Chapter 979

Qin Lao nearly suffered a myocardial infarction from Chen Wuji's single polite remark, waving his hands repeatedly and speaking haltingly: "To be able to serve the Marquis is an honor for us lowly folk; we don't deserve the Marquis being like this… like this."

"Qin Lao, no need for politeness." Chen Wuji smiled faintly, "You two, please arrange this quickly; furthermore, keep an eye on the Hu Family's movements, guard against any changes, and if anything occurs, send someone to report immediately."

"Yes, yes!" Qin Lao replied twice, then cautiously asked, "Marquis, are you not entering the city for now?"

"The city is too small for the army to maneuver, so we won't enter for now." Chen Wuji said.

Of course, this is not the real reason.

Actually, Chen Wuji fears that Wang Yu will hear the news, turn and flee, or even commit suicide in front of him to appease heaven, which would be a mess.

Since he is not bringing the army into the city now, openly sending people to look for him would at least give Wang Yu the illusion that it's not aimed at him, leaving some room.

"I understand, little old me; I'll return to the city to arrange this!" Qin Lao said, clasping his hands.

Chen Wuji nodded and immediately ordered the army to set up camp on the spot.

The order had just been issued when a scout came rushing in.

"Reporting to my lord, a group of suspicious-looking beggars has been discovered outside the north gate; they seem to be prominent figures from the city."

Chen Wuji raised his eyebrows slightly, "Bring them here!"

"Yes!"

Although Chen Wuji had not openly deployed troops outside the north gate, nearly half of the scout camp's personnel were stationed there. That city gate, even at this time, remained open for anyone to come and go freely, with no pressure from an army besieging the city.

Yet even if a single bird flew in, it would certainly be under the scout's surveillance.

This scout camp, personally trained by Chen Wuji, after enduring countless battles big and small, can be said to have approached the limit in shadowing, tracking, and rear reconnaissance.

In this era, scouts are essentially special operations, except they only handle gathering intelligence and do not carry out beheadings, assassinations, or the like.

Not long after the scout left, dozens of people escorted a group of ragged individuals over.

Chen Wuji took one look and almost laughed out loud.

No wonder the scout, without even interrogating them, dared to declare that these people were prominent figures in the city.

These beggars were practically insulting the intelligence of his scouts.

A bunch of bastards, wearing tattered clothes and deliberately making their faces dirty, acting as if they were already beggars?

Have they never seen a real beggar?

Their hair isn't greasy, their hands are quite clean, and each face shines with oil; you could hardly find a few people like that in the refugee settlement.

Chu Yun and Qin Lao, among the Wild Dogs, were considered people of considerable status, yet their faces showed no trace of oily sheen; instead, they had a sickly pallor.

The identity of these beggars is actually easy to guess.

"Are you going to introduce yourselves, or shall I think of a way to get you to speak?" Chen Wuji scanned the group of beggars who obviously ate well, then spoke with a smiling squint.

"Sir! We haven't done anything, why are you making things difficult for us lowly folk?" a wail suddenly rose from the beggar crowd.

That was the only person in the beggar group who actually looked like a beggar, an old man.

He sat on the ground with his limbs going limp, employing an old woman's tantrum tactic—kicking his legs up, dust flying, and began to wail with a sorrowful expression.

This looks like a shameless tactic honed over years in the beggar trade, quite practiced.

The other beggars instantly came to their senses, each quickly imitating him, sitting on the ground and raising their voices in a howl.

Chen Wuji's expression remained calm as he glanced at Chen Li, "Give them a wake‑up call, make them speak properly—they're not donkeys, why kick them so hard?"

"Yes!" Chen Li gave a sinister chuckle and walked over to those beggars.

To avoid affecting Chen Wuji's mood and appetite, he ordered the Personal Guard to take those beggars aside.

Upon seeing this formation, the beggars immediately grew uneasy.

Anyone who isn't a fool can see that they're about to be subjected to some means.

In the crowd, Hu Baobao nervously bumped Fifth Lord's arm and squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth: "What should we do?"

Fifth Lord paid no attention.

He not only didn't want to deal with this grandson, he even wanted to kill him.

Before setting out, he had said it eight hundred times: the disguise must be thorough, and he must not bring too many people.

But this wretch refused to listen, insisting these people were his true confidants and must be brought along.

Moreover, he grandly claimed that as long as he had these confidants, once the refugee settlement's fighting ended he could sneak back and seamlessly take over the Hu Family's power, then viciously stab Chen Wuji in the back—basically a dog's fart.

Now the confidants have been brought out, but they're about to die!

How did this idiot not get drowned by his own father back then!

Seeing his relied‑upon strategist silent, Hu Baobao panicked even more, rushed over, lowered his voice and urged: "Fifth Lord, quickly think of a plan—these brats seem about to use some means on us! Hurry!"

"Damn your mother, get lost!" Fifth Lord snarled with a ferocious expression.

"Fifth Lord, what do you mean? You can't not save me! Fifth Lord, sir!"

Fifth Lord's eyes turned vicious, he glared at Hu Baobao and snapped, "Shut up, or I'll kill you first if you speak again!"

Hu Baobao instantly felt utterly wronged: "Even if you're incapable of thinking of any idea, you can't take it out on me!"

What kind of person is this!

Hu Baobao let out a heavy snort, turned his big head, and suddenly a brilliant scheme popped into his mind.

His eyes gleaming, he stared at Fifth Lord, then suddenly shouted at the top of his voice: "Gentlemen, to be frank, this old man is the one with real status—he's a strategist under General Huo's command!"

Fifth Lord jerked his head around, his eyes sharp as a blade, killing intent solidly locking onto Hu Baobao.

"Sir, look, look, he's even threatening me!" Hu Baobao leapt up, shouting at the top of his lungs, "We're natives of the refugee settlement; this brat keeps dragging us to work for General Huo. Sir, spare my dog's life, I'll immediately return to the city and round up all the Hu Family members to surrender!"

Hu Baobao realized that in this place, crying to heaven or earth brings no response; there's simply no hope of reinforcements, no one can save them.

Since this old thing won't come up with an idea, he'll sell it!

Sell out the Huo surname and this old thing, then they'll directly surrender and change masters.

Doing so might make future days not too pleasant, but it would certainly be far better than enduring torture here, being forced to spill everything, and finally being executed one by one.

At least their lives could be spared, and they wouldn't have to suffer that inhuman torment.

As for other things like loyalty and righteousness, he currently has no time to deal with those.