Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 577 Robbing the Richest Man
Changzhou.

The sky seemed to be roasted on a furnace.

A scorching sun hung high in the sky, relentlessly pouring out its incandescent light, baking the earth until it turned a scorched yellow.

As far as the eye could see, there was not a trace of green, only endless cracks.

The once fertile land is now covered with spiderweb-like cracks, bottomless, greedily devouring the last bit of moisture.

The air was thick with the smell of dust and despair, and every breath felt like being scorched by grit.

This place is a purgatory of barren land.

In the ruins of an abandoned village, a few crumbling walls, barely standing, cast narrow shadows.

A group of strong men huddled in the shadows, like gerbils fleeing from a falcon.

Their bare arms were bulging with muscles, their skin was tanned dark and shiny, and sweat mixed with dust etched deep lines on their faces.

At this moment, they were discussing intensely, their voices rough and hoarse, carrying the greed and ruthlessness unique to raiders.

"Have you heard? That old dog Shen Wanshi has really come!"

"That convoy, wow, it stretches as far as the eye can see! It's carrying nothing but gleaming gold and gleaming silver!"

A man with a scar on his face licked his chapped lips, his eyes gleaming with a wolfish green light.

"Gold? Piled up like mountains?"

A man with a missing front tooth next to him chuckled, his voice hoarse:

"I heard there's a money tree in his backyard! Whenever he's short of money, he just shakes it, and copper coins and silver coins rain down like raindrops! He can have as much as he wants!"

Another man, short and stocky like an iron block, said in a deep, gruff voice:
"The richest man in the Great Qian Dynasty... This title sounds intimidating, but how much wealth does he actually have? Who can say for sure?"

"He's probably richer than even the emperor's treasury!"

His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the gleaming hilt of the knife at his waist.

Longing and curiosity intertwined in their eyes.

But it was soon replaced by an even more intense ferocity.

"The richest man? Bah!"

Scarface suddenly spat out a mouthful of thick phlegm, which landed on the scalding sand and vanished instantly.

"His wealth is due to his ancestors' good deeds? Bullshit! He's just sucking the blood of us poor people!"

"Changzhou is in such a terrible drought, how many people have starved to death? Instead of coming to provide disaster relief, he brings mountains of gold and silver to take advantage of the situation and buy up land at rock-bottom prices!"

"This is blatant digging up our ancestral graves and cutting off our escape route!"

The man with the missing tooth slapped his thigh suddenly, his eyes flashing with a fierce light:

"Yeah! Steal his mother's ass!"

"This heartless, rotten beast deserves to be torn to pieces! Steal all his money and kill all his men! Let him know who's in charge in Changzhou!"

The burly man with the iron sturdy frame also became excited, suddenly drawing half of his waist knife, its cold, gleaming light reflecting off his ferocious face:
"If we pull off this job, it'll be enough for us brothers to live a life of luxury for years to come!"

"I heard he brought enough cash to fill dozens of large trucks! Brothers, fortune favors the bold!"

The others also let out a low growl, like the howl of a pack of wolves.

Their hands, which are used to holding knives year-round, are covered with thick calluses and are as rough as sandpaper.

Someone subconsciously made a light cut on their palm with the blade, leaving only a shallow white mark, not even enough to bleed.

This group of people were none other than the renowned experts from Yanshan Village, a prominent bandit group on the Changzhou Green Forest Road.

Today, Changzhou is littered with corpses of the starving, officials and bandits collude, and the people are living in misery.

What truly thrilled these men who had risked their lives was the news that Shen Wanshi, the richest man in the Great Qian Dynasty, had personally come to Changzhou to "buy at rock-bottom prices."

In the eyes of unscrupulous businessmen, disaster is a feast for reaping profits.

Shen Wanshi arrived with a massive amount of silver, his goal clear—to take advantage of this once-in-a-century drought and seize the fertile land on which the people of Changzhou depended for their livelihood at an extremely low price, almost like charity.

Everyone knows that the drought will eventually pass.

But not everyone can make it to that point.

In order to survive, the people had no choice but to sell their ancestral property at a pittance with tears in their eyes.

With Shen Wanshi's financial resources, he will surely be able to acquire most of the fertile land in Changzhou this time.

