57: Chapter 57 New Flags Flying and Vipers in the Dark

The news of the agreement signing swept through Northern Myanmar like a Hurricane, the dust it kicked up refusing to settle for a long time.

Some were ecstatic, some were suspicious, but most were watching blankly, not knowing what this new flag about to be raised would bring.

The central square in Pangkham, once the place where the United Wa State Army reviewed troops and displayed its military might, was packed to the brim today.

The common people were organized, either voluntarily or swept up by the stern atmosphere, gathering from all directions. They stood on tiptoe, stretching their necks, looking toward the temporarily erected podium draped in red cloth.

On the stage, Zhang Cheng wore a newly tailored dark uniform. The style was simple, without too many ribbons or medals. The only striking feature was the emblem on his shoulder straps representing the Commander-in-Chief of the "Kokang National Army" — crossed golden gears and rice ears, supporting a simple five-pointed star, symbolizing development, people's livelihood, and protection. He stood straight, his face solemn, his silhouette sharp against the rising sun.

At the very front below the stage were the soldiers of the "Kokang National Army," who had changed into their new uniforms and were arranged in neat phalanxes. The uniform was still predominantly a steady black, but traditional Kokang patterns and the emblem representing the Autonomous Region had been added to the collars, cuffs, and armbands.

They were silent as mountains, their eyes still cold and firm. However, under the system's heaven-defying deep identity background implantation, in the eyes of everyone at this moment — whether it was the Long Kingdom representative watching on the stage, the Naypyidaw liaison officer, or the countless eyes below — they were no longer the mysterious and terrifying "Death Soldiers," but the Kokang sons and daughters defending their homeland, their faces gradually becoming clear. Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Wu... everyone had a name and a surname, had a father and a mother, and had a "home" in the nearby villages.

"Raise the flag!" Old K's voice came through the loudspeaker, cold, without inflection, yet carrying an unquestionable power.

The temporary military band — composed of a few Death Soldiers with musical backgrounds and some newly recruited local youths — played a majestic tune. It was not the national anthem of Myanmar, nor was it the national anthem of the Long Kingdom, but a newly composed march full of strength and hope.

Amidst the music and under the gaze of countless eyes, a brand-new flag slowly climbed along the white flagpole.

The background color of the flag was green, symbolizing peace and hope. In the center, golden gears and rice ears were tightly intertwined, representing industrial development and the agricultural foundation. Above, a bright red five-pointed star shone brilliantly, indicating both the intricate connection with the Long Kingdom and the firm direction of its own pursuits, while also symbolizing leadership and the core.

The regional flag of the "Kokang Autonomous Region"!

When the flag reached the top, fully unfurled, and snapped in the morning breeze, a brief silence fell over the square.

Immediately after, led by those arranged in advance, applause and cheers surged like a tide. Although somewhat sparse and uneven, they eventually merged into a single sound.

Zhang Cheng walked to the microphone and pressed his hands down, and the square gradually quieted down. His voice spread to every corner through the loudspeaker, steady, powerful, without much sentimentality, yet every word was clear:

"From today on, this land beneath our feet welcomes a new chapter!"

His gaze swept over the dense crowd below the stage, scanning faces that were either excited, numb, or curious.

"We are no longer synonymous with chaos, no longer a hotbed of crime! Those malignant tumors that exploited the blood and tears of our compatriots and sold out national dignity have been uprooted by us! Those scum who rode on the heads of the people to act tyrannically and colluded with foreign enemies have been swept into the dustbin of history by us!"

"Today, standing here is the Kokang Autonomous Region, in the northern part of Shan State, Federation of Myanmar! It is the countless ordinary people who long for peace and pursue a happy life! Standing behind me is the 'Kokang National Army'! They are the sons and daughters defending their homeland, protecting their loved ones, and pursuing fairness and development!"

There were no hoarse shouts, no exaggerated body movements. His words were like heavy stones thrown into the lake of people's hearts, stirring up ripples. For the ordinary people who had suffered from war, exploitation, and crime, words like "peace," "homeland," and "fairness" held an irresistible attraction.

"Our road is still long. Building our homeland, developing the economy, letting every child have books to read, letting every patient receive treatment, letting every inch of land be far from the shadows of drugs and crime... these require all of us to work together!"

He paused, his voice raised a little, carrying an unquestionable determination:

"I, Zhang Cheng, as the Chairman of the Provisional Administrative Committee of the Autonomous Region and Commander-in-Chief of the 'Kokang National Army,' solemnly promise here: We will severely crack down on all illegal and criminal activities! We will do our utmost to guarantee the safety of the life and property of every law-abiding citizen! We will welcome with the greatest sincerity all friends who truly come to help, to invest, and to build!"

"The future of Kokang is in our own hands! Let us join hands to build a brand-new, prosperous, and dignified Kokang!"

When his voice fell, applause broke out again. This time, it seemed more enthusiastic and sincere than before. In the eyes of many, a faint flame called hope ignited.

On the observation deck, Long Kingdom representative Zhao Gang nodded slightly and whispered to the newly appointed Naypyidaw liaison officer accompanying him — a middle-aged colonel named Wu Lamine with an awkward expression: "The overall situation is initially settled, Colonel Wu. We will have many opportunities to cooperate in the future." Wu Lamine barely squeezed out a smile and nodded repeatedly, but he felt a complex mix of emotions inside. He knew that in front of this strong "Chairman Zhang," his role as a "liaison officer" was probably just for show and as a mouthpiece.

In the crowd, Li Lanzhi looked up at the figure on the stage who controlled everything, her heart surging. She knew that behind this seemingly peaceful transformation lay countless precise calculations and absolute strength by the master. The perfect resolution of the identity issue made her breathe a sigh of relief and filled her with more confidence in the future.

After the ceremony, at the field headquarters office.

Zhang Cheng took off his ceremonial uniform. Before he could even take a sip of water, Old K walked in, bringing a top-secret intelligence report, his expression more serious than usual.

"Commander-in-Chief, there is movement in the south." Old K's voice was very low. "Bao Youxiang has not given up. He knows that a head-on clash won't work, so he has started playing dirty. We have intercepted confirmed intelligence that he spent a huge sum of money to hire the ace assassin of the 'Blood Moon' organization — codenamed 'Phantom'."

"Phantom?" Zhang Cheng frowned slightly. He had heard this name before; it was a legend on the dark web.

"The third-ranked top assassin on the international dark web. A 100% mission success rate. Never missed." Old K pulled up a blurry file, which only showed a figure from behind. "This person is adept at disguise, infiltration, and poisoning, and is proficient in all kinds of killing techniques. She is extremely dangerous. According to reliable intelligence, she infiltrated our controlled area three days ago and is currently missing."

"Three days ago?" Zhang Cheng's eyes turned cold. "That means, among the tens of thousands of people in the square just now, she might have been hiding there?"

"Very likely." Old K nodded. "It is my dereliction of duty. Please allow me to immediately conduct a city-wide search. Better to kill the wrong person than to let one slip through!"

"No." Zhang Cheng waved his hand, the light of a hunter flickering in his eyes. "A city-wide search will only alert the enemy and even cause panic. A killer of this level, once she hides, is like a drop of water in the ocean, very hard to find. We must make her jump out herself."