[{"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-44":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},2288879,4475,"Chapter 44: Coal and Intrigue","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>Returning to the county yamen, the sky had just begun to lighten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Jiang Mingyu was exhausted, he showed no intention of rest; his brow furrowed, he gave a stern order: “Lord Yunhai, prepare the notices immediately—we must post them at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At daybreak, every street and alley of Shangmu County was plastered with notices written personally by Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few loud gongs rang out, curious townsfolk gathered to see what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange—since the county magistrate took office, we haven’t seen a single notice posted by the yamen,” an old man muttered suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on? Are the foreign tribes back again?” another middle-aged man wondered aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d bet ten to one—they’re coming. Fellow villagers, hide yourselves quickly!” came fearful murmurs from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, an elderly man with a white beard squinted with nearly blind eyes, studying the notice for a long while before hesitantly speaking: “No foreign invaders—this notice comes from the newly appointed imperial envoy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The notice calls for one hundred able-bodied men and carts to report to the yamen for labor,” the old man stated slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each man who answers the call will receive two taels of silver!” the old man raised his voice, as if confirming he had read correctly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the crowd instantly relaxed, then burst into wild chatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ll pay us silver just for working for the yamen?” a middle-aged man asked skeptically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I doubt it—what would an official care to play tricks on poor folk like us?” a young man scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you know? The government doesn’t come asking for money, we should be grateful—dare you dream of earning their silver? Pure fantasy!” an elder warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The townsfolk debated fiercely, each holding their own view. Though most doubted the notice’s truth, a few intrigued individuals began gathering toward the yamen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later, as the sun reached its zenith, only thirty-odd men arrived at the yamen gate, dragging a few dilapidated carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu looked at them and frowned; his expression grew even sterner, tinged with disappointment: “Only thirty-odd men?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai also looked grim: “These few are already a miracle—most of the strong young men have fled. Make do with what you have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slight Wu Xiao added: “The previous magistrates’ exploitation has left the people utterly disillusioned with the government.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many of these men came only because they had no other way to survive—half-skeptical, half-hoping for luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Jiang Mingyu nodded slowly, his expression turning grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most urgent task now, he realized, was to rebuild the people’s trust in the government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Shangmu County truly fail to muster even one hundred able men?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu cleared his throat and smiled bitterly: “Gentlemen, I am Jiang Mingyu, newly appointed imperial envoy, temporarily serving as county magistrate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve all seen the notice—I reiterate: work diligently, and you will receive your silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your task is to go to Qinglong Zhai  outside the city and dig up the materials I require…” Before he finished, more than half of the remaining thirty-odd men turned and fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This imperial envoy is mad! Sending us to Qinglong Zhai ? That’s suicide!” a short, fat man cried in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are we supposed to dig up on that den of demons? Do you want to die?” another shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough talk—run before it’s too late!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu forced a bitter smile—he now realized that, aside from his night’s escort, no one knew Qinglong Zhai  was no longer dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much patient explanation, Jiang Mingyu barely convinced the remaining men that Qinglong Zhai  was now safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To reassure them, he personally led the group to Qinglong Zhai .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coal seams lay shallow, easy to mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the carts were loaded, the laborers stared at the black substance, utterly baffled as to its purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the silver, none dared ask further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gazed at the distant bandit stronghold, a thought striking him: “These bandits have held this place for years—surely they’ve amassed some wealth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Yunhai, take Xiao Er and search the place—there may be unexpected gains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered Murong Yunhai to lead a search party, hoping for unexpected rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed quietly; the coal mining was nearly complete, yet Murong Yunhai and his men remained absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Jiang Mingyu was about to give up, Murong Yunhai suddenly appeared, beaming with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Xingqiu! We found it! Silver—white silver—tens of thousands of taels! We’re rich!” Murong Yunhai exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu feigned calm: “Tens of thousands? You’re this excited? Where’s your composure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring it back under cover of night—no one must know!” Jiang Mingyu instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Shangmu County yamen, Jiang Mingyu faced a pile of black coal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the laborers who had just received his silver stared at it and asked: “My lord, what’s this stuff good for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly and explained as simply as he could to these people of the past: “This is coal. Like firewood, it’s used for heating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man still looked doubtful: “This can warm us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu offered no further explanation—he simply ordered the coal loaded into the courtyard stove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, steam rose from the large pot; the man’s eyes widened in astonishment: “Incredible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we could use this to keep warm, we wouldn’t have to brave snow and wind to chop firewood,” the man murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other laborers said nothing, but their eyes shone with the same joy and hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled in satisfaction and said: “As an official of the court, bringing benefit to the people is my duty. Starting tomorrow, impoverished families may receive five carts of coal for free; the elderly, weak, and destitute, seven carts. What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the laborers fell to their knees, eyes red with tears: “To serve under such a benevolent magistrate—truly a blessing of three lifetimes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu helped them rise, deeply moved. With the people’s support, future matters would be easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same laborer, his eyes glinting, ventured: “My lord… does this mean we can come work again tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly: “Not only can you come—I need to recruit more workers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the bandits’ silver as backing, his tone grew firmer: “Work diligently, and you will earn silver daily. I will also sell surplus coal to improve your lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s joy was tinged with caution: “My lord, such a precious resource must be guarded closely—if stolen, we’ll lose everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled knowingly: “Then I rely on you. I need twenty men to guard the coal mountain—additional pay will be provided.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man volunteered without hesitation: “My lord, I’m Liu Dagang—please assign me to guard the mountain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded approvingly: “Good. You’ve shown diligence—I entrust you with the mountain’s affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before dawn, loud commotion outside the yamen gate jolted Jiang Mingyu awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rushed to open the gate—and froze in surprise: over a hundred vigorous men stood gathered outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the cold wind, Liu Dagang grinned at Jiang Mingyu: “My lord, we’ve come to work!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the following days, Jiang Mingyu taught the people how to safely use coal for heating, and coal continued to be delivered to their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With heating now available, Shangmu County seemed livelier—more people walked the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver recovered from the bandit stronghold had already been stored; Jiang Mingyu was counting it when Wu Xiao entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gaunt man bowed to Jiang Mingyu: “My lord, several local gentry request an audience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s hands stilled; his brow furrowed: “Why now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grew wary—these gentry had always ignored county affairs; their sudden request for an audience must conceal ulterior motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, he said: “Xiao Er, show them in. Since they’ve come, treat them properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, several elaborately dressed gentry strode into the reception hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sat upright, his gaze sweeping over them as he silently planned his response.\u003C\u002Fp>",1307,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5a173656f8d46eedeece0c036a34f1471565513a41f846115ee7f0a76d91d871","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-45","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-43",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]