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

Chapter 75 Last Poem

Zhu Di abruptly pushed aside the memorials on the table and asked loudly.

"Ji Gang, explain yourself clearly! What exactly happened in Jiangnan that caused such a commotion?"

Ji Gang quickly stepped forward and bowed in response.

"Your Majesty, I was ordered to go to Jiangnan. As soon as I arrived in Huating, I witnessed Lin Yue indiscriminately killing local gentry. Later, in Shanghai County, he arrested the magistrate of Huating County and, in front of me, drew his sword and beheaded him on the grounds that he had embezzled relief grain and caused the deaths of the people."

Ji Gang spoke very quickly, recounting all the things Lin Yue had done.

"Later, Lin Yue confiscated the property of hundreds of local gentry in Huating and Qingpu, distributed the land to displaced people, and even privately issued proclamations to surrounding prefectures and counties, summoning nearly 100,000 laborers to repair the dikes day and night."

Seeing their formidable strength, the Suzhou prefect proactively allocated provisions and supplies to aid their operations!

Zhu Di was stunned. No matter how many times he heard it, he was still deeply shocked.

"In other words, this scoundrel only spent seven days in Jiangnan before killing two high-ranking officials, confiscating their property, distributing their land, and gathering 100,000 people. How dare the local officials still side with him?"

"What I have said is true. The traces of the flood control efforts are still visible on the Qingpu River embankment, as evidenced by the large number of displaced people who have gathered there. The Suzhou prefect's documents for the allocation of supplies have also been seized!" Ji Gang nodded emphatically and took out a scroll of documents from his sleeve to present to the emperor.

Zhu Di did not look at the document, but instead angrily rebuked Lin Yue.

"How dare you, you brat! You are truly audacious and reckless!"

"I appointed you to manage the floods because I value your abilities and hoped you could alleviate the floods in Jiangnan and pacify the people. Yet you disregard the laws and regulations of the court!"

"Although a seventh-rank county magistrate is not a high-ranking official, he is still an official appointed by the imperial court. You can just execute him like that? Do you even respect the imperial court?!"

Emperor Yongle glared angrily, his voice sharp and stern.

"Illegally dividing up land and arbitrarily gathering laborers are no different from treason!"

The Suzhou prefect is helping you, and you accept it without hesitation? Or do you really intend to carve out a territory in Jiangnan and declare yourself king?!

"I raised an army to quell the rebellion, wiped out the rebels, and finally secured the Ming Dynasty. How could I allow a mere brat like you to act so recklessly!" Zhu Di became increasingly angry as he spoke.

But despite all the criticism, after talking for so long, Zhu Di suddenly felt that something was wrong.

In the past, Lin Yue was usually the most arrogant and would always argue loudly. Why was he so well-behaved today?

When the light swept over, it was seen that Lin Yue's mouth was stuffed with a strip of cloth, and he was unable to speak.

Zhu Di, in his fury, also found it amusing, wondering just how much Ji Gang had annoyed him that he had to resort to such a method to shut him up.

"Untie him. I want to have a serious talk with him," Zhu Di said in a deep voice.

Ji Gang dared not disobey, and quickly stepped forward to pull the cloth strip out of Lin Yue's mouth and untie him.

Zhu Di raised his hand to stroke his imperial crown, looking down at Lin Yue and demanding, "Lin Yue, do you know your crime?"

Lin Yue shook his groggy head, and the moment he could speak, he burst into a tirade.

"A crime? What crime have I committed!"

He stood tall and proud, his arrogant spirit soaring to the top of the palace.

"The magistrate of Wu County was corrupt and embezzled, and the magistrate of Huating County abandoned the people and fled. The floods in Jiangnan were devastating, and countless people drowned. What's wrong with killing such corrupt officials?"

By killing him, I am truly saving countless people from suffering!

If I must speak of a crime, it is that I failed to quickly eliminate all the corrupt officials in Jiangnan and failed to stop the floods sooner, causing the people to suffer for one more day!

At this point, Lin Yue suddenly stopped.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he realized something was wrong.

How could he possibly defend himself as innocent? That wouldn't do, so Lin Yue changed the direction of his speech and began to launch a personal attack on Zhu Li.

Having made up his mind, Lin Yue's eyes sharpened, his tone abruptly changed, and he spoke in a resounding voice.

"I believe the truly guilty one is Your Majesty!"

"What?" Zhu Di was once again greatly shocked. Lin Yue's words always gave him extraordinary insights.

