[{"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-293":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},2289128,4475,"Chapter 293","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-293",293,"\u003Cp>Pang Wenguang furrowed his thick brows, his gaze blazing as he fixed on Jiang Mingyu’s banner. His expression first grew solemn, then gradually turned furious. “Jiang Mingyu!” he barked, “You’ve shattered Nanjing and Quyang. My emperor, remembering your past ties, refrained from punishing you—this was mercy beyond measure! Yet you grow insatiable, now eyeing Maoling? Pure, unrepentant treachery—your crimes deserve death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice dripped with contempt. Pang Wenguang warned sharply: “This is my territory. I’ll spare you, considering you’ve taken a few backwater towns. Leave now, and I’ll let you live!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he raised his steel blade high; his armored guards surged with battle fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s expression remained unchanged. He spoke calmly: “General Pang, your words are deeply disrespectful. A mere local garrison commander dares threaten me? I lead this army not for conquest, but to punish tyranny—to uphold the justice and majesty of Great Jiang. Surrendering means nothing to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Wenguang flew into a rage, roaring, “Impudent!” Then he snarled, “Jiang Mingyu! Don’t think seizing a few weak towns makes you a match for us! Have you forgotten the might of Great Liao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed sharply to the right and shouted, “Just now, I received a swift report from the Governor: fifty thousand troops are closing in on Maoling! At dawn tomorrow, you’ll witness what a truly overwhelming army looks like!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Tukesulu erupted in fury, raising his sword toward the ramparts and bellowing, “Pang Wenguang, stop spouting nonsense! If you’ve got guts, come down and let me see what ‘invincible’ really means!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Wenguang glanced at him coldly and sneered, “A hillbilly peasant dares challenge me? You’ve only slaughtered a few of Fe Hou’s minor officers. Your skill? I could crush you with one hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liao soldiers around him burst into laughter. Pang Wenguang smirked, scanning the crowd before adding, “Still, I’m not unreasonable. You’ve got talent for finding wives—I’m impressed. Send your wife to serve me, and I’ll let you keep your body whole… hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu silently sneered at his lies. Pang Wenguang’s clumsy fabrication was clearly meant to buy time. He said nothing, watching silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tukesulu could no longer contain his rage. He roared, “You son of a bitch, you want to die? If you’ve got courage, come down and taste my Great Jiang sword!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he leapt high, spinning midair, sword flashing brilliantly. He looked ready to leap over the wall and slaughter at once—if Pang Wenguang so much as moved. But Pang Wenguang refused to rise to the bait, only smirking and shaking his head in disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesulu’s patience snapped. He flipped midair and fired three hidden daggers in rapid succession toward the ramparts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Wenguang leapt aside just in time. The daggers buried deep into the wall behind him—flawless technique. His face finally paled. He growled, “Impudent! Since you insist I act, I’ll make you pay for this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Tukesulu could reply, Zhang Jiani stepped forward two paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, don’t waste words—he’s terrified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, loudly to Pang Wenguang, she called:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pang Wenguang, you dare not fight my husband—do you dare face me, a mere woman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The challenge from a woman made Pang Wenguang’s expression flicker. He forced a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re Lady Zhang Jiani, the Guardian Lady of Great Jiang? I’ve heard of you. A formidable woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my words remain: I won’t leave the city. Don’t waste your breath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he refused to show himself, Zhang Jiani’s eyes darted, then turned to the soldiers on the ramparts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiani stood tall on the rampart, arms crossed, her clear face radiating disdain. She arched a delicate eyebrow at Pang Wenguang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Pang, you claim to be invincible? If you’re a true man, why fear a weak woman? Come fight me, Zhang Jiani—let me see the famed might of Liao’s tiger generals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Wenguang cursed inwardly at her cunning, then laughed loudly: “A woman dares challenge me? One command, and arrows will turn you into a pincushion!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiani remained calm, continuing coolly: “So your ‘invincible’ reputation is just that of a cowardly thief? A single woman makes you tremble and flee—clearly, Liao’s might is gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether I fight or not is my decision—not yours!” Pang Wenguang’s voice turned icy, unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the soldiers’ glances toward Pang Wenguang grow strange, she pressed on:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pang Wenguang, if you won’t come out, admit it openly: you’re less than a woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll stop pressing you. How about it? Speechless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared him down, her eyes brimming with contempt—he saw it plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clever woman, trying to undermine my troops’ morale!” Pang Wenguang thought with quiet amusement. Let my plan bear fruit—then we’ll see who truly wins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhang Jiani’s exchange with Pang Wenguang, Jiang Mingyu finally spoke: “Jiani, don’t waste time arguing with this man. He’s terrified to his core—his bones are soft, yet he pretends calm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiani feigned confusion: “Brother, then what will you do? Just leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly and called out to Li Goudan: “Goudan, send men to post notices everywhere—publicize General Pang’s ‘heroic deeds’ today. Let the whole world know: the famed ‘invincible’ General Pang, cowered before a woman!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he mocked from the platform: “General Pang, stay inside your walls—you’ll soon be famous! Thank us for building your reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Wenguang, enraged by this open insult, could no longer hold back. He roared: “Insolent! I’ll come out and cut you down myself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and descended the rampart, charging out with murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Pang Wenguang emerged, he brought only ten thousand troops; the remaining hundred thousand stayed within the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu frowned. If they broke Maoling now, they’d suffer heavy losses. What to do? He fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, whispers reached Jiang Mingyu’s ears. He looked up—Li Goudan and Tukesulu were murmuring. Li Goudan frowned, doubtful: “Will this work? Too risky.” Tukesulu remained calm, firm: “Do as I say—it’s certain. Prepare quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Goudan hesitated, then turned to Fang Hang beside him and whispered a few words. Jiang Mingyu was about to ask what plan they were hatching—when Pang Wenguang had already formed his ranks and addressed Zhang Jiani.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Wenguang stood motionless at the front, one hand gripping his blade, his posture rigid. He spoke coldly: “Zhang Jiani, on the battlefield, I won’t spare you because you’re a woman. Call your husband out to surrender—still time. The battlefield is no place for women.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sighed inwardly. After so many battles, outside his own army, he’d never seen a woman accompany troops into war. Zhang Jiani was unusual—she’d surely suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>",1094,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fa2286bf03edbccdae15c4576daf097a2d6068e87bdbac59a7de62a49ab25668","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-294","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-292",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]