[{"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-56":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},2288891,4475,"Chapter 56: Flawless Strategy","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai blinked in surprise: “Master Song, no—Brother Song, please speak. Whatever is within my power, I will not refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng’s smile grew even warmer: “Actually, it’s not a big matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As the top imperial graduate, you must have wide connections in the capital. Should you ever return, please speak a few kind words for your elder brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Song Yusheng’s request, Murong Yunhai first paused, then realized his true intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai smiled inwardly—this official cared only for his career. Fine, then I’ll have some fun with you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feigned recollection, then spoke slowly: “Connections? I have some, but not many.” He furrowed his brow as if straining to remember, then continued after a few seconds: “Of all the court officials, only two have truly befriended me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng’s smile froze instantly, a flicker of disappointment crossing his eyes, then he quickly resumed his usual politeness and asked curiously: “Who are these two?” He silently judged: this newly crowned top graduate has only two friends—clearly he’s made little impact in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai answered calmly, his tone even: “These two—you’ve likely heard of them.” He paused, as if organizing his words, then continued: “One is His Majesty’s appointed envoy, Jiang Mingyu. I came to see you under his orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng was already startled by this, but when Murong Yunhai named the other person, he was utterly stunned, speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The other is His Majesty himself. When he was still Crown Prince, I, unworthy as I am, served as his reading companion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai feigned humility and swiftly changed the subject: “Ah, these are all old stories—no need to mention them, no need at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng finally snapped to attention and hurriedly flattered: “Oh my, Brother Murong, I’m deeply sorry—deeply, deeply sorry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He switched to calling him “brother,” showing eager warmth: “Brother Murong, from today on, you’re my own younger brother. My future career rests entirely in your hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai smiled faintly, saying nothing, then got straight to the point: “Then, Brother Song, can we now discuss business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained: “You know, with my connections, securing silver isn’t difficult. I do this mainly for the people’s benefit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng nodded, appearing deeply understanding: “Then please tell me about your business, Brother Murong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, his attitude toward Murong Yunhai was clearly warmer than toward his own father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face glowed with joy and satisfaction; already he was calculating the profits he could extract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grew even more affectionate in address, constantly calling him “Brother Murong,” his demeanor reverent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng silently marveled: in his past life, he must have accumulated great virtue to have such a massive fortune drop straight into his lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai paid no mind to Song Yusheng’s exaggerated expressions; he proceeded to detail the coal—its mining, transport, and numerous advantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Song Yusheng appeared to listen intently, his mind was rapidly calculating potential profits. Just as Murong Yunhai was about to have Tukesiluo produce a sample to demonstrate the coal’s combustion, Song Yusheng waved him off urgently: “No need, Brother Murong—I trust your word completely. This deal is settled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng’s eyes gleamed with cunning—he didn’t care about the coal’s quality at all; he only wanted to seal the deal quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought: what the common folk burn is irrelevant—as long as I profit, that’s all that matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, if he rejected Murong Yunhai, his career in court would be ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not risk that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Murong Yunhai nor Tukesiluo had expected the matter, which they thought would require lengthy negotiation, to be settled so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as both sides prepared to draft the contract, the gatekeeper suddenly announced a Daoist priest wished to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng, brush still in hand, didn’t hesitate: “Quick, bring him in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, an old man with a white beard, exuding an air of otherworldly grace yet with a glint of cunning in his eyes, entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo blinked in surprise—wasn’t this the old man who’d been following them? Why had he appeared now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng, clearly fascinated by such figures, hurriedly bowed and asked: “Venerable Master, what brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man gracefully stroked his white beard: “Nothing in particular.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I merely observed the heavens last night and saw this winter will be colder than any before. I came to urge you to prepare early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, today, a noble person will arrive in your county—one who can resolve this matter for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all I have to say. I take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never once looked at Murong Yunhai or Tukesiluo as he departed—pure, unshakable acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Daoist’s words, Song Yusheng beamed with delight, eyes shining: “Oh! Brother Murong, the noble person the Daoist spoke of—surely it’s you! Yes, it must be you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face glowed with joy, his whole body trembling with excitement—as if hope had finally arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng continued eagerly: “With the coal you’ve brought, Elder Brother won’t fear the cold at all. A noble person indeed—a true noble person!” His voice brimmed with uncontainable excitement and flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick, quick—let’s sign the contract at once! Elder Brother has already prepared a warm banquet—please, Brother Murong, join me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng urged insistently, as if afraid Murong Yunhai might change his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Murong Yunhai step forward, Song Yusheng hurried to support him, warmly saying: “Come, come, Brother Murong, walk slowly—mind your step, the ground’s uneven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai smiled helplessly and reminded him: “Elder Brother, we haven’t yet agreed on the coal’s price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yusheng waved his hand generously: “Thirty percent higher than last year’s firewood price? No—forty percent! I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He now regarded Murong Yunhai as his most vital patron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By noon, after being escorted out of the yamen with excessive courtesy, Song Yusheng had already slipped ten thousand taels in silver notes into Murong Yunhai’s sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only a deposit. With a hundred thousand households in Tenglong County, Murong Yunhai couldn’t help but grow rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bidding farewell to Song Yusheng, Tukesiluo walked down the street, bewildered, and asked Murong Yunhai:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That old man who pretended to be a mystic—wasn’t he our traveling companion? How did he suddenly become a Daoist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai chuckled softly and whispered: “All of this was arranged in advance by Xingqiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Song Yusheng is deeply superstitious about such mystical things—almost obsessed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This trick exploits that weakness: making him believe this winter will be colder than ever, so our coal can be sold at sky-high prices. The Daoist? Merely our companion in disguise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we never expected the imperial edict we casually revealed would solve such a major problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai sighed: “We nearly wasted Xingqiu’s carefully laid plan. Man plans, Heaven decides—life is truly unpredictable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Murong Yunhai’s explanation, Tukesiluo finally understood, his face lighting up. He pressed: “So—is this winter really going to be unusually cold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai looked up at the sky and chuckled: “I don’t know. Even if it isn’t cold, I didn’t say that—when Song Yusheng wants to settle accounts later, he’ll have to find that fake Daoist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually waved his hand and added: “Of course, Xingqiu never meant to deceive him. You know our coal’s quality as well as I do—we genuinely want to help the people survive the winter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted Tukesiluo’s shoulder and smiled: “Enough about that. Let’s hurry back to the inn, send off that old man, and return to Shangmu County.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once back, I’ll immediately gather men and expand coal production to its fullest. Shangmu County’s good days are finally here!” Murong Yunhai’s eyes sparkled with unhidden excitement and anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group quickly packed their belongings and set off for Shangmu County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai and Tukesiluo were both in good spirits; only Murong Yunhai felt a slight regret—he’d gone to great trouble bringing a whole cart of coal samples, and they’d been hauled back and forth for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[63] After abandoning the heavy cart, their speed increased considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>",1320,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4cfc04a1719fe4fde2cf76c6c5140e1201abec02bc13d177f579842d0907b09a","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-57","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-55",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]