At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

The river breeze was strong at the dock.

On the wide Yu River, white waves surged and crashed against the shore.

On the distant river, several merchant ships were sailing slowly, their sails billowing.

Su Mu stood on the bluestone steps of the dock, gazing at the wide expanse of the river, and took a deep breath, feeling the moist river breeze.

The scent of the river, mixed with the smell of mud and fish, was completely different from the dry, biting winds of the North.

He lived for a hundred years. Although he spent most of his life in the North, he traveled all over the country as a businessman in his youth and also spent a few years in Jiangnan.

He was no stranger to this land crisscrossed by waterways.

"Grandpa Su, why are we taking the waterway? Wouldn't it be faster to take the land route?"

Xiao Zhi Qiu stood behind him and asked curiously.

She was dressed in a smart and capable outfit, her hair tied in a high ponytail, looking dashing and spirited, but her eyes still held a hint of excitement and anticipation for her upcoming journey.

Su Mu pointed ahead and explained, "Look..."

"Cross the Yu River from Jiangdu Wharf, where it connects with the Heng River in Jiangnan. The Heng River flows eastward, leading directly to Ninghai and Haicheng."

"The waterway may seem to be a longer route, but it is actually much faster than the land route."

"Moreover, the Jiangnan region has a dense network of waterways, and boats are the primary means of transportation."

"By taking the waterway, I can also take the opportunity to check out the situation in Jiangnan, so as to prepare for future battles."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunchuan immediately understood Su Mu's intention.

"Master, are you saying that since the Dongyi people are skilled in naval warfare, they might make a big deal out of the Henghe River?"

Su Mu glanced at him and smiled, "You're a promising young man."

"Indeed, knowing yourself and your enemy will ensure victory in every battle."

"I'll take a waterway trip in advance so I can have a better idea of ​​what to expect."

Xiao Zhixia stood aside, watching Su Mu's figure, feeling immense admiration in her heart.

Even while traveling, this centenarian kept the battlefield in his mind.

At the dock, a medium-sized passenger ship had already docked.

The boat was not large, about three zhang long, with old planks and patched sails, but the hull was sturdy and solid, clearly an old boat that often sailed on the river.

The boat owner was a man in his fifties, with dark skin and a weathered face. He was squatting at the bow of the boat, wiping the gunwale with an oilcloth.

Su Mu stepped forward, took out a piece of broken silver from his pocket, and placed it on the deck.

"Boatman, would you be willing to give us a ride to Haizhou City?"

The boatman looked up, glanced at Su Mu's wrinkled face, and then at the tall horses being led behind him.

I was quite surprised.

"Old man, you're heading to a war zone!"

"Ninghai City has fallen, and the Dongyi people are attacking Haizhou City. If you go there, things may not be peaceful."

Just as Xiao Zhi Qiu was about to speak, Su Mu gently raised his hand to stop him.

Su Mu simply smiled and replied, "I'm going to Haizhou City to visit some relatives and will also bring them back to the capital. With war raging, it's better to have my family here for peace of mind."

The boat owner didn't ask any further questions and nodded.

"Alright, let's get on the boat."

Several people led the horses onto the boat.

Although the boat was not large, there was a special horse cabin under the deck. Several horses were led down and tied up, so they were quite safe.

It was Su Qingxue's first time on a boat. Curious, she leaned over the gunwale, looking at the river below, and reached out to splash the water, getting her sleeves wet.

Xiao Zhi Qiu quickly pulled her back: "Qing Xue, stop fooling around, you'll fall and cause serious injury!"

Su Qingxue stuck out her tongue and obediently returned to her cabin to sit down.

The boat slowly sailed away from the dock and headed east along the Yu River.

"Old folks, you don't know, the waterways in Jiangnan have been quite turbulent these past few months."

The boat owner spoke to Su Mu and the others while steering the boat.

"After the Dongyi people invaded, bandits along the coast also became rampant."

"There used to be some order, but now it's all in chaos."

"Especially in the reed marshes beyond the Henghe River, bandits roamed, and they were extremely vicious."

Su Mu leaned against the gunwale, gazing at the scenery on both banks, and said calmly, "The government isn't doing anything about it?"

The boat owner chuckled and shook his head.

"The government? The government itself is in complete chaos now."

"With the fall of Ninghai City, a large number of refugees poured into Haizhou City. The government was too busy settling the refugees to deal with these river bandits."

"Besides, most of those river bandits are connected with local tyrants, and collusion between officials and bandits is nothing new."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunchuan's expression darkened slightly, and a surge of anger welled up inside him.

He grew up in the palace and although he had traveled the martial arts world, those were mostly minor skirmishes involving chivalry.

Hearing this, he truly realized for the first time that war brings far more than just the clash of swords on the front lines.

Su Mu noticed his change and turned to look at him: "Yun Chuan, what are you thinking about?"

Xiao Yunchuan was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Master, I'm thinking that those people are really suffering."

Su Mu nodded and said nothing more.

Some truths cannot be explained by words alone; they must be understood by seeing with one's own eyes, hearing with one's own ears, and experiencing with one's own body.

