61: Chapter 61 The territory has expanded, and so has the system.

Zhang Cheng stood alone, the military jacket symbolizing supreme power casually draped over the railing beside him. He wore only a high-quality white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing solid forearms.

He held neither a cigarette nor alcohol, simply resting his hands quietly on the railing.

For some reason, over the past few days, he had felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.

It was a strange feeling.

Logically, this was his moment of triumph, a time of rapid success.

There was a basketful of things to be happy about: the agreement with Naypyidaw was signed, he had achieved political legitimacy, and the banners of the "Kokang Autonomous Region" and the "Kokang National Army" were being flown openly and rightfully.

The traces of doubt and fear in the eyes of the common people were slowly being dissolved by the visible daily progress of road construction, grain distribution, and the dispatching of doctors.

Li Lanzhi and her team, like tireless worker ants, were organizing the once-chaotic civil administration into perfect order. The household registration books grew thicker by the day, and people were even sent into the most remote mountain villages to register residents, distribute seeds, and explain policies.

When Old K's soldiers went on patrol, their backs were as straight as javelins. Although the new recruits still looked a bit gaunt, their spirit and energy were entirely different from the slovenly warlord soldiers of the past who would wander about with cigarettes dangling from their mouths.

The family business had grown, the operation had expanded, and everything was moving in a positive direction.

Yet, he felt as if some crucial element was missing. A kind of... more solid, more profound confidence that would allow him to treat the sky as a blanket even if it fell? He couldn't quite put it into words.

Until this moment, standing here, looking at the hazy, undulating silhouettes of the mountains in the distant moonlight—that was the direction of South Wa.

He was calculating how to truly digest this territory, which was now several times larger than before; how to deal with that mad dog Bao Youxiang to the south and the hidden venomous snake "Phantom"; and how to turn the seemingly massive daily administrative tasks into solid, tangible power...

Suddenly, there was a "buzz" in his head.

It wasn't a crisp "ding-dong" notification. This time, the sound was heavy, a muffled resonance like the first strike of a bell in a remote mountain temple at dawn—deep, far-reaching, vibrating through his very soul, as if his spirit were being cleansed.

[Detected that the Host's actual controlled territory exceeds the standard threshold (entirety of Kokang + North Wa).] [Detected that the Host's effective governed population exceeds the standard threshold (managed citizens + army + floating population).] [Judgment: The Order Territory has taken its initial shape; the foundation of rule is stable, qualifying for higher-level power and resources.] [System Core Authority Upgraded!] [System Upgrading... 20%... 50%... 99%... Upgrade Complete!] [Current Version: 2.0]

Zhang Cheng's heart skipped a beat, then began to pound wildly. Blood seemed to rush to his brain, and he could even hear the pulse in his ears. Holding his breath, he concentrated all his mental energy on the light screen in his mind that only he could "see."

The originally pale blue interface now shimmered with a faint gold border, appearing more advanced and mysterious.

The first line of information that popped up made his breathing instantly heavy and his pupils contract!

[Daily Fixed Point Acquisition: 10,000 Points]

Ten thousand! Ten thousand points every day!

He subconsciously gripped the railing, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He quickly did the math in his head: according to the system's conversion standard of "1 point ≈ 10,000 RMB in purchasing power," these ten thousand points a day were equivalent to having 100 million RMB worth of resources dropped in his lap every single day!

One hundred million a day! That was 3 billion a month! 36 billion a year!

What did that mean? It meant he possessed the military spending power of some medium-sized countries—and these were pure resources, free from any corruption or waste!

"Over 1.8 million points..." Zhang Cheng muttered to himself, his throat feeling dry. "What can I do with this?"

With a sense of urgency bordering on hunger, he tapped the air, flipping to the updated equipment exchange list.

With just one look, his eyes glazed over, unable to look away.

The previous entries for AK-47s, RPG-7s, armed pickups, and old artillery were still there, but they had been pushed to the corners of the list. Replacing them was a vast array of brand-new, advanced options gleaming with an enticing metallic luster, smelling of gunpowder!

[M1A2 SEPv3 Main Battle Tank - 8,500 Points/Unit] (Note: The backbone of the current US Army, the latest improved model, featuring depleted uranium composite armor, hunter-killer integrated fire control system, and active protection system. Equivalent to approximately 85 million RMB/unit, far below international arms market prices. System produced, guaranteed quality.)

