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

A moment later, Ji Gang, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, strode into the hall and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, your subject Ji Gang pays his respects!"

Zhu Di threw Lin Yue's memorial directly in front of him and loudly issued orders.

"You must quickly take light cavalry to Zhenjiang Prefecture and thoroughly investigate the refugees and the extent of the flood disaster!"

If Lin Yue's words are true, the local government should be ordered to open the granaries and provide disaster relief immediately. Anyone who dares to shirk or delay will be executed first and reported later!

"As you command!" Ji Gang picked up the memorial, got up, and hurried out.

Not long after Ji Gang left, Zhu Gaochi appeared.

He was dressed in the prince's everyday clothes and bowed as he entered.

"What brings the Crown Prince here?" Zhu Di asked, his face displeased.

"Father, I request an audience with you, but it is concerning the case of Xie Jin..."

Upon hearing this, Hou Xian, who was standing nearby, closed his eyes and shook his head slightly.

His Highness used to be gentle and wise, but today he doesn't even care about His Majesty's expression.

"Shut up!" Zhu Di interrupted sharply, his anger flaring, and he began to curse.

"As the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, how come you only have eyes for court intrigues and petty scheming!"

The people of Jiangnan are starving to death; even cannibalism has occurred, and you remain indifferent!

Zhu Gaochi was stunned, utterly shocked: "What?! A cannibalistic tragedy has occurred in Jiangnan?"

Zhu Di pointed at the memorial on the ground and continued to shout: "Tens of thousands of refugees in Zhenjiang Prefecture have not received any relief grain. Officials are colluding to cover up the truth!"

As the Crown Prince, you don't care about the people's livelihood; you only think about exonerating disgraced officials. With such a narrow vision, how can you be the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty? How will you rule the world in the future?

Zhu Gaochi was shocked. He bent down to pick up the scattered pages of the memorial, quickly glanced at them, and his expression changed drastically.

He composed himself and said, "Father, this matter is of great importance. We should summon all officials to court to discuss and coordinate disaster relief and investigate corruption. That would be the best course of action."

Zhu Di was already furious, and at this moment, everything Zhu Gaochi said sounded like a dog barking.

Emperor Yongle stepped forward, pointed at his nose, and began to berate him.

"You associate with those cynics every day, and you're becoming more and more pedantic!"

They don't even understand the principle of holding small meetings for important matters. The flood is imminent and cannot be delayed in the slightest!

The court's endless wrangling has turned the people of Jiangnan to dust and bones!

Zhu Di's anger and anxiety were actually due to being misled by Lin Yue.

Lin Yue, as a modern person, is full of emotions and has a high offensive and low defensive style.

He witnessed the tragic deaths of the mother and child, and was overcome with grief. His poem "Lament of the Vegetable Man" was so poignant and powerful that it caused Zhu Di to misjudge the situation.

Zhu Di had just usurped the throne, and his control over various parts of the Ming Dynasty was not strong, nor did he trust the former officials of Jianwen in those areas.

Emperor Yongle still believed that the Jiangnan region had suffered a once-in-a-century flood, and feared that the Ming Dynasty would suddenly collapse.

......

After two days of rapid travel, the horse's hooves shattered the morning mist along the ancient Suzhou-Hangzhou road, and Wuxian County in Suzhou was already in sight.

Wu County, as a county attached to Suzhou Prefecture, was originally a prosperous place where "when Suzhou and Huzhou are prosperous, the whole country is well-fed," but now it has become a living hell.

The city gates were filled with displaced people, their withered hands stretched out wildly, children were so hungry they were gnawing on tree bark, and corpses of the starved were scattered everywhere, with flies swarming around them.

Lin Yue dismounted. After riding for so long, the fabric on the inside of his legs was soaked with blood, and the chafed flesh stuck to the fabric, making every step excruciatingly painful.

"Scholar Lin, this injury could be serious or minor. It needs to be treated immediately, otherwise it may fester and become infected."

Liu Zhong stepped forward to help him up and said.

Lin Yue waved his hand away, firmly stating, "No need! We're heading straight to the county government!"

Upon entering the county town, the devastation was even more pronounced.

Lin Yue abruptly stopped and ordered Liu Zhong in a loud voice, "Liu Zhong, take the imperial guards and go to the county government! Arrest Magistrate Pang Mian for me!"

