[{"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-42":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},2288877,4475,"Chapter 42: Dawn Raid","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-42",42,"\u003Cp>At the hour of Geng, the Qi Prince’s palace garden was shrouded in dim darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the silent, pitch-black small chamber, only four-colored lanterns glowed, illuminating the space clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, four shadowy figures stood motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma De raised his head slightly and spoke coolly: “Are all of you prepared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three black-clad men said nothing, only nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma De grunted: “Your target tonight is the newly arrived Imperial Commissioner, Jiang Mingyu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Qi Prince has promised: if successful, you’ll receive three thousand taels of silver and flee to Jiuli, never to be seen again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you capture Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo alive, the reward increases to one thousand taels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma De’s eyes flashed a warning: “If you have any doubts, speak now. Do not fail the Qi Prince’s mission—otherwise, the consequences are yours to bear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three shadowy figures remained silent and tall, nodded, and slipped away quietly, vanishing into the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the cold-faced Qi Prince, Ma De spoke softly: “Your Highness, the men have departed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince nodded: “This matter is critical—the fewer who know, the better. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma De’s lips curled in cold amusement: “Dead men don’t talk. Once Jiang Mingyu is dead, the three of you become useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one else knows of this. Rest assured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he turned to leave, the Qi Prince’s gaze grew colder still. He murmured: “No. There’s still one more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Murdering a court official is a grave crime; only when you're dead can I finally rest in peace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lanterns in the small chamber flickered out silently; all sound vanished, the silence suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the howling wind, the lanterns of Shangmu County’s yamen were barely visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the black-clad men left the Qi Prince’s palace, Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo, their faces covered in black cloth, were already ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight, Tukesiluo had swapped his waist knife for a longsword Jiang Mingyu had never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword was ancient in design; Jiang Mingyu had studied many weapon manuals—he knew at a glance this was no ordinary blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he didn’t dwell on it. The three exchanged glances and slipped quietly out the yamen’s main gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers guarding the East Gate had never seen Jiang Mingyu, but they recognized his official token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu and his companion took two horses from the guards, rode out of the city, and headed east straight for the infamous Qinglong Zhai .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the howling cold wind, Tukesiluo still felt uneasy: “Sir, you shouldn’t have come. It’s too dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s face cloth fluttered slightly—as if he smiled: “Do you know why I chose this moment to act?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We set out at the third watch; by the time we reach Qinglong Zhai , it’ll be the fourth watch—the coldest hour of the day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone’s huddled asleep, sheltering from the wind. Perfectly safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You raid the bandits; I keep watch. Move fast, finish quick—no risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough talk. Time’s wasting. Go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cracked his whip, spurting forward several zhang. Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo sighed, gave a soft cry, and chased after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness, Qinglong Zhai  loomed like a giant black bun; the faint lights on the hillside must be the bandits’ stronghold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two studied the map extracted from Liu Tianyu’s mouth for a long while, then wound their way up the mountain through twists and turns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountain wind grew fiercer; Jiang Mingyu grew tense. If the bandits were still awake, trouble would follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The facts proved he’d overestimated their vigilance—before the empty gate, not a single soul stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dying bonfire glowed in the courtyard; snores drifted on the wind into Jiang Mingyu’s ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu pointed to a small dirt pit nearby, whispering low: “Go. I’ll hold position here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whistle as a signal—if anything’s wrong, retreat immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo said nothing. They signaled him to hide, then glided soundlessly over the gate and into the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu dared not delay. He crept carefully into the pit, alert to every rustle and breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roughly the time it takes to finish a meal passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind scattered the clouds, revealing a sliver of new moon. Jiang Mingyu nervously pulled his coat tighter: “It’s the fourth watch—why aren’t they out yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing calming him now was the complete silence from the Zhai —no news was good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to blow on his hands to warm them, he noticed the black smudge on his palms—and tiny black flakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the moonlight, Jiang Mingyu carefully examined the black residue on his hands and the dirt pit around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of overwhelming joy crashed over him: “This is pure luck—I never expected this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shangmu County, Qi Prince’s palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince’s face was dark and suspicious: “What do you mean? Jiang Mingyu isn’t there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the three black-clad men bowed to the Qi Prince: “My lord, that’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We searched the entire yamen. Jiang Mingyu was gone—and so were Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only a thin man remained on guard. We didn’t dare delay—we’ve come straight back to report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince’s expression turned grim. He glanced sharply at Ma De: “What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Jiang Mingyu get wind of this and flee overnight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma De tensed: “Impossible. Only the five of us knew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince sneered: “Who’s to say someone didn’t become a traitor to curry favor with Jiang Mingyu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hearts are hidden behind ribs—what do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stretched out the final words, their meaning unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden gust of wind howled through the door. The four men by the fire all shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone could see—the Qi Prince had decided to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma De was about to speak when a soldier, wrapped in the cold wind, burst in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t notice the tense atmosphere. He bowed to the Qi Prince: “My lord, news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince glared: “Speak quickly. No wasting time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier, confused but dared not delay, said: “Report from Dongcheng: the new Commissioner Jiang, accompanied by Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo, has left the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince frowned again: “No wonder the yamen was empty. So that’s what they’re up to—what are they doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Ma De and the others exhaled deeply in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier gathered his thoughts: “The gate guards say Jiang and his men left around the third watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One of our men trailed them from afar. Around the fourth watch, he saw them sneak up Qinglong Zhai .