing launched a night attack on Dingxiang. Li Shiji fought a bloody battle at Yinshan, captured Jieli Khan in one battle, destroyed the Eastern Turks, pacified Gaochang, and conquered the Western Regions, expanding the territory by thousands of miles. His military might shocked the world!

Emperor Taizong of Tang relied on his outstanding military achievements and his iron-fisted approach of punishing those who offended the Han people, no matter how far away they were.

A ruler of the world must possess the power and might to command the submission of all its vassal states!

Lin Yue's gaze swept over the officials in the hall, and he turned slightly to the side, pointing his right hand towards the outside of the hall.

"Does Your Majesty remember that every piece of cotton and every piece of brocade you bestowed upon the vassal states was made from the people's hard-earned money?"

These silver coins and millet are all earned through the hard work of the people. How can Your Majesty so easily throw them away to barbarians who have done nothing and received no reward?

Just as the floods in Jiangnan subsided, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and had no winter clothes. Meanwhile, Japanese pirates ravaged the coastal areas of Zhejiang and Fujian, and countless people were slaughtered. The army sent to suppress the pirates was short of food and supplies, and the soldiers suffered from hunger and cold.

How can the Chinese people suffer while we provide for and nurture foreign barbarians?

Lin Yue's voice resonated throughout the hall as he continued.

"Not to mention that Emperor Taizong's policy of fostering marriage alliances was a deep-seated source of trouble!"

Princess Wencheng was sent to marry the Tibetan king, bringing with her Chinese tools, farming techniques, and rituals. Emperor Taizong's original intention was to turn foreign countries into a barrier, but unexpectedly, the Tibetans used Chinese technology to strengthen their military and enrich their country, and decades later they repeatedly invaded the border.

Later, during the An Lushan Rebellion, they took advantage of the chaos to attack and seize Chang'an, burning, killing, and looting, becoming a major threat to the Tang Dynasty!

The lessons of such favors turning into betrayal are still fresh in our minds, why does Your Majesty turn a blind eye?

Lin Yue waved his hand and pointed at Zhu Di, unleashing a torrent of angry curses.

"Our Great Ming should learn from Emperor Taizong of Tang's iron-fisted military might, sweeping across the four seas and making foreign lands fear and submit, rather than emulating his mistake of appeasement, using the blood and sweat of the people to nurture a future threat!"

Lin Yue bowed deeply and said in a resounding voice, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you rescind your decree, halt the generous reward, and use the money and grain to provide relief to disaster victims, replenish military funds, and strengthen coastal defenses."

Only in this way can the nation prosper and all its people be blessed!

I am willing to die to remonstrate with Your Majesty, hoping Your Majesty will consider this!

Zhu Di sat on the throne, his face grim.

He lost count of how many times Lin Yue had broken his defenses again.

Lin Yue's words make a lot of sense. Emperor Taizong of Tang did indeed rely on military might to become the Heavenly Khan, and the Tibetan rebellion is an undeniable historical fact. The fact that the people's hard-earned money should not be wasted is also an irrefutable truth.

But could you please not be so rude?

Zhu Di tried to refute, but couldn't find a single flaw. However, he couldn't bring himself to admit his mistake and retract his order in front of all the officials.

The hall was deathly silent; all the officials bowed their heads and remained silent.

The reduction of rewards to foreign vassal states elicited mixed reactions from officials across various departments. Officials in the Ministry of Revenue strongly supported it, while those in the Ministry of Rites were less enthusiastic. Overall, however, civil officials were reluctant to spend money on foreign affairs.

After all, if others eat more, they eat less. Even if the rewards can be manipulated and rebates are made, it's not as satisfying as eating alone.

Zhu Di stared at Lin Yue for a long time, and his anger eventually turned into impotent rage.

"This matter will be discussed later! Court is adjourned!"

Emperor Yongle snorted coldly and then fled.

If you can't win an argument, you don't have to argue. Escaping is shameful, but it's very useful.

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we respectfully see you off."

After Zhu Di's figure disappeared behind the hall, everyone looked at Lin Yue in front of the steps with admiration in their eyes, but more so with a distant scrutiny.

