[{"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-76":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},2288911,4475,"Chapter 76: That","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-76",76,"\u003Cp>Shangmu County, Qi Prince’s Palace Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Sanzi entered the room and saw the Qi Prince seated at the table, a rare smile on his face. He bowed slightly to the Qi Prince and said, “Your Highness, Minister Jiang has arrived at the palace gate with the military payroll.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince’s smile faded slowly as he asked, “Did Jiang Mingyu come in person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Sanzi bowed his head and replied, “Minister Jiang said the county office is short-staffed and the payroll cannot be delayed, so he came himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince unconsciously touched his beard, thought for a moment, then said: “Very well. Have him wait in the main hall. I’ll join him shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cup of tea passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince arrived in the main hall and, reluctantly, nodded at Jiang Mingyu and Tukesiluo: “Minister Jiang, you’ve worked hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s expression softened slightly: “Your Highness flatters me—it is merely my duty.” He pointed to the military payroll boxes on the ground: “These are this month’s payroll. Please inspect them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince cast only a casual glance: “No need. I trust Minister Jiang’s work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have the payroll distributed shortly. Minister Jiang, you’re busy—there’s no need to stay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t even offer to serve Jiang Mingyu tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Mingyu clearly had no intention of leaving. He said: “Your Highness, I regret I cannot comply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since I’ve come all this way, wouldn’t you consider showing me your border troops? Or summoning the soldiers to meet me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As the acting magistrate, I’ve come to your territory yet failed to visit the border guards—it seems rather improper, wouldn’t you agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about this: Your Highness, summon the entire city defense battalion. Let me distribute the payroll and promote imperial teachings directly to them?” The Qi Prince’s face darkened further: “Minister Jiang, many soldiers are currently on duty at the city gates—collecting them all is impossible right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have Commandant Li distribute the payroll. Are you implying I’ll embezzle it all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled: “Your Highness overthinks it. How could I ever suspect such a thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask, how many men are currently patrolling the four gates?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince recalled briefly: “Roughly fifty. Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu shook his head: “That means there are still eight hundred and twenty men left in the city defense battalion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then please have Commander Wang summon them all. I am ordered to address them publicly and promote imperial teachings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Jiang Mingyu refuse to leave, the Qi Prince’s face twitched. He snapped: “Jiang Mingyu, what exactly are you after?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My city defense battalion is a military stronghold—how dare a civilian official demand to inspect it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you leak my military secrets and cause trouble in Shangmu County, Jiang Mingyu, your crime will be grave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I advise you to mind your own business. Interfering in everything won’t serve you well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve surely heard this saying: ‘The more you know, the more dangerous you become.’ Minister Jiang, you understand my meaning, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared fixedly into Jiang Mingyu’s eyes—the threat was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu showed no fear: “That’s an interesting remark. I truly don’t know what military secrets your city defense battalion holds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning a surprise raid on foreign tribes? Or some even greater scheme?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Danger? That’s absurd. If I die in your city defense battalion, how will you explain it to the Qi Prince?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me repeat: Promoting imperial teachings is an imperial order. Who in the Great Feng dares defy it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you doubt me, you may ask His Majesty himself after today—see if I’m lying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve said all I must. Your Highness, please issue the order to assemble the troops so I may inspect them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince flew into a rage, his body trembling with fury: “Jiang Mingyu, are you determined to oppose me today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fist, thick as a bowl, clenched slowly. His eyes brimmed with murderous intent—he now saw Jiang Mingyu as a dire threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince knew well: if the truth about the city defense battalion leaked, not even Jiang Mingyu, but His Majesty himself, would spare him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered: “Your Highness, consider this: Will His Majesty forgive you if you delay any longer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushed to the brink, the Qi Prince’s temples bulged with veins. His voice turned icy: “Fine. Then wait, Minister Jiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have the Commandant assemble the troops. You may inspect them at will. Will that satisfy you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s face remained expressionless, his eyelids not flickering: “Then I am in your debt, Your Highness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince shot Jiang Mingyu a cold glance, turned, and left—muttering under his breath: “Suicide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the Qi Prince depart, Tukesiluo, who had stood silently beside Jiang Mingyu, could not help voicing his concern: “Sir, the Qi Prince’s gaze was hostile. We’re in his territory—if he sets a trap, we’re in danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu stood, stretched his stiff arms, and said calmly: “Too clever by half—his own schemes have doomed him. We’re prepared. No matter how cunning the Qi Prince is, he cannot see our true strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just outside the door, the Qi Prince immediately summoned Commandant Xiao Sanzi and ordered urgently: “Quickly, assemble all troops. Also, dispatch my personal guard—fastest possible. Move now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within a stick of incense, the Qi Prince stared at the hundred men of his personal guard, his gaze cold as a blade: “You are the ones I trust most.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the time comes, stay close to me. Watch my eyes—and strike without warning. Kill Jiang Mingyu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Tukesiluo too—eliminate him. He’s a formidable warrior; he must not escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing he intended to kill a royal envoy, the guards whispered in protest: “Your Highness, killing a court official is treason! What has happened? Why such extreme measures?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a death sentence. We dare not…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Prince sneered: “You don’t know yet—I’ve confirmed Jiang Mingyu is colluding with foreign tribes, plotting rebellion. Killing him isn’t a crime—it’s a great service to the empire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing Jiang Mingyu protects the people of Shangmu. You’ll be hailed as heroes, not criminals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the guards’ hesitation vanished. They shouted in unison: “We obey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had forgotten to question: if Jiang Mingyu truly conspired with foreigners, why not simply overwhelm him with troops?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them leave, the Qi Prince shuddered and murmured: “Jiang Mingyu, your fate is sealed. Soon, you’ll be corpses on the border. I’ll claim foreign tribes avenged themselves—killed these meddling officials. Even His Majesty will have no recourse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stick of incense later, the Qi Prince returned to the main hall, his tone casual: “Minister Jiang, please proceed—the troops are assembled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu scanned the roughly four hundred men before him and sneered: “Your Highness, these are your reported seven hundred soldiers? My assessment was correct—you openly falsify troop numbers to embezzle imperial payroll. Your performance is impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems my guess was right—you openly siphon imperial funds. Your Highness, you truly are remarkable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The evidence is undeniable. What do you have to say now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Jiang Mingyu’s piercing gaze, the Qi Prince’s lips curled into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he roared: “Jiang Mingyu conspires with foreign tribes—proof is clear! All of you, seize this traitor and cut him to pieces!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten personal guards, already prepared, drew swords and lunged toward Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the Qi Prince’s smirk could widen, Tukesiluo’s blade pressed against his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu maintained his calm, composed smile and said softly: “Your Highness, our game ends here.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1245,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8579b07ae41a225c382b9c146fbbf82ef0d19189d0cfbb62112568aa3417b9f5","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-77","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-75",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]