53: Chapter 53 Scraping the Ground, Wealth and Points Soar

Zhang Cheng stood before a massive Real-time Map. The red dots on the map (hostiles) had become pitifully sparse, while vast swathes of green (controlled areas) covered the mountains and towns of North Wa.

But his brow was not entirely relaxed. His fingers tapped the table unconsciously, producing a dull thudding sound. He was waiting—waiting for the final, definitive results of the battle.

The door was pushed open gently, and Li Lanzhi walked in quickly. Her face bore the fatigue of several days, yet she couldn't hide the deep excitement and a trace of shock in her eyes. In her hand, she held a thick preliminary report that still smelled of ink.

“Sovereign, the final verified data for the Mengping and He Island campaigns is out.” Her voice trembled slightly with excitement. “After repeated counting, identity verification, and cross-referencing with the lists provided by the Dragon Kingdom—the two battles rescued a total of 16,874 of our compatriots! All have currently been moved to the temporary resettlement camps we established at the border. The seriously injured and the extremely weak are receiving emergency treatment from our medical teams and the Dragon Kingdom's support medical group. The rest are receiving basic care, psychological counseling, and identity registration, preparing for repatriation in batches!”

Sixteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-four!

This number caused all the staff officers and signalmen in the command center to stop what they were doing, subconsciously holding their breath. Although there had been estimates before, the final verified count still exceeded everyone's expectations.

This wasn't just a number; it represented over ten thousand families that were nearly shattered, over ten thousand souls granted a new life.

Zhang Cheng's tapping fingers stopped. He closed his eyes and let out a long, slow breath. When he opened them again, the sharp light in his eyes softened slightly, only to be replaced immediately by a deeper chill.

Because the content Li Lanzhi continued to report revealed the staggering evil and greed behind this massive number.

“During the campaign, approximately seven hundred armed militants and heinous ringleaders who resisted to the end were killed. About four hundred low-to-mid-level management personnel, thugs, and criminal accomplices were captured.” Li Lanzhi turned a page, her tone solemn. “Based on seized ledgers, communication records, and preliminary interrogations of the captives, it's confirmed that these two major parks directly or indirectly caused the deaths of over a hundred Dragon Kingdom compatriots through abuse, disease, or failed escape attempts. The specific list is still being verified.”

Suppressed gasps echoed in the command room. A hundred lives! And those were only the confirmed ones!

“Regarding the seizures...” Li Lanzhi's voice rose slightly, carrying an indescribable complexity of emotion. “After three days and nights of counting, transporting, and preliminary valuation by the finance team, armed escort team, and the Death Soldier engineering detachment... the results... are staggering.”

She projected the key data from the report onto the side screen.

“Cash portion: A mix of RMB, USD, EUR, MMK, THB, and other currencies. Preliminary sorting shows about 2.87 billion RMB in cash; about 450 million USD in cash; and other currencies totaling about 300 million RMB. The total cash category is approximately 3.62 billion RMB.”

“Precious metals and jewelry: 1,200 kilograms of gold bars (worth about 570 million RMB at current market prices); various finished diamonds, gemstones, jadeite, and raw stones (requiring further professional appraisal) are preliminarily valued at over 1.5 billion RMB; brand-name watches, jewelry, luxury bags, etc., total about 280 million RMB.”

“Real estate and account assets: A batch of documents for properties, vehicles, and equity under the names of the parks and associated ringleaders (mainly on the Myanmar-Thailand border) has been seized; the value is difficult to estimate immediately. Assets in overseas bank accounts and virtual currency wallets (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) that were successfully frozen and preliminarily cracked are worth approximately 7.15 billion RMB when converted at current exchange rates!”

Li Lanzhi took a deep breath and read out the grand total: “The total value of all appraised assets is approximately 13.05 billion RMB. This does not include a large number of top-tier raw jadeite stones that haven't been cut and need to be auctioned, a batch of suspected antique artworks, and potentially more hidden encrypted assets still being deeply cracked!”

13.05 billion RMB!

The command room was so silent that a pin drop could be heard; only heavy breathing remained.

This number was like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart. This wasn't just money; this was a mountain of blood-soaked wealth! It was the tragic crystallization of countless families losing everything, even their lives!

Zhang Cheng's eyes turned completely cold, like ten-thousand-year-old ice. He remained silent for a few seconds before speaking with a low but decisive power:

“This money is stained with the blood and tears of our compatriots. But now, it's ours.” He paused. “Li Lanzhi, start immediately on injecting 10 billion of it into the ‘Dawn’ Development Fund. Prioritize infrastructure reconstruction in North Wa—building roads, bridges, restoring power and communications, and constructing schools and basic medical clinics. Improve livelihoods—stabilize prices, ensure basic food supplies, and provide necessary employment opportunities. Also, continue upgrading military equipment and providing personnel pensions.”

