[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-169":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289004,4475,"Chapter 169","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-169",169,"\u003Cp>Seeing how fierce Tukesiluo was, Jiang Mingyu’s soldiers couldn’t help but feel emboldened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can you so casually speak ill of Lord Shangmu’s Black-faced Yama?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You seek death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his bloody blade, two thousand East Ping city defense soldiers stepped back in unison by one step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing no one step forward, Tukesiluo swung his blade and lunged at Lu Kai, who had just insulted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swift as a startled swan, agile as a roaming dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time Lu Kai, pale as earth, reacted, Tukesiluo’s blade was already a zhang away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat broke out on Lu Kai’s skin; as he spun his horse to flee, he screamed at the top of his lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Retreat to the city, hurry, hurry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish the last word, his shrill cry cut off abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly lowering his head, Lu Kai saw the blood-dripping tip of a blade protruding from his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the instant before he died, Tukesiluo twisted his long blade violently, turning Lu Kai’s body into a pile of shredded flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horrific sight froze every East Ping city defense soldier; beneath the city wall, not even a pin could drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Jiang Mingyu seized the moment to shout loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soldiers, storm East Ping—kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his words, two thousand Shangmu troops charged fiercely toward East Ping’s city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Jiang Mingyu about to take East Ping, one of the city defense’s hundred-commanders suddenly drew his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, with me—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, his flying head saw his own headless corpse on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he lost consciousness, he silently thought one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So fast a blade!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo, having just taken another life, spoke with a voice colder than ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drop your weapons, or die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his chilling gaze, the East Ping city defense soldiers, silent for a long while, slowly laid down their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo couldn’t kill two thousand alone, but no one wished to be the first to test his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Jiang Mingyu’s two thousand Shangmu troops stood watching silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing all weapons laid down, Jiang Mingyu turned to Tukesiluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disperse these two thousand, integrate them into our ranks—but anyone who dares stir trouble, kill without mercy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he swept his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enter the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The townsfolk had long since hidden away, and Jiang Mingyu paid them no mind, heading straight for the East Ping County Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes later, East Ping County Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the thick ledgers before him on the desk, Jiang Mingyu issued a firm order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open the treasury—except for East Ping’s essential expenses, everything else is to be taken back to Yasimo Regional Military Commissioner’s Office as military supplies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he surveyed the surroundings, a soldier sent to search suddenly burst in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, it’s bad—the county seal is gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? The seal is gone? Jiang Mingyu was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you checked all four corners?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had rebelled, but hadn’t yet declared his own court—without the seal, how could he govern civil affairs?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world was not like his world before he crossed over—there were no underground seal-carving trades yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier nodded, still silent, when a shout came from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, someone outside claims to be Lu Kai’s private secretary, holding the county seal, and requests an audience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu murmured inwardly that this was interesting, then curled his lips and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let him in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, a tall, thin man with three long beards knelt before Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant Shen Yulong bows to… Lord Jiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking long and hard, unable to find a suitable title, he could only call Jiang Mingyu “Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the seal in his hands, Jiang Mingyu exhaled in relief and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re Lu Kai’s private secretary, aren’t you? Why is the county seal in your possession?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yulong bowed his head, respectfully replying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am indeed the private secretary of County Magistrate… Lu Kai. The seal has always been in my care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Kai failed to recognize right from wrong and dared resist your army—he deserved his fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know Lord Jiang’s future is boundless, and I know you need this seal—so I come to offer it and pledge my service.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded, secretly smiling—he understood Shen Yulong’s intentions; this man was indeed clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After telling Shen Yulong to rise, Jiang Mingyu continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your loyalty is appreciated, Shen Private Secretary—I won’t refuse it. As Lu Kai’s private secretary, you must know East Ping well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the seal, he smiled warmly at Shen Yulong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yulong smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve served Lu Kai for three years—I know every blade of grass and tree in East Ping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever you need, command me—I will answer without reservation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sat in a chair, speaking slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no orders for you yet—but since you came voluntarily and are clever, I shall temporarily entrust East Ping to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Put simply—from today, you are the County Magistrate of East Ping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yulong thought he’d misheard; he hurriedly asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, are you serious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s smile remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I favor the clever, and those who recognize the times—that’s why I entrust East Ping to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But remember: my two thousand troops will garrison the city. Any hint of treachery, and I won’t spare you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words echoed almost exactly what he’d said to Song Jue that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, with no loyal men at hand, he could only combine mercy and might to slowly build his own faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yulong nodded frantically, then fell to his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Jiang Mingyu could speak further, a soldier rushed in through the heavy snow, visibly panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, disaster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu frowned, irritably asking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What disaster? Did Ruan Chen break into Yasimo Regional Military Commissioner’s Office?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mood spoiled, his tone carried a hint of defiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Yasimo Regional Military Commissioner’s Prefecture was about to fall into his hands—Ruan Chen hadn’t even arrived yet; what disaster could there be? Jiang Mingyu thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the soldier who rushed in seemed even more frantic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, Colonel Zhou Xun of Luoxie City has led four thousand troops and surrounded East Ping!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luoxie City, Zhou Xun—Jiang Mingyu immediately frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Explain clearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting Jiang Mingyu’s startled gaze, the soldier grimaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know how it happened—the Luoxie troops appeared as if they fell from the sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was snowing heavily; our guards hadn’t reacted yet—we’d just entered the gate when we were surrounded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Tu has already led men to the front—Lord, should you also go see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Jiang Mingyu not go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he needed to understand the situation; second, he feared Tukesiluo, lacking strategy, might be outmaneuvered by this Zhou Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Telling the equally tense Shen Yulong to stay put, Jiang Mingyu hurried out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the enemy numbered only four thousand, Jiang Mingyu instantly grasped the gravity of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had just seized East Ping and hadn’t stabilized control when Luoxie’s troops arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, he had just absorbed those two thousand East Ping city defense soldiers who had surrendered out of desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If fighting broke out again, those city defense troops might stab him in the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kai had ruled East Ping for years—Jiang Mingyu didn’t believe the entire city defense camp had no loyalists at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And another point—he couldn’t understand: how had Luoxie’s troops suddenly appeared here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coincidence was impossible—had Luoxie’s Inspector Liu Biao also taken up the most popular path of the day: rebellion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riding in, Jiang Mingyu hadn’t yet figured out what was happening when shouts from beyond the gate rode the cold wind toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1256,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","80d71a31f65e8c5206c1b8ccd318dfecdf01368ccccaf0294ffd9687395fd1f8","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-170","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-168",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]