Before long, several spies from the Investigation Division followed the tracks left by the Xianbei people and arrived at the valley, where they found the cave entrance.

"No wonder people have never discovered this place before; it's been hidden really well!"

"Yes, this valley is surrounded by steep cliffs and dense vines, and the valley is full of bushes. If you don't look for it specifically, you really won't find it."

"I wonder how they found this place!"

After surveying their surroundings, the spies from the Investigation Division couldn't help but sigh.

"Alright, let's not worry about how they found it. Now that we've found this place, we've completed our mission!"

A group leader stopped the discussion and ordered, "Leave four men here to keep watch; the rest of you come back with me to report!"

"yes!"

They all agreed in unison.

The four spies then hid in the surrounding bushes, while the team leader led the remaining two back along the same route.

The forest was very dense, making it difficult to walk on foot alone; it would be even more difficult with a horse.

Therefore, even with a map to guide them, the Xianbei cavalry moved at an unusually slow pace.

A day passed, and this Xianbei cavalry had only traveled thirty li.

Fortunately, the forest was not large. After the Han man leading the group took out a map and compared it with the map, a look of joy appeared on his face.

The Han man shouted, "Brave warriors, we're only ten miles away from here, and then we'll be out of here and into the territory of the Great Han!"

"Oh~, okay~!"

The Xianbei cavalrymen also shouted excitedly.

The shouts of the Xianbei cavalry startled countless birds in the forest and alerted several spies from the intelligence bureau behind them.

What are they barking at?

"I couldn't hear clearly, but he must be excited about the impending raids on our territory."

"Heh~, go ahead and call it then, you won't have another chance later!"

As they spoke, the spies shrank back into their positions.

As the sun set, the spies responsible for delivering the message arrived at the Wuquan County government office and reported the whereabouts of the Xianbei people to Zhang Xian, who was stationed there.

After hearing his subordinate's report, Zhang Xian immediately ordered, "Send someone to the other groups immediately to inform them to rush to that valley and prepare an ambush!"

"yes!"

After his men left, Zhang Xian looked at Chen Gong, the magistrate of Wuquan County, who was standing to the side.

"Magistrate Chen, those Xianbei people will be coming out of the mountains tomorrow. How are the preparations in the nearby villages and towns?"

Chen Gong said solemnly, "The messenger just reported that two villages have not yet been properly prepared. I will immediately send a message to them to speed up the preparations!"

Zhang Xian sighed, "Alas, it's a pity we couldn't find out the whereabouts of these Xianbei people beforehand. Otherwise, we could have wiped them out in the forest and prevented them from entering Han territory and causing trouble!"

"Master Zhang, there's no need for that. It's already quite remarkable that your investigation department was able to send back the news a few days in advance."

Chen Gong smiled and then said, "On the contrary, I think that using the power of the people to eliminate them within the territory of the Han Dynasty is far more meaningful than silently eliminating them in the mountains and forests!"

This would further boost the people's courage and confidence in fighting the Xianbei. What do you think?

"Haha~, Magistrate Chen is indeed a scholar, his thoughts are much more far-reaching than those of us roughnecks!"

Upon hearing Chen Gong's words, Zhang Xian couldn't help but laugh.

Chen Gong then asked, "By the way, Chief Zhang, now that the secret passage has been discovered, what are the Investigation Division's plans?"

Zhang Xian replied noncommittally, "Naturally, we should first deploy men to block the area to prevent anyone from escaping, and then report to the imperial court to seal it off completely to eliminate any future trouble!"

Chen Gong smiled and said, "What Zhang said is indeed reasonable, but I think that doing this is a bit too passive."

"If the Xianbei people can use that passage, then we Han people can use it too!"

"oh?"

Zhang Xian raised an eyebrow. "I wonder how Magistrate Chen plans to use it?"

Chen Gong said in a deep voice, "This secret passage is so well hidden that it is probably known to very few people in the Xianbei region. The team that Tan Shihuai sent this time must be his trusted elites. There should not be many people who know them."

After we eliminate them, we can disguise ourselves as them and infiltrate Tanshihuai's tribe to cause trouble, thereby sowing discord between the Xianbei tribes and Tanshihuai.

"Magistrate Chen's method is brilliant!"

Upon hearing Chen Gong's plan, Zhang Xian's eyes lit up.

Chen Gong laughed and said, "Since Steward Zhang also thinks this is feasible, why don't we each report it and make preparations?"

"good!!"

Zhang Xian nodded, then turned and took his leave.

After Zhang Xian left, Chen Gong also took out paper and pen, wrote down his thoughts in a memorial, and then ordered someone to send it to the court as soon as possible.

Upon returning to his residence, Zhang Xian also wrote a secret letter and sent it to the headquarters of the Investigation Department in Bingzhou.

On the other side, several villages and towns that received the order from the county government also urgently organized the villagers, soldiers of the prefecture and state, and wandering knights to set up various traps and ambushes overnight.

It wasn't until the morning of the following day that the preparations were completed in several villages and towns near the mountains.

The people, exhausted from a night's work, did not rest, but instead hid in their ambush positions, waiting quietly.

On the other side, the Xianbei cavalry, having rested for a night, continued their journey with excited expressions and high hopes.

As noon approached, the group finally emerged from the forest. Gazing at the faintly visible paths in the distance, everyone's faces showed a hint of excitement.

The Han Chinese leader then turned to his fellow Han Chinese companions behind him and said in a deep voice:

"Gentlemen, we have now entered the territory of the Han Dynasty, and it is time to divide our forces in order to make the greatest impact in a short period of time."

I have decided to divide our forces into five groups, each with sixty cavalrymen, advancing in the east, south, west, southeast, and southwest directions respectively, and to rendezvous here in fifteen days!

"Okay, let's do it this way!!"

The other Han Chinese also nodded in agreement.

Before long, the 300-man cavalry force split into five groups and then headed off in their respective directions along the path.

The Han Chinese leader was leading a group of people heading due south.

Around noon, a village came into view in the distance.

Upon seeing the village, the Xianbei cavalrymen all showed excited expressions and immediately prepared to gallop away.

"Wait a minute!!"

Upon seeing this, the Han Chinese leader hurriedly shouted to stop the people.

"What's wrong?" someone asked.

Something's fishy!

"Strange? What's strange?"

"Look, it's almost noon, but not a single wisp of smoke is rising from the village!"

The Han Chinese leader, with a solemn expression, stretched out his hand and pointed to the sky above the village.