[{"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-314":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},2289149,4475,"Chapter 314: A Moment Where Love and War Intertwine","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-314",314,"\u003Cp>As the curtain fell, the moon outside the tent seemed to have grown rounder by a fraction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, Liu Yifei rested her head on Jiang Mingyu’s arm and whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Lang, I want to go with you to Xi Xia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gently stroked Liu Yifei’s long hair and asked softly, “Yifei, are you truly certain you want to go with me to Xi Xia?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei looked up at him, her eyes filled with resolve: “Yes, I want to stay with you forever, through thick and thin. Xi Xia is full of danger—how could I let you face it alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s heart warmed, and he nodded: “Since your mind is made up, then we go together. I will protect you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn the next day, fifty-five thousand troops prepared to march. Liu Yifei mounted a white horse carved from sandalwood, while Jiang Mingyu leapt onto the black horse beside him and swung his sleeve as he shouted: “All troops, advance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive army set out. After traveling several miles, Tu Kesuo pointed ahead and said: “Big brother, that’s the Xi Xia border ahead. What if Tuoba Jiqian attacks Shangmu while we’re gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu dismissed it: “I’ve already dispatched reinforcements to garrison Shangmu—Tuoba Jiqian won’t dare act. The harder we fight in Xi Xia, the safer Shangmu becomes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesuo nodded in agreement. Jiang Mingyu then ordered him: “Once we enter Xi Xia territory, send scouts immediately to gather intelligence—we must uncover the enemy’s strength as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after crossing the border, Fang Hang dispatched a group of scouts. But to everyone’s surprise, not a single Xi Xia soldier could be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Goudan frowned and said: “Why aren’t there any guards? Could the Xi Xia army have fled in fear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Hang shook his head: “I doubt it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Feng Xi stepped forward, his expression grave: “General, I believe something is amiss. The absence of Xi Xia troops suggests they’re lying in ambush, waiting to strike our Da Jiang forces. We’re deep in enemy territory—we’re vulnerable to traps. If our army falters, none will survive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu frowned, pondered for a moment, then said: “Xiwei is right. We must remain on high alert—prepare for ambush at any moment...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the column marched, Liu Yifei rode forward and asked softly: “It’s been so long—why haven’t we heard from Jiaqi? Could something have happened to her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sighed deeply: “I’m worried too, but right now, military matters are paramount. We must complete our mission first. I hope Jiaqi is safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than a scout galloped up: “Report, Prince! The Xi Xia border garrison of twenty thousand troops, upon hearing of Mo Yanbin’s death, have retreated into Shunqing City! There, they’ve already assembled a force of one hundred fifty thousand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesuo frowned: “Could this be a trap? To lure us deeper, then surround us from all sides?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu fell silent for a long while, then finally spoke: “If necessary, we can fall back to the border. I’ve decided to gamble everything—take Shunqing City by swift assault. This brutal battle must end quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they continued marching, a sudden incident occurred beside a bridge—a Xi Xia woman, holding an infant, slipped and fell off!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help!” the woman screamed. Jiang Mingyu moved swiftly and rescued both of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, my lord!” the woman wept uncontrollably. “Are you the illustrious Jiang Mingyu of Da Jiang? The people have been longing for your army to save us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s heart stirred. Perhaps he could lead his troops across the river northward, striking directly beneath Shunqing City!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, another scout galloped up, panicked: “Report, Prince! Tuoba Jiqian has led over one hundred thousand troops to reinforce them—they’ve crossed the Dahe River and are now only a hundred li from Shunqing City!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!” Jiang Mingyu’s heart tightened—if Tuoba Jiqian’s reinforcements arrived first, the situation would turn utterly dire for Da Jiang’s army!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All troops, advance at full speed!” Jiang Mingyu ordered immediately. “I will seize Shunqing City before Tuoba Jiqian arrives!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei said anxiously: “It’s too risky! What if Tuoba Jiqian’s reinforcements ambush us on the way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gripped her hand firmly: “Don’t worry—I will win this battle...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving beneath Shunqing City, Jiang Mingyu silently studied its towering, formidable walls, mentally planning his assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Goudan rode forward, sneering: “This pitiful city? Give me twenty thousand elite troops—I’ll take it in two hours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu rebuked him sharply: “Reckless and arrogant! Never underestimate the enemy! Our army is deep behind enemy lines—no room for complacency!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than a tall, burly Xi Xia general climbed onto the ramparts—Chang Xiangming, commander of Shunqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Xiangming bellowed down: “Jiang Mingyu, you dare invade Xi Xia territory? You deserve death! Today, I’ll capture you alive beneath this very wall!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily: “A mere city commander dares speak so boldly? Listen well—I’ll break your Shunqing City, then march straight to Cangyang and cut down your scheming leaders!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Xiangming flew into a rage and ordered his troops out. Fifty thousand Xi Xia soldiers surged toward the gate, brimming with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Jiang Mingyu’s thoughts briefly drifted to Liu Yifei—he couldn’t help but miss her...