Chapter 503 - 140: These River Bandits Are Really Brave! The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

"Sir, something’s happened!"

Judging by the look, the news they received was not at all good.

Si Nan stepped out of the cabin, his expression turning somewhat grave.

"This guy was just left here to watch the place. The other river bandits already set out for Lishui City before we arrived. Going by what these bandits said, it seems Lu Yuan is planning to take Lishui City today."

"Then use Lishui City as the center to start attacking the nearby cities!"

Well damn.

So they’re really planning to start a rebellion, not just talk big.

"Is there any other waterway we can take to get to Lishui City?"

Ye Liuyun, catching onto something, glanced over at the County Magistrate.

"I don’t know!"

The County Magistrate was plenty confused right now.

Apart from this route, he really didn’t know any other way. Plus, judging by what he’d heard, those river bandits actually intend to take Lishui City?

If Lishui City falls, can he even call himself the County Magistrate of Lishui anymore?

"Sir, hurry, hurry, hurry, we can’t let anything happen to Lishui City!"

The County Magistrate was starting to panic too.

After all, it concerned his own interests—how could he not be anxious?

Seeing the Magistrate’s panic wasn’t fake, Ye Liuyun didn’t ask much else.

Seems like those bandits don’t trust the Magistrate a hundred percent either. Not surprising— when your life hangs by a thread, who wouldn’t keep a backup plan?

"Head back!"

Since the bandits were on their way to Lishui City, staying here was pointless.

Ye Liuyun immediately gave the order, and the boats started turning around.

The County Magistrate paced back and forth on the bow, visibly anxious.

Meanwhile, Si Nan sidled up to Ye Liuyun and whispered.

"Sir, don’t you think this is a bit too much of a coincidence?"

The river bandits chose not to act earlier or later—only when they show up. Is the world really that full of coincidences?

Si Nan didn’t buy it, not one bit.

"Whether it’s coincidence or not, we’ll know once we catch those people."

Ye Liuyun’s eyes narrowed slightly.

If it’s not coincidence, then it means these bandits have someone else backing them. And those forces might’ve infiltrated the Embroidered Uniform Guard under his own command.

Now that’s interesting!

Human hearts are, after all, the hardest thing to read in the world.

"Understood!"

Seeing that his boss was onto something, Si Nan wisely didn’t say more, just agreed and obediently stepped aside.

,,,

"Boss, are we really going to hit Lishui City?"

A big boat was speeding towards Lishui City.

The bandit leader stared out at some comrades catching a nap, eyes vacant and lost in thought.

Just then—

A middle-aged man nearby, after refraining for a while, finally couldn’t hold back. He sidled up to Lu Yuan, curiosity all over his face.

"If we do this, we really are rebelling for real!"

Unlike the clueless ones who just shout and make noise, there were some smart guys among these bandits.

This middle-aged man was one of the earliest to follow Lu Yuan.

You could call him the strategist among this bunch.

He’d always thought Lu Yuan’s talk about rebelling against Great Qian and becoming emperor were just for show—empty slogans to pump them up.

They weren’t the only bandits—lots of rebels do the same, right?

The real power’s nothing special, but the names they shout are always bigger than life.

Otherwise, how would they scare people?

But this—

Lu Yuan wasn’t just playing dumb now. He was really going after Lishui City.

What the hell—this was getting out of hand.

Not to mention whether they could even take Lishui, but say they did— then what?

They were just a ragtag bunch. Did he really think they could overthrow Great Qian?

Some of the dumber underlings

were even shouting that once their boss became emperor, they’d get an official post out of it.

The balls on these guys...

Emperor, huh? Won’t be surprised if they’re dead before long.

"Boss!"

After so many years together, Lu Yuan knew exactly what the guy wanted to say.

"Enough!"

He waved his hand, cutting off whatever advice was coming.

The vacant look on his face gave way to full-on seriousness.

"Since I’ve said it, I’ve made up my mind. No need to convince me, and it’s not like I haven’t prepared. You just be at ease!"

",,,"

Be at ease— are you kidding me?

You’re about to rebel and want me to be calm?

Honestly, they were starting to wonder if their boss had lost his mind.

If not for so many years of brotherhood, they’d have bailed already.

Even so, some of them were weighing whether to skip town early.

Because none of them thought Lu Yuan really had it in him to overturn the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Enough!"

Without waiting for more arguments

Lu Yuan waved them off and said.

"I’m going to rest in the cabin for a bit. When we reach Lishui City, let someone come and get me."

With that,

he didn’t give anyone else a chance to speak, just strode off.

Clearly, he didn’t want to waste his breath here.

"This..."

Watching Lu Yuan walk off like that—

The crowd gathered around looked at each other, unsure what to say next.