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

Chapter 117 Lord Lin, the Overlord Reborn!

Overjoyed at receiving permission, Lin Yue immediately thanked Zheng He and turned to lead Zhao Hu and dozens of elite soldiers to board the fast boat for landing.

According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty navy, warhorses were all transported by special horse boats and accompanied the expedition. Upon reaching the beach, gangplanks were set up, the warhorses were led off the boats, and they were prepared to form ranks on the shore.

Lin Yue's chestnut warhorse was currently placed on the central army's warship, several dozen steps away from where Lin Yue boarded the ship.

Unexpectedly, just as Lin Yue stepped onto the speedboat and before he could give the order to set sail, a deafening neighing of a horse came from the direction of the horse-drawn boat not far away, followed by a loud "splash" and water splashing everywhere.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the chestnut warhorse had leaped directly from the gunwale of the horse boat into the river, pawing the water with its four hooves, raising its head high, and swimming towards the speedboat where Lin Yue was.

The river wind whipped up waves, but it was not afraid at all. It swam fast and steadily, and in no time it reached the side of the speedboat. It rubbed its head against the gunwale and snorted, as if urging Lin Yue to hurry up and mount the horse.

Horses are actually born swimmers, mainly because their lungs are particularly large, which easily provides ample buoyancy.

Lin Yue was stunned by what he saw, a thousand complaints stuck in his throat.

It was one thing for Chong to lead his family recklessly through the house, but now that there's a war, he's not even waiting for a springboard and is swimming across the river.

So, Lin Yue isn't even as eager to get involved as you, you beast?

The guards and naval soldiers around them were all dumbfounded. No one had ever seen such a scene before, and they all gasped in amazement.

Everyone else was surprised, but Zhao Hu was different. His eyes were full of admiration when he looked at Lin Yue.

If Lord Lin's mount is so fearless, how brave and valiant must Lord Lin be? It's unimaginable.

Zhao Hu exclaimed in praise, "Even your divine steed can't wait to go into battle and kill the enemy, which shows that victory is assured."

Hearing Zhao Hu's illogical words, Lin Yue's lips twitched slightly. Too lazy to explain, he simply urged, "Hurry up and set sail! I want to land and kill the bandits!"

After breaching the pass, just half a mile ahead lies the main camp of the Japanese pirates entrenched on the sandbar. The camp is completely unorganized, consisting of walls hastily erected using plundered broken boat planks, bamboo, and rammed earth, taking advantage of the terrain of the earthen slope.

The speedboat cut through the waves and reached the beach in the blink of an eye.

The chestnut horse was faster; it stepped onto the soft mudflats, pawed the ground hard with its front hooves, kicking up clouds of mud and sand, and raised its head to neigh loudly.

Lin Yue was not to be outdone. He turned and mounted his horse, drew his longsword, and prepared to say something to boost morale.

Unexpectedly, the warhorse beneath him carried him directly towards the Japanese pirate camp!

"Whoa! Stop! Stop right now!" Lin Yue shouted, caught off guard.

He logged in to kill the Japanese pirates, not to be killed by them. Can an ordinary person charge into hundreds of people by himself?

The Japanese pirates on guard at the gate of the village were taken aback when they saw a lone rider charging straight towards them. They were startled at first, and then started shouting strange things in their own language.

More than ten Japanese pirates drew their bows and nocked their arrows, which whistled through the air and headed straight for the men and horses.

But the chestnut horse once again demonstrated extraordinary ability, its feet never stopping, sometimes turning to the side, sometimes leaping, arrows grazing its belly, and it easily dodged most of the attacks.

In the blink of an eye, it had rushed to the gate of the village.

The Japanese pirates guarding the gate panicked and tried to pull up the barricades to stop them, but it was too late.

The chestnut horse leaped high into the air, its massive body suddenly soaring into the sky!

With a "whoosh," the warhorse leaped over the three barricades that were nearly ten feet high, like an arrow released from a bow!

