[{"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-183":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},2289018,4475,"Chapter 183: Withdrawing the Troops","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-183",183,"\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s army marched for a full day, and only reached the vicinity of Luoxie City by nightfall. Tu Kesiluo, riding at the rear, gazed at the distant city walls and suddenly said, “My lord, we’ve entered Luoxie’s territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu heard his voice and turned to look at him. He said, “Yes, I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what do we do?” Tu Kesiluo asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find a place to set up camp first,” Jiang Mingyu said. “We’ll figure out how to take the city tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Tu Kesiluo nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They found an open stretch of land and began pitching tents. Li Goudan and Xiao Er also dismounted and walked over with Jiang Mingyu. Li Goudan stared toward Luoxie City, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo said, “How do we fight this battle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Night raid,” Wu Xiao Er said. “That’s how we defeated Ruan Chen. We’ll succeed again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Jiang Mingyu shook his head. “Fifty-six days have passed. Wang Hao must already know our tactics. If we repeat the same trick, he’ll turn it against us—and that’ll be trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what do we do?” Li Goudan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my view, since Wang Hao knows we’re coming, let’s face him head-on,” Jiang Mingyu said. “Kill his garrison commander. When his army panics, our chance arrives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord is brilliant,” Li Goudan praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t forget what I told you,” Jiang Mingyu added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say?” Li Goudan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not just my subordinate—you’re my brother,” Jiang Mingyu said. “If anything feels wrong, pull back immediately. Don’t force it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, rest assured—I’ll be careful,” Li Goudan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Er, send out scouts to check the surroundings,” Jiang Mingyu ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, my lord,” Wu Xiao Er replied and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he returned with the scouts and reported, “My lord, there are no enemy traces within ten li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. We march at first light,” Jiang Mingyu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn the next day, as the sun rose, Jiang Mingyu led his army forward, riding toward Luoxie City. The defenders on the walls spotted them and shouted at once: “Alert the Inspector! Jiang Mingyu is attacking Luoxie! Soldiers to the walls, civilians to their homes—prepare for battle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Wang Hao appeared on the ramparts. He stared at the ten thousand dark-clad troops and flew into a rage. He roared: “Jiang Mingyu, you traitor, daring to attack Luoxie? You’re walking straight to your death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu looked at him and sneered: “Wang Hao, since Dongping, you’ve opposed me. Recently, you monstrous fool sent spies to my base to die—your crimes are unforgivable. Ruan Chen’s hundred thousand troops were reduced to ash under my hand. What are you, to show your face before me? Open your gates now, or when I break this city, not a dog or chicken will survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Hao, hearing this, grew even more furious. “Jiang Mingyu, don’t get cocky! You won against Governor Ruan through deceit—what’s there to boast? Traitor, don’t run! I’ll come out myself and cut off your head before I return!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Wang Hao’s army lined up before Jiang Mingyu, their backs to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain Wei, this is the traitor who killed Zhou Xun. Isn’t this your chance to avenge him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuanwei locked his bloodshot eyes on Jiang Mingyu, as if ready to devour him alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xun had been his lifelong friend, his fellow scholar, like an elder brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet one day he was brutally slain. Wei Yuanwei hated him with every fiber of his being, sworn to avenge his dearest friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he drew his waist blade. The edge caught the last glow of sunset, gleaming with chilling frost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped the hilt, teeth clenched as if crushing the silver dragon carved into it. He drew a deep breath, raised the blade slowly, its tip aimed straight at Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Mingyu, die! Today, I avenge my brother—this hatred ends here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu watched coldly. Li Goudan, fearless, spurred his horse forward, head high: “Who are you? You think you can take my lord’s life? Name yourself—my blade spares no nameless dog!” His longsword was already drawn, held backward, blade flickering lightly as he rode to meet his foe with calm grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuanwei roared in fury: “I am Wei Yuanwei—remember it well, so you won’t die ignorant!” Before the words left his lips, he kicked his steed forward, his massive blade whistling through the air, aimed straight at Li