[{"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-176":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},2289011,4475,"Chapter 176: Li Goudan","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-176",176,"\u003Cp>At this critical moment, Ruan Chen had no time to care about the battle behind him; he could only flee without regard for anything, his steps growing even more frantic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced coldly at Zhang Jiani, surrounded by enemies, and curled his lips into a sneer. As he ran, he muttered, “Damn bastard, when I return, I won’t leave you alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the battle grew fiercer, Ruan Chen led his remaining force—fewer than two hundred men—to the mouth of the gorge, when suddenly a voice rang out ahead: “Ruan Chen, I am Jiang Mingyu. Today, we settle this once and for all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Chen’s heart sank; he turned to fight, but saw Zhang Jiani and Zhang Jiaqi standing squarely before him, their eyes gleaming with malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Chen realized escape was impossible. He drew his sword with resolve and shouted, “Come then! Let me fight these traitors to the death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered and ordered Zhang Jiani, “Capture Ruan Chen alive. Kill everyone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, screams rose in succession; nearly all of Ruan Chen’s men lay dead. As Ruan Chen prepared to end his own life, Zhang Jiani’s blade pressed against his throat, freezing him in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… finish me quickly!” Ruan Chen growled through gritted teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu stepped forward slowly and shook his head gently. “Killing you would be too kind. You slaughtered our families—how could I let you die so easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. I’ll make good use of your life to open the gates of Yasmodu. When that happens, your head will be the gift presented to the Emperor as proof of our recapture of Dingtao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Chen looked to the sky and let out a long, bitter cry: “I am doomed to die! Heaven will not spare you—retribution will come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered, then told Zhang Jiani, “Watch him closely. Don’t let him kill himself easily. When I retake Yasmodu, I’ll execute this man myself to wash away our shame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiani nodded and bound Ruan Chen tightly with ropes. Jiang Mingyu rallied his troops: “Brave soldiers, Yasmodu lies ahead! Charge with one final surge—annihilate the enemy and reclaim our homeland!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” The Wan Army roared in unison, morale soaring, as their force marched forward in a mighty, unstoppable tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Chen’s hands were bound behind his back; he hung his head in silence. He knew his fate was sealed, filled with despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhang Jiani led Ruan Chen away, a piercing scream suddenly echoed through the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo tossed the wounded Zhang Chao onto Zhang Jiaqi’s feet like discarding a dead dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little sister-in-law, I brought him to you. Do with him as you please,” Tukesiluo said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiaqi showed no hesitation—she drove her sword straight through Zhang Chao’s back, a cruel smile on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Monster, die,” she said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu exhaled, relieved by the corpses at his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ruan Chen’s threat is over. Now we march on Yasmodu Regional Military Commissioner. Let’s return to Dingtao first,” he ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Zhuge Yu, who had been commanding from the mountaintop, approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, our casualties were under two thousand. We’ve won a decisive victory,” Zhuge Yu reported to Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded with a smile—he was accustomed to winning against overwhelming odds, and this battle was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the earlier situation at Yasmodu Regional Military Commissioner, he considered it an insignificant accident, unworthy of mention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in Dingtao, Jiang Mingyu recounted the entire battle. Li Goudan listened, overcome with guilt, and immediately knelt before Zhuge Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhuge Yu sir, I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu was startled but quickly reached out to help Li Goudan up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goudan, get up. What have you done?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Goudan refused to rise; he felt deep regret, unable to voice it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Zhuge, before… I… I… ah…” Li Goudan could only let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the cross-shaped scar on Zhuge Yu’s face, Li Goudan’s heart churned violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a mark that could never be erased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhuge Yu seemed to have long forgotten the past; he spoke gravely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t say more. I understand how you felt. If I had been in your place, I might have done the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two made peace. Jiang Mingyu was pleased and ordered a three-day rest, allowing the exhausted soldiers to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Er, send men to block the road back to Yasmodu Regional Military Commissioner. Ruan Chen’s total defeat must not reach them yet,” he instructed, to avoid unnecessary trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Xiao, still bandaged around his head, understood the urgency and immediately agreed, then hurried off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu turned to Tukesiluo and gave another order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tukesiluo, send more men to Ruan Chen’s camp. There should be ample grain and pay there to sustain our needs for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Chen had brought eighty thousand troops—his supplies must have been vast. Jiang Mingyu knew these resources were vital for the battles ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>",816,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","987e7349a0cadddf019d5adc3eb490cf93badef707f75a6d0c4ce4beebe52fd7","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-177","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-175",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]