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

The young and strong disaster victims, their eyes red, gripped the horse reins with their withered hands.

Some grabbed the messenger's left sleeve, some held his right wrist, and others rushed forward to hug the messenger's waist.

With seven or eight people exerting force at the same time, the messenger was caught off guard, lost his balance, and crashed heavily into the dust.

"Search!" Lin Yue shouted sternly.

Liu Zhong didn't hesitate any longer. He stepped forward, placed his left foot on the envoy's lower back, and grabbed his collar with his right hand, pinning the man down firmly.

The Imperial Guards are professionals at searching.

His rough fingers darted quickly through the messenger's bosom, waist, and sleeves, his fingertips tracing the folds of the silk lining, and when they touched something hard, he suddenly pulled it out.

A letter was found in the search. The envelope was made of thick hemp paper and sealed with overlapping layers of reddish-brown sealing wax. Clearly, no one of high status would use such wax.

Liu Zhong presented the letter to Lin Yue.

Lin Yue took the letter, pressed his thumb against the edge of the sealing wax, and pried it off. The sealing wax cracked.

He pulled out the letter; the handwriting was messy and the ink was blurred, clearly indicating that it was written in a hurry.

"Quickly cancel the account books, transfer the silver, and temporarily return the confiscated land to the displaced people. Make sure to cover up all traces before the court's investigation..."

Lin Yue quickly scanned the contents of the letter and immediately gave a cold smile.

"You expect Songjiang Prefecture to clean up the mess? Do you think I'll give you that time?"

He folded the letter and hid it inside the envelope.

Lin Yue looked up at Liu Zhong, his gaze sharp, and shouted in a deep voice.

"Liu Zhong, you immediately take men to inform all the gentry and powerful people in Wu County who have participated in the land annexation and the resale of government grain that they must assemble at the disaster relief open space within half an hour!"

Anyone who dares to shirk responsibility or refuses to cooperate may be killed on the spot!

He paused, then added, "In addition, half of the Imperial Guards will be sent to guard all the official roads, especially the only road leading to Songjiang Prefecture!"

Anyone seen acting suspiciously, carrying documents, or possessing large amounts of valuables, shall be stopped and thoroughly investigated!

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhong showed no hesitation as before and immediately agreed.

Previously, Lin Yue had boldly falsely conveyed the emperor's edict, which Liu Zhong was unaware of.

All he knew was that a righteous and outspoken imperial envoy, wielding a sword bestowed by the emperor and acting on behalf of the people, was exercising imperial authority and issuing orders to him.

Lin Yue's behavior made him subconsciously believe that all of this was backed by the emperor.

"Yes!" Liu Zhong clasped his hands and bowed, the clanging of the metal armor echoing loudly, his voice resounding.

After saying that, he turned around and shouted loudly to the guards behind him:

"Split into two teams! One team will accompany me to inform the local gentry, and the other team will immediately block the main road and act according to Scholar Lin's orders without fail!"

The fifty imperial guards responded in unison, their voices loud and clear.

They drew their embroidered spring knives, the blades radiating a chilling aura.

One group followed Liu Zhong, striding briskly towards the streets and alleys of the county town, while the other group rushed towards the official road outside the town, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust.

After Liu Zhong left, Lin Yue glanced at the messenger who was being held down by the disaster victims.

The man struggled on, his arms twisted behind his back, his face pressed against the mud, yet he still roared, "How dare you! I am an imperial envoy, arresting you without orders—are you plotting rebellion?"

Lin Yue said to Li Da beside him, "Eunuch Li, take him away and keep a close watch on him. Don't let him escape, and don't let him die either. He'll be useful later."

Li Da was already sweating with fear, and nodded hurriedly upon hearing this.

Two accompanying eunuchs stepped forward, grabbed the envoy's arms, and dragged him toward the county government office.

......

The efficiency of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in carrying out their duties was exceptional.

Within half an hour, a group of local gentry and powerful figures had gathered next to the disaster relief site.