Goudan’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two horses clashed. Steel met steel in a storm of clangs. Li Goudan felt his blade shudder, his palms numb, barely holding on—he swayed in the saddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Wei Yuanwei sneered. He swung again and again, his blows like a storm. Li Goudan barely parried each strike. “Boy, my next cut takes your life!” Wei Yuanwei grinned savagely, blade slanting upward toward Li Goudan’s abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s heart clenched. He shouted to Tu Kesiluo: “Quick—rescue Li Goudan!” Tu Kesiluo remained calm: “My lord, rest easy. Goudan has a trick up his sleeve. When he falls, we win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that critical moment, Li Goudan twisted his body, evading the fatal strike with uncanny grace. In one fluid motion, his blade spun back—and plunged straight into Wei Yuanwei’s chest. *Plop!* Blood sprayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Goudan swung again, slicing open Wei Yuanwei’s belly. The man screamed, tumbled from his horse, and collapsed, writhing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu, seeing Wei Yuanwei defeated, roared: “Capture Wang Hao alive!” Before the words faded, Tu Kesiluo led a squad of personal guards sprinting toward the ramparts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Hao felt a chill at his back. Turning, he saw Tu Kesiluo charging—his heart sank. He abandoned his men, shoved through the gate, and fled into the city in disgrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo’s riders chased to the city’s edge—but before they reached it, arrows rained down. His squad suffered heavy losses and halted, taking cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the gate groaned shut. The drawbridge rose slowly, blocking Jiang Mingyu’s forces outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo, seeing Wang Hao escape, flew into a rage. “Wang Hao, coward! Hiding behind your walls like a rat? Come out and fight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Hao, unmoved, laughed loudly from the ramparts: “You think I’ll surrender? Foolish dream! Do you think I’m afraid of you? If you have the guts, attack! Otherwise, get out of Luoxie!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smirked, spread his arms mockingly, then turned and strode down the wall, utterly dismissing Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu watched Wang Hao flee in triumph, his heart burning with frustration. This campaign could have seized Luoxie in one stroke—but Wang Hao slipped away. As dusk fell, Jiang Mingyu reluctantly ordered a retreat, halting his advance for now, to strike again another day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their Inspector leave, one of his soldiers hurried to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, they killed Captain Wei—do we just let it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let it go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Hao’s gaze swept over Wei Yuanwei’s bloody corpse. A cunning gleam flashed in his eyes. He thought: Jiang Mingyu has two fierce generals. With Wei dead, I can never match him head-on. And Jiang Mingyu must now know my plans from Wang Zhandong—he hates me with every breath. I must hold the city, stall him, wait until his supplies run out, then strike back and break free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Wang Hao had mapped his strategy clearly. He smiled faintly, turned, and strode down the wall, utterly dismissing Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo, furious at Wang Hao’s smug departure, raised his sword to charge the walls. Jiang Mingyu shouted: “Don’t be reckless! We’re only two or three thousand strong. A direct assault will cost us dearly. Retreat ten li, set up camp, and watch the city closely. Cut off Wang Hao’s reinforcements—Luoxie will fall to us eventually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Goudan, though seething, obeyed and withdrew his troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, the camp was fully set. Tu Kesiluo still seethed: “Wang Hao hides like a turtle. Our supplies are limited—what do we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu himself was trapped between advance and retreat. To kill Wang Hao, he must attack the city—but with their numbers, a frontal assault is suicide. Even if Wang Hao escapes now, he will one day reap his due. For the sake of the greater cause, no rashness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gazed into the distance. The walls of Luoxie City shimmered faintly in the crimson sunset. Wang Hao would never yield. He would hold the city, drag out this stalemate. Our supplies are limited—prolonged war favors him. How can I outwit him, seize him in one stroke?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu fell into deep thought. The setting sun blazed crimson. A dark omen hung over the sky, foretelling a brutal, desperate battle. This fight mattered greatly—he must capture Wang Hao to turn the tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent, lanterns flickered. Tu Kesiluo and the others waited silently, knowing this battle would decide the fate of the campaign. Jiang Mingyu would devise a plan—cut off Wang Hao’s supply lines, corner him. Perhaps set a trap to sever his grain routes. Perhaps feign surrender, lure him out to battle. Whatever the method, Jiang Mingyu must trick Wang Hao into his own trap.\u003C\u002Fp>",1505,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3a11fb76a2066391bbf7bf0ac3d668f334d816873667a34ce083f66f5e554934","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-184","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-182",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]