40: Chapter 40: The Wa State – Where Military Forces Point and Undercurrents Surge

Three days later, Dawn Base.

The base was exceptionally lively today, with banners hanging on both sides of the street that read "Warmly Welcome Chairman Peng of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army".

Although the red cloth of the banners was a bit rough and the calligraphy was not by a master, the sincerity behind it was genuine.

The visit of Peng Deren was of the highest specifications.

A motorcade consisting of over a dozen identical Toyota Prados rolled into the city, kicking up yellow dust.

The people jumping out of the vehicles were all the most elite veterans from the Alliance Army, each with dark skin, vigilant eyes, and holding brand-new Type 95 assault rifles—a batch that Zhang Cheng had previously "gifted" through secret channels to show goodwill.

In front of the Commander-in-Chief's headquarters, Zhang Cheng was in military uniform.

He did not wear his rank, but his imposing and steady demeanor made no one dare to underestimate him.

The car door opened, and a man of about fifty years old, with a thin face but sharp eyes, stepped out.

He wore an old, washed-out military uniform, yet he possessed a majesty and sense of vicissitude that came from surviving a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

This was Peng Deren, the "old guerrilla" who had persisted in the mountains of Northern Myanmar for decades, the soul of the Alliance Army.

"Brother Zhang! To see you is better than hearing of you!"

Peng Deren strode forward, extending both hands heartily, his voice loud.

"This battle was fought beautifully! Those malignant tumors of the Four Great Families, we had wanted to pull them out for over a decade but couldn't, and you wiped them out in a month! Satisfying! Truly satisfying as hell!"

"Chairman Peng, you flatter me."

Zhang Cheng smiled and shook his hand with just the right amount of force, neither appearing weak nor aggressive.

"It was just going with the flow, plus a bit of luck. Please, come inside, the tea is already brewed."

The two walked side by side into the conference room, followed by their respective core generals.

In the conference room, a huge military map of Northern Myanmar hung on the wall, with red and blue markings clearly visible.

After the pleasantries, irrelevant personnel left, and the atmosphere quickly became serious.

"Brother Zhang, since we are sitting together, I won't beat around the bush."

Peng Deren took a sip of tea, his expression solemn.

"Now the rumors outside are saying that you want to claim kingship and independence. Naypyidaw is already anxious and is mobilizing troops. The Americans are also fanning the flames behind the scenes. Our current situation could be described as being surrounded by enemies."

"Claim kingship?"

Zhang Cheng smiled and walked to the map.

"Chairman Peng, do you think it's interesting to claim kingship in this tiny place?"

His finger drew a circle around Kokang, then slashed south, crossing Wa State all the way to the Salween River.

"My goal is not to be a petty tyrant in this mountain ditch. What I want is to completely end the chaos of these decades in Northern Myanmar! It is to establish a new order without drugs, without telecom fraud, where the common people can live and work in peace!"

"Well said!"

A glint flashed in Peng Deren's eyes, but then it dimmed.

"But this road is hard to travel. To the south, there is Bao Youxiang of Wa State, that old fox, with strong troops and horses, claiming to be 'Little China'. To the west, there is Kachin, backed by the Americans. And then there is Naypyidaw..."

"That is why we need to unite."

Zhang Cheng turned around, looking at Peng Deren with burning eyes.

"Fighting alone, neither of us can amount to anything and will sooner or later be defeated one by one. But if we join forces..."

He connected the two families' control zones on the map.

"We will be the greatest power in Northern Myanmar! If we advance, we can sweep across the entire territory; if we retreat, we can defend against the dangers!"

"I propose the establishment of the 'Northern Myanmar Joint Coordination Headquarters'. Intelligence sharing, mutual defense assistance, and logistical interoperability. In necessary moments, we can even have unified command!"

Peng Deren tapped his fingers on the table, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

"Unified command... isn't that step a bit too big?"

A staff officer behind Peng Deren frowned.

"Our Alliance Army has its own traditions..."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

Zhang Cheng said lightly.

