The others lowered their heads and said nothing, and the scene fell into silence.

The generals and nobles could not act arrogantly in Bianliang because in the Song Dynasty, which valued civil officials over military officials, the civil service group was even more arrogant than them, and the officials of the Censorate and the Imperial Censorate would not tolerate them.

But they still have some power in the local armies and those managed by their subordinate battalions.

After all, although the Three Yamen did not have the actual power to mobilize troops, they were in charge of promotions, rewards and punishments, daily training, management and other tasks. These people served in the Three Yamen, and some of their children in their families served as commanders, du Yuhou and other officers in the camps below, so they could naturally interfere in certain military affairs.

Therefore, the military and noble families that seemed to be relatively honest in Kaifeng Prefecture in Bianliang were lawless and tyrannical in the local area, especially to the ordinary people and the army they managed.

Just as many common people in the countryside do not have to think about the emperor and the prime minister, or even the local officials of the level of county magistrate, county magistrate, and county lieutenant, the clan leaders and landlords in the village are already the big figures who can decide their fate.

They also have the power of life and death over certain other specific groups of people.

Therefore, they can make money or obtain privileges through some conventional means. Selling contraband items is a common operation of military families and nobles. Naturally, there are countless other illegal activities.

It was not that they were unwilling to accept the conditions offered by the court, but once the court began to clean up the army and screen and investigate the army, the bad things they had done in the past would be exposed all at once. Unless the court could tolerate it, they would all be beheaded.

If Zhao Jun hadn't come, they might have agreed.

After all, they did not have the energy to resist. Later, during the reigns of Song Shenzong and Song Zhezong, there were disarmaments to varying degrees. Although the cuts were not large and most likely did not involve the interests of generals and nobles, there was not much resistance.

But Zhao Jun came.

It is known throughout the Song Dynasty that he cannot tolerate any sand in his eyes.

Liu Yuanyu, who was more powerful than them, was not beheaded for selling contraband, but was sentenced to several years in prison and directly exiled to Hainan.

Which of the Han and Ma families isn't a prime minister's family? Their crimes might even be less serious than theirs, so what will be their fate?

How could they dare to let the court lift the lid?

For a moment, everyone's silence made the place as quiet as a calm lake.

At this moment, someone suddenly threw a stone, and Han Yunsheng looked at Wang Shilong and said, "So, according to you, Old Wang, are we just going to sit there and wait for death?"

"No, I do have an idea."

"Oh? Tell me."

"But this idea is a capital crime, so I dare not say it carelessly."

"We are all brothers, what are you afraid of?"

"Then I'll tell you."

Wang Shilong, under the influence of alcohol, looked around at everyone and whispered, "I have an expert behind me who can guide me. If the envoy who went to inspect was assassinated, this matter can be resolved!"

"What?"

Everyone was shocked and asked, "Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy."

Wang Shilong shook his head and said, "Think about it. The court is already investigating us. If we continue, we will surely die. But if the envoy is assassinated, then the matter will be left unresolved, and we will be able to survive. It's a matter of life and death, so make your choice."

"Oh."

Ma Zhengju sneered, "I think you've had too much to drink. To attempt to assassinate an imperial envoy is considered treason. Besides, how can you kill over 300 people? If you want to die, don't take us with you."

"First, of the more than 300 envoys, we only need to investigate our own part."

Wang Shilong said in a deep voice, "Secondly, when you're out and about, there's always the possibility of an accident. Who knows? Besides, if you don't dare to do it, you'll all die together in the end. Why not give it a try?"

Everyone was silent and no one spoke.

But this idea was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing unstoppable ripples.

Yes.

The current situation is that if the imperial envoys are allowed to go to various places to investigate the troops under their jurisdiction, their secrets may be discovered.

Once the crimes committed in the past were exposed, no one present could escape.

If he murdered the imperial envoy, he might be able to survive.

"Murdering the envoy is the ultimate last resort. I think we should try to cover up the evidence first."

In the end, Han Yunsheng sighed.

In fact, they all knew that this was difficult. They were used to showing off their military power in the past, and there were too many people involved in the case, so it was impossible to seal it off.

Many soldiers knew the situation. If they were caught by the imperial envoy or reported by someone, they would fall in an instant.

So keeping the secret is as difficult as climbing to the sky.