[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-479":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},152165,261,"Chapter 479: Vermilion Army Enters the City","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-479",479,"\u003Cp>The first rays of dawn broke, and ten thousand golden beams cascaded like molten metal, gilding the towering Lingguang Hall with a solemn and sacred radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within this tranquil yet vast halo, the entire palace complex seemed like an ancient beast just awakened, silently gazing at the mountain gate square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the square, five thousand Vermilion Bird soldiers stood arrayed like a mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were clad in crimson armor, refracting a suffocating metallic luster in the morning light. Five thousand long spears slanted toward the sky, their icy tips merging into a sea of red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The solemn aura and the chilling killing intent intertwined and clashed at this moment; the air seemed frozen, and even the wind dared not pass through this steel jungle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very front of the formation, Song Weimin struggled to suppress the surging excitement and the undeniable tension in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, his piercing gaze sweeping over the five thousand resolute faces behind him, then raised his arm and swept it down, his voice exploding in everyone’s ears: “March!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The order was as firm as a mountain; in an instant, the five thousand soldiers simultaneously channeled their spiritual power, and the next moment, five thousand crimson light pillars shot up from the ground, soaring straight into the clouds!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The originally still phalanx instantly transformed into a towering wave of fire, countless people soaring into the air on their swords, the swords beneath their feet humming in perfect unison, like ten thousand dragon roars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Weimin, protected by five thousand-man commanders at the Spiritual Platform realm, flew at the very front. The five thousand soldiers followed closely behind, moving in perfect sync, turning into an unstoppable crimson torrent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High in the sky, the thick clouds were torn apart, leaving only a long red streak that spanned the heavens and lingered for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seen from afar, the formation resembled a soaring fire dragon, streaking across the sky like a meteor, carrying invincible might and solemnity, majestically heading toward Nanxiang County town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a massive commotion instantly swept through the entire Nanxiang County, and spread outward at a tsunami-like speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, within Nanxiang County’s jurisdiction, whether cultivators or ordinary commoners, all looked up at the sky at the first possible moment, watching the fire dragon fly overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Vermilion Bird Army!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such an array… such might…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems today the Vermilion Bird Army is going to take full control of Nanxiang County!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some cultivators highly sensitive to the situation, gazing at the Vermilion Bird Army formation that seemed like heavenly troops descending, showed expressions that said, “What was bound to come has indeed arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some people’s eyes lit up with hope, while others lowered their heads to hide the fear in their eyes…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever the Vermilion Bird Army passed, everything fell into an eerie silence, with only the whoosh of the crimson fire dragon flying through the sky, pounding heavily on everyone’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, within Nanxiang County town, it was still an ordinary scene. The marketplace was bustling, with shouts of vendors rising and falling, until…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is that?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A doubtful cry abruptly pierced the noise of the street. Someone suddenly stopped in their tracks, pointing at the southeastern sky with a horrified expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, it was just an insignificant glimmer of red light, but in just a few breaths, that speck of red expanded wildly like a prairie fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Vermilion Bird Army is coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shocked cries spread like a plague through the crowd. More and more townsfolk and cultivators stopped what they were doing, walked out of their homes, and looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The originally noisy marketplace fell silent in that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under everyone’s gaze, the faint red dot rapidly stretched and swelled, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a majestic, sky-spanning fiery red dragon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire dragon, carrying billowing waves of heat and an oppressive, suffocating aura, slammed into the vision of everyone in the county town with an unstoppable posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The originally clear sky was instantly dyed through by this solemn crimson hue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the Vermilion Bird Army coming to attack the county town?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fearful whispers quickly fermented among the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, the Vermilion Bird Army always passed by the county town without entering, but today, it was clearly heading straight for the town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What attack?