160: Chapter 160 A Step-by-Step Approach and the White House's Furious

"Logistics pressure will be heavy," Li Lanzhi reminded. "Three supply lines, with a total length of over four hundred kilometers, require a large number of transport vehicles and escort troops."

"That's why the speed of advancement cannot be too fast," Zhang Cheng said. "Order all units to fight steadily, advancing no more than fifty kilometers a day. Every time a key point is occupied, immediately establish a material transit station and defensive fortifications. What we want is not a blitzkrieg, but a crushing war—using absolute firepower and technological superiority to crush Min Aung Hlaing's troops bit by bit."

He paused and looked at Old K: "Location of the US remnants?"

"They are retreating toward the Thailand border." Old K brought up the drone footage. "The remnants of the 25th Light Infantry Division led by Lieutenant General Miller, about three thousand men, and the remnants of the 1st Armored Division, about one thousand five hundred men, plus auxiliary troops, totaling less than six thousand. They abandoned most of their heavy equipment, carrying only light weapons and necessary supplies, moving very fast."

"Why not retreat to defend Naypyidaw?" BigDecimal own asked, puzzled. "Joining forces with the Myanmar Army would add at least several thousand more men."

"Because they're afraid of losing," Zhang Cheng sneered. "In the battle of Meiktila, the armored strength and aerial superiority the US was so proud of were completely shattered by us. What Miller is thinking about now isn't how to win, but how to bring the remaining troops back intact to account to Washington."

"Then will the Americans send reinforcements?" Zhao Yuxun asked.

"They definitely will," Zhang Cheng's eyes were sharp. "But it will take time. From mobilizing troops to transport and deployment, it will take at least a week. And in a week..." He pointed to the location of Naypyidaw on the map, "We should already be sitting in Min Aung Hlaing's Presidential Palace."

The order was given, and the massive war machine started up again. Three steel torrents, like three giant beasts, slowly and firmly lunged toward the south.

Washington, the White House Situation Room.

It was three in the morning, but this underground command center next to the Oval Office was brightly lit. The President was wearing a bathrobe, his face flushed, waving a battle report that had just been delivered.

"Six thousand casualties! Eighty M1A2s! Twenty-four of the most advanced fighter jets! And two B-2s—two billion dollars each!" His spit almost sprayed onto Defense Secretary Esper's face. "Is this the 'limited military intervention' you promised me? Is this 'showing the USA's strength'? This is fucking showing how we can be suckers!"

Esper lowered his head, his voice dry: "Mr. President, Zhang Cheng's military technology has indeed exceeded our estimates. His electronic warfare system can suppress all frequency bands, the performance of his air defense missiles far exceeds existing models, and... he may have obtained an unknown source of technology."

"Unknown source?" The President's eyes widened. "Didn't the CIA say the Dragon Kingdom was behind it? Haspell! You speak!"

CIA Director Gina Haspell stood up, her expression solemn: "Mr. President, our latest analysis suggests that the Dragon Kingdom may have provided some basic technical support, but the core technology Zhang Cheng possesses—such as the air defense system that can shoot down a B-2, and the microwave weapons that can paralyze all our electronic equipment—the Dragon Kingdom itself may not even have these technologies."

"Then where did he get them? Aliens?" the President mocked.

"We... are still investigating," Haspell said with difficulty. "But one thing is certain: if Zhang Cheng is allowed to unify Myanmar and gain the country's resources and strategic position, combined with the technology beyond the era in his hands... in the next ten years, he may become the most unstable factor in Asia and even the world."

General Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took over: "So we must stop him. But the problem now is—how? Conventional military means have proven ineffective."

"Then use unconventional means!" The President slammed the table. "Nuclear weapons! I don't believe his air defense system can intercept nuclear missiles!"

The Situation Room fell into instant silence.

A few seconds later, Secretary of State Pompeo said cautiously: "Mr. President, using nuclear weapons against Myanmar... this would lead to a global diplomatic disaster. Our allies would waver, the United Nations would condemn us, and it might even trigger..."

"Trigger what? World War III?" The President sneered. "You bureaucrats are just too hesitant! Zhang Cheng slapped us in the face, and the whole world is watching the joke! If we don't make a tough response, who will fear the USA in the future? Who will listen to us?"

He walked to the world map, his finger pressing heavily on the location of Myanmar: "Tell the Pentagon to draw up a plan—we don't need to actually use nuclear weapons, but we need to make Zhang Cheng believe we dare to. Meanwhile, order the remaining two carrier strike groups of the Seventh Fleet to head to the Andaman Sea! Mobilize troops from Guam, Japan, and South Korea! I want to assemble a hundred thousand troops around Myanmar within a week!"

"Mr. President, this requires Congressional authorization..." Esper reminded.

"Then go get the authorization!" the President roared. "Tell those congressmen that if Zhang Cheng wins, the USA's influence in Asia is finished! Our allies will tilt toward the Dragon Kingdom, our military hegemony will be questioned, and the dollar's status will be shaken! This is a national crisis!"

Panting heavily, he looked around at everyone: "Also, contact Min Aung Hlaing. Tell him as long as he can hold Naypyidaw for a week—no, five days! The USA's army will arrive! Then we'll attack from three sides—sea, land, and air—and crush Zhang Cheng to powder!"

The orders were quickly passed down.

But General Milley knew in his heart that things weren't that simple. From mobilizing troops to deployment, from diplomatic mediation to logistics preparation, five days were simply not enough. Whether Min Aung Hlaing could hold Naypyidaw was a question—according to intelligence, Zhang Cheng's troops would be at the gates in three days at the latest.

And what worried him even more was Zhang Cheng's source of technology. If it was truly as Haspell said, and it wasn't the Dragon Kingdom or Russia, then who could it be? What kind of power could invest such beyond-the-era technology in the hands of a warlord?

Milley had a premonition: this war in Myanmar might just be the prelude.

The real show was still to come.

Naypyidaw, Ministry of Defense underground command center.

Min Aung Hlaing stared at the satellite phone, his hand trembling slightly. On the other end was Lieutenant General Miller—this US commander who was an ally just a few hours ago, but now his voice was cold and distant.

"General Min Aung Hlaing, my unit has received orders from Washington to retreat to Thailand for rest and reorganization," Miller said. "But we will maintain a presence at Utapao Base and provide limited aerial reconnaissance and intelligence support."

"Retreat?" Min Aung Hlaing could hardly believe his ears. "General Miller, Naypyidaw has complete defensive fortifications and eighty thousand defenders! If we join forces, it's entirely possible to stop Zhang Cheng! If you retreat now, the army's morale will crumble!"

"General, I must be responsible for my soldiers." Miller's voice was flat. "In the battle of Meiktila, we lost sixty percent of our manpower and equipment. The remaining troops have low morale and urgently need rest and replenishment. Forcing them into the defense of Naypyidaw will only cause more casualties and be of no benefit to the situation."

"Then when can you come back with reinforcements?"

"Washington is mobilizing new troops. But... it will take a week at the earliest."

"A week."