182: Chapter 182 The Rise of the Steel Fortress: A New Era Forged Across Land, Sea, Air, and Space

"Gao Yunfei! I hereby appoint you as the Air Force Commander-in-Chief and confer upon you the rank of Lieutenant General!"

"The Air Force will have three aviation divisions, one air defense missile brigade, and one radar early warning brigade under its jurisdiction!"

Zhang Cheng pointed at the rows of advanced fighter jet images on the screen. "Twenty-four J-10 stealth fighters will serve as our 'trump card.' Keep them hidden normally; they are meant to kick down the door at the critical moment! The H-6K bomber regiment will be responsible for long-range strikes. If I find anyone disagreeable, you'll go take a stroll right at their doorstep! As for the rest—the various helicopters and drones we captured or exchanged for previously—they will all be under your unified command!"

"The Air Force has only one goal: in the skies above this country, not even a fly is allowed to pass without permission, let alone any birds that aren't our own! Can you do it?!"

"I guarantee the mission will be completed! If air supremacy is lost, I will present my head to you!" Gao Yunfei's voice had a metallic texture, cold and confident.

"Good! You've got guts!"

Zhang Cheng shifted his gaze to the man wearing a white naval uniform, his skin dark and his face weathered by the elements.

"Hai Long!"

"Present!" This man named Hai Long was the naval commander Zhang Cheng had spent a fortune to exchange for. He exuded the scent of the sea and an unfathomable steadiness.

"Myanmar has a coastline of over two thousand kilometers. In the past, we had a sea but no defense, letting others' aircraft carriers bully us right at our front door! Those days are gone forever!"

Zhang Cheng slammed his fist onto the table. "I appoint you as the Navy Commander-in-Chief and confer upon you the rank of Lieutenant General! The bases will be located at Kyaukpyu Port and the Mergui Archipelago!"

"Though our foundation isn't thick yet, it is not to be underestimated! Four Type 055 Large Destroyers, eight Type 054A Frigates, and sixteen Kilo-class Submarines! That is your inventory! Train them! Train them to death! I want you to use these ships to drive a nail into the Andaman Sea! Make the USA's Seventh Fleet turn off their radars and tuck their tails between their legs whenever they pass by our doorstep in the future!"

"Rest assured, Sovereign!" Hai Long gave a standard military salute, a fanatical light flashing in his eyes. "Just give me three years, and I will build a blue-water navy for you!"

"Good! I'll give you time and resources!"

Finally, Zhang Cheng's gaze became somewhat mysterious and a bit fearsome. He looked toward Wang Yuanshan, who had been sitting in the corner, silent the whole time.

"Wang Yuanshan!"

"Present!"

"Your 'Thor' Brigade is being decommissioned!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the room erupted in an uproar. Wang Yuanshan was a veteran who had achieved great military honors; why was he being dismissed just like that?

Wang Yuanshan, however, did not change his expression, and his back straightened even further.

"Starting today, the 'Strategic Rocket Force' is established! You will serve as the Commander and report directly to me!"

Zhang Cheng's voice was kept very low, yet it exploded in everyone's ears like a thunderclap.

"DF-21D, DF-17... I am entrusting these big guys to you. Hide them for me in the deep mountains and old forests, hide them underground! Don't let them show their faces normally, but as soon as I give the order, whether the target is an aircraft carrier at sea or a base thousands of kilometers away, you must deliver the 'express package' with precision!"

"The Rocket Force is our hole card, the capital that allows us to slam the table against the big players! The burden on your shoulders is heavier than anyone else's!"

Wang Yuanshan took a deep breath, his gaze as firm as a Rock. "With the sword in hand, I ask the world who the hero is! The Rocket Force is always ready!"

"Very good!"

Zhang Cheng stood up and looked around at his four great generals and these dozen or so fierce commanders, his heart filled with grand ambition.

An army of three hundred thousand, an air force of twenty thousand, a navy of ten thousand, and a Rocket Force of five thousand. Plus the hundreds of thousands of reserves and militia organized by Li Lanzhi.