Once the disaster subsided and the value of the land skyrocketed, Shen Wanshi sold it off and became incredibly wealthy.

Such acts are tantamount to cutting flesh and sucking blood from a dying person, utterly devoid of conscience!
at this time.

A white figure, incongruous with the rugged environment, appeared silently at the entrance to the ruins.

The man was around forty years old, with a lean face, three long wisps of beard, wearing a whitewashed but spotless scholar's robe, holding a plain folding fan, and exuding a gentle and refined temperament, just like a well-read schoolteacher.

It was Bai Yi, who held the third position in Yanshan Village and was known in the martial arts world as the "White-Robed Scholar".

"Mr. Bai!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, the men immediately dropped their fierce demeanor, stood up, clasped their hands in a respectful greeting, their attitude tinged with a hint of awe.

Bai Yi held a superior position in the stronghold. Although he was not as brave and unparalleled as the stronghold leader Yin Leiling, nor as infamous as the second-in-command "Dwarf Yama" Meng Guang, he was full of wisdom and resourcefulness, making him the true strategist of Yanshan Stronghold.

He preferred to be addressed as "Sir" by others.

Bai Yi smiled and nodded in return, gently waving his folding fan. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a captivating power:

"Brothers! Shen Wanshi, that scoundrel, has amassed ill-gotten gains and committed heinous acts. Taking advantage of the dire straits of the people of Changzhou, he has committed the heinous crimes of sucking their marrow and cutting off their path to survival!"

"Such unscrupulous merchants deserve to be punished by everyone!"

"Today, we have seized their caravan not for personal gain, but to act on behalf of Heaven and to seek justice for the millions of starving people of Changzhou!"

His gaze swept over the crowd, and his tone suddenly became impassioned:
"For the sake of the suffering people of Changzhou, I urge you, brothers, to unite as one and be loyal to each other!"

"In this battle, we will ensure that Shen Wanshi never returns!"

Bai Yi's words were like a spark, instantly igniting the anger and greed in the hearts of these already fierce bandits.

They shouted in unison:

"We are as close as brothers and sisters!!!"

A deafening roar echoed through the ruins of the deserted village, stirring up billowing dust that lingered for a long time.

Bai Yi nodded in satisfaction, snapped his folding fan shut, and was about to give the order:

"set off!"

A noticeable commotion arose in the crowd.

The men looked at each other, their eyes filled with hesitation and uncertainty.

Some people even craned their necks and stood on tiptoe to look around, as if searching for someone's whereabouts.

at last.

A man with a full beard couldn't help but speak, his voice tinged with caution:

"Mr. Bai... Brother Song... hasn't arrived yet."

"How about... we wait for Brother Song a little longer?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, immediately creating ripples.

Everyone immediately started talking at once:
"Yes! With Brother Song gone, I feel so uneasy and uncertain!"

“That’s right! Brother Song is the ‘pillar of stability’ of our village! As long as Brother Song says there’s a deal he can do, we brothers will risk our lives to make it happen! But if Brother Song thinks it’s not right, then… we’re likely to suffer a setback.”

"Yes, yes, yes! Mr. Bai, let's wait a little longer! With Brother Song around, the brothers feel at ease!"

Everyone echoed, and the high morale that Bai Yi had just ignited quickly cooled down because of the absence of one person.

Bai Yi's smile remained unchanged.

But in those gentle eyes, a cold glint flashed like a venomous snake, so fast that it was almost imperceptible.

His fingers, gripping the folding fan, tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

at this time.

A young and dashing figure strode up to Bai Yi's side.

He was tall and strong with a handsome face, but there was an inescapable air of hostility and impatience between his brows.

A heavy flail in his hand dragged carelessly on the ground, making a dull grating sound.

It was none other than Meng Wei, the "Jade-faced Mountain-Destroying Hero".

"Uncle Bai! Listen to what they're saying!"

Meng Wei's youthful and impetuous face was filled with barely suppressed anger, and his voice was somewhat shrill with agitation:
"My father and Chief Yin are both away from the village. Before they left, they clearly instructed you to take charge of the situation!"

"But what about these people? They only have Song Jiang in their eyes! Song Jiang! It's always Song Jiang! Do they think that without that Song guy, our Yanshan stronghold would fall apart and be unable to even walk properly?!"