Ji Gang was terrified and quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Lin Yue is talking nonsense; it shouldn't be taken seriously!"

Lin Yue ignored everything, stepped forward, pointed at Zhu Di's nose, and started cursing.

"As the ancients said, the people are the masters of the gods, and a sage king first governs the people and then devotes himself to the gods!"

The Jiangnan region was plagued by floods. The Wusong River and the Huangpu River overflowed, turning the confluence into a vast expanse of water. People in Shanghai County were submerged in the water trying to survive, and the river embankments in Huating County nearly collapsed. Meanwhile, local officials either fled or became corrupt, some hoarding grain and fodder, others seizing land, treating the lives of the people as worthless!

Mencius said, "If the kitchen is full of fat meat, the stables are full of fat horses, the people look hungry, and the fields are littered with the corpses of the starving, this is leading beasts to devour men; this is called an evil ruler!"

He became more and more impassioned as he spoke, each word ringing out: "Your Majesty possesses the entire world, yet you know nothing of the suffering in Jiangnan!"

The people are starving and desperate for food, yet His Majesty neither sends provisions for disaster relief nor dispatches capable ministers to control the floods. Instead, he orders the Embroidered Uniform Guard to escort those tasked with disaster relief. This is utterly foolish!

In the past, Yu the Great thrice passed by his home without entering while taming the floods, all for the sake of saving the people. Now, Your Majesty obstructs the path to disaster relief and condones the actions of corrupt officials, making you no different from Jie and Zhou!

"You!!" Zhu Di roared in fury.

What do you mean by being no different from Jie and Zhou? Slander! This is slander!

Lin Yue completely ignored Emperor Yongle and continued in a loud voice: "The sage said, the people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important!"

The taxes from Jiangnan account for half of the nation's revenue, and the people are now living in misery. If this continues unchecked, it may lead to a popular uprising. By executing these two corrupt officials, I am acting on behalf of Heaven and protecting Your Majesty's empire.

Yet Your Majesty regards me as a traitor. Isn't this a betrayal of your ancestors, a forgetting of the fundamental principles established by your founding emperor—driving out the barbarians, restoring China, bringing peace to the people, and making the people the foundation of the nation?!

Lin Yue launched into a tirade, his words brimming with classical allusions, powerful and progressive, until the hall fell silent.

Zhu Di's face turned from green to purple, then from purple to black. Finally, he could no longer bear it and spoke out angrily.

"Sharp-tongued and utterly ignorant! What is your status or official rank? How dare you mention ancestral rules to me!"

Officials are not to be killed without a joint trial by the three judicial departments. Any civilian who murders a county magistrate shall be executed. You, as an imperial envoy, have broken the law and killed two officials of the court!

Moreover, you even privately recruited laborers and illegally diverted grain supplies. Such blatant disregard for the law and such heinous acts have earned you the audacity to try and justify your actions!

"You have presumptuously criticized your sovereign and father, and acted insubordination towards your superiors. Your crimes are heinous and, according to the law, you shall be executed!"

Zhu Di roared angrily, clearly enraged and already harboring murderous intent.

Lin Yue was not afraid at all; on the contrary, he was overjoyed.

He suddenly puffed out his chest and burst into loud laughter, which shook the palace.

"Execute me? Your Majesty did the right thing!"

I executed corrupt officials to save the people, thus purging the Ming Dynasty of parasites. You, on the other hand, tolerated corrupt officials and obstructed disaster relief, thus digging your own grave for the country!

You accuse me of disregarding the law, but what is the law? Does the law protect the common people, or corrupt officials?

Lin Yue spread his arms wide, looked up to the sky and roared: "I beseech Heaven to discern the loyal from the treacherous!"

I, Lin Yue, am loyal to the Ming Dynasty and will die for the people; I will die without regret!

Seeing that Lin Yue was as tough as ever, Zhu Di was helpless.

He looked down at the ragged, mud-covered, yet scorching-eyed madman below and was speechless for a moment.

I can't bear to kill him, but I can't swallow my anger if I let him go.

As we all know, once you cross the line and indulge someone, you'll find that your bottom line keeps getting lowered, and double standards can create a strange sense of sunk cost.

But Emperor Yongle was no ordinary man. After hesitating for a long time, Zhu Di decided to put aside the sunk costs and make up his mind to punish Lin Yueming in the first place.

Zhu Di was, after all, a military emperor, not some domineering CEO obsessed with romance. His tolerance had its limits.

