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

Lin Yue froze in the chest-deep river water, his pupils suddenly contracting.

He stared blankly at the spot where the burly man had disappeared, utterly shocked.

"What a brave man!" Lin Yue exclaimed.

Clearly, the man used his own body to block the hidden breach in the dike, and in doing so, he also prevented the backflow from further eroding the dike foundation.

Despite the torrential rain and strong winds, the signs of the riverbank continuing to collapse have indeed disappeared.

Lin Yue stood shoulder to shoulder with the people in the river all night.

As dawn approached, the rain gradually subsided, and the river level slowly receded.

The river embankment was ultimately saved.

The morning sunlight spilled onto the messy riverbank.

Lin Yue sank into the soft, wet mud, feeling utterly exhausted. His robes were soaked with mud and clung tightly to his body.

He gazed at the river where the burly man had disappeared and asked the surrounding villagers, "Does anyone recognize the man who jumped into the river? What's his name? Which village was he from?"

The people gathered around, looking at each other with blank expressions.

An old man rubbed his muddy hands and mumbled, "Judging from his accent, he's from this area, but I've never seen this man before. He's probably a tenant farmer from some village."

Another young man shook his head: "I don't know who he is, but I know he got his rations last night and has been working silently ever since, without saying a word."

Lin Yue slammed his fist into the muddy ground, splashing mud onto his face, but he was oblivious, his eyes filled with regret.

"A brave man sacrificed himself to block the dike, and I don't even know his name—what a pity!"

"My lord, the western dike has been breached and floodwaters released as ordered!" Li Da rushed over through the mud, water dripping from the corner of his robe.

The Dianmao Lake system has contained floodwaters, and the water level of the Huangpu River is receding.

Lin Yue coughed twice and nodded reluctantly: "The dike is temporarily stable, but the water levels of the Wusong River and Taihu Lake are still rising, and the situation in Shanghai County is even more critical."

We must immediately organize able-bodied men, pack them with tools and provisions, and set off this afternoon!

The crowd escorted Lin Yue back to the Huating government office.

He didn't have time to rest; he sat down behind his desk and quickly made arrangements.

"The able-bodied men should continue to reinforce the river embankments, while the rest should dredge the city's ditches, making sure to connect the waterways of the central city river and West Lake!"

He paused, pointed to the map of the prefectural government office, and addressed the few officials in Songjiang Prefecture.

"Damage and expansion were carried out on the Dianpu River and the surrounding ponds to create temporary reservoirs. Craftsmen immediately made 'live gates' and installed them at the drainage outlets outside the city, which would close when the water level rose and open when the water level dropped!"

County Magistrate Li Song asked, "This... Your Excellency, what is this 'live gate' that has such an effect? ​​And how is it made?"

"I'll draw the blueprints for you right now, just follow along." Lin Yue picked up paper and pen and immediately started drawing.

The movable sluice gate is an improved type of sluice gate from the Ming Dynasty. It has a lever mechanism with pulleys above the gate opening, which extends the lever arm for lifting the gate, thus improving the heavy gate that required more than ten people to lift to one that can be easily opened and closed by just one person.

This automatically closing herringbone-shaped sluice gate is actually the "Da Vinci oblique sluice gate" that is often touted online.

Sometimes we have to admit the excellence of others. Leonardo da Vinci was indeed a genius in human history. He lived to be 67 years old and was an expert in hundreds of different fields. From infancy, he made an invention every day and a manuscript every three hours. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to science and had no offspring. He was truly amazing.

......

In the afternoon, the rain had mostly stopped. Lin Yue rested for a while, then mounted his chestnut warhorse again and went around inspecting flood control efforts while also gathering laborers.

After the laborers had assembled, he was about to order them to depart for Shanghai County when he saw dust rising in the distance as a group of Imperial Guards came galloping towards them. The leader, dressed in a flying fish robe and with an embroidered spring knife at his waist, was none other than Ji Gang, the commander of the Imperial Guards.

Ji Gang reined in his horse and stopped. The Imperial Guards immediately surrounded him, forming a human wall.

He unfurled the bright yellow imperial edict and loudly proclaimed: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Imperial Envoy Lin Yue, having failed in his duties in flood control and causing disturbance to the local area, is hereby ordered to be escorted back to the capital by the Embroidered Uniform Guard to await further judgment! So be it!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue was immediately enraged. The county magistrate had been beheaded; going back now would be tantamount to waiting to die.

He only managed to control a small portion of the water pollution, and the major problems of the Wusong River were not yet resolved, yet he was recalled?

I must not go back, absolutely not. I need to at least get through these next few waves of torrential rain.

"Lord Ji, the floods in Jiangnan are devastating, and the people of Suzhou and Songjiang are displaced. Are you going to send me back to the capital now, abandoning the lives of millions? I cannot leave!"

"The decree has been issued; you have no choice!" Ji Gang's eyes sharpened, and he waved his hand, signaling, "Take him down!"

Liu Zhong, who had been protecting Lin Yue, had veins bulging on his hand as he gripped the hilt of his knife, but he slowly stepped aside, his gaze fixed on the ground, not daring to meet Lin Yue's eyes.

He was a member of the emperor's personal guard, and the emperor's orders were absolute, allowing no disobedience whatsoever.

Two Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward and bound Lin Yue's arms behind his back.

Lin Yue glared angrily and cursed, "Zhu Di is truly muddle-headed, muddle-headed, and incompetent!"

The floods claimed countless lives, yet he neither sent provisions nor troops; instead, he arrested the imperial envoy tasked with disaster relief!

Here you go, you dog-like commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a position you hold without doing any work!

The disaster victims have all fled to Zhenjiang Prefecture, and we can't find any information about them. What use are you?!

"How dare you!" Ji Gang's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "Gag him and take him away!"

Just as the Imperial Guards were about to take Lin Yue away, they were stopped by a deafening shout.

A large number of people surged from the fields, armed with shovels, sticks, and hoes, surrounding the Imperial Guards in layers, their curses rising and falling.

"How dare you lay a hand on the Imperial Envoy!"

"Who are you? Release our saviors right now!"

Ji Gang's expression changed drastically. He drew his embroidered spring knife in a flash and shouted sternly.

"I am Ji Gang, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, acting on His Majesty's orders! Are you attempting a rebellion by surrounding an official of the court?"

Instead of retreating, the people surged forward, with some pointing at Ji Gang and angrily rebuking him.

"You're talking nonsense! How could His Majesty arrest Imperial Envoy Lin?"

"That's right, I bet you're a traitor in disguise!"

"Release Lord Lin, or you'll be in big trouble."

Lin Yue laughed heartily and said to Ji Gang, "Ji Gang, you see clearly! The entire city's people are filled with righteous indignation."

I advise you to release me immediately, or I'll bring my fellow villagers to fight you!

Ji Gang was shocked and looked incredulous.

He pointed at Lin Yue, his voice trembling: "Are you out of your mind? You're going to lead the people to fight me?"

They don't recognize me. Don't you know I, Ji Gang, am the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? If His Majesty punishes you, can you bear the consequences?

"How could I not bear the responsibility? It would just mean losing my head."

Lin Yue's eyes were resolute as he shouted loudly to the people.

"Fellow villagers, quickly get rid of these corrupt officials and come with me to control the flooding of the Wusong River. The people of Shanghai County are currently suffering terribly."

The people responded angrily, their eyes filled with hostility.

"Did you hear me? Release the imperial envoy at once!"