[{"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-365":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},2289200,4475,"Chapter 365: Seizing Xiongzhou","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-365",365,"\u003Cp>In the vast city of Xiongzhou, the air was silent and heavy. On the towering city walls, Garrison Commander Tong Wa and Left Commander Zuo Zhao stared down with grim expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the open ground below, the Dajiang general Tukesiluo raised his long sword high, pointing at the two men, his voice booming like a bell: “Grandsons, kneel down and confess your crimes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end, his voice grew even colder, laced with a thread of threat. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the scene below; though his face showed no expression, his gaze held a hidden cruelty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zuo Zhao, who had remained silent until now, grew tense. His body leaned forward slightly, his brows knitted tight, his face filled with alarm. “Commander Tong, Jiang Mingyu is pressing hard—how do we respond?” His voice carried obvious anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His near-drowning experience during the flood in Jiangzhou had instilled in him an intense fear of Jiang Mingyu. Every thought of Jiang Mingyu sent a shiver down his spine and drenched his back in cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tong Wa remained calm, even indifferent. He squinted his eyes, ignoring Zuo Zhao’s question entirely, staring silently at the scene below for a long while before slowly curling his lips into a cold smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander Zuo, don’t panic,” he spoke coldly. “Though Tukesiluo is arrogant, his forces are nowhere near ours. All we need is one commander to lead troops out and engage Jiang Mingyu in battle—his main force will be crushed. Then, even if Tukesiluo is invincible, his fate will be death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes radiated absolute confidence, as if victory were already assured. According to his estimate, the city’s available troops outnumbered Jiang Mingyu’s by at least thirty thousand—more than enough to handle Tukesiluo. But when he mentioned needing a commander to lead the charge, his gaze instantly locked onto Zuo Zhao, sharp as a hawk fixing on prey, unwilling to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Zhao instantly understood Tong Wa’s intent. When you’re under someone’s roof, you must bow. He had no other choice. “Commander Tong, I am grateful for your shelter, Commander Tong. Today, I willingly lead troops out to fight—to repay your kindness and avenge my fallen brothers.” His voice was resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander Tong, rest assured: today, if I don’t cut off Jiang Mingyu and Tukesiluo’s heads, I swear I will not return to the city.” His fists clenched involuntarily, his eyes blazing with hatred. Though this move carried mortal risk, it was the perfect chance to eliminate Jiang Mingyu and reclaim Jiangzhou. As for the blame for losing Jiangzhou, as long as Jiang Mingyu died, Wei Yangyao would surely turn a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zuo Zhao’s vow, Tong Wa was ecstatic. “Excellent! Commander Zuo, truly wise! The army departs at once—I shall lead the main force to support you!” He clapped his hands happily, a gleeful smile spreading across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a pawn was perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Zuo Zhao truly defeated Jiang Mingyu, the victory occurred within Xiongzhou—wouldn’t the credit all belong to me, Commander Tong? Tong Wa’s lips curled into a cold smile as he plotted inwardly. Yet outwardly, he feigned concern, shaking his head at Zuo Zhao: “Commander Zuo, I’ve heard rumors that Tukesiluo is cunning and ferocious—you must be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his plump face, brows furrowed, expression deeply worried. His thick white beard fluttered gently in the breeze, his tone carrying the weight of careful thought: “I suggest that after you form your battle line outside the city, you order your troops to launch a furious charge against Jiang Mingyu’s forces. With your fifty thousand men’s overwhelming numerical advantage, crush them in one strike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Zhao nodded slightly, his fingers brushing the hilt of his sword, a flash of cold light passing through his eyes as if calculating something. “Your words are wise. I was thinking the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than an hour later, Zuo Zhao led his elite fifty thousand troops before Jiang Mingyu and Tukesiluo. A flood of iron cavalry formed dense, impenetrable formations; from afar, they resembled icy walls of steel. Gleaming spears and swords reflected blinding white light under the sun, radiating murderous intent. The heavy killing aura of fifty thousand cavalry felt tangible, suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zuo Zhao could speak, Tukesiluo suddenly surged forward with a flash of cold light, swinging his sword as his body shot upward like an arrow released from a bow, sword and man as