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

As the eunuch summoned Lin Yue away, the departing officials all stopped and stared at him.

Several vice ministers from Jiangnan exchanged anxious glances, while the young officials looked on with surprise and whispered among themselves.

Everyone knew that Lin Yue had joined Emperor Yongle's cabinet. However, in the past, people were careful about their image when summoning others, and they would usually call him secretly after most of the people had left. This time, however, he was summoned before he even left the main hall.

Minister of Rites Li Zhigang stood still, dressed in a scarlet court robe of the second rank, with faint traces of sweat on the tablet in his hand.

His gaze swept heavily over Lin Yue's back, his usually fickle face showing no emotion whatsoever. He turned his head slightly and exchanged a meaningful glance with the Vice Minister of Rites beside him.

The emperor can hold private meetings, but officials can't?

......

Inside the Wenhua Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the bright yellow throne faced the hall's entrance.

As soon as Lin Yue entered, Zhu Di asked, "Tell me in detail about the floods in Jiangnan."

Lin Yue immediately proclaimed: "Your Majesty! The dike in Shanghai County has been breached for over a month. Officials have concealed the truth, and local gentry have embezzled relief funds. Tens of thousands of refugees are starving and desperately need food."

Southern Zhili is the source of the nation's wealth, with taxes accounting for one-third of the national treasury. Now, with the famine spreading, if it continues, the source of revenue will be cut off, and refugees will rebel, jeopardizing the Ming Dynasty!

"Every word I have said is true. If there is even the slightest falsehood, I am willing to be beheaded to atone for my sins to the world!"

Zhu Di was speechless. Was this some kind of joke? This wasn't a court assembly.

He waved his hand and said, "You can talk about it later. When reporting matters to the emperor, you must first submit a memorial and then state your opinion. Don't you even know this basic rule?"

Though his words were stern, there was no anger in his eyes. Emperor Yongle gestured to the side of the hall: "Hou Xian, bring him his memorial."

Hou Xian strode forward, took the scroll of yellow paper from Lin Yue's sleeve, and bowed to present it to the emperor's desk.

Zhu Di quickly flipped through the pages, his gaze sweeping over the phrases such as the breach of the Taihu Lake dike for three miles and the local gentry Wang Youde withholding relief grain. His originally relaxed brows gradually furrowed, and his expression darkened.

Southern Zhili was the foundation of the capital and a vital hub for the Grand Canal. It is simply outrageous that such a disaster was concealed.

Seeing this, Lin Yue seized the opportunity to spread alarmist rumors, regardless of whether the information was true or not, he just said it and that was it.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that local officials have misappropriated river works funds and fertile land, which has led to the long-term disrepair of the river embankment. The gentry and officials colluded, and only 30% of the relief grain was left after passing through their hands. The Chen family father and daughter only received three handfuls of coarse rice, and dozens of people starved to death along the way!"

If such acts of corruption and deceiving the emperor are not severely punished, how can the people be convinced of their authority?

"Your Majesty, I request permission to travel to Jiangnan to provide disaster relief, control floods, and investigate treacherous officials. If I fail to quell the disaster and bring the mastermind to justice, I beg Your Majesty to behead me on the banks of the Yangtze River!"

Zhu Di put down the memorial, stared at Lin Yue for a long time, and suddenly burst out laughing.

"You madman are quite amusing, always spouting 'I behead you!' Do you really want me to cut off your head?"

In Zhu Di's view, floods were a common occurrence. Unless they happened in a wealthy place like Southern Zhili, it was customary to send local officials to provide relief.

However, the detailed information in Lin Yue's memorial, which involved officials deceiving the emperor, coupled with the fact that Southern Zhili was related to the foundation of the country, made him have other ideas.

This Lin Yue is arrogant, but also bold and insightful. It's a good opportunity to observe and test him.

"Very well," Zhu Di said, changing his tone, "Jade must be carved to become a useful object. I grant your request to go to Jiangnan to provide disaster relief and flood control!"

He paused, then emphasized his words.

"I hereby grant you the authority to act expediently. Wherever you go, both civil and military officials must cooperate with your investigations and handle matters properly; you need not report to me for every matter!"

Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately expressed his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness! I will certainly not fail in my mission and will restore peace and stability to the people of Jiangnan!"

After leaving the Wenhua Hall, all the officials outside the Meridian Gate had dispersed.

Lin Yue did not immediately pack his bags or contact any other officials or departments, but instead turned around and went home.

How can simply talking about taking shortcuts be enough to turn the floods in Jiangnan into a major undertaking? We need to give Zhu Di even more pressure.

Upon returning to their impoverished home, the Chen father and daughter rushed to greet them.

Lin Yue helped them up: "Brother Chen, please come with me to the Meridian Gate."

He led the father and daughter through the streets and alleys until they reached the vermilion drum outside the Meridian Gate.

This drum was established in the first year of the Hongwu reign (1368) specifically for serious injustices and confidential matters. Striking this drum would reach the ears of the Emperor and gain his close attention.

Chen's father stared at the large vermilion drum, his pupils contracted, and he quickly grabbed Lin Yue.

"My benefactor, is this the Dengwen Drum? Emperor Hongwu established a rule that it can only be used to appeal to those with a grave injustice and a strong sense of grievance. What are we doing here?"

The youngest daughter of the Chen family looked at Lin Yue and asked, "My benefactor, is beating the drum to tell the Emperor? Will it get rid of all the corrupt officials?"

Lin Yue nodded: "This drum is specially designed for serious injustices and grievances; a single strike will reach the ears of the emperor."

Your testimonies are irrefutable evidence of the disaster in Jiangnan. By reporting this with drums, you will not only let His Majesty and all officials know the truth, thus thwarting any attempts by corrupt officials to alter their testimonies and turn the tables, but you will also ensure that disaster relief efforts are carried out legitimately.

He looked at the Chen father and daughter with earnest eyes: "Only by making the disaster situation public can I have a legitimate reason to go to Jiangnan to investigate corruption and distribute relief grain, and only then can I truly make a difference."

The task Zhu Di has assigned him is nothing more than to inspect the Jiangnan region and, incidentally, to oversee disaster relief efforts. Even for these two tasks, he has to be mindful of the attitudes of the local officials.

This is not what Lin Yue needs. He would rather go there and wreak havoc than beg for food and disaster relief like a grandson. This is not good for him, nor is it fair to the people of Jiangnan in the flood-stricken areas.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Chen's worries gradually disappeared, and he straightened his back: "My benefactor has considered everything carefully, I understand!"

"Thump, thump, thump."

After a long absence, the petition drum was sounded.

The powerful drumbeats pierced through the morning mist of Nanjing, startling the censors on duty.

According to the old system of the Hongwu era, once the drum of petitioning was sounded, the censors had to immediately present their petitions and could not refuse.

Standing beneath the drum, Lin Yue looked at the imperial censor who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news and proclaimed loudly, "Your Majesty, I, Lin Yue, an official of the Censorate, along with the Chen family, father and daughter, refugees from the floods in Jiangnan, have struck the Dengwen Drum to report the crimes of the officials of Shanghai County who concealed the disaster and embezzled relief funds. I humbly request Your Majesty to send an official to confront them and uphold the law!"

Although the Chen father and daughter looked apprehensive, they stood closely behind Lin Yue.

They may not understand Lin Yue's methods of creating events where none exist and power where none exists.

But they knew that the sound of those drums held the key to survival for hundreds of thousands of disaster victims in Jiangnan.

Censor Chen Mengxu strode forward, his blue robe and black boots making his face appear even more solemn. He frowned as he looked at Lin Yue.

"Why must Censor Lin act in this way? The floods in Jiangnan are no small matter. Your beating of the petition drum is only adding to the chaos."

Lin Yue glanced at him and sneered, "The censor is a scholar from a noble family, accustomed to fine food and drink, naturally unaware of the hardships of ordinary people!"

He raised his hand and swept it over the crowd that had gathered inside and outside the Meridian Gate upon hearing the commotion, his voice loud and clear.

"What in the world is more important than the life and death of hundreds of thousands of people in Jiangnan?"

Local officials colluded to cover up the disaster, relief grain was embezzled, and corpses littered the fields. If their crimes were not brought to the emperor's attention through the petition drum, what would become of the Ming Dynasty?