[{"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-190":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},2289025,4475,"Chapter 190","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-190",190,"\u003Cp>“I… I’m under Zheng Xu’s command. He sent me to spy on you, to see if you’ve been poisoned or died. He said he dumped a powerful poison upstream that kills anyone who drinks the river water. He also said that once more than half of you are dead, he’ll launch an attack on you from the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t want to do this, but Zheng Xu threatened and bribed me—he promised me vast riches if I succeeded, a life of comfort. He also said he’d kill my whole family if I refused. I only agreed to save my own life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I slipped into your camp disguised as a hunter, trying to gather information. But I was caught. I know I deserve to die, but I beg you to spare my life. Zheng Xu is the real culprit—you should go after him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Jiang Mingyu and Tukesuolian both sneered. This spy was utterly shameless, trying to shift blame. They both knew Zheng Xu was a treacherous, cunning man who never let any useful pawn go unpunished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu asked: “Since you’re Zheng Xu’s subordinate, you must know exactly where and how he dumped the poison upstream?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spy startled, shaking his head frantically: “I don’t know! Zheng Xu never tells lowly soldiers anything like that. He only orders us to observe the river’s color and smell at set times—if we notice anything strange, we report immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesuolian scoffed: “Do you think we’ll believe your lies? If you could sneak into our camp, you clearly have skill and courage. How could Zheng Xu not value you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his cover blown, the spy panicked and blurted out more nonsense: “I really don’t know! Zheng Xu is stingy—he never shares his secrets. He just uses us to die for him, then kicks us aside like dogs. Don’t ask me—it’s useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu and Tukesuolian exchanged a glance, each seeing the other’s resolve. They knew this spy had no further value—keeping him would only bring trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu said coldly: “Then don’t blame us for being merciless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he nodded to Tukesuolian. Tukesuolian understood, drew his longsword, and plunged it into the spy’s heart as the man screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed, staining the snow a deep crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu and Tukesuolian turned and left the tent. Both silently swore: since Zheng Xu was so cruel and heartless, they would show him no mercy. Blood for blood, life for life—they would make Zheng Xu understand their wrath was untouchable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This bastard’s dead, my lord. What now?” Tukesuolian’s chest heaved with frustration. He pointed at the corpse pierced through the throat— one of their scouts sent ahead. They’d thought the snow had stopped and they could march, but had barely left camp when ambushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What now? Jiang Mingyu wished he knew. He’d racked his brain but found no viable plan. Forcing an assault was suicide; retreating meant abandoning a golden opportunity. After long, fruitless thought, Tukesuolian brought up the old idea again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s try fire again—the snow’s stopped. Burning the city gate shouldn’t be hard.” He ventured cautiously. They’d considered fire before, but the damp weather had forced them to abandon it. Now the snow had ceased, the wood might be drier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu, silent for a long while, finally sighed. “This may be our only option. Stick to the plan—we strike tonight.” He knew it was a desperate gamble, but he had no other choice. He could only hope Zheng Xu hadn’t anticipated this—and hadn’t prepared for fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, Jiang Mingyu, having slept not a wink all night, dozed off when sudden commotion erupted outside camp. “Bad news! Chu Yun’s troops are coming—prepare for battle!” It was Tukesuolian’s voice. Soon Zhang Jiani’s urgent cries followed, then clashing weapons and neighing horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu jolted awake. But when he stepped from his tent, he saw only the retreating backs of Chu Yun’s cavalry. “What happened?” He rubbed his eyes and asked Tukesuolian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesuolian pointed at the fleeing enemy and the three corpses on the ground. “Don’t worry, my lord. Just a small cavalry unit from Zheng Xu—we’ve driven them off.” He wiped blood from his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small cavalry unit? Jiang Mingyu’s heart tightened. Why send so few men? This crafty Zheng Xu—what was he up to? A daylight raid was impossible. Besides, it contradicted Zheng Xu’s usual “defend first, attack later” strategy. The light casualties and intact equipment eased Jiang Mingyu’s unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than an hour after the troops dispersed, Chu Yun’s cavalry returned. Again, a small unit. Again, hit-and-run. Without the corpses and fading footprints, there’d be no trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before dusk ended, this fly-like harassment occurred over a dozen times. The men slipped away like eels—Jiang Mingyu’s net hadn’t even opened before they vanished without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu wanted to chase, but feared Zheng Xu’s ambush. He could only grit his teeth and endure. Tukesuolian, exhausted from constant pursuit, flew into a rage. “Damn it, this bastard Zheng Xu—what the hell is he playing at?” He longed to storm into Chu Yun City and cut down that treacherous dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he finished speaking than Chu Yun’s cavalry returned. Watching them vanish once more, Jiang Mingyu’s eyes narrowed. “This is Zheng Xu’s trick—he’s using endless harassment to wear us down, exhaust us.” He analyzed. “When we’re too tired to sleep, when we can’t even rest, that’s when they strike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu immediately ordered: “Set up defenses. If they come again, don’t let a single one escape—capture them all.” But Zheng Xu seemed to have anticipated Jiang Mingyu’s plan—after that, the harassing cavalry never appeared again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the camp gradually grow quiet, Jiang Mingyu’s tension eased slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell. The soldiers, having slept not a wink and endured a full day of torment, were collapsing from exhaustion. Seeing them yawn uncontrollably, Jiang Mingyu’s eyes burned red. He quickly ordered: “Zheng Xu’s men won’t come again—rest now. Don’t delay tonight’s plan.” But just as his men began to sleep, a distant clanging of gongs and drums rose from the darkness. Though far off, the howling wind carried it clearly to Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesuolian, just closing his eyes, cursed: “Damn it—I told you so! This bastard Zheng Xu wants to drag us to death.” How can we sleep? How can we launch a night raid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesuolian slammed his fist on the table, grabbed his sword, and stormed toward the exit. “Damn it—I’ll go out and wipe them out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Mingyu blocked him. “No. Going out now might trap us in Zheng Xu’s encirclement. He’s held this region for years—his roots run deep. One misstep, and the entire army is lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiani nodded under the lamplight. “Brother’s right. It’s dark—going out now is too risky. But what do we do?” She clearly directed the question to Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gazed into the distance, listened to the clanging gongs, then smiled faintly. “I have a plan.” Without giving Tukesuolian or Zhang Jiani a chance to speak, he said: “Split the troops into two shifts. One sleeps with their ears plugged. The other goes to the camp gate and shouts insults. Make sure Zheng Xu believes we’re too afraid to leave camp—that our entire twenty-thousand-strong army is in chaos. Once he bites, I’ll have a way to crush them.” He knew countless eyes from Zheng Xu’s spies were watching the camp just beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesuolian asked: “What about tonight’s fire attack?” Jiang Mingyu smiled. “Perhaps fate denies me fire. The plan is suspended—for now. But since Zheng Xu wants to play, we’ll play with him properly.” Seeing Jiang Mingyu’s confidence, Tukesuolian and Zhang Jiani relaxed. They immediately split the troops: one shift rested, the other marched to the gate, shouting insults, creating chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the night, the shouts at the camp gate never ceased, as if the entire camp had been thrown into turmoil. Zheng Xu’s spies peered from the darkness, saw this scene, and sent back reports. They believed the soldiers inside were busy defending against their raids—completely unaware of Jiang Mingyu’s true plan.\u003C\u002Fp>",1342,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3cc3675381b3d29fb3470aa793146d01cc5dd0a15debf10dcaff392311396212","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-191","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-189",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]