[{"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-329":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},2289164,4475,"Chapter 329: Determined to Take Tang Xiang","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-329",329,"\u003Cp>Tukesulu had the bandits taken away under strict guard and had already devised a plan. He decided to visit Jiang Mingyu early the next morning to report the events of last night and suggest using these men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That morning, a thin mist hung over the camp. Tukesulu straightened his robes and strode boldly to Jiang Mingyu’s tent, waved aside the guards, and walked straight in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sat upright at the table, eating his morning meal. Seeing Tukesulu arrive, he smiled slightly and raised an inquiring gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, last night our rear guard captured a group of Xi Xia bandits—they were taken alive,” Tukesulu said bluntly, recounting the entire incident to Jiang Mingyu in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s eyes widened slightly. He set down the lamb cake in his hand and gestured for Tukesulu to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I propose we put them to use,” Tukesulu bowed respectfully, making a “please proceed” gesture. “They know the terrain of Xi Xia intimately and are well-informed about enemy movements. They can serve as guides and strategists for our army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu listened, then nodded knowingly: “Well done! Your suggestion is insightful. Do it. First, integrate them into our ranks—they will have their use soon enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesulu bowed repeatedly: “Thank Your Majesty for your keen insight! I shall arrange them properly and make full use of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This was my oversight—I failed to strengthen our defenses,” Jiang Mingyu frowned slightly. “Fortunately, no major harm was done, but we must prevent such incidents from recurring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty need not worry—I shall strengthen our vigilance and ensure such a thing never happens again!” Tukesulu pledged solemnly at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, straightened his robes, and rose. “Come, accompany me on a patrol of our camp defenses—offer your suggestions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Your Majesty!” Tukesulu fell in step beside him, walking shoulder to shoulder along the camp paths, inspecting every blind spot together...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tenth day of the tenth month, Ji Hai Year, clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu led his three-hundred-thousand-strong army to rest two thousand li from Tang Xiang City. Warm sunlight bathed them, lifting spirits. Jiang Mingyu closed his eyes, savoring the quiet comfort of the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Jiang Mingyu ordered Tukesulu: “Bring one of the men we recruited last night. I wish to question him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, a disheveled, fear-filled man stepped forward and bowed before Jiang Mingyu. Jiang Mingyu sized him up, then asked casually: “What is your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hurriedly bowed: “Your Majesty, this subject’s name is Shi Gandang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded, then asked: “I hear you bandits have held this region for years—you must know the surrounding terrain well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang nodded eagerly, adding with a touch of pride: “We’ve plundered these lands for years. Every ravine, every hill within hundreds of li—we know them all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu paid no mind to his expression and said coolly: “Then tell me—what do you know of Tang Xiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang gathered his thoughts, glanced toward Tang Xiang, then hesitated: “Your Majesty, my knowledge of Tang Xiang is limited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesulu shot him a sharp glance and snapped: “Say what you know—no idle words!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang shrank back and hurried on: “Tang Xiang is the largest city in the northeast of Xi Xia, over a hundred years old. Last year I saw it myself—the city walls are seventy-eight zhang tall!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tang Xiang’s defenses seem strong, but my army will take it,” Jiang Mingyu smiled, dismissing the height of the walls entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, what strategy will you use to breach this impregnable city?” Tukesulu asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! I have my own plan,” Jiang Mingyu smiled mysteriously. “I took Yingyuan before—how difficult could Tang Xiang be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!” Tukesulu exclaimed in realization. “Yingyuan was famed for its strength, yet Your Majesty still broke it with cunning. Tang Xiang will be no match for us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely,” Jiang Mingyu said confidently. “No fortress, no matter how strong, lacks a weak point. When the time comes, you and I will act together—we will take it without fail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Your Majesty, on your auspicious words!” Tukesulu bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu fell silent for a moment, tightened his cloak, and asked: “Who commands Tang Xiang? How many troops are stationed within?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang thought again, then replied firmly: “Your Majesty, the commander of Tang Xiang is Wan Fan Ti—he is a commander-in-chief of Xi Xia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last year, I personally visited Tang Xiang on business and saw this official with my own eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, his tone grew hesitant again: “At the time, I heard Tang Xiang held about one hundred thousand troops. Now, with Tuoba Jiqian’s main force moving to Tang Xiang for winter, the garrison must be at least two hundred thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu glanced behind him at his three-hundred-thousand-strong army, his confidence unshaken: “Two hundred thousand? They cannot match my three hundred thousand. Besides, the garrison is already low on grain and pay—they cannot stand against me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is this Wan Fan Ti? I’d like to see if he dares to lead troops out to fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang hurried to reply: “Wan Fan Ti is a scholar by training, thrust into command under duress—he likely has no will to fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu fell into deep thought, tightened the silver clasp of his cloak, and looked up at the bright moon in the night sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wan Fan Ti, commander of Tang Xiang—a mere scholar? I’ve never heard of him.” Jiang Mingyu turned back to Shi Gandang. “Why was he given such a command?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang quickly explained: “Your Majesty, when I visited Tang Xiang before, I heard he was appointed suddenly by Tuoba Jiqian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!” Jiang Mingyu sneered. “Just a jealous general, desperate for a pawn—he dragged in a scholar to fill the role. Such a man has no talent for command.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!” Shi Gandang agreed. “A mere scholar—how could he compare to Your Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu burst into laughter: “Good, Shi Gandang—you know how to flatter! I shall reward you handsomely!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang bowed deeply: “Thank Your Majesty’s grace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu paused, then asked again: “How many troops are in Tang Xiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last year I heard one hundred thousand. Now, with Tuoba Jiqian sending reinforcements, at least two hundred thousand,” Shi Gandang replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu glanced toward the nearby tents where his three-hundred-thousand-strong army was stationed. His confidence swelled further: “Two hundred thousand? They cannot match my three hundred thousand. The garrison hasn’t been resupplied in ages—they have no fighting spirit. We will surely win!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed!” Shi Gandang agreed at once. “Your Majesty’s brilliance and martial prowess—Wan Fan Ti is no match. Tang Xiang will fall in days!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly: “Your words today hold great value. I shall reward you well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gandang bowed repeatedly, ecstatic as he withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>",1118,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","62c8663dae72ea24241171de82321c07346053de499c02fd4f66086f8a0085d9","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-330","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-328",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]