Emperor Yongle sighed softly and waved his hand, saying, "Ji Gang! Throw this madman into the imperial prison and keep him under strict guard. No one is allowed to visit him!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue assumed it was just another routine trip to and from the imperial prison and felt helpless.

So even this can't be done?

Ji Gang, on the other hand, didn't have so many tricks up his sleeve. He couldn't wait any longer, so he quickly stepped forward, dragged Lin Yue, and walked out.

"Let me go!" Lin Yue struggled as the Imperial Guards dragged him away, his angry outbursts continuing unabated.

"Your Majesty is confused! I can wait, Your Majesty can wait, but the people of Jiangnan cannot wait!"

Ming Dynasty officials were slow as tortoises and greedy as wolves when it came to disaster relief. What the people wanted was real disaster relief, not just empty words on paper from the court!

Only if His Majesty personally issues an edict to thoroughly investigate corruption and allocate sufficient provisions can the people be saved from their suffering!

Lin Yue's voice was anxious, unlike his previous arrogant and defiant tone; there was more or less truth in it.

Given the efficiency of Ming Dynasty officials, it's estimated that they would only start organizing flood control efforts after most of the people had died.

The Imperial Guards dragged Lin Yue away, their angry shouts fading into the distance.

Zhu Di watched his retreating figure, a look of worry on his face.

The situation in the Jiangnan region certainly requires careful consideration.

Lin Yue once again arrived at the familiar old place in the Imperial Prison.

Just as he was pushed into the passageway by the Imperial Guards, the old jailer peeked out and grinned.

"Scholar Lin, you've come to stay again? Still in the old cell? Let me help you clean it up."

Spraying Zhu Di was a task and a habit for Lin Yue, who was still very kind to ordinary people in his daily life.

He smiled and nodded: "It's kind of you to think of me. I'll have to trouble you guys for a few more days."

The jailer deftly opened the cell door and laid out clean straw and blankets: "We know you like things clean, so the straw has just been dried in the sun, and there's half a pot of hot water left."

Lin Yue was somewhat flattered and said with a smile, "Brother, you're too kind. When I get out of prison, I'll bring you some cakes to thank you."

The jailer exchanged a few more pleasantries with Lin Yue, then quietly closed the door and left.

Lin Yue leaned against the straw mat, listening to the occasional footsteps coming from the passageway, and felt a strange sense of peace.

"hehe."

A familiar soft laugh came from behind him.

Lin Yue turned his head sharply and saw a thin figure in the dimly lit cell, dressed in tattered clothes. It was Xie Jin, who had long been imprisoned in the imperial prison.

Xie Jin leaned against the cold wall and sneered, "You scourge of the country and the people, yet you've become quite familiar with these lowly people."

I wonder what brought him in this time, and what outrageous things he said.

Lin Yue saw the figure leaning against the corner of the wall, and was taken aback at first, then raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Jie Jin? What are you still doing here? Could it be that His Majesty is so busy that he has forgotten about your great talent?"

The prison was damp, and Xie Jin's already unpleasant expression worsened upon hearing this. He gave a cold snort and turned his face away.

Seeing this, Lin Yue chuckled, lay down on the dry grass, crossed his legs, and said.

"I went to Jiangnan to control the floods, and while I was at it, I killed two county magistrates and murdered hundreds of wicked local gentry. Then I was kidnapped and brought back by that scoundrel Ji Gang."

Xie Jin was immediately shocked and turned to look at the protagonist.

What do you mean by casually killing two county magistrates? Those were officials appointed by the imperial court!

And tell me, what do you mean by killing hundreds of wicked local gentry? Killing hundreds of people at once, are you going to control the floods or to fight a war?

Xie Jin immediately rebuked Lin Yue: "You audacious madman! You have dared to kill an official! This is outrageous! You have violated the laws of the court! You have no respect for the emperor!"

Oh ho, you actually dare to talk back? Bold Jie Jin, today I'll show you what a troll forged by the eight arts of the internet really is.

"What are you barking like a dog?!" Lin Yue stood up abruptly and retorted passionately.

"The floods in Jiangnan are as urgent as wildfire. The Wusong River and Huangpu River could burst their banks at any moment, and the lives of the people are hanging by a thread. What's wrong with me killing two corrupt county magistrates who were incompetent in flood control and did nothing at all?"

He pointed at Xie Jin's nose and angrily rebuked him: "I killed corrupt officials to save the people, what's wrong with that?"

