[{"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-216":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},2289051,4475,"Chapter 216","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-216",216,"\u003Cp>Xu Zhanhong’s eyes flickered and saw Zhong Nianyu staring at him in terror from afar; a surge of triumph stirred in his chest as he thought: Zhong Nianyu, that old fox, is finished today. He whispered to his trusted aide:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See that black-faced giant? That’s Tuxeslu—he’s Jiang Mingyu’s right-hand man. When I pretend to speak with Jiang Mingyu, slip an arrow into him and send him to the Underworld.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also order your troops to aim every bow at Jiang Mingyu. When I move to kill him, fire at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once these two are dead, Jiang Mingyu’s army will lose its core.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we can do whatever we want to them—no one can stop us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aide, uneasy, said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, Jiang Mingyu is our ally. Won’t people call us heartless and treacherous if we kill him like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ally?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zhanhong sneered, glancing at Jiang Mingyu, who was fully absorbed in directing his troops and hadn’t noticed the commotion. He lowered his voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You actually take him seriously? We agreed to strike together—he deliberately arrived late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Mingyu’s no saint either—he wanted us to exhaust ourselves fighting Zhong Nianyu so he could swoop in and take the spoils.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think only he’s clever? From the moment I received his letter, I planned to use him to eliminate Zhong Nianyu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In this chaotic age, strength decides who rules—any talk of allies is nonsense. Enough. Get ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aide nodded and stepped away. Seeing no Zhong Nianyu men nearby, Xu Zhanhong instantly donned a smiling face and approached Jiang Mingyu with an air of sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Zhanhong flattered Jiang Mingyu and drew closer, his personal guards behind him quietly nocked arrows and aimed at Tuxeslu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gloated inwardly: Soon I’ll stab Jiang Mingyu dead and shoot Tuxeslu—then the entire Lower Wei Commandery will be mine! When he was three steps from Jiang Mingyu, he slipped a dagger from his sleeve and feigned warmth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Jiang, you’ve done us a great favor today. Zhong Nianyu’s finished. Look, you and I—” Before he finished, he suddenly drew the dagger and lunged for Jiang Mingyu’s throat. “You think I’m a fool? Die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t counted on Zhang Jiaqi, Jiang Mingyu’s woman, who had already seen through his scheme. Her blade flashed, blocking the dagger. “Don’t move.” Her eyes were icy. Had Jiang Mingyu not needed him alive to confess something, she’d have sent him to the Underworld already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zhanhong, terrified, dropped the dagger. “You… how…?” Jiang Mingyu took over:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re wondering how I knew you’d betray me, right?” Watching Xu Zhanhong’s throat bob as he struggled to speak, Jiang Mingyu smiled wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s simple: from the day you agreed to ally with me, I never trusted you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a tyrant—a tyrant who’d do anything. Killing me for Lower Wei Commandery means nothing to you.” He smiled again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you forgot one thing: when you planned to use me, I never intended to let you live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The post of Inspector of Lower Wei is too small for two. And it won’t be yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You thought killing me and Tuxeslu would throw my army into chaos?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now you see, this lady is no less capable than Tuxeslu. She’s my trusted confidant.” Jiang Mingyu gestured around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Order your men to lower their bows. Or Zhang’s hand might slip—and then it’ll be too late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zhanhong looked toward Tuxeslu, who showed no fear—his lips curled in a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smile said: Our lord saw through your plot long ago. You dare oppose us? You’re not even a clown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Jiang Mingyu’s cold gaze, Xu Zhanhong knew he was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despair crushed him; his voice cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang, you’re a bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not much better. Still ordering your dogs to keep their bows drawn? Want to fight me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Zhang Jiaqi pressed her blade down, carving a thin red line across Xu Zhanhong’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you hear Lord Jiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Zhanhong on the verge of suffocation, his personal guards waved their hands—his men hastily lowered their bows. Seeing the situation under control, Li Goubei signaled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Surround them.” Instantly, Jiang Mingyu’s eighty-thousand-strong army encircled Xu Zhanhong’s remaining ten thousand, leaving no escape. Realizing all was lost, Xu Zhanhong glared at Jiang Mingyu and gasped:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang, kill me if you must—but my men are just following me. Spare them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes, stretched his neck, and surrendered like a lamb. Jiang Mingyu shook his head at his stubborn pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t dream. You have no right to bargain. I won’t leave these men alive to avenge you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Farewell. They’ll join you soon.” Zhang Jiaqi’s blade swept lightly, severing Xu Zhanhong’s throat. As his body thudded to the ground, Jiang Mingyu coldly ordered Li Goubei:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave no survivors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Goubei showed no mercy and shouted at once:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord’s order: Fire! Leave no survivors!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a storm of arrows, the only living men standing were Jiang Mingyu’s party. Tuxeslu sheathed his blade and stepped beside Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, what’s our next move?” Jiang Mingyu smiled, patting Tuxeslu’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, Jiaqi. With these three heads in hand, Lower Wei City is ours.” He pointed to the three bloody heads on the ground: Zhong Nianyu, Lu Chuanwen, and Zhong Jinqiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These three were the top men of Lanzhou. With them dead, no one can stand against us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goudan, organize the troops. We’re leaving immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, outside Lower Wei City, Jiang Mingyu led five thousand elite cavalry into assault formation before the gates. The defenders on the walls screamed in terror:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you? How dare you attack Lower Wei?” Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you recognize me? I’m Jiang Mingyu of Cangzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu? The defenders froze as if seeing a ghost. Jiang Mingyu was no man to be trifled with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The defenders called down again: “Jiang Mingyu, aren’t you in Cangzhou? What are you doing here?” Jiang Mingyu shook his head, feigning exasperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too dense. I’m here for Lower Wei, of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open the gates and surrender. I’m a man of righteousness—I won’t harm you if you obey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you resist, don’t blame me for being merciless.” He pulled a small cloth bag from his robe and hurled it toward the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at this.” The defenders caught it, opened it, and screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… this is…” Inside were the heads of Zhong Nianyu, Lu Chuanwen, and Zhong Jinqiang—preserved in brine, their faces clear, frozen in terror and rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu said coldly: “See clearly? These are your lords. I killed them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still want to fight me? Do you think you have the strength?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I advise you to open the gates now. Or when I break through, not one of you will live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of defenders stared at the grisly sight, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had believed their strong walls and ample supplies could hold out for months until reinforcements arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they realized their folly. Their lords were dead. What did they have left? Their lips trembled, but no sound came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s patience snapped. “Tuxeslu, prepare to assault.” Just then, a voice called from behind: “Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu turned. A man stepped forward from the crowd—dressed in brocade robes, handsome, elegant, radiating an aura of distinction. Jiang Mingyu recognized him: Wang Leyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Formerly the second most powerful man in Lanzhou, who had surrendered after being defeated by him in Dingdong.\u003C\u002Fp>",1229,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","49ca52d6429201f20effbe8d483cbce283518c5b305a962ae15d38765452ab81","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-217","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-215",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]