[{"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-226":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},2289061,4475,"Chapter 226: Two-Front War","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-226",226,"\u003Cp>Tukeslu grew restless and exclaimed urgently, \"My lord, why haven't the Western Xia arrived yet? Could something have gone wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wrong?\" Jiang Mingyu thought for a moment, then shook his head. \"Unlikely. The heavy rain two days ago probably delayed them. Let’s be patient a little longer—they’ll come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another hour passed, and still the Western Xia did not appear. Then a soldier, drenched in blood, rushed up to Jiang Mingyu and shouted, \"My lord, disaster! General Hamasterun has led 40,000 troops past us and is marching straight for Zhangwu County!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hamasterun has already begun the siege—Commander Lu can’t hold them back. I fought my way out to warn you, my lord—Zhangwu is in dire straits! Quickly lead troops to reinforce!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? Jiang Mingyu’s expression vanished instantly. He murmured, \"How did the Western Xia know we were lying in ambush here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukeslu suddenly understood. \"My lord, we have scouts, but so do they. Our 30,000 men have been stationary here for two days—they must have been spotted long ago. Talking now won’t help. We must return to rescue Zhangwu immediately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Mingyu fell silent. After a long while, he said firmly, \"No. We cannot rescue Zhangwu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukeslu’s eyes widened. \"Brother, Goudan is the brother we’ve known since the beginning—what are you saying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we don’t go back, Goudan and the 30,000 men in Zhangwu will die fighting—there’s no other path!\" For the first time, Tukeslu nearly roared at Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu looked at Tukeslu’s furious face and felt a pang in his chest. He understood why his brother was so angry—Goudan was their comrade through life and death, now trapped in Zhangwu, with fate uncertain. He wanted to save Goudan too—but he could not ignore the bigger picture. He could not let Hamasterun succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What I mean is, we cannot send the entire army back to rescue Zhangwu,\" he quickly explained. \"Goudan is our brother—do you think I don’t want to save him? Don’t glare at me—listen to me out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought rapidly, found a solution that served both purposes, and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Think about it—Hamasterun took 40,000 men to attack Zhangwu—isn’t that desperate? He’s seeking revenge for us destroying his stronghold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But that also means Yingchang now holds only 10,000 troops. The Western Xia ride fast—but defending a city? That’s their weakness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My plan: you take 15,000 men back to rescue Goudan. I and Jiaqi will lead the remaining 15,000 straight to Yingchang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you and Goudan coordinate a time, strike from within while we attack from without—wipe out Hamasterun’s entire force.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if I and Jiaqi capture Yingchang, isn’t that two victories in one? Don’t you agree?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukeslu listened, and his anger eased slightly. He knew Jiang Mingyu acted for everyone’s good, and the plan was sound—at least it would save Goudan and strike a blow against Western Xia morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. The situation is dire—forgive my rudeness, brother.\" He turned and led his 15,000 troops away in haste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu watched Tukeslu’s retreating back, a flicker of worry in his heart. He knew Tukeslu was a fiery man, but also impulsive. He feared he might make a mistake on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go after Tukeslu,\" he told a nearby soldier. \"Tell him to proceed with caution—no reckless actions. Go quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiaqi, seeing Jiang Mingyu’s unease, asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother Jiang, if you’re worried about my brother-in-law leading troops, why not go back to Zhangwu yourself? Let us take the mission to capture Yingchang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gave a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In strategy, I may be slightly better than Tukeslu. But in bravery? Ten of me together couldn’t match half of him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Western Xia are ferocious. Without Tukeslu leading the charge, breaking them will take far longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for you—you’re a woman, and your standing in the army doesn’t compare to your sister’s.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sending you back to lead troops would breed dissent among the soldiers. And there’s a deeper reason I’m sending Tukeslu back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve said before—we’ll face countless great and brutal battles ahead. This is training for Tukeslu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if you and Zhuge Yu each grew eight arms, you couldn’t handle everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That means Tukeslu and the others must one day become generals who can stand alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goudan is nearly ready—he guards Cangzhou under Zhuge Yu’s tutelage, and that’s fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The one I worry about most is Tukeslu—brave, yes, but lacking in strategy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiaqi sighed deeply after hearing Jiang Mingyu’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother Jiang, your intentions are profound. I believe my brother-in-law won’t disappoint you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tukeslu merely lacks experience. As for whether he’ll betray me? I have not a single doubt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before I met Zhuge Yu, I was worse than the Tukeslu of today—and yet look, we’re nearly ready to take all of Lanzhou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu glanced at the sky, ending his conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jiaqi, mobilize the troops immediately—we march on Yingchang. Taking Yingchang cuts off Hamasterun’s retreat—he’ll have no way out but death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Jiang Mingyu’s forces set out for Yingchang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the soldiers advanced at full speed, Jiang Mingyu still felt it wasn’t fast enough. He urged them again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Faster! Even faster! We must reach Yingchang’s gates by noon the day after tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",865,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e4dd11b1f17e9a83534b2cf42576b60196c729899c9d6c321ebc963c46b52325","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-227","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-225",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]