He had long harbored resentment towards Song Jiang, and seeing everyone praising Song Jiang while belittling Bai Yi only fueled his anger.

Unfortunately, his powerful backer is no longer there.

A few days ago, the Thief Saint organized an operation to save Changzhou. His granddaughter, Yan San Niang, came to Yanshan Stronghold to invite the heroes of the greenwood to help.

In the end, the chieftain of Yanshan Village, "Proud Blade Hero" Yin Leiling, led Meng Guang, who held the second-in-command position and was also Meng Wei's father, "Dwarf Yama" Meng Guang, and a group of skilled fighters to help.

They have not returned since they left.

Bai Yi was in charge of all affairs at Yanshan Village.

Bai Yi turned his head and glanced at Meng Wei indifferently. His eyes were calm and unwavering, but they sent a chill down Meng Wei's spine.

All that could be heard was Bai Yi complaining in a voice only the two of them could hear, his tone tinged with a cold disappointment:
"Isn't it all your fault? You're too eager for quick success, too careless, and you keep making mistakes!"

"If you hadn't repeatedly botched things and caused losses to your troops, how could Song Jiang have taken the opportunity to repeatedly achieve great feats and have his prestige in the stronghold soar to its zenith?"

Alarm bells were already ringing in Bai Yi's mind.

Since joining the Yanshan stronghold, Song Jiang has been generous and righteous, eager to help others, highly skilled in martial arts, and well-versed in human relationships. In a short period of time, he has made friends with a large number of heroes in the stronghold, and his reputation is approaching that of the leaders.

As one side gains and the other loses, his authority as a "white-robed scholar" has been severely weakened.

Bai Yi knew this was not a long-term solution and had already resorted to political maneuvering.

He "assigned" those seemingly impossible and extremely risky plundering missions to Song Jiang, intending to make him make mistakes and undermine his prestige.

At the same time, they assigned Meng Wei a simple, easy, and lucrative "good job," hoping that he would make a contribution and thus put Song Jiang in a better position.

However, it is counterproductive.

No matter how dangerous or difficult the mission, Song Jiang always managed to complete it miraculously, not only escaping unscathed but often bringing back outstanding results.

This earned him even greater respect and admiration from the brothers in the village.

In contrast, Meng Wei always manages to mess up even the simplest, most lucrative jobs.

They either run into a carefully planned encirclement by the Six Doors, or are inexplicably hunted down by agents of the Investigation Bureau. Sometimes they are even taught a lesson by martial arts sects that usually keep to themselves.

After several such incidents, Meng Wei's elite troops suffered heavy losses, and on two occasions, he almost lost his life if he hadn't run away quickly.

It can be said that they are plagued by bad luck, and everything is going wrong.

Meng Wei's face turned pale and then flushed as Bai Yi pointed out his sore spot, but then a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes, and he frowned and said:
"Uncle Bai, speaking of this... I also find it strange!" "Every time I lead a team out, it's like I have bells hanging on my body; the government's henchmen can always pinpoint my location! This is definitely not right!"

"You say……"

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes:
"Could it be that scoundrel Song Jiang secretly betrayed my whereabouts?!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Yi sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

He snorted coldly:
"I had the same doubts at first."

"To this end, I have personally designed several tests and even used undercover agents to investigate in detail... but the results show that it was not him who leaked it."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening like a hawk's as he slowly swept across the crowd, his voice lowering even further:
"On the contrary, the behavior of several people around you... is quite suspicious, which makes me suspicious..."

Upon hearing this, Meng Wei reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately bristling and growling decisively in a low voice:
"Impossible! Uncle Bai!"

"The people around me are all brothers I've carefully selected and would risk my life for! They're absolutely trustworthy!"

His tone was firm and left no room for argument.

Looking at his unwavering belief and impulsive behavior, Bai Yi's last hope was completely extinguished, leaving only cold disappointment.

Meng Wei possessed his father's irritability and ruthlessness, but lacked his father's cunning and scheming. He appeared impressive on the surface, but was actually a complete fool inside.

On the other hand, Song Jiang appears honest and harmless on the surface, but in reality, he is cunning and scheming, taking every step with utmost care.

My decision to support Meng Wei to counterbalance Song Jiang was probably a terrible blunder!

