[{"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-319":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},2289154,4475,"Chapter 319: Grain as Bait","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-319",319,"\u003Cp>Several days passed, deep into the night, within the camp tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesulu entered quietly, afraid of disturbing anyone. Jiang Mingyu was still pacing in circles; seeing him arrive, both lowered their voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is it? Have they moved?” Jiang Mingyu asked anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax, big brother—I saw them streaming out of the city myself.” Tukesulu pulled back the tent flap, glanced outside once, then turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu finally exhaled, a faint smile touching his lips: “Good. Our plan is working. By no later than three days, Ge Wenkang in Yingyuan will learn of the grain transport. Then, we’ll net all these Xi Xia forces in one sweep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Jiang Mingyu’s perfect plan. Deep within Xi Xia territory, their scouts and spies could expose their position at any moment. Had they not surprised Ji Jiana, their movements would have been revealed long ago. Jiang Mingyu now intended to use them to pass word of the grain transport to Ge Wenkang. When the starving Xi Xia army came to seize it, it would fall exactly into his trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right, big brother!” Tukesulu brightened. “When the time comes, we’ll annihilate every last one of these Xi Xia troops and crush their morale in one blow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, barely had Jiang Mingyu’s army begun marching when a scout rushed back. The scout was clean-featured, no more than thirty-something, still dusted with unmelted snow as he hurriedly reported:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, I’ve learned that a portion of the Xi Xia army has prepared itself within Yingyuan. Ge Wenkang now commands over a hundred thousand troops, including fifty thousand fierce Xi Xia cavalry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu merely nodded faintly, his expression unchanged. He waved a hand. “Continue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scout hurried to add: “Yingyuan is the strongest of all Xi Xia cities—its walls are high and thick, its defenses extremely tight, far beyond ordinary fortresses to breach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Tukesulu’s brow furrowed tightly. Twenty thousand Xi Xia troops locked inside a fortified city—how could their plan to lure them out still work?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, Yingyuan holds heavy forces. Will our plan to draw them out still hold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the clumsiest Xi Xia would not risk sending out twenty thousand troops for merely tens of thousands of dan of grain. If they remained entrenched, what then would Jiang Mingyu do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his surprise, Jiang Mingyu showed no worry—instead, he chuckled. He brushed the snow off his body and said calmly: “This actually makes things much simpler.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simpler? Tukesulu wondered if he’d misheard. He frowned, pressing: “Big brother, what do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gave no explanation, only spoke cryptically: “You’ll understand in two days.” Then he gestured: “Enough. Everything proceeds as planned. Quickly—order the army forward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after the army marched, Jiang Mingyu studied his map and suddenly ordered: “Immediately change course into Dashan. Speed up!” He swiftly devised a new route and issued the command. Instantly, the entire army vanished from the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Jiang Mingyu summoned Tukesulu and Fang Hang to discuss strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our army is only a hundred li from Yingyuan. The grain convoy from Cangzhou has already crossed the border and is en route. The transport unit will arrive at the rendezvous on schedule. We’ll follow them silently. Once Ge Wenkang sends troops to seize the grain, we’ll annihilate them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesulu frowned: “Big brother, even if we wipe out eighteen thousand of them, Yingyuan still holds heavy forces. Taking it will still be nearly impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu tweaked the lamp beside him, his smile growing sly: “This is only the first step...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the core of the plan.” Jiang Mingyu looked at Tukesulu and Fang Hang. “We’ll use the captured Xi Xia armor and grain to disguise our troops and slip silently into the city!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesulu and Fang Hang exchanged glances, both seeing astonishment in each other’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we can walk straight into the tiger’s den and seize Yingyuan!” Fang Hang couldn’t help exclaiming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!” Jiang Mingyu grinned. “Our troops disguised as Xi Xia soldiers won’t raise suspicion. At nightfall, we’ll launch a surprise attack, open the gates, and let our main force pour in—then Yingyuan will be ours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All who heard it raised their thumbs, praising the plan as brilliant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep in enemy territory, Jiang Mingyu would never let the chance to seize Yingyuan slip away. He had long coveted this Xi Xia stronghold—and now, he could claim it by default.