You're actually not far off from one of my scenarios I like to put in every few games as a starter quest.

"bandit groups being funded and directed to attack commoners to make them more desperate for a strong leader who is actually the one behind the funding" extra details can be tossed around but I haven't used it enough to get a whole list.

The parties usually end up killing the noble, but twice now I've had a group actually capture and turn them in, which was surprising. If I had a nickel and all that.

The second time I had a group of commoners protesting outside their inn the night after, because they killed the commoner bandits but spared the rich noble to live a life of luxury in a cushy ~~b&b~~ "cell" at worst. The group persuaded them to protest outside the local magistrate and demand harsh punishment instead, which was hilarious.

Fun things can happen when you throw in details the party might not even care about, and I understand that most people don't want to derail the whole campaign for some realistic detail, but it's fun.

And if we aren't here for fun.... Then why are we here?