Liu Zhong was stunned and looked at Lin Yue in disbelief.

"Arrest people directly? Without first checking the case files, questioning the local gentry, or conducting any investigation?"

Lin Yue snorted coldly and said sharply.

"Given the current situation, what's the point of investigating anymore!"

Wu County is filled with refugees, and the disaster has been concealed to this day; the imperial court has not even submitted a single memorial to the emperor!

Even if this magistrate is innocent, he deserves to die!

Lin Yue gripped the imperial sword tightly and said loudly.

"His Majesty has granted me the authority to act as I see fit. I will take full responsibility if anything goes wrong. There is no need for further discussion!"

Liu Zhong said no more, waved his hand, and fifty Imperial Guards rushed forward, kicking open the county government gate and heading straight for the inner hall.

"Who are you, daring to trespass..."

The gatekeeper tried to stop him, but Liu Zhong kicked him to the ground.

When Magistrate Pang Mian saw someone barging in and discovered it was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his expression changed drastically.

However, he slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, shouting in a fierce but weak voice, "How dare you! Who are you people, barging into the county government office without a permit? Are you plotting rebellion?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on a mission. Stop talking nonsense. I suggest you cooperate with the investigation."

Liu Zhong stepped forward and swung the iron chain at Pang Mian, who was unable to dodge in time and was firmly bound by the chain.

He struggled and roared, "I am a seventh-rank official of the imperial court, you have no right to arrest me! I will impeach you before His Majesty!"

The Imperial Guards didn't waste words with him, and without giving him a chance to say more, they grabbed him and started to leave. As they dragged him, his official robes tore, and his black gauze hat rolled into the dust.

The entire county government office was under the control of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Lin Yue swaggered in and walked all the way to the county jail, where he was to interrogate the people of Wu County.

He had barely stood still when Liu Zhong brought Pang Mian in to report: "Scholar Lin, Magistrate Pang Mian has been brought in. What should be done with him?"

Lin Yue didn't even lift his eyelids: "Kill him."

"What?!" Pang Mian exclaimed in shock, struggling to speak.

"I am an official appointed by the imperial court. You have killed an official appointed by imperial decree without authorization; this is a capital offense!"

Lin Yue suddenly drew his eight-sided Han sword, its cold light flashing.

"A seventh-rank county magistrate? How does that compare to the lives of the 300,000 people of Wu County?"

He pointed his sword directly at Pang Mian's throat and questioned him sharply.

"Wu County is teeming with refugees and streets littered with the corpses of the starving. Why don't you report this? Why don't you open the granaries to provide disaster relief?"

Pang Mian's face was deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence.

"Not going to speak?" Lin Yue roared. "Pang Mian, the magistrate of Wu County, you have resisted to the death and refused to cooperate. Your crime deserves death!"

Inside the cell, Liu Zhong and Li Da looked at each other in disbelief. Was it really a beheading? Was it just a bluff?

Liu Zhong looked troubled and stepped forward: "Scholar Lin, killing a seventh-rank official without authorization is against the law and must be reported to His Majesty for a decision."

Seeing that Liu Zhong was uncooperative, Lin Yue immediately cursed, "Insolence! I am here on behalf of the Emperor, and according to my duties you should address me as Imperial Envoy!"

"...Your Excellency, the county magistrate is only a seventh-rank official. He cannot be killed without investigation and conviction."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Yue had already swung his sword down.

A flash of sword light, a head rolled off, and blood splattered on the ground.

"As expected of a royal sword, it is indeed sharp." Lin Yue flicked the blood droplets off the sword, his heroic and spirited face stained with blood.

The dungeon fell silent for a moment, then erupted in deafening cries.

Looking at Pang Mian's head, Liu Zhong's face was full of disbelief.

A county magistrate was killed just like that? Are you a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard or am I?

Li Da's face turned deathly pale, and he took a half step back: "This... Lin... Imperial Envoy, how could you just kill him? How could you just kill him like that?"

Some of the officials and clerks in Wu County collapsed to the ground, crying and screaming for their parents. Some were so frightened that they defecated and urinated, filling the prison with a foul stench.

Lin Yue gripped the blood-dripping sword, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a terrifying look; no one dared to meet his eyes.