“Yes!” Li Lanzhi responded solemnly, recording the orders rapidly.

“The remaining 3.05 billion will serve as strategic reserves and special operation funds,” Zhang Cheng continued. “Find reliable channels to gradually liquidate those raw jadeite stones and artworks, and merge those funds into the foundation as well. As for those overseas accounts and virtual currencies,” a sharp light flashed in his eyes, “find a way to transfer back everything that can be transferred. For those that can't be or are too risky, see if we can cooperate with the Dragon Kingdom through ‘Wang Wu’s’ channels. In short, not a single cent is to be left outside to fund the enemy!”

“Understood! I will organize a professional team to follow up immediately.”

“And those prisoners,” Zhang Cheng's tone suddenly turned harsh, filled with killing intent, “Public trials! Hold them in Bang Kang Square and let all the common people watch! Every instance of how they deceived people, how they beat people, how they killed people, and how they squandered this blood-stained money—expose every single detail clearly! Those who deserve execution, carry it out immediately! For those with lesser crimes, depending on the circumstances, throw them into the newly built labor camps to build the most dangerous roads and clear the wildest mountains. Use their bones and sweat to atone for the sins they committed! Do you understand?”

“Understood! The trial process and the labor camp construction plan have been preliminarily drafted and can be executed at any time!” Li Lanzhi replied without hesitation.

After handling the seizures and prisoners, Zhang Cheng waved his hand to let Li Lanzhi go about her work. He walked to the window alone, watching the Bang Kang City outside gradually regain some vitality, yet he felt little joy. Wealth and victory were merely means; the true goal was far from being achieved.

Just then, in his mind, the system notification sound that had been silent for a few days rang out continuously like the most melodious notes:

[Ding—Detected that the host has successfully destroyed the core of an ultra-large criminal group (Mengping Baisheng Park), rescuing over 8,000 imprisoned and enslaved personnel, dealing a heavy blow to the regional criminal ecosystem. Reward: 8,000 points.]

[Ding—Detected that the host has successfully destroyed the core of a large criminal group (He Island Fraud Park), rescuing over 5,000 imprisoned and enslaved personnel, effectively clearing a criminal stronghold. Reward: 5,000 points.]

[Ding—Continued clearing of regional criminal networks, maintaining basic order and stability in the controlled zone. Reward: 3,000 points.]

[Ding—Today's points have been credited.]

After a series of notifications scrolled by, Zhang Cheng immediately pulled up the system panel that only he could see:

[Host: Zhang Cheng]

[Permission Level: Junior Controller]

[Current Points: 151,115 points!]

[Summoned Units: Death God Legion (1st to 5th Battalions, Special Operations Company)...]

[Exchange List:]

[Death Soldier Summoning]

└── Junior Death Soldier: 10 points/each (Excellent recruit, absolute loyalty, basic tactical literacy, low social intelligence)

└── Intermediate Death Soldier: 100 points/each (Special forces physique, possesses specialized skills, basic social intelligence)

└── Advanced Death Soldier: 1,000 points/each (Soldier King physique, squad command, intermediate social intelligence and management ability)

└── Special Death Soldier: Various types, prices range from 100-5,000 points (Possesses top-tier professional skills)

[Equipment Exchange] (Note: 1 point ≈ 10,000 RMB in real-world purchasing power)

└── Weapons: AK Rifle (1 point), Pistol (0.5 points), Hand Grenade (0.1 points)...

└── Protective Gear: Body Armor (1 point), Tactical Helmet (0.3 points)...

└── Vehicles/Heavy Weapons: Armed Technical (10 points), Mortar (5 points), Missile System (Starting from 1,000 points)...

[Functional Services]

└── Death Soldier Summoning Space (Enabled)

└── Real-time Map (Enabled)

└── Skill Impartation (Not Enabled)...

Over one hundred and fifty-one thousand points!

The corner of Zhang Cheng's mouth finally curled into a heartfelt smile, carrying a strong sense of control. Compared to the massive amount of seized money, these points were his true foundation, a source of power that transcended the conventional limits of this era!

According to the exchange standard, 1 point was equivalent to ten thousand yuan in real-world purchasing power. These 150,000 points could theoretically mobilize real-world resources equivalent to 1.5 billion, and they would be instantaneous, absolutely loyal military resources!

Previously, summoning two thousand Junior Death Soldiers (10 points each) and issuing basic equipment (about 2-3 points per person) had cost a total of about twenty-five thousand points. The ammunition and equipment wear and tear from attacking the two major parks had resulted in a system-deducted repair fee of about one thousand points.