The civil officials of the Ming Dynasty also realized that Lin Yue was a hardliner who would propose extremely tough solutions to anyone, such as going south to kill corrupt officials, which was undoubtedly unacceptable to the civil officials.

Even if Ming Dynasty civil officials did not have the same prestigious status as Song Dynasty civil officials, they should not be allowed to be arbitrarily killed by an emperor's favorite minister without any punishment.

Lin Yue slowly straightened up, her expression calm.

The political infighting in the Ming Dynasty was truly chaotic. The rules only bound those who participated in the game; Lin Yue was not one for such political infighting.

If you piss him off, he might really kill you; if you've got the guts, kill him.

We walked out of Fengtian Hall.

As always, Lin Yue did not go to the Hanlin Academy, but went straight out of the palace and headed towards the shipyard.

The construction of the astronomical telescope is irrelevant, since it's for Zhu Di anyway. But the microscope must be completed as soon as possible. Kuai Yue, the great beauty, has a sweet tongue and must be rewarded to encourage this kind of behavior that is beneficial to physical and mental health.

As I walked along the Qinhuai River after leaving the palace, a servant in a blue robe hurried forward, bowed, and asked, "Are you Scholar Lin, the Hanlin Academician?"

Lin Yue nodded: "I am. Who are you?"

"I am a servant in Minister Zheng's household," the servant said respectfully.

"Your Excellency has always admired your courage to speak frankly, and has specially ordered me to wait here to invite you for a meeting. I wonder what your opinion is?"

Lin Yue was slightly surprised upon hearing this.

Zheng Cigang was transferred from Minister of Justice to Minister of Rites. The two did not have much interaction, except for the punishment of Chen Xiao, the son of Xun Gui, which was a point of cooperation.

Thinking this way, Lin Yue felt that Zheng Ci seemed to be a good official, and going to the Minister's invitation would make it easier for him to slack off while on paid leave.

So he nodded in agreement: "In that case, please lead the way, young man."

The servant quickly led Lin Yue into a secluded alley. Stepping inside, the view opened up to a very elegant classical courtyard.

The courtyard is filled with artificial hills and flowing streams, giving it a tranquil and secluded feel.

"Lin Hanlin, you've finally arrived! Come and sit down."

Beside the rockery and bluestone, Zheng Ci, dressed in plain clothes, was fishing by the pond. When he saw Lin Yue enter, he immediately put down his fishing rod and waved to him.

Seeing Zheng Ci's appearance, Lin Yue was somewhat surprised. Could a minister be allowed to skip work at will? He had only been away from court for a short time, yet he had already changed his clothes.

Lin Yue approached for a closer look and discovered that the fishing rod in Zheng Ci's hand had a unique shape and hidden secrets.

The rod tip has a brass fixed pulley embedded inside, which appears to be a retractable structure, truly a testament to exquisite craftsmanship.

"Minister Zheng's fishing rod must be the work of a master craftsman," Lin Yue said with some envy.

For a fisherman, what could be more important than a good fishing rod? These Ming Dynasty craftsmen are truly multi-talented. I must get an even better fishing rod when I go to the shipyard later.

Zheng Ci smiled upon hearing this, turned the reel to reel in the line: "Lin Hanlin also knows about fishing gear?"

"I know a little bit," Lin Yue nodded, speaking with great interest.

"The key to fishing, besides a good rod, is bait and technique."

Minister Zheng might as well try mixing bait with medicinal wine. Take 30 grams each of turmeric and buds, and 30 grams of cane sugar, soak them in wine, mix them with wheat flour, and make fragrant bait.

Turmeric invigorates blood circulation and promotes qi flow, while aromatic buds dispel dampness, enhancing the bait's diffusion in the water and making it far more attractive to fish than ordinary baits.

Zheng Ci, a hardcore fishing enthusiast, had a look of curiosity in his eyes: "Such a wonderful method? What should be done with the live bait?"

""

Lin Yue spoke eloquently about fishing and baiting techniques. Zheng Ci listened and nodded repeatedly. He immediately called his servant over to prepare the bait according to his instructions. However, before he could even start, the float suddenly sank.

"A fish has taken the bait!" Zheng Ci's eyes lit up.