one, lunging straight for Zuo Zhao’s face. “Die!” he roared, his voice filled with fury and bloodlust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive killing aura exploded from Tukesiluo’s swordtip, as if freezing the air. Zuo Zhao’s face turned pale, alarm bells ringing in his mind. He instinctively wanted to order his troops to counterattack—but it was too late! Tukesiluo moved with blinding speed, his sword flashing like lightning toward Zuo Zhao, carrying the force of thunder. Rarely, Zuo Zhao showed shock and terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life and death hung by a thread! Zuo Zhao frantically raised his spear to block Tukesiluo’s lethal strike. But Tukesiluo suddenly flipped midair—this was a feint! He reversed his sword, “whoosh,” the blade trailing wind and thunder as it pierced Zuo Zhao’s chest. The razor-sharp tip mercilessly split Zuo Zhao in half. His eyes still held fear and disbelief as his two halves collapsed with a splash, blood instantly staining half the ground crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!!” Tong Wa, beyond the fifty thousand southern cavalry, turned pale with horror. His heart pounded wildly—this had happened too fast. He’d assumed Zuo Zhao could hold Jiang Mingyu off, yet he’d been ambushed by Tukesiluo. Looking at the corpse gushing blood, Tong Wa trembled with dread, consumed by regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the fifty thousand southern cavalry stood frozen like ice statues, staring dumbly at the grotesque corpse and the horrifying pool of blood. No one reacted. Tukesiluo, who had slain their commander so easily, was terrifyingly powerful! Countless soldiers turned pale, drenched in cold sweat, their fighting spirit shattered. For the first time, they truly understood Tukesiluo’s ruthlessness and cunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Tong Wa could recover from the shock of Zuo Zhao’s death, Jiang Mingyu’s newly appointed Iron Cavalry Commander, Ebu, his eyes bloodshot, roared and raised his heavy greatsword: “Iron Cavalry, follow me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his command, the elite eighty thousand Iron Cavalry of Dajiang—each a hardened warrior—raised their gleaming saber blades in unison and roared: “Kill—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eighty thousand voices roared like rolling thunder, brimming with overwhelming killing intent. The southern troops, still unsteady, heard this sound that seemed to reverse rivers and turned pale, their legs trembling, their morale on the verge of collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of Zuo Zhao’s death had already shaken their resolve; many soldiers still stood frozen, faces etched with terror and despair. Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu gave them no time to recover. His eyes blazed with cold light as he leapt high, let out a piercing roar, and led his cavalry like a storm through gaps in the southern ranks, unleashing a merciless slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh—!” The southern troops screamed in agony. Wherever Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu passed, bodies piled high, blood staining heaven and earth. Finally snapping out of his shock, Tong Wa turned ashen, roaring as he slashed his sword through the air, cleaving through several men: “What are you waiting for? Hold the line! Quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his roars were drowned by the eighty thousand iron cavalry’s battle cries, utterly useless to rally morale. Seeing Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu’s troops slaughter everything in their path, if they charged again, the fifty thousand southern troops would be annihilated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Tong Wa teetered on despair, He Jing, beside Jiang Mingyu, spotted signs of southern resistance. He instantly drew his waist saber: “Archers, advance! Pin down the southern troops—let none escape!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his command, five thousand archers hidden behind the Dajiang cavalry emerged swiftly, their sharp arrows falling like a sudden storm of locusts. This unexpected rain of arrows instantly felled the southern troops attempting to rally, their cries rising in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the surviving southern remnants desperately reformed their lines and clashed fiercely with the Dajiang forces. The clashing of weapons rang like bells, severed limbs and bloody stumps flew like hail, and thick, warm blood had long dyed the emerald grass scarlet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Tukesiluo swung his azure, nimble longsword as if moving through empty land. His body radiated murderous aura, his eyes bloodshot, slashing relentlessly at the southern soldiers around him. His blade was like a thunderclap from heaven—each flash of light brought down thirty-five enemies, none spared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the leadership of Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu and Tukesiluo, the hundred thousand Dajiang troops grew fiercer with every strike, their blades and spears seeming like weapons from the Underworld, harvesting lives. The pile of southern corpses grew