After a day and a night of sailing, the ship entered the Yokogawa River.

The Yokogawa River is wider and deeper than the Uku River, and its current is also faster.

The scenery on both sides of the river gradually changed from open fields to endless reed marshes.

The tall reeds swayed in the autumn wind, making a rustling sound.

Su Qingxue leaned on the gunwale, her eyes sparkling as she watched the flying water birds.

"Grandpa, the reeds here are so tall! Taller than Sister Zhi Qiu!"

Su Mu smiled and patted her head, but he became wary in his heart.

His intuition told him that it was too quiet here.

The waterbirds flew too fast; it didn't seem like they took flight naturally, but rather as if they had been startled by something.

Right now!

"Splash!"

Suddenly, seven or eight small boats rushed out from the reeds and surrounded the passenger ship where Su Mu was from all sides.

The small boat was filled with bandits wielding knives and guns, each with a fierce expression and greedy glint in their eyes.

On the lead boat stood a burly man with a face full of scars, a necklace of copper coins around his neck, and a broad-backed machete in his hand, the blade gleaming blindingly in the sunlight.

"Stop the ship!!"

The bandits howled and moved swiftly, throwing several ropes with iron hooks onto the passenger ship and hooking them onto the gunwale.

Several agile bandits climbed up the ropes and landed on the deck, their knives facing outwards, surrounding Su Mu and his group.

The boat owner's expression changed drastically. He quickly pulled out a palm-sized wooden plaque from his pocket and raised it high with both hands.

"Gentlemen! It's a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"

"We're regulars at Qianlong Village! We pay our tolls on time every year! This is the pass given to us by Chief Wen of Qianlong Village! Take a look..."

As he spoke, he quickly stepped forward and handed the token to the burly man.

The bandit leader glanced down at the token, a disdainful sneer appearing on his lips.

He reached out and slapped the token out of the boat owner's hand. With a "thud," the token fell to the ground, rolled twice, and landed in the water near the side of the boat.

"Hidden Dragon Village?"

The bandit leader kicked the boat owner in the chest, sending him flying backward and crashing heavily into the cabin door.

"I robbed the ship that Qianlong Village was protecting!"

The boat owner clutched his chest, his face pale, clearly terrified.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yunchuan was enraged and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, these bandits dare to block the road and rob us! They even dared to hijack the ship carrying the Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition, delaying the battle in the East China Sea. They're courting death!"

He was about to draw his sword...

Su Mu gently placed his thin hand on his wrist and said, "Don't worry, someone else is coming."

Xiao Yunchuan paused for a moment, his sword remaining sheathed.

He followed Su Mu's gaze to the reed bed, and sure enough...

"Whoosh!"

A splash of water erupted from the depths of the reeds, and a figure burst forth from the water like a fish, moving at a speed that was dazzling.

The man was clearly a master of the water, navigating the reed-covered waterways with ease, his feet treading the water as if on flat ground.

With a few leaps, he rushed forward, lightly touched the bow of the boat with his toes, and flipped himself onto the boat like a falling leaf, landing steadily on the deck.

The man was in his early twenties, lean and handsome, with exceptionally bright eyes.

He was soaked to the bone, but the gray cloth clothes clung to his body, which made him look somewhat like a chivalrous person.

He had a short knife hanging at his waist, but his hands were empty.

"You people have quite the nerve."

The person's voice was clear and unhurried.

"You dare to touch the ships protected by Qianlong Village? Which faction do you belong to?"

When the boatman saw the man, he was like a drowning man grasping at a straw, his voice trembling.

"Master Ye! Master Ye, you've come at the perfect time! These people... they're going to kill us and steal our ship!"

This man is a hero of Qianlong Village, named Ye Qingzhou!

Ye Qingzhou glanced at the boat owner, then turned his head and looked at the bandit leader.

"Go back and tell your chieftain that Ye Qingzhou of Qianlong Village told him to shut up."

"The waters of this Henghe River are not something he can monopolize."

The bandit leader looked at Ye Qingzhou, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes, but it quickly turned into ferocity.

"Ye Qingzhou? You're the one we're looking for! Taking you back will give us an explanation to Chief Wen!"

He waved his hand.

"Attack! Capture them alive!"

The bandits behind him swarmed forward, their swords flashing, and pounced on Ye Qingzhou.

Ye Qingzhou moved swiftly, like a swimming fish, weaving freely through the crowd.

His movements were extremely fast, and his attacks were swift and decisive. His fists and feet carried the skillful power he had honed in the water, and in just a few rounds, he knocked down the first few bandits.

Xiao Yunchuan watched intently, muttering, "Such skillful movement!"

Just as Ye Qingzhou was locked in the fiercest battle with the bandit leader...

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three hidden arrows shot out from the depths of the reeds, whistling through the air, aiming straight for Ye Qingzhou's back.

The angle was cunning, the timing was ruthless; it was clearly an ambush that had been laid long ago.

Ye Qingzhou had his back to the hidden arrow and was completely unaware of it.

A cold glint flashed in Su Mu's eyes, and then he made his move!