I have been a county magistrate for ten years. My subordinates insist on giving me a yellow robe.

However, the group waited for a long time, but still no one passed by the intersection.

After a moment, Jiang Yuan looked at Li Hu. The entire Taiping County intelligence organization was in the hands of this guy.

"Please wait a moment, sir. The spies ambushing on both sides should be on their way back." Li Hu said with a wry smile.

The group waited on the city wall for more than half an hour, staring at each other in amazement, before they saw two spies running up the wall.

"Sir! We've found out they've gone into the mountains and set up camp."

"And there's a guy who brought seven or eight people to our Taiping."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Jiang Yuan nodded slowly and waved at the two of them: "Okay, I'll give you two credit for this. We'll explore again."

"Thank you, sir!"

As the two men left, a group of people immediately rushed up.

"Sir, in my opinion, this is most likely a spy sent by Xinwu, who wants to gather intelligence." Long Guangxian, who is rich in combat experience, spoke quickly.

Jiang Yuan hummed in agreement and looked up at Long Guangxian: "Indeed, according to General Long, how should Taiping County respond?"

"I suggest that you close the gates of Taiping County and arrest all those who approach the city walls." Long Guangxian said without hesitation.

Listening to Long Guangxian's answer, Jiang Yuan chuckled and said nothing: "General Long, if you were the leader of the rebel army, how would you respond if you didn't know the strength of a city?"

"Then of course we should keep our troops in place." Long Guangxian answered subconsciously.

Jiang Yuan continued, "Yes, that's right. The military manual says that we shouldn't fight an unprepared battle. Only by knowing both ourselves and the enemy can we achieve victory."

"Then the question arises. If we are unable to find out the true situation inside the city, what will you do, General Long?"

"Cut off the roads connecting the city with the outside world and wait for an opportunity to act." Long Guangxian spoke again.

"Then won't it take us forever to wait for Xin Wu to take action while we're in the city?" Jiang Yuan asked in return.

This made Long Guangxian very confused. With the direction of the city defenders being like this, it would be best if the enemy retreated without a fight. But he suddenly remembered that at this moment, not only the many generals in Taiping County were waiting for this victory.

Even he himself urgently needed a great battle to redeem himself and redeem himself, hoping to return to Caiyun City one day.

"Please give me some advice, sir." Long Guangxian said with his head down.

Jiang Yuan laughed loudly twice and then said, "Pass the order down. Have all the soldiers on the city wall take off their armor and replace their weapons with kitchen knives and hoes."

"Also, block the entrances to the inner city and the first and second outer cities. Destroy some of the houses in the third outer city. All the people on the streets must be wrapped in rags and beg for alms!"

"Open the city gates and let the spies in!"

After Jiang Yuan finished speaking, he turned around and left with his hands behind his back.

Long Guangxian stood there dumbfounded, and it took him a while to react.

"Showing weakness to the enemy is like saying, arrogance leads to defeat..."

Half an hour later, when He Wu walked out of the intersection with seven or eight spies, they were dressed like farmers, wearing coarse linen clothes, carrying hoes, and even their faces were covered with dust.

"You guys, be careful. It may not be easy to enter the city. I will pick you up outside the city." He Wu said in a low voice.

"Yes, General, don't worry." As they were talking, they had already arrived near the gate of Taiping County. He Wu was a little dumbfounded.

Looking around, the gates of Taiping County were wide open, and the streets were filled with garbage and people. Yes, living people were lying on the streets.

"Sir, this..."

"Don't make a sound, I'll go in with you."

The scene in front of him fully aroused He Wu's curiosity. The Taiping County city wall looked extremely majestic, but the interior was actually like this. It was really all show and no substance.

When they approached the city gate, a soldier holding a rusty long sword immediately blocked their way.

"Stop, what are you doing?"

"General, we are residents of the city. We went out to do farm work during the day." He Wu came forward immediately.

The soldier's eyes rolled. It was Kong Xuan in disguise. An expression of impatience suddenly appeared on his face. "What the hell are you talking about? Don't you know how to follow the rules?"

"Everyone who wants to enter or exit the city gate... huh?"

He Wu slapped his head and hurriedly took out a few copper coins from his pocket: "Oh, General, I'm so sorry, I'm old and my memory is not very good. I don't know if this is enough?"

Kong Xuan weighed the coins in his hand and silently put them in his arms.

Damn, they're so stingy! Only eight copper coins for seven or eight people? Can't they give you a little more money for gathering information?

"Don't do it again, go in quickly."

"Thank you, General. Thank you, General." He Wu smiled and took a few steps. He glanced at Kong Xuan and made sure that he was not looking at him before spitting heavily on the ground.

Dog official! Using chicken feathers as a sword, such a small official dares to blatantly collect tolls!

It is because there are too many corrupt officials like you that there are so many people like me who are rebelling.

After they passed through the city gate, walked through the city wall, and entered Taiping County, they were stunned by the scene in front of them.

Is this also considered a city?

Isn’t this absolute hell!

The streets were littered with countless pieces of garbage, wood, and stones, including broken spears and knives. Even more numerous were people with broken limbs begging on the ground...

"Brother...Brother, where are we going?" A scout cautiously reminded He Wu that standing on the street like this was really too weird.

He Wu took a deep breath and waved his hand lightly: "Go inside and take a look."

"Give me something to eat!"

"Have pity on me, I haven't eaten for three days!"

"Brothers, I'm a soldier who defended our county a while ago. Can you give me something to eat?"

Wherever He Wu and his companions passed by, countless people lay on the ground with their arms stretched out.

He Wu suddenly felt disgusted from the bottom of his heart. Damn! What a bastard official! What a bastard official!

In times of war, it is uncommon for the people to go hungry.

However, even the soldiers who defended Taiping County a while ago are begging on the streets. This is too heartbreaking!

He Wu couldn't understand how such a county town could stop Ding Yin's 5,000 troops.

It has only been a short while since we entered the city. First, there were soldiers openly collecting money, and now there are beggars everywhere. Can such a city really be combat-ready?

After a while, He Wu and his companions arrived at the second city. However, when they wanted to go in, two soldiers suddenly came over and waved their hands as if to shoo away flies.

"Where did you come from, you untouchable? Get out of here!"

"Hey, sir, I live in there. Please be so kind as to let me in." He Wu came up again with a smile on his face and secretly stuffed a small piece of silver into the two of them.

The soldier glanced at the silver indifferently, then picked it up with his eyes shining, and then sneered at the few people.

"For the sake of the silver, I won't hold you responsible. Get out of here!"

He Wu was a little dumbfounded. You don’t even help me with anything, and you’re still taking my money?