"What should we do?" Zhang Yuanyun looked at Wu Dui with a worried expression.
"Let's go see Xu Wenchang first!"
Wu Dui couldn't think of any good ideas at the moment, so he decided to stop talking about this and go see Xu Wei to hear what he had to say.
Zhang Yuanyun nodded. Now that things had come to this, they could only do so.
The two of them didn't care about anything else. They left Hanlin Academy and went straight back to Zhang Yuanyun's home.
While Zhang Yuanyun and Wu Dui were busy with Xu Wei's matter, Sun Piyang was very troubled on the other side.
Did this mean that disaster came from the sky while he was sitting at home?
He didn't do anything, but he was directly pushed to investigate the salt policy.
What was he?
He was only the Left Deputy Imperial Censor, how could he be considered an important official of the court?
He was indeed in the prime of his life, which he admitted. But what about being an important official of the court?
Yes, the Left Deputy Imperial Censor was a third-rank official. He was a high-ranking official of the court and could barely be considered an important official of the court.
But this also depended on the matter. Investigating the salt policy, how could a Left Deputy Imperial Censor be considered an important official!
At this moment, Sun Piyang was sitting in Shen Shixing's home. He pointed at the empty teacup and said to the servant girl beside him, "Make me another pot of tea. Use Cabinet Elder Shen's good tea. Don't use the broken tea leaves used to serve guests."
"If you come a few more times, I, the Cabinet Elder, will drink until I'm broke."
Shen Shixing strode in from the outside. He looked at Sun Piyang with a smile and said, "Go make a pot of good tea for Official Sun, use the one Pavilion Elder Zhang gave you last time!" Then he turned to Sun Piyang and said, "Is that okay?"
Sun Piyang said directly, "Cabinet Elder Shen, don't think that you can use a pot of tea to dismiss me."
Shen Shixing smiled and pointed at Sun Piyang. He said with a smile, "Alright, sit down!"
As he said this, he sat down first. He glanced at Sun Piyang and said, "I've already asked someone to prepare dinner. Let's drink and talk."
"As a cabinet elder, I'm treating you to tea and wine. Don't be so gloomy."
Sun Piyang sighed helplessly. This Cabinet Elder Shen was really something. He could only say with a bitter smile, "Cabinet Elder Shen, the salt policy is not so easy to investigate. A little carelessness will cause a big mess. Why didn't you persuade the Emperor?"
Shen Shixing also said with some helplessness, "His Majesty has just taken over the government. Previously, he wanted to use Hai Rui, but in the end, Grand Secretary Zhang and I got Hai Rui into the Office of Transmission as the Left Minister.
Although His Majesty is not dissatisfied, he definitely has a grudge in his heart. "
"Now that we are investigating the salt administration, what will the Emperor think if we don't allow the investigation?"
"That Cao Yikui's memorial is so convincing that we have to investigate it no matter what. I arranged for you to go there so that things won't get out of hand.
Finding a few corrupt officials and illegal salt merchants isn't a big deal. "
"As long as it doesn't get out of hand, you can let Cao Yikui do whatever he wants. Just go with that."
"Although those people are greedy, they know their limits. Since His Majesty wants to test them, they will naturally obediently let His Majesty test them. Even if they get hurt, it's nothing."
"Do you know what to do now?" Shen Shixing said and looked at Sun Piyang with a smile.
Sun Piyang's expression still did not relax much. There were many things that could not be controlled just because you wanted to. Most of the time, when you pull out the carrot, you bring the mud back with you. Who would be willing to take out their life?
"Don't worry. When things reach a certain point, Grand Secretary Zhang and I will persuade His Majesty to stop." Shen Shixing smiled and comforted Sun Piyang.
"Let me tell you something. His Majesty has ordered to prepare a temporary yamen for you. You will be in charge of this yamen, mainly to investigate the salt.
There should be two assistants, one of whom is Cao Yikui. "
"In addition, Dongchang and the Imperial Bodyguard will also send people. Keep an eye on them."
Sun Piyang sighed helplessly. He was afraid that this task would not be easy this time!
After having dinner at Shen Shixing's place, Sun Piyang hurried to the temporary yamen the next morning.
This was a task given by the Emperor, and Shen Shixing had recommended him. He had no choice but to do it. He went to Shen Shixing's place to show his closeness, and also to ask for Shen Shixing's help.
He did not want Shen Shixing to kick him away when he was in danger. That would be a great loss.
When Shen Shixing arrived at the yamen, he found there were already people at the door. There were two lieutenants of the Imperial Bodyguard and two foreigners from Dongchang. The four of them stood at the door expressionlessly, with their hands on the hilts of the swords at their waists.
Seeing the four of them, Sun Piyang frowned. He had been an official for many years, so he definitely had a good eye for people.
Two foreigners and two lieutenants. These four people were definitely the elites of Dongchang and the Imperial Bodyguard. Their eyes were sharp, and they stood straight like a pine tree. They must have killed people and seen blood before.
It seemed that the people from Dongchang and the Imperial Bodyguard were not ordinary people!
Stepping into the yamen, Sun Piyang discovered that there were even more Brocade Guards and East Faction Guards in the courtyard.
There were 15 people in a team patrolling the yard, and many of them were on sentry duty. Every one of them was an elite, and some of them even had crossbows on their backs. They were all well-equipped.
Sun Piyang walked through two yards and came to the main hall. There were at least 200 Imperial Bodyguard lieutenants and foreigners from Dongchang.
Sun Piyang saw two people drinking tea at the back of the hall. The one on the left was a eunuch in his thirties. He had a white face and triangular eyes, which made him look evil.
The one on the right was a bald man in his thirties. There were not many bald men in this era.
He was wearing a flying suit and was sitting there with a golden knife. He was smiling and saying something.
Seeing Sun Piyang come in, the two of them gave him face and stood up. The eunuch smiled and said, "Greetings, Lord Sun. I'm Wang Zhong from Dongchang, and I'm Eunuch Chang's subordinate. I'm here to listen to Lord Sun's orders. Please take care of me, Lord Sun."
Since he still had to work with them, Sun Piyang smiled and said, "I'll have to rely on you in the future, Eunuch Wang."
Seeing that the two of them were done with their greetings, the bald man cupped his fists and said to Sun Piyang, "I'm Xing Shangzhi from the Imperial Bodyguard's North Provost. I'm under the orders of the commander-in-chief to listen to Lord Sun's orders. Lord Sun, please let me know if you need anything."
"Sure, sure!" Sun Piyang quickly said, "I'll rely on you in the future, I'll rely on you in the future!"
In fact, Sun Piyang didn't quite understand. The two of them were quite humble, and it didn't seem like the style of Dongchang and the Imperial Bodyguard!
Not only did he not relax, but he also became even more vigilant. Those who were unaccountably solicitous were hiding evil intentions!
If Wang Zhong and Xing Shangzhi knew what Sun Piyang was thinking, they would definitely feel extremely wronged.
Before the two of them came, one of them had been warned by Zhang Jing and the other by Liu Shouyou. In short, if they messed up, the Emperor wouldn't let them off, but they definitely wouldn't let them off.