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

The snacks in Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty were plentiful. Before long, three bowls of steaming wontons and two plates of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside steamed buns were served.

Lin Yue accompanied the Chen father and daughter to eat and drink their fill. This time, instead of arranging for them to stay at the post station, he took them back to his bare house to make do for the time being.

Lin lit an oil lamp and spread out the Xuan paper by its dim light.

Behind natural disasters lies human error; the inaction of corrupt officials allowed minor calamities to escalate into major catastrophes.

He held his pen, his thoughts churning. The flood in Shanghai County was being concealed by the government, with local gentry withholding relief grain, leaving the people displaced. This was the perfect opportunity for him to urge Zhu Di to implement reforms.

In an instant, Lin Yue picked up his brush and began to write, his inspiration flowing freely.

A Treatise on Floods in Jiangnan

Your subject Lin Yue respectfully reports: Your Majesty, as the ruler of the world, should take the people's livelihood as the foundation and the state as the basis.

Today, Shanghai County in Jiangnan is experiencing a major flood. The Taihu Lake has breached its banks, and the Yangtze River has flooded the area, destroying fields and houses, rotting crops, and leaving tens of thousands of people displaced.

However, local officials concealed the truth and failed to report it, while local gentry and bullies withheld relief grain, causing refugees to beg for food on the road and starving corpses to be seen in the fields. This was not due to the severity of natural disasters, but rather the cruelty of man-made calamities!

......

Your Majesty often says, "Is my sword not sharp enough?" Now is the time to put it to use!

Although I am only a minor official of the seventh rank, I cannot bear to see the people suffering and the Ming Dynasty crumbling.

If any of my words are false, I am willing to offer my head to atone for my sins! I humbly beseech Your Majesty to make a wise decision and implement reforms swiftly to save Jiangnan and secure the Ming Dynasty.

The dim light of the oil lamp cast a flickering glow on the writing on the Xuan paper.

The Chen father and daughter sat awkwardly on a straw mat in the corner, watching Lin Yue's figure bent over his desk writing furiously, not daring to breathe loudly.

The youngest daughter of the Chen family clutched the hem of her father's clothes, her big eyes darting around, and quietly tugged at her father's sleeve.

"Father, what is our benefactor writing? With all those marks, is he writing us a written agreement?"

Mrs. Chen patted her daughter's head, her voice low, her eyes full of respect.

"Silly girl, I heard this is a memorial to the throne, a document to be submitted to His Majesty."

"Our benefactor is speaking up for the people of Jiangnan who have suffered from the disaster, and is denouncing those corrupt officials who concealed the extent of the disaster and withheld relief grain!"

"Will a memorial to the throne be of any use?" asked Chen's youngest daughter.

"His Majesty is so wise, it will surely work!" Father Chen straightened his back a little.

As soon as he finished speaking, he remembered that it was now the Yongle era, not the Hongwu era where people could live and study in peace, and he hesitated again.

The benefactor treated the father and daughter with immense kindness, not only rescuing them several times but also taking them in to stay in their impoverished house. Now, he is even staying up all night to write a memorial for the disaster victims in Jiangnan whom he has never met. Such a good official who stands up for the people is truly rare.

This is undoubtedly a good official who stands up for the people, but the question is, will the emperor be a good emperor?

Recalling the years of war, Chen's father held a rather low opinion of the Yongle Emperor.

After hesitating for a long time, Chen's father finally leaned closer to the desk and asked in a low voice, "My benefactor, what exactly did you write in this memorial?"

Lin Yue paused in his grip on the pen, then casually replied, "It's about the true situation of the flood in Shanghai County, and the corrupt officials' cover-up of the disaster and their embezzlement of relief grain."

Father Chen's expression changed slightly, and he quickly waved his hand: "My benefactor, it's fine to report the flood situation, but could we postpone the impeachment of corrupt officials?"

"My benefactor has given me a second chance at life, and I really don't want to see you get into trouble because of this."

Perhaps we should just report the disaster first, observe His Majesty's reaction, and then make a decision? Self-preservation is the best long-term strategy.

Lin Yue was taken aback upon hearing this and looked up at Chen's father.