higher, while their banners gradually dimmed beneath the arrows and flashing blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, the numerically superior southern army was retreating step by step, heavily wounded and decimated. Their once mighty arrogance had vanished entirely. Tong Wa deeply regretted his Jiaoxing  psychology, having grossly underestimated Dajiang’s strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the tide turn toward Dajiang, Jiang Mingyu’s eyes suddenly shot twin beams of golden light. He gripped his royal sword and pointed it toward the sky with murderous intent: “He Jing, lead all infantry forward—annihilate them now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jing, of course, would not miss such a rare opportunity. His eyes turned crimson as he roared, muscles rippling, his steel blade pointing forward: “Brothers, follow me and charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty thousand Dajiang infantry roared in unison, their momentum overwhelming, their killing aura rising like a storm. Seeing Tukesiluo and Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu still fighting, He Jing’s sudden assault made Tong Wa’s face turn ashen again. He bellowed: “What are you waiting for? Shoot arrows! Don’t let them break through!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If He Jing’s thirty thousand infantry joined the fray, the consequences would be catastrophic—his own troops and even Xiongzhou behind him would be utterly destroyed. This was a life-or-death battle; Tong Wa must hold at all costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a storm of arrows rained down, surrounding He Jing’s troops completely. But to Tong Wa’s shock, He Jing didn’t slow—he grew even fiercer, roaring: “Raise shields!” As his infantry raised their shields, they advanced forward, blocking the arrowstorm while pressing ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang! Bang!” Hundreds of arrows struck the Dajiang shields. Though over a hundred men fell, the entire formation kept advancing, unstoppable. Tong Wa flew into a rage, laughing: “Good! Keep shooting! Wipe them out completely!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Tukesiluo’s brows knitted tightly, his eyes emitting cold, icy light. He shouted to Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu, who was fighting fiercely nearby: “I’ll deal with Tong Wa—you keep fighting, buy the General time!” With that, he leapt into the air, cleaving a southern soldier’s skull in two, then charged straight for Tong Wa without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the moment Tukesiluo moved, the southern main force was instantly pinned down by Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu’s eighty thousand cavalry. Tong Wa continued directing his archers, but the Dajiang cavalry were all expert horse archers, effortlessly dodging the arrows and pressing forward. This enraged Tong Wa, but he had no choice but to keep ordering his men to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah...” Tukesiluo sneered, his aura brimming with killing intent. “Tong Wa, today is your death day!” He leapt forward, sword in hand, like an arrow shot from a bow, aiming straight for Tong Wa’s face. The distance between them shrank rapidly. Tong Wa turned pale with terror, stumbling backward several steps, nearly falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Jiang Mingyu arrived with a group of elite warriors behind Tukesiluo. If Tong Wa could be eliminated, seizing Xiongzhou was within reach!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tukesiluo ignore all others and charge straight for him, Tong Wa’s face changed. He remembered Zuo Zhao’s gruesome death and roared to his infantry:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quickly, stop him! Don’t let him get close!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several infantrymen rushed forward, raising their spears to block Tukesiluo. Tukesiluo’s eyes turned blood-red, his face twisted in fury. He raised his sword without hesitation and slashed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Release!” he roared. His sword cut like a rainbow—one infantryman had no time to react before being split in two. Blood splattered onto Tukesiluo’s face, adding threefold cruelty to his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three infantrymen, terrified, thrust their spears forward. But Tukesiluo swept his sword horizontally—the three fell instantly, each with a fatal gash across the neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wa’s face darkened further. He realized Tukesiluo’s strength was extraordinary—these infantrymen couldn’t stop him. At that moment, one of his trusted subordinates saw Tukesiluo’s back exposed. He drew his steel short halberd, crept behind Tukesiluo, and stabbed fiercely at his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo’s eyes caught the assassin at the last instant. He spun, reversed his sword, and severed the man’s halberd along with both hands. Before the severed blade tips hit the ground, Tukesiluo’s sword flicked upward, piercing straight through the man’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh!” The man screamed in agony and collapsed heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wa’s brow twitched. He realized these raw troops were useless—he shouted for cavalry reinforcements. The cavalry wheeled their horses, raised their heavy steel sabers, and charged toward Tukesiluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Iron Cavalry Commander was leading his light cavalry in a charge, too occupied to notice Tukesiluo’s struggle. He fixed his gaze on Tong Wa’s banner and the archers, his heart burning with anxiety. If that banner fell, Tong Wa’s morale would shatter. But the archers formed a dense thorn hedge he couldn’t break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo fought alone, yet the cavalry grew fiercer with each strike. He began to tire. Finally, someone struck his arm, leaving a long, deep gash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh!” Tukesiluo cried out, staggering. At that moment, He Jing’s voice rang in his ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, fear not—your servant comes to aid!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo looked up to see He Jing breaking through the encirclement, his blade falling, one cavalryman dropping instantly. He Jing thrust his spear forward, piercing another enemy, finally blocking the cavalry’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo exhaled inwardly, grabbed a spear from the ground, and hurled it with all his strength toward Tong Wa. The spear flew through the air and landed before Tong Wa. Tong Wa broke into a cold sweat, frantically raising his sword to deflect it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that moment of shock and distraction robbed him of his focus on command—he now concentrated entirely on defending against Tukesiluo’s attacks. The Iron Cavalry Commander seized the chance, leading his light cavalry into the heart of the enemy lines. After several charges, he finally cut down Tong Wa’s banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wa’s face turned ashen. He realized the battle was lost—he would fall to Tukesiluo and Iron Cavalry Commander Ebu’s scheme!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tong Wa refused to surrender, Tukesiluo’s brows twisted into a knot, his face filled with fury. His copper-bell eyes glared coldly at Tong Wa, radiating chilling killing intent—as if he meant to devour him alive. His right hand gripping the sword trembled slightly, his whitened knuckles betraying his suppressed rage. Tukesiluo spoke slowly, each word a blade: “Tong Wa, you have one last chance. If you don’t surrender, next time you won’t be so lucky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wa’s face turned instantly as white as paper, as if his hair had turned gray overnight. His lips trembled, tinged unnatural blue-purple. Sweat and terror dripped from his forehead, tracing thin streams down his cheeks, pooling in his beard. He knew the tide had turned—he couldn’t escape Jiang Mingyu’s wrath even if he surrendered. After all, he had plotted to annihilate Jiang Mingyu’s army and humiliated his envoy. Jiang Mingyu would never let him live—he’d make him suffer a worse death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant, now, only one path remained: die alongside Jiang Mingyu. Thinking this, Tong Wa’s furious, desperate gaze swept the battlefield. He clenched his teeth so hard his jaw trembled, veins bulging on his neck. He glared fiercely at Tukesiluo, raised his greatsword again, now caked in enemy blood, its edge gleaming with chilling light in the cold wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tukesiluo, don’t get too cocky! Jiang Mingyu’s fate may be yours too!” Tong Wa roared, each word dripping with venom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuowan  he spun around, his eyes blood-red, staring fiercely at his southern soldiers. His forehead veins throbbed as if about to burst. He screamed with all his might: “Listen well! Today, we have only one path—to die together! Charge with me and repay the Southern Army! Whoever takes Tukesiluo or Jiang Mingyu’s head—I’ll personally petition the Emperor for a great reward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers’ pupils contracted, their faces twisted with greed and ferocity. With bloodshot eyes, they howled like starving wolves and charged toward Jiang Mingyu’s army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo’s brows twitched violently. He sneered: “You wretched worm, dare to boast to this general? Then today, I’ll grant your wish!” Before the words left his lips, he leapt into the air, stomping several times on a southern soldier’s head, a cruel smile on his face, charging straight for Tong Wa. His longsword descended like the scythe of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Wa’s face turned pale—he raised his sword to meet the blow, but Tukesiluo’s blade was already at his face! “Die!” Tukesiluo roared with a cruel grin. At that critical moment, a spear suddenly stabbed in from behind!\u003C\u002Fp>",2844,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3b09da135571d35a5ce4a46f0dc553f3ef1f280b2b5d904e3d85d18f27057944","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-366","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-364",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]