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Nanxiang County has always been under the Vermilion Bird Army’s jurisdiction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commotion began within the county town. Ordinary commoners showed obvious panic on their faces, and even cultivators had grave expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the county government office, the atmosphere was stifling to the point of suffocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Huaice stood by the window, gazing at the crimson torrent drawing ever closer on the horizon, long silent, finally letting out a heavy sigh: “This day has come after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Vermilion Bird Army took over Nanxiang County, what the imperial family lost was not merely administrative control over a single county—it was a breach in the dike, marking the formal collapse of imperial authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was easy to imagine that before long, other regions would follow suit one after another, and the Chu Imperial Dynasty would gradually step off the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Huaice looked at the gathered cultivators in the county office: \"Let's go. We'll head to the city gate together to welcome the Vermilion Bird Army into the city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, Song Weimin led five thousand Vermilion Bird soldiers hovering outside the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dense military formation loomed like black clouds blotting out the sun, yet not a trace of noise arose. That majestic, solemn aura surged toward the city like a tangible tide, filling the common folk with both awe and a strange, long-lost sense of reassurance—a signal of the return of order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look! It's Lord Song!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd, someone was the first to recognize that familiar figure, and a cry of delight instantly erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The panic and chaos that had spread from the army's approach vanished in that single instant like smoke dissipating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the people of Nanxiang County, the name Song Weimin meant stability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High above, Song Weimin looked down upon this familiar city, his gaze sweeping over the cheering common folk, and his emotions began to churn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all the twists and turns, he was back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Weimin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his chest. With a sweep of his hand, the five centurions behind him understood his intent, and the five thousand Vermilion Bird soldiers obeyed as if they were extensions of his own arm, beginning an orderly descent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No disturbance, no chaos—only suffocating discipline and iron-like authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Ji Huaice had already led the cultivators from the county office to hastily arrive at the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Huaice knew Song Weimin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the Vermilion Bird Army follow Song Weimin's lead, Ji Huaice felt a shock in his heart—the Lord of Lingguang Hall truly knew how to choose and employ people, actually finding Song Weimin to manage Nanxiang County!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Song, it's good to see you well.\" Ji Huaice stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, his tone carrying a hint of complexity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Weimin nodded in return, then came straight to the point: \"Lord Ji, by order of the Lord of Lingguang Hall, effective today, the Vermilion Bird Army formally takes over Nanxiang County!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Huaice's smile did not fade as he spoke unhurriedly: \"Lord Song, as far as I know, Nanxiang County should be governed by its City Lord. Although Lingguang Hall holds an exalted status, in principle it should still follow the orders of the City Lord's Mansion. Current actions seem somewhat... presumptuous, don't they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Weimin looked at him: \"Since the City Lord's Mansion has not appeared, it is fitting for the Vermilion Bird Army to take over Nanxiang County. Moreover, what you mentioned isn't our concern.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Huaice's smile faded, his voice lowering with a hint of probing and warning: \"The City Lord's token of Nanxiang City remains missing to this day. Lord Song, have you considered that if this token eventually falls into the hands of the imperial family, and the rightful City Lord returns, how will you handle that situation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Weimin's expression remained unchanged: \"I only attend to the matters before me. As for the future... let things take their natural course.\" With that, he tilted his head slightly and exchanged a glance with the five centurions behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the Vermilion Bird Army moved like the wind, swiftly and silently seizing every strategic point at the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this scene, Ji Huaice had no reaction other than silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The various factions lurking in the shadows, witnessing the imperial family so readily allowing the Vermilion Bird Army to take over Nanxiang County, were deeply disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many factions had hoped that the imperial family and the Vermilion Bird Army would clash, giving them a chance to fish in troubled waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the expected conflict never materialized; instead, there was a nearly perfect peaceful handover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The imperial family really knows how to swallow their pride this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep in the clouds, several cultivators at the Lingtai realm murmured among themselves, their tones laced with obvious sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if they couldn't stop the Vermilion Bird Army from entering the city, they could at least have sent some people to stir up trouble and make some noise. How can they be so spineless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How do you know they didn't send anyone? Perhaps they did send people, but they simply didn't dare to act.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone sneered, tilting their chin slightly toward the sky north of Nanxiang County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone followed the gaze and saw, where the sea of clouds churned, a fiery red figure stood in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That person was surrounded by swirling crimson flames, like a blazing sun suspended in the sky—the Lord of Lingguang Hall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone who had mocked the imperial family fell silent instantly. With the Lord of Lingguang Hall overseeing the scene, who would dare make a move?!\u003C\u002Fp>",1678,"2026-05-29T04:11:04.856Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","02d914a345bbf270ad8c69ecb16258fb8035bd98b84250abaf6f7176588d42ff","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-480","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-478",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]