Seeing this, Lin Yue snatched the basket from the servant and went into the water to catch fish himself.

With a tug, a carp weighing several kilograms leaped out of the water and was dragged ashore.

Zheng Ci wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed heartily at Lin Yue.

"Lin Hanlin's fishing skills really work!"

Lin Yue was speechless upon hearing this. Zheng Ci hadn't used the techniques he mentioned.

Lin Yue thought to himself, "Minister Zheng truly lives up to his reputation as a veteran of the court; his ability to lie through his teeth is exceptionally outstanding."

"Lin Hanlin, the main reason I invited you here today is to admire your integrity and uprightness, and to renew our friendship."

Zheng Ci took a sip of tea, his words earnest.

"Lin Hanlin spoke frankly and without reservation in the imperial court. Such courage and insight are reminiscent of the ancient gentlemen."

In the past, Ji An dared to speak frankly to Emperor Wu of Han, and Wei Zheng was willing to risk his life to advise Emperor Taizong of Tang. The actions of Lin Hanlin today are no less impressive!

With a wise ruler and upright ministers, and now having outspoken ministers like Lin Hanlin, how can our Great Ming not prosper and flourish?

After praising Lin Yue extensively, Zheng Ci continued.

"I have heard that your grandfather was a remnant of the Southern Song Dynasty. He returned from overseas and followed Emperor Taizu Gao to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty, making great contributions."

We Fujianese are also home to many generous and righteous men. After the fall of the Song Dynasty, many who refused to serve the Yuan invaders fled overseas. Coincidentally, my late father also served under Emperor Taizu and had considerable interaction with your grandfather. In this sense, you and I can be considered to have a family history of friendship.

Lin Yue, holding his teacup, was greatly shocked.

What kind of nonsense is this? Not all overseas immigrants from the former Song Dynasty came from Fujian, and how could they possibly have any connection? You are a high-ranking official, and your father is a judge in Yingtian Prefecture. How could you possibly have any connection with a lowly soldier or centurion?

Lin Yue was unsure of Zheng Ci's thoughts and decided to remain unchanged in the face of any eventuality.

"Minister Zheng is too kind."

As an official responsible for remonstrating with the emperor, speaking frankly and offering advice was simply his duty, and it didn't require any special courage.

As for the claim of being family friends, I have never heard my grandfather or father mention it, so perhaps it was a mistake.

17

Zheng Ci's smile remained unchanged, but a hint of surprise flashed through his mind.

He, the Minister of Rites, personally lowered himself to win over Lin Yue, yet Lin Yue remained so indifferent.

Zheng Ci thought for a moment, then praised Lin Yue again and began to list Lin Yue's achievements one by one.

"When Lin Hanlin first entered officialdom, he advised His Majesty not to squander the nation's wealth, to stop the construction in Beiping, and to pay attention to the people's suffering. This advice can be described as compassionate."

Regarding the matter of the investiture in Liaodong, you filled in the gaps and pointed out the cannibalistic custom of a certain tribe in Liaodong, reminding Your Majesty to carefully select the investiture envoy, so as to both protect Your Majesty's reputation and avoid unrest on the border. This advice can be described as loyal.

Some time ago, I heard that the Chen family in Songjiang Prefecture suffered from floods. The old man broke his string and his children lost their mother. This is truly a great tragedy. Afterwards, they were displaced.

Lin Hanlin, however, was so kind that he not only spoke up for him and offered assistance, but also took his daughter as his sworn sister. This act can be described as benevolent.

""

Zheng Ci leaned forward, holding his cup, and spoke earnestly.

"Judging from your conduct, you are loyal, compassionate, and kind-hearted, embodying all three virtues. You are upright in court, diligent, and devoted to your duties."

Your integrity is no less than that of the sages of the past. You have compassion for the people and care for their suffering. You also possess the virtue of empathy. Lin Hanlin is truly a pillar of the nation and a worthy candidate for the nation's future!

Although His Majesty has sometimes rejected your frank advice, Your Majesty truly values ​​your great talent, loyalty to the country, and dedication to the people.

