[{"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-98":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},2288933,4475,"Chapter 98","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-98",98,"\u003Cp>Under the cover of night, Heifeng Ridge village was so quiet you could almost hear the cicadas singing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the village, darkness reigned, lit only by faint lanterns casting weary shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a powerful force shoved open Yang Dazhuang’s door, and a figure stormed in like lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door groaned as it slammed, wind howling through, even rousing Yang Dazhuang from his half-sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who the hell dares barge in while I’m resting?!” Yang Dazhuang rubbed his eyes and cursed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the intruder remained unmoved, still gasping for breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His clothes were torn and caked with dust—he had clearly rushed here without care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang narrowed his eyes, staring at the disheveled man, and said coldly: “Speak. What’s so urgent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man straightened up, panting heavily, forcing himself to calm down, then nodded firmly and stammered: “Boss—something’s happened!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, Yang Dazhuang’s face darkened. He waved his hand, signaling the man to catch his breath; once he’d recovered slightly, Yang demanded urgently: “Speak. What exactly happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes passed, and Heifeng Ridge village was illuminated once more, the lamps casting an atmosphere of tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had shaken off sleep and gathered, faces grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang stared hard at them, his displeasure impossible to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the junior leaders rubbed his eyes and grumbled: “What’s going on at this hour?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang’s cold gaze swept over them, his tone sharp: “Just now, our scout below the mountain sent word. The imperial envoy will lead ten thousand troops tomorrow, storming Mount Sanqing at midnight and wiping out every last bandit there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock rippled through the group; murmurs broke out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One junior leader dared to ask: “Mount Sanqing’s terrain is formidable—how could it fall so fast? Is this rumor reliable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang’s face grew even darker; he sneered: “The report’s true—I sent that scout myself to verify. Right now, Jiang Mingyu’s purge around Mount Sanqing is all anyone’s talking about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heifeng Ridge is less than a hundred li from Mount Sanqing. Tomorrow, Jiang Mingyu will likely lead his army straight here. What do you all suggest we do?” His voice carried heavy pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, those who had been yawning snapped awake instantly. Voices erupted: “Ten thousand troops? We’ve only two hundred men here—how do we fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mount Sanqing isn’t that easy to take—maybe the rumor’s exaggerated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve never had anything to do with the government. Why is Jiang Mingyu targeting us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang glared impatiently at them: “I asked you what to do—why are you all dithering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A junior leader with a face full of pockmarks stepped forward, voice firm: “Boss, I have a suggestion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Things look bad. If the report’s true, with our meager numbers, we can’t stand up to Jiang Mingyu head-on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s leave here quickly and find another place to settle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll lose our base at Heifeng Ridge, but it’s better than being crushed by Jiang Mingyu’s army and dying all at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words won immediate approval and nods from the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell as everyone pondered the feasibility of the proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li’s right—we’re no match for imperial troops,” Yang Dazhuang muttered, his thin eyebrows furrowing as his eyes locked onto Old Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, Jiang Mingyu’s got ten thousand troops—how do we even fight?” another brother grumbled, rubbing his neck in helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, make a decision fast—the moment dawn breaks, Jiang Mingyu will be here,” the junior leaders all turned to Yang Dazhuang, awaiting his order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang took a deep breath, his expression heavy and uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bit his lower lip lightly, then spoke with resolve: “Quiet down. Let me think.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence settled for a moment, then Yang Dazhuang’s gaze hardened: “It’s freezing and snowy now—where can we go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Use your heads,” someone sneered, looking at Yang Dazhuang as if testing his thoughts. “Outside of Shangmu, the court has no time to care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where else in the Great Feng Empire can we hide? Go to Xixia?” another brother frowned, his voice thick with despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We won’t even reach the border—Jiang Mingyu’s men will catch us, and we’ll die worse than ever,” someone clenched his fist, knuckles white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior leaders sank into thought, knowing the situation was dire—but no clear solution emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As silence gripped them, Old Li, a junior leader, suddenly brightened—as if struck by an idea: “Boss, we can seek help from the Scorpion King Gully’s Poisonous Scorpions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Old Li, waiting for his explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Li spoke confidently: “The Poisonous Scorpions of Scorpion King Gully are powerful—they say they can stand against imperial troops. If we gain their support, we might survive this crisis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang’s face showed hesitation: “The Poisonous Scorpions of Scorpion King Gully? Are you sure they’ll help us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Li nodded: “I’ve heard they’re an independent faction, unaligned with the court. If we win their aid, we might form a united front.