Wang Zhong and Xing Shangzhi had left, but there was no way to continue the banquet. Sun Piyang's face was gloomy. What he was most worried about had happened. Dongchang and the Imperial Bodyguard would not rest easy. Something had happened.
Imperial Censor Cao Yikui played with the wine glass in his hand and expressionlessly swept his gaze across the many Cangzhou officials present. Then, he downed the wine in the glass in one gulp.
Wang Yongji was expressionless. He had already discovered that something was amiss. Ever since he had left the capital, the entire situation had been strange.
By now, he had already concluded that everything had been arranged a long time ago.
Turning his head to look at Sun Piyang and Cao Yikui, Wang Yongji wanted to see which of the two had arranged it.
Or was it someone from Dongchang and the Imperial Bodyguard?
"Alright, let's end the banquet here!" Sun Piyang couldn't care less. He stood up and walked out.
To him, it was more important to see what Wang Zhong and Xing Shangzhi were up to than to drink here.
Cao Yikui and Wang Yongji naturally wouldn't sit here. They also stood up and followed Sun Piyang out.
Only the Cangzhou officials and aristocrats were left. Some of the aristocrats could tell that the imperial court was here for the salt administration. The Zhou family was the one who sold salt. Now that the Zhou family had been arrested, they were afraid of being implicated!
"Sir, I still have matters to attend to at home. I'll take my leave first!"
An old man said to Yao Renji, then turned around and left.
The others followed suit. Apart from the Cangzhou officials, all the aristocrats who came quickly left.
Everyone knew that Yao Renji wouldn't be able to pass this hurdle. The imperial court was serious this time.
Sun Piyang came to the backyard and saw Wang Zhong and Xing Shangzhi drinking tea. He couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?"
Wang Zhong immediately smiled. "Sir Sun, this is a good thing!"
As he spoke, he got someone to serve Sun Piyang and the other two a cup of tea. Then, he said, "Dongchang received a tip-off that Zhou Feng from the Zhou family is the biggest salt smuggler in the area.
"After knowing that the imperial court had sent an envoy, he hid all the salt.
"After Xing Qianhu and I received this news, we personally went to search the grain store. We found a total of 30,000 small ingots of salt and 20,000 large ingots of salt, totaling 120,000 catties.
Nine salt smugglers were killed on the spot and seven others were captured. "
Sun Piyang was shocked. Other things could be faked, but salt could not be faked. With so much salt, there was no doubt that it was illegal salt.
What he was worried about was not this, but something else. Could it be that the eunuch and the Brocade Guard were up to something?
"After interrogating the manager of the grain store, we confirmed that the illicit salt belonged to the Zhou family. Xing Qianhu and I then brought our men to the Zhou family."
Wang Zhong looked at Sun Piyang with a smile and said, "The guards of the Sun Clan are leading people to fight against the Brocade Guard and the East Faction Guards."
"Thirty-six people were killed on the spot. Four strong bows were found, and no weapons were counted."
We found four bows and all the evidence. "" Sirs, the Zhou family has been detained in the Zhou family's courtyard.
Now, we just need to interrogate Zhou Feng. As long as we get a confession from Zhou Feng and the information about him selling illegal salt, we can continue to investigate. "
Sun Piyang looked at Wang Zhong and Xing Shangzhi. Did the Imperial Bodyguard and Dongchang all do things like this?
However, Sun Piyang knew that there was no point in saying anything else, but this was not the way to go.
Sun Piyang looked at the two of them with a gloomy face and said, "I am the imperial envoy this time. The Emperor gave me a special title."
"How dare you not report such a big thing to me. You have no respect for me and the Emperor."
Wang Zhong quickly said, "Official Sun, this was not an emergency. Plus, Zhou Feng was inside. It was not convenient.
Xing Qianhu and I did not want to alert the enemy. Please forgive us. We are doing this for the Emperor, right? "
"Just this once, just this once!"
Sun Piyang saw that Wang Zhong's attitude was very low. He simply nodded and said, "Just this once!"
In reality, Sun Piyang knew that if this case was real, then even if he submitted a memorial to Wang Zhong and Xing Shangzhi, it would be useless.
The key was still the case, unless it was a false accusation.
"Prepare the details of the case, all the evidence, and the testimony of the witnesses. Let me see them when the time comes," Sun Piyang said.
The entire Cangzhou City was under martial law. Because Zhou Feng had been arrested, everyone was in a panic. Many people wanted to leave the city to lie low, but before they could leave, the city was under martial law.
The commoners were not stopped, but large groups of people entering and leaving the city had to be strictly inspected.
The people of Cangzhou City were in a panic. It was indeed the officials of Cangzhou City.
With the Cangzhou Zhizhou Yao Renji as the leader, everyone was trembling with fear.
"Sir, why don't we send someone to Hejian Prefecture to deliver a letter?"
Lin Yi looked at Yao Renji and suggested, "The Zhou family has a close relationship with Hejian Prefecture. Zhou Feng's sister married into Hejian Prefecture's Qian family."
"This Qian family is powerful and wealthy. I heard that they also have a relationship with Marquis Xining Residence in the capital. It is said that the Zhou family's salt permits came from Hejian Prefecture's Qian family."
Hearing Lin Yi's words, not only was Yao Renji not happy, but he stood up in fear. He pointed at Lin Yi and asked, "How do you know all this?"
Lin Yi smiled and said, "Sir, now is not the time to care about this. If we don't think of a way, let alone our jobs, I'm afraid we won't even be able to keep our heads."
"Sir, please think twice before you act!"
Lin Yi said the last sentence very softly, but it was hard to refuse.
After a while, Yao Renji sat down weakly and said with a bitter smile, "Let's do as you say!"
The entire Cangzhou City was in a storm, but the capital was still as stable as Mount Tai. There was an endless stream of horses and carriages, and it was abnormally prosperous.
At the gate of the capital, a bare donkey cart arrived. On the cart sat an old man in a grey hemp robe with a package beside him.
When they arrived at the gate, the driver took the invitation to the gate and quickly alerted the gate officer.
Looking at the invitation, the gate officer's expression immediately changed. He hurriedly asked the subordinate who delivered the invitation, "Where is the person?"
"Sir, over there!" The subordinate pointed at the donkey cart not far away and said.
"What are you pointing at?!"
The gate officer slapped the subordinate and scolded, "Hurry up and send the person in. Don't seek death. We can't afford to offend this person."
"No one can afford to offend the gate officer of the capital!"
The subordinate muttered, but was kicked by the gate officer. "Stop talking nonsense. Hurry up and go."
After the subordinate left, the gate officer hurriedly reached out and called someone over. "Go back and report that Hai Rui has entered the capital!"
Hai Rui got off the donkey cart and glanced at the driver. He said unhappily, "How many times do I have to tell you to line up at the gate? The people are all lining up. Why are you delivering an invitation?
You can't line up just because you're an official?
What kind of logic is this? "