[AH-64E "apache" Attack Helicopter - 22,000 Points/Unit] (Note: The Reaper at treetop height, equipped with Longbow radar and Hellfire missiles, specifically designed to handle all kinds of defiant ground armor clusters and fortified positions. Equivalent to approximately 220 million RMB/unit.)

[M109A7 "Paladin" Self-Propelled Howitzer - 6,000 Points/Unit] (Note: The core of digitalized artillery, featuring shoot-and-scoot capability, 155mm caliber, and precision-guided munition compatibility. Equivalent to approximately 60 million RMB/unit.)

["javelin" Anti-Tank Missile System (Includes 2 missiles) - 150 Points/Set] (Note: An individual top-attack divine tool, fire-and-forget, a tank's nightmare. Equivalent to approximately 1.5 million RMB/set.)

[MQ-9 "Reaper" Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (Simplified Version) - 12,000 Points/Unit] (Note: Long endurance, high-altitude surveillance and strike, capable of carrying precision-guided munitions, a tool for decapitation strikes. Equivalent to approximately 120 million RMB/unit.)

...

Nothing but top-tier current-service American equipment! Real, heavy-duty hardware that serves as the mainstay of major national armies! Compared to these treasures, the T-55s and BTR-60s previously on the list were like wooden sticks compared to machine guns—they weren't even in the same dimension!

Zhang Cheng watched with surging emotions, his blood boiling and palms sweating. Images of heart-pounding scenes uncontrollably flooded his mind:

Rows of M1A2 main battle tanks, clad in jungle digital camouflage suited for Northern Myanmar's terrain, steel tracks grinding over the banks of the Salween River. Turrets turning steadily, 125mm smoothbore guns spitting out destructive fire, blowing enemy bunkers on the opposite bank to dust; apache attack helicopters, like the dragonflies of death, hovering nimbly at treetop height, the 30mm chain gun beneath the nose spitting tongues of fire, Hellfire missiles trailing exhaust to precisely pick off fortified fire points; groups of self-propelled howitzers deployed in the rear, their deafening volleys causing the South Wa defense lines to collapse in a baptism of steel and flame...

The vision was so beautiful that he was almost intoxicated by it, wishing he could exchange for everything right now and immediately march south!

However, this rush of heat that almost clouded his judgment lasted for less than ten seconds.

A cool night breeze blew past, giving him a shiver. A cold sense of reality, like a bucket of ice water over his head, instantly cleared his mind.

Having more money is a good thing, but how to spend it is a great science. Throwing it around like water might be satisfying, but it's also a quick way to die.

His territory was large now, nominally governing hundreds of thousands of people (though effective management was still being rolled out), and his army was approaching thirty thousand. But the foundation was too thin!

A few thousand core Death Soldiers, scattered across such a large area of mountains and towns, were spread thin like pepper. In many places, he could only rely on newly formed militias and old personnel who hadn't fully committed their hearts to maintain basic order.

Li Lanzhi's side was even more complicated, requiring money, people, time, and patience. Grassroots political construction, economic recovery, livelihood security, ideological propaganda... which of these wasn't a gold-consuming beast? Which didn't require careful calculation?

Most importantly, he was now nominally a "highly autonomous region" under the Federation of Myanmar, a "legal armed force." If he were to show off iconic, top-tier equipment like M1A2 tanks and apache helicopters—things only a few major powers could operate—and drive them openly through the streets...

What would the consequences be?

What would those people in the Naypyidaw military government think? They would be scared out of their wits and then, at all costs, even by uniting every possible force, they would fight to the death to strangle this "threat to national security" monster!

Would the surrounding major powers that have been "closely monitoring" the situation in Northern Myanmar—especially a certain superpower that loves to "maintain freedom of navigation" everywhere—just sit idly by? Seeing their own active-service equipment in the hands of a warlord, they would surely blow a fuse. They would use it as an excuse to intervene, sending planes for "reconnaissance," advisors for "guidance," or even directly imposing sanctions and labeling him a "dangerous element undermining regional stability."

At that point, the legal cloak he had worked so hard to obtain would be instantly torn to shreds, making him a target for everyone. Even if the Dragon Country wanted to protect him, they would face immense international pressure, and their room for maneuver would become extremely narrow.

"No... I have to stay steady, I can't get carried away... definitely can't get carried away." Zhang Cheng took several deep breaths of the cool night air, forcing himself to calm down, forcibly dispelling the fantasies of steel torrents and locking them into the deepest safe in his heart.