In mid-air, Lin Yue felt a strong wind rushing towards his face.

Before the Japanese pirates near the chevaux-de-frise could react, they were trampled by the hooves of galloping horses and died on the spot with screams of agony.

Before the Japanese pirates behind the door could react, the chestnut horse continued its fierce charge.

The Japanese pirates in the village had just picked up their swords and hadn't even formed their ranks when they saw this wild horse charging straight at them, and they were immediately terrified.

Didn't the Ming army just land on the beach? How come someone has already stormed into the camp?

"Baka yarou! What's the panic!" On the high platform, Ono Saburo, dressed in a dark red brocade short jacket and carrying two sharkskin Japanese swords, kicked a Japanese pirate who was lying limp next to him to the ground.

"There's only one Ming Dynasty person, and one horse. What's there to be afraid of?!"

He brandished his katana, the tip pointed directly at Lin Yue and his chestnut horse as they charged in, and shouted wildly at his men who were in chaos below the stage.

"Shoot an arrow, kill the one on horseback, and the reward is ten taels of gold! You can choose any woman you steal!"

His shout spurred a few of the bolder Japanese pirates into gritting their teeth, drawing their bows and nocking arrows again, the arrows whistling as they shot towards the chestnut horse.

Facing the arrows, the chestnut warhorse was somewhat annoyed. It caught sight of a short man gesturing wildly and shouting on a high platform in the village, so it immediately turned around and charged straight at the platform.

The chestnut horse, it's determined to capture the king first!

"Quick, stop him! He's going to charge!"

Upon seeing the Ming Dynasty man rushing towards him, Ono Saburo's pupils suddenly contracted, and he was greatly alarmed.

It's fine to send others to their deaths, but it's not acceptable to go and die yourself.

Seeing Lin Yue move freely on horseback as if he were in an empty place, Ono Saburo hurriedly drew his long sword, but before he could even get into a fighting stance, his chestnut horse had already leaped onto the two-foot-high earthen platform.

With a kick of its hind legs, Saburo Ono's eyes widened, and he immediately leaped off the earthen platform.

The leader was killed on the spot, and the Japanese pirates in the stronghold were completely defeated.

They were originally bandits who roamed around, and their average height was not even 1.5 meters. Bullying the weak and fearing the strong was their nature. Now that they saw how fierce the Ming people were, how could they dare to resist?

The Japanese pirates scattered and fled, only to be wiped out by the Ming army that charged in from outside.

As soon as Zhao Hu led his soldiers to the gate of the stockade, they found the stockade littered with corpses. There had been no decent resistance along the way, just like the dilapidated state of Shen Bing's residence.

A glint flashed in his eyes, revealing an expression of "I knew it," and he immediately raised his arms and shouted.

"Lord Lin is mighty! Brothers, follow Lord Lin and charge! Slay all the Japanese pirates, don't let a single one escape!"

After saying this, Zhao Hu drew his sword and charged into the camp. Seeing this, the soldiers behind him were filled with fervor and shouted in unison as they followed closely behind, attacking the remaining Japanese pirates.

Fighting a war relies mainly on passion and momentum. If someone on your side is so brave, it is easy to inspire your soldiers to charge.

On the watchtower of the main ship, Zheng He held a telescope and checked the positioning of the various warships as they surrounded the enemy. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of a red figure breaking out of formation on the beach and heading straight for the main camp of the Japanese pirates.

He suddenly pointed his binoculars in that direction and saw Lin Yue riding that chestnut horse, all alone, heading straight for the gate of the Japanese pirate camp. The fastest vanguard boat behind him was still half a meter away in the water, without even getting off the gangplank.

Zheng He's expression changed drastically, and he immediately shouted, "Pass on my order! The vanguard that lands must advance at full speed and protect Scholar Lin at all costs!" The personal guards did not dare to delay and turned around to pass on the order.

Zheng He gripped the telescope, his brow furrowing more and more as he looked, clearly very worried.