Just as Bai Yi was about to speak again, he suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from afar.

Someone in the crowd immediately shouted:

"Sixth Brother Xiao is here!"

A swift horse galloped towards the deserted village, kicking up clouds of dust.

A man on horseback, with a wiry build and ordinary face, and a sheathed longsword hanging at his waist, was none other than Song Jiang's sworn brother, "Blood Sword Lone Wolf" Xiao Liu.

This man was of mediocre martial arts skills and not well-known. He relied entirely on Song Jiang's reputation to earn the respectful title of "Sixth Brother Xiao" in the stronghold.

Xiao Liu's arrival was like a drop of boiling oil thrown into water, instantly energizing the previously somewhat lazy men, who all stood up to greet him.

Bai Yi frowned even more deeply as he watched this scene, his eyes growing even colder.

He suppressed the surging anger within him, strode forward, and reappeared his usual polite, fake smile, asking in a raised voice:
"Brother Xiao Liu, you've come at the perfect time!"

"With the operation imminent and at such a critical juncture, where is your elder brother, Song Yingxiong?"

The words seemed concerned, but actually contained an implicit question.

Xiao Liu reined in his horse, dismounted, and did so swiftly.

He first clasped his hands in a fist salute to Bai Yi, his posture neither humble nor arrogant.

Then, he turned to the brothers who had gathered around him, took a deep breath, and said loudly:

"Brothers! My elder brother sent me with a message!"

His loud voice instantly attracted everyone's attention:
"My elder brother said that this robbery of Shen Wanshi's convoy was a carefully orchestrated trap by the government!"

"That so-called convoy is bait. A large number of elite troops from the Six Doors and the prefecture have already been ambushed all around! If we go there, we will definitely be surrounded and our chances of survival are slim!"

"My elder brother ordered me to come here to implore all of you brothers to abandon the operation and return to the mountain stronghold immediately!"

Xiao Liu's voice clearly reached everyone's ears.

These words immediately caused the group of men to look at each other in bewilderment.

"trap?!"

"A government ambush?!"

"What Brother Song said? Then... then it can't be wrong!"

Xiao Liu's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads, instantly extinguishing the flames of greed that Bai Yi had just ignited in them.

The men, who had been eager and menacing, immediately deflated like punctured balloons, their faces showing relief and lingering fear, their fighting spirit completely gone.

They all began packing up their weapons, looking as if they were preparing to head home.

aside.

Seeing his carefully planned and imminent operation ruined by a single sentence from a lowly soldier sent by Song Jiang, Bai Yi could barely maintain his smile, and the sinister look in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Meng Wei was so angry that his face turned ashen. He leaned close to Bai Yi's ear and whispered through gritted teeth:

"Uncle Bai! Look at this! Look at what kind of talk this is!"

"You gave the order yourself, but Song Jiang didn't even show his face. He just sent a lowly henchman to deliver a message, and all the brothers were completely demoralized!"

"Who's really in charge of this Yanshan stronghold? Where is your authority?!"

These words were like poisoned needles, piercing Bai Yi's heart.

Bai Yi's chest heaved violently as he forced down the surging blood and qi.

He took a deep breath, and just as the crowd was about to disperse, he suddenly raised his voice, forced a smile, and announced loudly:

"I see!"

"Now that Hero Song has seen through the government's treacherous plot, then pass on my order—the operation is canceled!"

"All brothers, return to the stronghold immediately!"

The crowd, as if granted a pardon, roared in agreement:
"As ordered!"

They mounted their horses and prepared to evacuate.

Xiao Liu also mounted his horse, ready to leave.

Bai Yi strode forward, grabbed Xiao Liu's horse reins, and his face was full of concern:
"Brother Xiao Liu, please wait!"

“Song Yingxiong is a pillar of our Yanshan stronghold. His sudden disappearance has greatly worried me! I wonder where he is right now?”

"If you need to go out next time, could you please let me know in advance? That way, I can put your mind at ease and perhaps offer some assistance?"

His tone was gentle and his words were sincere, as if he were a kind and benevolent elder who cared about the safety of his subordinates.

Xiao Liu bowed slightly on horseback and replied:
"Don't worry, Mr. Bai, my elder brother has a place to go."

"I will definitely convey your message."