This wasn't just an army; it was a precision-engineered war machine, an awakening steel fortress!

"Everyone!" Zhang Cheng raised his wine glass. "In the past, we were called bandits and warlords. From today on, we are the guardians of the nation, the people's army! If anyone dares to look at us with those eyes again, we will use cannons and missiles to tell them—times have changed!"

"To the Sovereign! To the Greater Myanmar Federation!"

Everyone shouted in unison, their voices shaking the very roof.

...

After the meeting ended, the lights in the field headquarters remained on.

Zhang Cheng did not rest; he kept Old K and Li Lanzhi behind.

The military issues were resolved, but that was only the first step of a long march. Once the gun barrels are hard, the wallets must be full, and the people's hearts must be united.

"Lan Zhi, I've finished organizing the military. Next, it's your turn to take center stage." Zhang Cheng looked at Li Lanzhi, his eyes full of trust.

Li Lanzhi took out a massive administrative map and spread it on the table. On the map, the originally complex boundaries of the seven states and seven regions had been redrawn with a red pen, becoming simple and clear.

"Brother Cheng, according to your wishes, we will abolish the old state and region system, break down ethnic barriers, and implement a new administrative division."

Li Lanzhi pointed at the map and spoke with clear logic. "The country will be divided into five major Federal Administrative Zones."

"First, the Central Directly Governed Zone. This includes Naypyidaw and its surrounding areas; it is the political heart, directly managed by the central government, as solid as an iron barrel."

"Second, the Northern Industrial Zone. Centered around Mandalay and Myitkyina, it will rely on the Dragon Kingdom's railways and electricity to vigorously develop mineral processing and manufacturing. This is our wallet."

"Third, the Eastern Resource Zone. This includes the former Shan State plateau, with a focus on developing agriculture and tourism, and of course, those unspeakable rare metal mines."

"Fourth, the Southern Trade Zone. Centered around Yangon, it radiates across the entire coast to connect with international trade; it is our window to the outside world."

"Fifth, the Western Strategic Zone. The core is Kyaukpyu Port! That is our outlet to the sea and the starting point for future energy pipelines. It must be under militarized management—a special zone with special measures!"

Zhang Cheng nodded repeatedly as he listened. "Good! We'll do it that way! These five zones are like five fingers; when clenched, they form a single fist!"

"And what about personnel arrangements?" Zhang Cheng asked the most critical question.

Li Lanzhi took out a list. "I've screened this several times over the last few days. For the Central Directly Governed Zone, I suggest the steady and experienced former Minister of the Interior, U Min—from the defector faction—as the administrative head. He's familiar with the business and can soothe the old bureaucrats."

"For the Northern Industrial Zone, we need to send someone who understands economics and has a firm hand. I recommend Liu Qiang, that economics PhD we poached from the Dragon Kingdom. Although he's young, he has a sharp mind and is a doer."

"The Eastern Resource Zone is complex with many ethnic groups. I think we still need to use one of our own. Let Wang Dana, who was previously in charge of logistics, go. He has a way of dealing with those chieftains."

"For the Southern Trade Zone, the waters in Yangon are deep; we need someone who can keep the situation under control. I suggest transferring Night Owl over to concurrently serve as the director of the Military Control Commission for a period. Get the public security in order first before talking about the economy."

"As for the Western Strategic Zone..." Li Lanzhi paused. "That place is too important, and the Dragon Kingdom is watching it closely. I think it's best if you personally serve as the zone governor, or... let Old K go and hold the fort."

Zhang Cheng pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping on the tabletop.

"This list is generally good. Liu Qiang and Wang Dana can be used. For Yangon, Night Owl is indeed suitable; those profiteers and old aristocrats need to be handled by a spymaster."

"As for the West..." Zhang Cheng looked at Old K. "Old K, you go. Take the most elite Death Soldier brigade with you. That place is our lifeblood; I don't trust anyone but you."

"Yes," Old K nodded.