[{"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-309":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},2289144,4475,"Chapter 309: Imperial Palace Under Attack, Great Jiang","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-309",309,"\u003Cp>More than half a month had passed, and the army’s supplies were fully prepared. That morning, Zhuge Yu and other generals arrived at the imperial palace in Jingcheng to report. Jiang Mingyu was reviewing memorials; upon hearing their arrival, he lifted his head, stretched his stiff neck after hours of sitting still, then smiled: “Being emperor is truly exhausting—there’s no end to state affairs and documents. Well, since everything’s ready, issue the order for our army to march at dawn tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo stepped forward, bowing slightly: “Your Majesty, I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you on this western campaign. My Jiani… she’s expecting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, everyone exchanged knowing smiles; Jiang Mingyu couldn’t help but grin—soon he’d be an uncle. “Good, good, keep Jiani in Jingcheng to rest. No official is to disturb her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his senior delighted, Tu Kesiluo couldn’t resist teasing softly: “Big brother, you should hurry up too—you’re past your prime, and soon you’ll be meeting your sister-in-law…” The officers burst into laughter; Jiang Mingyu merely shook his head with a faint smile, unbothered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Zhuge Yu cleared his throat and asked seriously: “Master, what’s your grand plan for conquering Xia?” At the mention of serious matters, Jiang Mingyu’s smile faded. He replied seriously: “You’ll remain in Jingcheng to manage state affairs. All generals except Jiani will march with me. I intend to enter Xia from Shangmu and strike straight for Shunkai City in the southwest. Compared to other routes, we know Shangmu’s terrain better—advantage lies with us.” He scanned the officers, seeking their input.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All generals bowed in silent assent. After a moment, Zhuge Yu blurted: “Your Majesty’s wisdom and valor—this is the supreme strategy!” “Good! It’s settled.” Jiang Mingyu’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Our army will crush Western Xia and capture Tuoba Jiqian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the hall. The night guards rushed in, panicked; several Imperial Guard captains followed, pale-faced. “Your Majesty! An odd incident! Just now… a group of strangely dressed men slipped in during guard shift change! Before we could question them, they scaled the palace walls and vanished. We don’t know who they are or their intent—we’ll launch a full search immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu and Tu Kesiluo exchanged a glance, both frowning. Such an event, occurring just before the campaign’s start, was too coincidental. Were they Xia spies? Or assassins sent by a traitor in court? What was their target? Questions tangled together, leaving no clear answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu paused, then waved his hand: “Let them go. I suspect their target lies within the palace—catching them won’t be hard. Search thoroughly. Bring them to me alive for interrogation.” The captains hurriedly replied, “Yes, Your Majesty!” and withdrew to organize the hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu and the others exchanged uneasy glances. Such a bizarre incident, happening just before the march, was deeply unsettling. Worse still—given the gravity of this western campaign, could there truly be no traitors lurking in court? Jiang Mingyu’s face showed no fear, yet concern lingered—those in high positions attract the fiercest winds. Only by preparing early and guarding against deceit could one weather any surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu pondered long, then frowned slightly and spoke slowly: “Someone wants to take advantage of our western campaign, to do something underhanded.” His gaze was deep, his expression laden with meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo pressed: “Big brother, what do you mean by that?” Before he could finish, several Imperial Guards burst in. Their leader bowed deeply: “Your Majesty, the search turned up nothing—the intruders vanished without a trace. But we found a single button in the corner of a side pavilion in the imperial garden—unusual design, surely dropped by one of them.” He respectfully presented the button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu took it, examined it closely, and stiffened. The button was lacquered black, engraved with an eagle’s claw gripping an arrow. His expression turned grave. “This is unmistakably Xia’s design. Tuoba Jiqian didn’t send just one spy—he’s been informed of our route.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals grew instantly alert. At this critical juncture, every detail could decide victory or defeat. Zhuge Yu frowned deeply, his face etched with worry: “Master, if our movements are known, they’ll surely ambush us on the road. We must revise our advance plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu shook his head, his expression calm. After a long silence, he raised his head—his eyes glinted with quiet excitement. “Perfect. Since our route is exposed, let’s turn it to our advantage—use this as an opportunity…” The generals exchanged puzzled glances, unable to guess their master’s new strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Jiang Mingyu’s eyes flashed. Slowly, he raised his hand, fingers curling as if gripping an enemy’s throat. “Proceed as planned. I suspect Tuoba Jiqian will fortify the key passes between Shangmu and Shunkai, hoping to annihilate us. Then, we’ll repeat our old trick—send a small force to feint attack the west, luring the Xia army to respond; while I lead the main force to strike north, seizing Shunkai’s vital point. How will Tuoba Jiqian respond then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu and the others cheered loudly! They hadn’t expected their master to turn a leak into a weapon so brilliantly. This maneuver was a masterpiece of strategy. The generals bowed in admiration, their confidence in ultimate victory soaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn, the Jincheng camp buzzed with activity. Weapons clanged, war drums urged the troops. Jiang Mingyu gazed at the distant mountains piled high with grain and supplies, and chuckled: “These were all arranged by Yi Fei?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu blinked, serious: “It was agreed—Yi Fei’s merchant caravan handles all military supplies. It’s a huge business—millions in silver profit. How could we let it slip?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu laughed silently. So all this grandeur was just to make money off him. His wife was truly unlike any other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his master’s expression, Zhuge Yu added quickly: “Madam Yi Fei has ordered all profits from this deal transferred to Meng Dacheng, exclusively for repairing Shangmu’s city walls. By the time our army arrives, you’ll see a brand-new Shangmu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Jiang Mingyu’s heart softened. Yi Fei always acted as if everything served her own interests—but every move was quietly thoughtful, always considering the people’s welfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third watch had come. Jiang Mingyu’s gaze hardened as he faced the sixty-thousand-strong army, standing in perfect silence. “Western Xia treats our Great Jiang as a joke! Today, I’ve brought you here to show you their fate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his words ended, hundreds of thousands of weapons rose into the air; the soldiers’ roar echoed: “Fight! Fight for Great Jiang! Since we’ve come, we’ll fight to the end!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the spirited ranks, Jiang Mingyu’s blood surged. He swept his sleeve: “March!” Amid the kneeling bows of court officials, the sixty-thousand-strong army marched forth, unstoppable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight days later, Jiang Mingyu’s army reached Yang County. That day, autumn winds howled, the sky heavy with gloom—rain loomed. Jiang Mingyu sat atop his horse, wind tugging at his disheveled hair, his gaze fixed on the churning black clouds on the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like the weather’s turning,” Li Goudan muttered, rubbing his face in frustration. Jiang Mingyu nodded—he knew the march ahead would grow harder. But then he thought: the Xia army would suffer too. For his own side, this might not be bad…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the autumn wind rise and dusk fall, Jiang Mingyu waved his hand, ordering the army to set camp on a slightly open stretch near a nearby stream. Thousands of campfires lit the wilderness; soldiers discussed how to endure the harsh climate and enemy raids. The scene differed starkly from the grand departure from Jincheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[29] Yet Jiang Mingyu remained calm, merely frowning slightly. He knew the true test still lay ahead. To win this western campaign, courage alone was not enough—it demanded wisdom and endurance. Fortunately, though the army had penetrated enemy territory, every soldier still believed fiercely in fighting for Great Jiang.\u003C\u002Fp>",1308,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","efa22eaca5a5ea65483233b6a2607e486a771a101d30d596162cdd1505b8f653","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-310","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-308",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]