Having said that, he said no more, clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned his horse around, spurred it on, and rode away, quickly disappearing into the billowing dust.

Bai Yi stood there, watching Xiao Liu's departing figure.

Until that figure completely disappeared from sight, the gentle and refined mask on his face vanished as quickly as ice and snow melted away, replaced by a gloomy, almost dripping, iron-blue complexion.

His clenched fists were hidden in his wide sleeves, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Meng Wei walked up to him and spat angrily:
"Bah! Just wait! When my father and Chief Yin return, they'll make Song Jiang pay!"

"Uncle Bai, I don't believe he's really that amazing! How about... I take a few trusted brothers and sneak over to Shen Wanshi's convoy to take a look?"

"I refuse to believe this is truly a trap set by the government!"

His eyes flashed with a fierce, defiant light.

Bai Yi did not answer.

The people have already dispersed, and the operation has been canceled. Does it still matter whether the convoy was real or fake, or whether there was a government trap involved?

His cold gaze swept around like a venomous snake searching for its prey, finally settling on two figures in the dispersing crowd.

One of them was thin and hunched over, wearing a coarse linen garment patched in layers, with dark, rough skin and a weathered face, looking exactly like an old farmer who had suffered a lot.

He held a brass-made smoking stick in his hand, smoking it casually. His eyes were cloudy amidst the swirling smoke, as if he were indifferent to everything around him.

This person was Ji Yan, known as "Dianxingyanyunke," one of Meng Wei's confidants.

The other person was the complete opposite, exceptionally tall and robust, like an iron tower, with a square face and sharp features, as if carved out by a knife and axe, and no expression.

It was Ding Jia, nicknamed "Iron-Faced Vajra," another loyal brother of Meng Wei.

At this moment, the two seemed to be waiting for Meng Wei's instructions, standing at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Bai Yi's gaze lingered briefly on Ji Yan and Ding Jia, his eyes sharp as knives, as if trying to pierce through their disguises.

But he said nothing, withdrew his gaze without changing his expression, as if nothing had happened, turned around and walked silently toward his horse.

That figure, standing against the blazing sun, appeared exceptionally lonely, yet exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

Meng Wei was completely bewildered by Bai Yi's sudden silence and departure, staring blankly at Bai Yi's retreating figure.

He beckoned to Ji Yan and complained:

"What are you up to? You didn't even leave a word!"

"Could it be that Uncle Bai also believed Song Jiang's nonsense?"

"Old Ji, what do you think Uncle Bai meant?"

"He clearly dislikes Song Jiang, so why hasn't he taken any action?"

He scratched his hair irritably.

Seeing this, Ji Yan put on his usual dry smile, which carried a hint of ingratiation and mercenary smirk.

"Young Master, Mr. Bai is meticulous and wise beyond measure. How could someone as dense as me possibly fathom what he is thinking?"

"However... even though I, Old Ji, am slow-witted, I can see that everything Mr. Bai has done is for the good of our Yanshan Village!"

"As for that Song Jiang..."

His voice was low, tinged with a sinister undertone:
"Hmph, in my opinion, he'll be a menace sooner or later! He must be eliminated!"

These words struck a chord with Meng Wei.

He patted Ji Yan's thin shoulder hard, and said with emotion:

"Old Ji! You understand me best! Don't worry, when the old man comes back, I'll definitely put in a good word for you and get you a higher position!"

"Follow me, Meng Wei, and you'll never be treated badly!"

Meng Wei trusted Ji Yan implicitly, after all, the two had burned yellow paper together, killed government soldiers, and robbed government silver together.

After saying this, he mounted his horse and rode away, filled with resentment towards Song Jiang and confusion about Bai Yi.

Ji Yan and Ding Jia, who was standing silently to the side, quickly exchanged a glance.

His eyes were complex and hard to decipher, containing calculation, vigilance, and a hint of...mockery that was barely perceptible.

The two then quickly caught up with Meng Wei and disappeared into the dust.

The desolate village ruins returned to their deathly silence, and the scorching sun continued to mercilessly bake this land of despair.

……

the other side.

Liang Jin was galloping on his horse.

He is using the [Thousand-Mile Tracking] feature of his main body to lock onto a target—Shen Wanshi!

(End of this chapter)