But this wave of rich mission rewards and the increased daily points had pushed the total points past the 150,000 mark!

“Intermediate Death Soldiers are 100 points each, with special forces physiques, specialized skills, and basic social intelligence... this cost-performance ratio is too high!” Zhang Cheng's thoughts raced. “Advanced Death Soldiers are 1,000 each, Soldier King level, and can serve as squad commanders. I don't need too many right now, but I can reserve some for key positions. An Armed Technical is only 10 points? A mortar is 5 points? A 105mm howitzer... based on purchasing power conversion, probably 80-100 points per piece? Missile systems start at 1,000 points; I can't afford them for now, but they're a future possibility...”

He quickly calculated: “Prioritize strengthening the core combat power and the chain of command. Old K's 1st Battalion and the 3rd Battalion stationed in Bang Kang need more grassroots officers and tactical cores. Exchange for 300 Intermediate Death Soldiers to fill the battalions as squad and platoon leader backbones. That’s 30,000 points. Equip them with better gear—at 5 points per person for an advanced individual kit, that’s 1,500 points. Add 20 Armed Technicals (200 points), 30 mortars (150 points), and 4 105mm howitzers (about 320 points). Then exchange for two junior drone reconnaissance/attack formations (according to the system's new list, similar functional formations are about 20 points each) to enhance battlefield awareness. Total is less than 33,000 points, leaving over 110,000 as a strategic reserve!”

This expenditure, compared to before when it cost tens of thousands of points just to strengthen a tiny bit, was simply too a bargain! Under the new price system, his points' purchasing power had exploded!

A moment later, Zhang Cheng made his decision.

“System, exchange: 300 Intermediate Death Soldiers. 300 sets of advanced individual equipment (at 5 points/set). 20 Armed Technicals. 30 mortars and basic ammunition. 4 105mm howitzers and basic ammunition. 2 junior drone reconnaissance/attack formations.”

[Exchanging 300 Intermediate Death Soldiers requires 30,000 points.]

[Exchanging 300 sets of advanced individual equipment requires 1,500 points.]

[Exchanging 20 Armed Technicals requires 200 points.]

[Exchanging 30 mortars (including basic ammunition) requires 150 points.]

[Exchanging 4 105mm howitzers (including basic ammunition) converts to 320 points based on purchasing power.]

[Exchanging 2 junior drone formations requires 40 points.]

[Total consumption: 32,210 points. Confirm?]

“Confirm!” Zhang Cheng said without hesitation.

[Exchange successful. 300 Intermediate Death Soldiers have been generated. Their initial identities are battle-hardened, high-capability NCOs and elite soldiers from the original Wa State United Army and local militias who 'naturally' joined and showed talent during the rest period, and have been integrated by commanders at all levels. Advanced equipment, vehicles, artillery, and drones have arrived at various units through rationalized means such as 'battlefield capture replenishment' and 'secret channel procurement,' and the memories of relevant personnel have been fine-tuned.]

Instantly, over 32,000 points vanished, but Zhang Cheng felt his military strength jump up a level! With three hundred special-forces-level Intermediate Death Soldiers infiltrating as backbones, the grassroots tactical execution and resilience of the entire Death God Legion would be greatly enhanced. The newly supplemented firepower and vehicles also made the units' mobility and strike capability more formidable. Most importantly, he still held over 110,000 points! This was a massive amount of capital, enough to handle any emergency or even launch a large-scale war!

“Order all units to rest for three days. Meanwhile, using companies and platoons as units, break into smaller groups and coordinate with the newly formed local militias and guides to conduct a dragnet sweep of North Wa!” Zhang Cheng turned and issued orders to Old K and Li Lanzhi, who had re-entered, his voice filled with powerful confidence. “Leave none of the remaining fraud dens, hidden criminals, or routed soldiers attempting to resist or hide! What I want is a clean North Wa, free of the cancer of telecommunications fraud! Let the common people be able to sleep at night!”

“Yes!” A red light flashed in Old K's eyes as he took the order. He could feel that the Sovereign seemed different again, as if a deeper, more majestic power was brewing within the legion.

Li Lanzhi also nodded: “The civil affairs and propaganda systems will coordinate and follow up, announcing reporting channels and promoting the ‘Dawn’ policies, so the people truly dare to speak and trust us.”

Zhang Cheng walked to the sand table, his gaze already cast toward the south, toward that winding Salween River and the shadow-shrouded land on the opposite bank. His hand unconsciously pressed against the edge of the sand table, where South Wa was represented.