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, the enemy is coming out!” Tu Kesuo’s cry snapped Jiang Mingyu back to reality. He immediately steadied himself and began deploying his forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two armies clashed beneath the city walls. Jiang Mingyu led from the front, charging into the Xi Xia ranks, riding straight for Chang Xiangming!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two clashed in close combat, exchanging blows for several rounds. Seeing an opening, Jiang Mingyu suddenly raised his sword and thrust toward Chang Xiangming’s face! Chang Xiangming cried out as a gash opened across his cheek, blood streaming down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, an arrow shot from behind—Jiang Mingyu twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, watch out for ambushes!” Tu Kesuo shouted. It was Chang Xiangming’s tactic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s face darkened—he’d underestimated this commander! This siege must end swiftly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu and Chang Xiangming were evenly matched; after dozens of rounds, reinforcements from both sides arrived on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Jiang’s fierce general Feng Xi, wielding a heavy sword, charged ahead, targeting Chang Xiangming’s top warrior, Tuoba Heng. The two clashed fiercely in front of the lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, another Xi Xia general, Tuoba Heng, broke through the chaos and swung his blade toward Feng Xi’s back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out for ambushes!” Tu Kesuo shouted from behind, then leapt forward, placing himself between Feng Xi and Tuoba Heng, engaging him in close combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for saving me!” Feng Xi cried out. Tu Kesuo laughed heartily: “We’re comrades in hardship—we share life and death!” With that, they stood back-to-back, fighting side by side against the Xi Xia soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the battle, Jiang Mingyu sensed the enemy faltering—he was about to press the advantage and annihilate the Xi Xia forces—when a thunderous crash echoed from the city walls!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! The gate’s open—reinforcements have arrived!” Jiang Mingyu’s heart tightened. Without hesitation, he leapt onto his horse and roared: “All troops, shift to defensive positions—prepare to repel the reinforcements!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two armies clashed in brutal close combat; waves of horses and soldiers fell, their blood staining the entire battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesuo’s eyes burned red, his long hair whipping in the wind as he cut through enemies like a storm. A Xi Xia warrior charged with a spear aimed at his face—Jiang Mingyu sidestepped and thrust his sword into the general’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh—” Several Xi Xia soldiers nearby screamed in shock and rushed forward with swords. Tu Kesuo swung left and right, three soldiers falling instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Chang Xiangming and several elite officers surrounded Jiang Mingyu. Chang Xiangming snarled: “Today, you die!” And swung his blade toward Jiang Mingyu’s back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the nick of time, a flash of white light—Tu Kesuo parried the blow, then grabbed Jiang Mingyu and pulled him onto his horse. The two sat back-to-back on the steed. “Go!” Jiang Mingyu roared, and they broke through the encirclement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Going nowhere!” Chang Xiangming shouted, leading his troops in pursuit...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Xiangming roared and charged forward with five elite warriors, surrounding Jiang and Liu. Jiang Mingyu slashed left and right, but the enemy numbers were overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the critical moment, Feng Xi and Tu Kesuo arrived, holding off Chang Xiangming’s generals. “Brothers, perfect timing!” Jiang Mingyu roared, leading Liu Yifei through the encirclement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chase them!” Chang Xiangming rasped. A heart-pounding pursuit began. Jiang and Liu pulled their reins tight and galloped wildly, pursued by Chang Xiangming’s death squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were about to be caught, Jiang Mingyu suddenly reined in his horse and turned—Tu Kesuo instantly understood, and both drew their swords, charging back into Chang Xiangming’s ranks!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You southern barbarian!” Chang Xiangming exploded in rage, charging forward with four horses. The two clashed in mid-air, blades flashing, terrifying in their ferocity. Other Xi Xia generals quickly closed in, preparing to capture Jiang Mingyu alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu knew defeat loomed—he prepared for a final, glorious stand—when a roar erupted from the city walls: Da Jiang’s reinforcements had arrived, leaping down to join the fray!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you threaten my big brother!” Li Goudan bellowed, charging headlong into the Xi Xia ranks surrounding Jiang Mingyu, plunging the area into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack the gate! Break it open for our army!” Jiang Mingyu shouted, leading a portion of his troops straight toward Shunqing’s gate. The rest held the perimeter, pinning down Chang Xiangming’s reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Mingyu personally led ten thousand fierce warriors toward Shunqing’s gate, Chang Xiangming deployed his own ten thousand elite troops to resist desperately. The two forces collided instantly in a bloody battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi swung his heavy axe left and right, carving a path through blood. A Xi Xia general in black armor charged with a spear—Feng Xi sidestepped and swung his axe upward, cleaving the general’s skull. “Bring the battering ram!” he roared. Soldiers rushed forward, pushing the siege engine against the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the ramparts, Chang Xiangming’s eyes glinted with malice as he personally loosed arrows at Da Jiang soldiers. Other Xi Xia troops fought to the death. Below, Jiang Mingyu’s eyes burned red as he roared encouragement. Above, the thunderous crash of the battering ram echoed—Da Jiang’s assault on the gate was relentless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crash!” The Shunqing city gate shattered under the assault. “Charge!” Fifty thousand troops surged forward like a roaring tidal wave, swallowing Chang Xiangming’s ten thousand Xi Xia soldiers whole. Shunqing City had fallen—completely into Da Jiang’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>",1768,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","29c6f48f819d66bde11b0158536f6b8e43d300eecb45b6131d0fc48799abf1c2","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-315","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-313",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]