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third watch—the Qi Prince’s brow tightened further: “He’s lucky. A little later, we’d have had him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why in this freezing weather would he go to Qinglong Zhai ?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma De’s eyes darted: “My lord, it doesn’t matter why. This is another opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone in Shangmu knows Qinglong Zhai  is home to ruthless bandits. Jiang Mingyu’s presence there proves collusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As a court official, breaking the law—his crime is unforgivable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we move now and trap him inside Qinglong Zhai , even if he has a hundred tongues, he can’t explain it away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once we confirm his alliance with bandits, even if you cut him down publicly, it’s justified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo—without Jiang Mingyu’s protection, when we eliminate them is entirely up to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps, with this achievement, you’ll be promoted—and leave this cursed place forever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince’s eyes lit up: “Order: muster one hundred soldiers. March to Qinglong Zhai  immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face twisted with malice: “Jiang Mingyu, this is your own doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince’s expression hardened: “March.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinglong Zhai , before the Zhai gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth watch was nearly over—the coldest hour of the day—but Jiang Mingyu’s face glowed with boundless joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes—he had just discovered, by accident, coal buried in the dirt pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his transmigration, he had once traded in coal—he knew it well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the moonlight, his expression was electric: “Heaven, you’ve finally favored Jiang Mou once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was worried about how the people would survive winter—now, the problem is solved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like many mountainous regions before his transmigration, the entire Dongyue Kingdom relied on firewood for warmth and cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the elderly, weak, and women in the city who couldn’t chop wood, this was a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once transported back, everything would be resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pit, Jiang Mingyu braced against the knife-like wind and cautiously scanned his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his guess was right, the mountain beneath his feet was likely a massive coal deposit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a vast quantity of coal could supply all of Shangmu County for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile of delight spread across Jiang Mingyu’s face: “If I can establish a market here, I’ll make a fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re rich. Truly rich.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, a rough plan formed in his mind—and an even deeper smile crept onto his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Jiang Mingyu grin foolishly in the pit, Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo, who had appeared without notice, were speechless: “Sir, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were supposed to keep watch. Thank heaven nothing happened—if it had, you’d have been chopped to pieces without even knowing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu snapped out of his joy, slightly embarrassed: “I just had faith in you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way—was it all taken care of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo rolled his eyes: “Twenty men. Not one escaped. Shangmu County will have peace for days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His casual tone made it sound as if he’d just killed twenty chickens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded. “Well done. Just now, I discovered something very important. Let’s go—back to town to discuss it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yun and Tukesulu asked no further questions; they helped Jiang Mingyu out of the pit and headed down the mountain path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they neared the mountain trail, the howling cold wind lessened considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yun seemed in good spirits: “Brother Xingqiu, what did you find?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Jiang Mingyu could answer, a deep, powerful voice rang out from the darkness ahead: “Surround them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames and the voices appeared as suddenly as each other; by the time Jiang Mingyu realized it, he was already surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesulu’s sword was half-drawn when Jiang Mingyu silenced him with a glance: “Stop. Don’t act rashly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw clearly—these surrounding men all wore the uniforms of the city garrison. They were, at least, on his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blinding torchlight, Jiang Mingyu saw a middle-aged man holding reins, slowly approaching them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man pointed with his whip: “You must be Lord Jiang. Do you recognize this prince?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly. “Prince Qi. I’ve long heard your name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why, in the dead of night, have you come to Qinglong Zhai ?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Qi smiled coolly. “I came here for you, Lord Jiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu brushed the snow off his robes. “Your information is remarkably swift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His smile faded. “If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it in the first place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Mingyu, as an official of the court, how dare you secretly collude with bandits? What crime do you deserve?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Ma Defa came forward: “Breaking the law knowingly merits an even harsher penalty. Lord Jiang, you should never have done this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu remained calm. “You accuse me of colluding with bandits—where is your proof?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Qi sneered. “Your presence here at Qinglong Zhai  is proof enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, Lord Jiang. Save your words for the dungeon. Arrest him!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1867,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","810fbbafb6b9816e0abded779b7decd503ec2b255d621a7fc32def3ea84a6c79","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-43","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-41",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]