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang pondered, then shook his head: “I’m not sure they’d risk themselves for us. And the Poisonous Scorpions have their own goals—they won’t help us out of kindness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another brother chimed in: “Besides, once we enter Scorpion King Gully, they might seize our territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group sank into helpless silence—the situation seemed hopeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yang Dazhuang’s eyes hardened again: “Things are dire, but we won’t just wait to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at them, voice resolute: “Even if we’re outmatched, we won’t surrender. I’ve decided—we’ll fight Jiang Mingyu face-to-face. Teach him a lesson. Show him what Heifeng Ridge is made of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if we lose, we’ll leave such an impression he’ll never dare underestimate us again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we make Jiang Mingyu feel threatened, he might reconsider his terms with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical moment, Yang Dazhuang’s voice rang out, full of confidence and resolve: “Of course, this is only temporary. Once the storm passes, we’ll regroup and rise again—still a band of brothers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes fixed on him. Old Li sighed, his wrinkles deepening with worry: “But Jiang Mingyu’s got ten thousand troops—we’ve only two hundred. How do we fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang’s smile turned sly, his lips curling slightly, eyes glinting with cunning—as if he already saw the scene unfolding: “That’s where you and Old Yu come in. Only you two can pull this off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Li’s eyes widened with curiosity and anticipation: “Boss, you mean—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dazhuang nodded, determination burning in his gaze, a faint smirk on his lips—as if already envisioning the future: “Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If our plan succeeds, even if Jiang Mingyu has ten thousand troops, they’ll be nothing but empty shells,” Yang Dazhuang declared, brimming with certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Li’s eyes gleamed sharply, his brows lifting slightly, confidence radiating from his expression—as if victory were already in sight: “Boss, just watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the sky over Mount Sanqing remained icy. Jiang Mingyu stood in the village, brows slightly furrowed, eyes filled with resolve. His voice carried finality: “Order: march on Heifeng Ridge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time, we don’t just reclaim my banner—we parade through the towns openly.” His tone held unwavering intent, as if his mind were already made up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo frowned, eyes narrowing, his whole posture tense with suspicion: “My lord, what do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled and explained: “We win the people’s support—then the bandits’ days are numbered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His smile revealed careful strategy—as if a meticulously planned scheme were brewing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tu Kesiluo nodded, his expression clearing, slowly understanding Jiang Mingyu’s intent, his eyes now holding approval and trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeper still, he aimed to quickly establish himself in the people’s hearts as a benevolent official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could he build the popular support needed to counter Prince Qi’s hidden daggers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no idea that Dong Cheng’s complaint letter had already been intercepted by Wang Zhe—his worries were all in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Tu Kesiluo’s command, two thousand soldiers stood ready, their steps thunderous and synchronized, showing discipline and martial dignity. Their eyes burned with determination and confidence, as if ready for any challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the road to Heifeng Ridge, Jiang Mingyu’s brow furrowed slightly, his gaze fixed ahead, lips slightly curled—revealing inner passion and resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led them toward the coming battle, fearless, determined to press forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the towns near Mount Sanqing, Jiang Mingyu’s force marched in with imposing might, hooves echoing across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crowds gathered, pointing and whispering, curiosity and murmurs rising everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone asked in confusion: “Why so many troops? What’s happening? Who’s that young leader?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another, better informed, replied: “Don’t you know? That’s our Shangmu County magistrate—he’s come to crush bandits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. Yesterday he wiped out the bandits on Mount Sanqing—last night, their heads were hung up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the people’s faces lit up with joy; they praised Jiang Mingyu’s valor: “This is wonderful! Those bastards are finally dead! Our magistrate’s a true good official—quick, kneel and bow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd’s excited cheers, Jiang Mingyu’s army moved forward, leaving behind kneeling civilians—as if paying homage to their savior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the cold wind, Jiang Mingyu’s face was calm, his eyes gleaming with thoughtful calculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled his reins and bowed slightly to the kneeling crowd: “My fellow townsfolk, I am Jiang Mingyu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice, firm and resonant, carried to every corner: “Today, I swear—I will not retreat until every bandit in Shangmu is wiped out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the cheers, Jiang Mingyu, confident and driven, vanished with his army into the cold wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew this display of power had already stirred ripples across Shangmu—victory would soon be the town’s hottest topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon, the cold wind eased. Jiang Mingyu galloped forward, finally arriving at the foot of Heifeng Ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze fixed on the distant, barely visible village, his expression grave and thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the village, his mind racing. Sharp calculations intertwined, his grasp of the situation growing clearer. The smile on his face in the wind concealed deeper schemes: “How do I fight this battle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu stood beside Jiang Mingyu, his brow slightly furrowed, clearly pondering the same question.\u003C\u002Fp>",1652,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b06cfbaff8917f1df4d535cea6b0a53262e09e7d43e8e86637d99fbf514ffe5c","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-99","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-97",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]