The stronghold was inhabited by more than 300 ruthless Japanese pirates, not local ruffians and guards from Songjiang Prefecture. To charge into the camp alone is no different from courting death.

The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart became, his eyes fixed on the binoculars.

Lin Yue was a favorite of Emperor Yongle and a talented and capable man. He couldn't possibly die at the hands of the Japanese pirates. If that happened, he didn't know how he would explain it to His Majesty.

Before the Ming army could rush to rescue the people, the crooked and dilapidated Japanese pirate camp suddenly exploded. The Japanese pirates, like stray dogs, cried out and fled in all directions to the mudflats and harbors.

Zheng He was stunned, his heart skipped a beat, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

He couldn't see clearly and thought that something had happened to Lin Yuezhen, and that the Japanese pirates, in a bloodthirsty frenzy, were trying to break through and escape.

Zheng He was furious and was about to order an interception.

The messenger arrived in a fast patrol boat and rushed to the lookout tower: "General! A great victory at Shazhou!"

Zheng He whirled around and demanded sharply, "The great victory at Shazhou? What happened? Tell me in detail!"

The messenger looked up, his face full of admiration: "Lord Lin is unharmed! He rode alone to the front, leaping over three barricades, dodging several rounds of arrows, and heading straight for the main camp at the gate!"

In a mere moment, he personally beheaded the Japanese chieftain Ono Saburo and seized the bandit flag! The Japanese pirates, leaderless, scattered, and the vanguard was busy mopping up the remaining pirates!

"What did you say?" Zheng He was greatly shocked and grabbed the messenger. "Who charged into the enemy lines?"

"Scholar Lin, Lord Lin!" the messenger shouted. "The news is absolutely true, I saw it with my own eyes!"

Lord Lin led the charge, charging into the enemy lines alone, rampaging through the stronghold with unstoppable force; he was truly a tyrant incarnate.

"6

Zheng He was deeply shocked as he listened to the messenger's details, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

What does it mean for Lin Yue to be the first to charge, break through enemy lines, slay generals, and seize flags?

Is this referring to Lin Yue, Lin Boyan, whom he remembered as someone who hated evil and seemed to have a bad temper but was actually kind to others?

Zheng He spent half his life on the battlefield, risking his life during the Jingnan Campaign, and encountered countless fierce generals and soldiers.

Charging into battle alone, slaying enemy generals and seizing flags—something a border garrison commander might not dare to do or be able to accomplish—was now done by a scholar from the Hanlin Academy, single-handedly on horseback.

Is this reasonable? This is absolutely unreasonable!

He raised his binoculars again and discovered that the Ming Dynasty's dragon flag was already flying high above the Japanese pirate camp.

Seeing this, Zheng He put down his telescope, remained silent for a long time, and then sighed while leaning on the railing: "Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover, nor can one measure the sea with a bushel."

"Lin Boyan is skilled in both literature and martial arts, capable of governing the country and conquering the world on horseback. Among those who have served as both generals and ministers, I have only seen one like Scholar Lin."

On a high platform in the Japanese pirate stronghold, Lin Yue sat upright on the back of a chestnut horse, holding a long sword horizontally. Blood droplets fell from the blade to the ground, and his armor was stained with blood. He surveyed his surroundings with an air of self-importance.

A man and a horse stand atop the ruins, exuding a fierce and awe-inspiring aura, displaying an extremely domineering presence.

The Ming soldiers present all showed admiration upon seeing him, while the captured Japanese pirates trembled with fear upon seeing him.

In reality, Lin Yue was just a little dazed from being jostled around, and he tried to urge his horse off the platform but couldn't.

After a long while, once the chestnut horse had eaten its fill, Lin Yue finally spurred his horse down from the platform, stopped in front of the pile of prisoners, and asked in a deep voice, "Is there anyone among you who understands Chinese?"

There was a deathly silence all around, and no one answered.

He snorted coldly and said loudly, "Since they can't understand anything, they're useless. Zhao Hu, drag them all to the bottom of the sea."