You pedantic scholar, you have no understanding of the hardships of the common people! You got involved in the struggle for the throne to curry favor with the princes and seek high office and wealth; now your ambitions have failed, and you only have yourself to blame!

Both were feudal systems, but Lin Yue's aim was to expand territory, while Xie Jin's was to divide his family property within the court. The two were completely at odds.

Xie Jin was equally furious; he was considered eloquent and persuasive in the Ming Dynasty.

"Your actions are merely the courage of a common man, a great villain disguised as a loyalist!"

It's nothing more than using flood control as a pretext for arrogance, indiscriminate killing to gain fame and vent personal grievances; they are nothing but fame-seekers!

Lin Yue thought for a moment, chuckled, and decided to unleash his ultimate move.

"You say I'm just seeking fame and fortune? I dared to strike the emperor in prison, would you dare?"

As he spoke, Lin Yue struck a pose in the prison cell, recreating the scene of him beating Zhu Di.

Xie Jin was suddenly stunned.

He had heard about this before, but he had always treated it as a folk tale and never taken it seriously. Now, hearing it from Lin Yue, he was greatly shocked.

What do you mean, Scholar Lin? How dare you say such things? Defaming the emperor is punishable by death...

wrong?!

Could it be?!

As Xie Jin looked at Lin Yue, who was vividly recounting his actions of beating the emperor, a sense of absurdity arose in his heart.

Lin Yue said he hit the emperor, could it really be true?

Attacking the emperor is a suicidal act that cannot be explained by seeking fame and reputation.

For the first time, Xie Jin felt a deep and sincere admiration for someone.

Xie Jin accepted it.

Having won the argument with Xie Jin, Lin Yue was too lazy to argue with him any longer. He turned and called out towards the outside of the fence, "Brother, could you please bring me pen, ink, paper, and inkstone? I need to write a memorial to the throne!"

The old jailer had anticipated this, and soon brought over writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, saying with a smile, "Scholar Lin, please write with confidence; it's all top-quality ink."

"Thank you for your kindness, brother."

Lin Yue thanked him, spread out paper and inkstone, dipped them in ink, and began to write.

Memorial Criticizing the Floods in Jiangnan

He began by lamenting the devastation: "Since the end of April, torrential rains have raged in Jiangnan for months, causing the water level of Taihu Lake to rise by more than ten feet, and the Wusong River..."

The Loujiang and Dongjiang rivers have been silted up for a long time, leaving no drainage outlets and causing floods.

Suzhou and Songjiang prefectures were hit hardest, with fields and houses completely submerged. Xiushui and Jiashan were flooded, forcing people to seek refuge on their roofs. Wucheng and Gui'an were hit by the backflow of Taihu Lake, resulting in total crop failure and widespread famine—a truly horrific scene!

With a sudden shift in his writing style, Lin Yue detailed his strategies for flood control, ink dripping from the tip of his brush.

"The lower reaches of the Wusong River are silted up like flat land. Dredging the entire line would only waste the manpower. We should implement the method of diverting the Wusong River into Liujiagang and Baimaogang, dredging Anting and Qiandun, and diverting the floodwaters from Taihu Lake northward into Liujiagang and Baimaogang, and then directly into the Yangtze River and the sea."

In the southeast, the old Huangpu River channel was abandoned, and the Fanjiabang Canal was excavated and widened to connect the upper reaches of the Huangpu River to the sea, forming a new main channel for flood discharge.

It is advisable to establish separate granaries to store grain for disaster relief, resettle displaced people, and prevent peasant uprisings...

'

He hunched over his desk and wrote furiously, his writing becoming increasingly urgent. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and after a flurry of strokes, he felt dizzy and his chest tight.

Lin Yue had originally intended to criticize Zhu Di, but he forgot about it as he wrote.

He looked at the memorial in a daze, pondered for a moment, and, as was his usual practice, added a poem at the end.

Last Poem

Yellow sand and white waves surge wildly, though strength is exhausted, the ambition to return to Jiangnan remains undiminished.

Half a lifetime of fame and glory were lost on the battlefield, while my family and loved ones were swept away by the tides of the river.

The poem is adapted from Wang Zhiren's last poem. Wang Zhiren was a general who quelled Japanese pirates and was the Marquis of Wuning. When the country was about to fall, he refused to submit to the Qing dynasty and refused to shave his head and change his customs. He led his entire family of 93 people to drown themselves in the sea.