Although the farmer in front of me was dressed in rags, he spoke clearly and logically, and even knew sophisticated terms like "self-preservation."

Lin Yue put down his pen and asked curiously, "Brother Chen, are you perhaps educated? You speak with quite a certain composure."

Mr. Chen smiled with a touch of naivety, as if reminiscing.

"My benefactor is joking. I only learned a few characters and studied for a few years in the village school during the early years of the Hongwu reign."

Lin Yue nodded upon hearing this and smiled, "I see! Emperor Hongwu's establishment of community schools to promote literacy has indeed benefited all people, enabling even ordinary farmers to understand things and speak tactfully."

Zhu Yuanzhang was a staunch advocate for literacy among the common people, firmly believing that illiterate people are easily deceived.

Emperor Hongwu issued several orders to establish community schools throughout the country, hiring teachers and scholars to educate children from the common people. He stipulated that one community school should be set up for every fifty households, and children from the common people aged eight to fifteen could enroll.

The literacy campaign wasn't solely for the purpose of passing the imperial examinations. It primarily involved teaching practical texts such as the "Thousand Character Classic," "Daily Miscellaneous Characters," and "Direct Explanation of the Imperial Edicts," enabling ordinary people to perform basic arithmetic and at least understand things like land deeds.

Thanks to Zhu Yuanzhang's vigorous promotion, the literacy rate in the Southern Zhili region increased significantly, giving ordinary farmers like Chen's father the opportunity to learn to read and write.

During the Ming Dynasty, the overall rate of commoners becoming Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) was over 50%.

Chen's father couldn't help but advise, "Our benefactor is kind-hearted, but corrupt officials and gentry are deeply entrenched in their networks. Impeaching them is like stroking a tiger's whiskers. Let's reassess the situation."

Lin Yue shook his head upon hearing this, seemingly unconcerned and remaining composed.

"Brother Chen, you are mistaken! As a censor of the Ming Dynasty, holding a position in the Censorate, I am responsible for maintaining discipline and have the power to supervise. It is my duty to remonstrate to the death and speak out for the people."

The people of Jiangnan are displaced and starving, their bodies strewn across the land, all because of official corruption and collusion with the powerful. Unless such corrupt practices are eradicated, the people will have no way to survive, and the nation will never have peace.

He raised his hand and placed it on the memorial, saying, "The censors hold low positions but wield great power; this is the perfect time!"

If one hesitates and looks back out of fear of power and concern for one's own safety, disregarding the lives and deaths of the people, how is one different from those who are corrupt and lawless?

Emperor Taizu established the positions of remonstrating officials and set up community schools, hoping that officials and the people would work together to protect the Ming Dynasty. How could I betray this original aspiration?

His words were spoken in a calm and ordinary tone, but upon closer listening, they inspired admiration.

Chen's father was shocked. Looking at the young official in front of him, who was dressed in tattered official robes and lived in poverty but had the world on his mind, he was filled with admiration.

He suddenly knelt down on the ground: "My benefactor is of unyielding character, far inferior to my short-sightedness."

Hundreds of thousands of people in Jiangnan who suffered from the disaster owe their lives to your righteous words and actions in upholding justice for the people! On behalf of my fellow villagers, I thank you for your immense kindness!

Lin Yue quickly helped him up and sighed, "Brother Chen, there's no need for this. This is simply the duty of an official who speaks out."

Looking at Chen's father, who was tall but thin, Lin Yue sighed inwardly.

The Ming Dynasty was much better than the cannibalistic tribes of later times, but in the end, it was still just a feudal dynasty.

Simply following Zhu Di's methods won't save the Ming Dynasty. The world needs something new, new ideas.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Yue had already tidied his clothes.

He folded up the "Memorial on the Floods in Jiangnan" and hid it in his sleeve, then lined up with the officials going to court outside the Meridian Gate.

After the bells and drums sounded in unison, the side gate opened, and everyone crossed the Golden Water Bridge in turn, stepped onto the steps of Fengtian Gate, and stood in the order of civil officials to the east and military officials to the west.

Lin Yue once again arrived at Fengtian Gate, a place he had always been loyal to.