Before the words were finished, seven or eight men suddenly stood up from the pile of prisoners, waving their hands hastily and blurting out in broken Chinese: "Sir! We understand! We can speak Chinese!"

Lin Yue looked up and said to Zhao Hu, "Bring them all over."

Zhao Hu waved his hand, and his personal guards stepped forward, pushing and shoving seven or eight people to the front of the horse.

Seven or eight people knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, their cries for mercy rising and falling.

Lin Yue's gaze swept across the crowd and settled on one of them.

This man was a head taller than the surrounding Japanese pirates, with broad shoulders and a thick back, yet he wore a Japanese-style crescent-shaped hairstyle, and his words of begging for mercy were the most fluent.

Lin Yue asked, "You speak Chinese so fluently, and you're taller than the Japanese. I guess you're not a Japanese pirate, are you?"

The man quickly crawled forward two steps on his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground, and said, "Your Excellency is wise!"

I am but a commoner of the Ming Dynasty, forced into this situation. I beg you, sir, spare my life! I am willing to serve you like a beast of burden, to serve you faithfully for all eternity...

'

Lin Yue smiled, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Oh? You're quite pragmatic and quick-witted; no wonder you can get along so well among the Japanese."

Upon hearing this, hope was immediately ignited in the man's heart.

He was secretly delighted. Could it be that this official had taken a liking to him and wanted to recruit him? With the Japanese pirates living in constant danger, if he could surrender to the Ming army, it would truly be a turning point in their lives.

He quickly kowtowed and said, "You flatter me, sir. In the past, I was forced to submit to the Japanese pirates. Now that you are leading the Ming army to attack, I am willing to abandon the darkness and embrace the light. I will report all the coastal terrain and details of the Japanese pirates to you."

Lin Yue remained noncommittal, instead turning to Zhao Hu and asking, "Zhao Hu, do you know who I hate most in my life?"

Zhao Hu shook his head and said, "This subordinate does not know, please instruct me, sir."

Lin Yue's smile vanished, and his voice suddenly turned stern: "What I hate most are traitors who betray their ancestors and forget their roots!"

"In the past, Shi Jingtang ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, recognized the enemy as his father, and left a bad name for ten thousand years. Qin Hui framed loyal officials, colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, and was cursed by ten thousand people."

"You, a Han Chinese, born and raised in China, do not think of defending your land and protecting your people. Instead, you collude with Japanese pirates, betray your ancestors, abandon your country, and harm your compatriots. How are you any different from a beast?"

The man's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he trembled violently. He hurriedly explained, "My lord, please understand! I was forced into this."

Back then, my hometown suffered a locust plague, resulting in a complete crop failure. The landlords and officials also levied exorbitant taxes, making it impossible for ordinary people to survive. That's why I became a pirate.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue nodded, his tone softening slightly: "Oh? Natural disasters and man-made calamities make it impossible to survive, so turning to the sea for a living is understandable."

The man, as if granted a pardon, quickly echoed, "Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for your keen observation, sir..."

But Lin Yue suddenly changed the subject, his eyes turned cold, and he asked sharply, "You said before that you were coerced by the Japanese pirates, but now you say that you went to sea to become a pirate. Are you doing this voluntarily or under duress?"

If you can't survive, you can go and kill the corrupt officials who exploit you, or rob the rich and heartless gentry and landlords.

Why did you instead follow the Japanese pirates and slaughter unarmed Ming civilians? Your reasons may be understandable, but how innocent were those civilians who died tragically under the Japanese swords?

The man was speechless, unsure how to defend himself, and could only beg for mercy.

Lin Yue continued to shout angrily: "If you have the guts to rise up in rebellion, kill corrupt officials, and resist oppressive government, I will respect you as a real man!"

But you, on the contrary, bully the weak and fear the strong, brandishing your sword against your own people, colluding with foreign enemies, and harming your own brothers.

He waved his hand sharply and shouted, "Zhao Hu, drag this bastard away and bury him alive!"