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Jiang Mingyu personally led his army straight to the rendezvous, finally meeting the grain transport commander, Qiu Tong, at midday. After explaining the plan clearly, Qiu Tong immediately bowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, rest assured—I shall not fail you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go,” Jiang Mingyu said without hesitation. “My army lies just a few li behind you. When the Xi Xia come to raid, abandon resistance and retreat toward me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Tong, full of confidence, immediately agreed and led the grain convoy onward. Jiang Mingyu then ordered his officers:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tukesulu, take one hundred fifty thousand as your left flank. Fang Hang, take one hundred fifty thousand as your right. I’ll hold the center with the remainder—we’ll form a fan-shaped encirclement around Qiu Tong. When the Xi Xia come to seize the grain, we’ll annihilate them from all four sides—leave no survivors!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both men nodded in understanding and pledged their loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed minute by minute. The grain convoy led ahead; Jiang Mingyu’s three armies trailed far behind. As expected, less than half a day later, a elite Xi Xia force surged from Yingyuan, heading straight for the grain convoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here they come! That’s the Xi Xia force!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu watched the Xi Xia troops draw near the convoy and burst into loud laughter. He raised his sword and roared—the three armies converged swiftly, like lightning, surrounding the attacking Xi Xia force!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ge Wenkang—now you’ll never return to Yingyuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu let out a long, piercing cry, his body shooting forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, targeting the Xi Xia commander!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two armies clashed instantly—swords clashed, hooves thundered, the battle turned brutal. Jiang Mingyu attacked from three sides, quickly driving the Xi Xia troops into desperation. His soldiers surged forward, cutting through the enemy, splitting them into pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go! Go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu shouted orders; Tukesulu and Fang Hang each led a cavalry unit, swiftly circling behind the Xi Xia army and sealing off their retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the entire Xi Xia raiding force was annihilated under Jiang Mingyu’s encirclement. He immediately ordered the collection of enemy armor and banners, then assigned tens of thousands of troops to dress as Xi Xia soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Qiu Tong arrived with the surviving troops, many wounded. Jiang Mingyu swiftly ordered them carried away for treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank Your Majesty for the rescue! Without you, my grain would have been entirely swallowed by the Xi Xia bandits.” Qiu Tong bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander Qiu’s contribution is immense. I count on your continued support.” Jiang Mingyu replied politely. “Now, our next move is a surprise assault on Yingyuan. Rest here with the grain convoy. When we take the city, we’ll join you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Tong nodded eagerly. Jiang Mingyu then led his army straight to Yingyuan’s gates, approaching slowly in the guise of a victorious Xi Xia force. As the guards on the walls prepared to welcome and celebrate, Jiang Mingyu suddenly gave the order—the disguised troops drew their swords and charged in!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open the gates!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu roared. The gate guards had no time to react—they were slaughtered without mercy. Soon, the city gate tower fell into Jiang Mingyu’s hands. He ordered the drawbridge lowered; his three hundred thousand troops surged into the city like a tidal wave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill! Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s ferocity fully revealed—he rode his horse, personally directing the battle. The three armies split to storm the city, quickly seizing key points. Xi Xia reinforcements arrived one after another, but were pushed back under their blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill the Xi Xia commander! Leave no survivors!” Jiang Mingyu barked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the entire city descended into chaos—shadows clashed everywhere, screams echoed. Eventually, the Xi Xia commander, Ge Wenkang, was captured alive. Jiang Mingyu looked at him with contempt and ordered his immediate beheading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their commander captured, the Xi Xia troops lost all will—their weapons dropped from their hands. Jiang Mingyu threw back his head and laughed triumphantly—he had finally seized this mighty Xi Xia fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>",1392,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6c7f004031203137f466ec3bfd0477d94b3790ad0cdda1a2b66c4781f8f54bcb","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-320","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-318",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]