They were all dressed in fine silks and satins, with jade pendants around their waists, but their usual composure was gone. They all had their heads slightly lowered, their eyes darting around, and their faces filled with fear.

Liu Zhong, carrying a brocade spring knife, stood aside to keep watch.

The imperial guards stood in a circle around them, their hands on the hilts of their swords, exuding a murderous aura.

Outside the open space, the refugees crowded on the edge, watching the group of local gentry who were usually high and mighty, and whispering among themselves.

Lin Yue held a vermilion lacquered tray, on which was the head of Magistrate Pang Mian. Blood had congealed, his eyes were wide open, and he looked ferocious in death.

He strode up to the local gentry, a gentle smile suddenly spreading across his face.

Lin Yue bowed respectfully to the crowd, saying, "Esteemed fellow villagers, I have long admired your esteemed name."

Upon seeing this, the local gentry, not knowing what they had long admired about him, quickly returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"You're too kind, Your Excellency."

"We are deeply sorry for failing to greet Your Excellency properly with your presence."

Lin Yue's smile remained unchanged as he glanced at the crowd.

"I came all the way from Danyang and saw that Wu County was full of refugees and starving corpses. I couldn't bear it."

I've heard that you all enjoy considerable prestige in this area, and that you've taken advantage of the flood to acquire a lot of fertile land. Now that our fellow villagers are struggling to survive, shouldn't you all contribute your share to our hometown?

The group of local dignitaries looked at each other, unsure how to respond.

A portly country gentleman stepped forward from the crowd.

He pushed aside the two people beside him. The man had a round belly, his dark red silk robe was stretched taut, and he was fat with a face full of fat.

The portly gentry complained, "Your Excellency, you are unaware of the disaster! This flood came suddenly, and we have suffered a great calamity!"

My family's dozens of acres of polder fields were all flooded, and the granary was also flooded. Most of the grain was soaked and rotted, resulting in heavy losses.

It's not that we're unwilling to contribute, but we simply lack the means!

As he spoke, he raised his thick palm and pounded his chest, looking heartbroken.

The smile on Lin Yue's face vanished instantly. He stared at the fat country gentleman and said sternly.

"Guards, drag him out and execute him!"

"Yes!" Liu Zhong did not hesitate, strode forward, stretched out his right arm, and grabbed the fat gentry by the back of his collar.

The silk robe was smooth, but he gripped it tightly, his fingers sinking into the fabric, dragging the person out like a pig.

The fat gentry panicked immediately, kicking his legs wildly and struggling, crying and begging for mercy.

"Your Excellency, spare my life! Spare my life!"

I was wrong! I'm willing to donate grain! I'm willing to donate five hundred bushels! No, one thousand bushels! I'm willing to donate one thousand bushels!

Lin Yue remained unmoved, standing with his hands behind his back.

Seeing no response, the fat squire's pleas turned into curses, and then he quickly fell silent.

A moment later, Liu Zhong returned carrying a bloody head.

He threw his head in front of the gentry with a resounding thud, and the blood even splattered onto the robes of the men in the front row.

The local gentry turned pale with fright and retreated repeatedly.

Lin Yue looked down at the head on the ground and slowly spoke.

"I've heard that Pang Mian, the magistrate of Wu County, took advantage of the flood to seize a considerable amount of land. Have any of you heard of this?"

"Yes! Yes!" The local gentry nodded vigorously.

"Magistrate Pang is utterly depraved. Taking advantage of the flood, he has been illegally seizing land and forcibly occupying the fields of displaced people. We have all witnessed it!"

"Yes! He even forced us to cover it up for him, or he would punish us!"

"Oh?" Lin Yue raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces. "Then how come I heard that you guys have also taken on quite a few mergers and acquisitions?"

The local gentry's faces changed, and they hurriedly waved their hands, vehemently protesting, "Your Excellency, please investigate! We were all forced into this!"