"As a gesture of sincerity, I can provide your army with a batch of urgently needed heavy weapons. Including 107mm rocket launchers, mortars, and even man-portable air-defense missiles. In addition, my arsenal can provide you with stable ammunition supplies."

Hearing "heavy weapons" and "ammunition supplies", Peng Deren's eyes lit up instantly.

This was exactly what they lacked the most and were most choked by!

With these, they would have the confidence to challenge the government army in the mountains!

"Good!"

Peng Deren slammed the table, full of heroic spirit.

"Since Brother Zhang is so sincere, I, old Peng, am not a procrastinator! I'm in for this alliance! Let's fight them! Let's see who really calls the shots in this sky of Northern Myanmar!"

The two large hands gripped tightly together again.

However, just as the two heroes of the north were forming an alliance, in the shadows to the south, a poisonous snake was flicking its tongue.

Capital of Wa State, Pangkham.

Inside a luxurious villa with distinct Chinese characteristics but heavily guarded.

The Commander-in-Chief of the United Wa State Army, Bao Youxiang, leaned on a large rattan chair, rolling two walnuts in his hand, his face as gloomy as if it were about to rain.

"United?"

He snorted coldly.

"That old thing Peng Deren is getting more foolish as he ages. He actually went to be a foil for a young punk! Isn't he afraid of being swallowed by that kid Zhang Cheng without a bone left?"

Opposite him sat his trusted brain trust, Chief of Staff Xiao Mingliang.

"Commander-in-Chief, this is not a good sign."

Xiao Mingliang adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone sinister.

"That kid Zhang Cheng is very strange. If they really get into the same boat, the situation in the north will completely change. Plus, Naypyidaw's attitude is ambiguous, they just want to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight... We must strike first."

"How to strike? Attack directly?"

Bao Youxiang frowned.

"Fighting now would be mutually destructive, letting the Burmese people laugh at us."

"No, war is the worst strategy; that is what a reckless man would do."

Xiao Mingliang revealed a strange smile.

"To catch the bandits, first catch the king. The core of Zhang Cheng's group is him alone. As soon as he dies, that so-called 'Dawn' will immediately fall apart. At that time, Kokang will be in our Wa State's pocket."

"You mean... assassination?"

Bao Youxiang narrowed his eyes.

"Ordinary assassins can't get close to him. I heard that bodyguard of his named Old K is inhumanly strong. The several teams I sent didn't come back."

"Ordinary assassins certainly won't work. If hard methods don't work, we'll use soft ones."

Xiao Mingliang lowered his voice and took a photo out of his briefcase.

"We have a trump card we've raised for many years. A trump card specifically prepared for such moments."

In the photo was a young girl who was pure enough to make one's heart tremble, wearing a white dress, smiling like a flower.

"You mean... 'Huamei'?"

Bao Youxiang's eyes moved.

"Exactly."

Xiao Mingliang nodded.

"She has already successfully infiltrated. Her current identity is a clerk in the civil affairs department newly established by Zhang Cheng. Her background is seamless: a graduate of Yangon University, both parents deceased, came to rely on relatives. Her appearance... that is the type that would make even the Buddha tempted. Moreover, what she is best at is that kind of... gentle art of killing."

Bao Youxiang was silent for a moment, then a cruel smile appeared on his face.

"Good. Heroes have a hard time passing the beauty trap. Zhang Cheng is, after all, a young man in his twenties; I don't believe he won't cheat."

"Tell 'Huamei' not to rush. Get close to him first, make him obsessed with her, make him unable to leave her. Then, at the most critical moment..."

Bao Youxiang made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Give him a fatal blow! I want him to die in a bed of pleasure!"

"Achoo!"

Zhang Cheng, who was drinking and celebrating with Peng Deren, suddenly sneezed.

"What? Is Brother Zhang catching a cold?"

Peng Deren laughed.

"The wind in these mountains is harsh."

"It's nothing."

Zhang Cheng rubbed his nose, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"Probably someone is talking about me behind my back. In all likelihood... not something good."