In the past, Liu Xingben dared to speak frankly and remonstrate with the emperor, but the Sui emperor eventually composed himself and thanked him. Now Your Majesty is magnanimous, does this not clearly show your sincere loyalty?

If you can maintain this initial aspiration and persevere without wavering, your promising future will be just around the corner!

Zheng Ci was about to continue speaking when he saw Lin Yue's expression change drastically, and she glared at him angrily.

Lin Yue never mentioned the aftermath of the Chen father and daughter's affairs to anyone!

When the Jiangnan region was flooded, the Chen father and daughter came to Nanjing to plead their case. Lin Yue took them into the palace, and Zhu Di settled them in the imperial estate. Later, when the flood control work came to an end, Lin Yue arranged for the two to return to their hometown in Songjiang to cultivate the land.

Zheng Ciyuan was in the imperial court and had previously only served as the Minister of Justice. How could he know so much about the Chen family, including the details of how he took the Chen family's daughter as his sworn sister?

Unless, of course, the Chen father and daughter were arranged by Zheng Ci!

It makes sense. It's impossible for an ordinary citizen from a county in Shanghai to travel all the way to Nanjing to plead their case, bypassing numerous checkpoints, and doing so twice. They simply couldn't have done it on their own.

Lin Yue slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, pointing at Zheng Ci and shouting angrily, "Was the matter involving the Chen father and daughter orchestrated by you?!"

Zheng Ci paused slightly in his teacup, then put it down with a composed expression.

"Why is Lin Hanlin so angry? I am merely granting a small favor, allowing those who deserve punishment to be punished and those who deserve vindication to be exonerated."

Chen Xiao, relying on his noble status, has been oppressing the local people in Songjiang Prefecture and disregarding human life. Shouldn't he be punished?

The floods in Jiangnan have been a long-standing problem, causing widespread displacement and hardship. Shouldn't this be addressed?

"That sounds so high-sounding!" Lin Yue roared, his voice suddenly rising.

"Since you were already aware of the floods in Jiangnan, why didn't you report it to the court? Instead, you resorted to this cunning scheme to delay the inevitable!"

The lives and fortunes of hundreds of thousands of people in Jiangnan are less important to you than your personal grudges and your official hat?

He stepped forward, staring intently at Zheng Ci, his words sharp and cutting.

"As a high-ranking official of the court, you receive the emperor's salary and should naturally share the emperor's burdens and act as the ruler for the people!"

You knew a flood was imminent, yet you neither warned of it nor provided relief. Instead, you used the disaster to your advantage, using the people's suffering as pawns to gain fame and fortune.

Eliminate dissidents!

In the past, Li Linfu was all talk and no action, using personal grudges to harm virtuous and capable people. Now, what you have done is even worse!

Lin Yue pointed at Zheng Ci and shouted angrily, unable to contain his rage.

"The floods in Jiangnan have caused widespread famine and countless refugees, all thanks to officials like you!"

The one who started this, will he have no descendants? You use the lives of the people as bargaining chips, watching them suffer in exchange for the benefits of court politics. How is this any different from leading beasts to devour people?

Even as a mere censor, I know to speak out for the people, preferring to die speaking out rather than live in silence.

You hold the position of Minister, yet all you know is how to protect your official post and scheme for personal gain. Do you have even a shred of concern for the people and the nation? How dare you, a man who neglects his post for personal gain, occupy such a high position?

If you have even a shred of conscience, you should commit suicide to atone for your sins!

Zheng Ci's expression changed slightly, but he remained seated.

Lin Yue suddenly flicked his sleeve, the hem of his robe sweeping across the stone table, and snorted coldly.

"I, Lin, have received the nation's favor for generations and am ashamed to associate with you bloodthirsty, cannibalistic bureaucrats!"

"Just you wait, tomorrow I will certainly submit a memorial impeaching you!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

On the bluestone path, the figure gradually receded into the distance, leaving only the lingering shadow of fluttering clothes.

Zheng Ci stared in the direction he had left, the faint smile on his face long gone, his expression complex and unreadable.

The wind howled in the courtyard, and the willow branches drooped low. Zheng Ci sat quietly for a long time, motionless, until the sun set in the west, and still did not get up.

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