A clear, rational, and even somewhat "restrained" plan quickly took shape in his mind—"Low-profile development for at least half a year!"

For these six months, he wouldn't seek fame or make big news; he would focus on three basic but most important tasks:

First, internally, push construction and solidify the foundation. Pour in money! Pour in resources! Let Li Lanzhi go all out! Drive grassroots political power into every village like nails, implement welfare policies, and ensure the people have food, clothes, work, and hope. Turn this new territory into his own backyard, solid as iron. Simultaneously, ban drugs, ban gambling, wipe out remnant bandits, and reorganize public security; a safe, stable, and orderly environment must be created.

Second, the army: secretly expand and practice internal skills. Let Old K continue to recruit under the name of the "Kokang National Army," quietly pulling the scale of the standing army to around thirty thousand. And it's not just about quantity; quality is even more vital. Exchange for more Intermediate Death Soldiers to serve as officers and technical backbones, infiltrating them to build a sturdy skeleton for the entire army. More importantly, plan ahead! Let the brothers learn in advance! Exchange for corresponding simulation training systems and theoretical textbooks so that selected backbones and excellent soldiers can familiarize themselves with the operation and tactics of those tanks, planes, and artillery they might be equipped with in the future! You wouldn't want to get the gear only for everyone to be clueless, making it all just for show, right?

Third, save money! Hoard equipment! Of those ten thousand points a day, besides maintaining necessary development expenses, paying for daily system operational wear and tear, and reserving a portion for emergencies—save the rest! Like a child saving New Year's money or a mother saving for retirement, save every single cent! At the same time, exchange for some less conspicuous but absolutely useful items in small, secret batches—such as more advanced individual communication equipment, night vision goggles, drones (civilian or low-end military models), engineering machinery, medical equipment, small generators, etc. These things can immediately improve productivity and combat effectiveness without overly provoking external nerves. As for M1A2s and apaches? Save enough points first, train the personnel properly, and thoroughly solidify the internal foundation. When the time is right, reveal them suddenly to create an overwhelming advantage!

Having thought this through, Zhang Cheng felt completely refreshed. The previous sense of emptiness and uncertainty was replaced by a heavy, hopeful feeling of power. The system upgrade hadn't just given him more "money"; it had given him a clear developmental stage prompt and broader possibilities.

He turned around and said to the seemingly empty shadow in the corner of the terrace, "Old K."

Old K seemed to congeal out of the darkness, appearing silently half a step behind him. He still had that eternally unchanging cold face, the general's star on his epaulet shimmering in the moonlight.

"Notify Chief of Staff Li that all officers at the brigade level and above, and the main heads of all administrative departments, will have a meeting in Meeting Room One at nine tomorrow morning." Zhang Cheng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable decisiveness. He turned his gaze back to the land sleeping in the night, yet brimming with vitality. "Our family assets are more than ten times thicker than before. The system has given us more capital, and it has also given us heavier responsibilities."

He paused, his tone resolute:

"For the next six months, everyone retract your claws, lower your heads, and keep your tails tucked! Honestly and faithfully, solidify our territory inch by inch! Strengthen our ranks bit by bit! Build up our assets cent by cent!"

A faint red light flashed imperceptibly in Old K's eyes as his core processor decomposed this supreme command into countless specific execution items: "Yes, Sovereign. Meeting notifications will be issued immediately. Analysis of the development strategy adjustment proposal has been initiated simultaneously."

Zhang Cheng nodded and said no more. He leaned his hands on the cool railing, gazing into the deep night in the distance. He knew that these six months of silence and accumulation were for the sake of one day letting out a roar that would make all of Northern Myanmar, and even broader regions, tremble. And that moment required patience, wisdom, and above all, absolute power.

With a thought, he pulled up the system panel again, looking at the reassuring point balance and the dazzling list of advanced equipment. Finally, his gaze fell on a less conspicuous but potentially crucial exchange option:

[Intermediate Tactical Command and Equipment Operation Simulation Training Pod (Customizable Content) - 1,000 Points/Set] (Note: Provides a highly realistic virtual environment for training basic operations, tactical coordination, and troubleshooting for complex equipment such as tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and helicopters. Training efficiency increased by 300%.)

"Exchange for ten sets of these first," Zhang Cheng thought to himself. "And exchange for the accompanying M1A2, apache, and M109A7 basic operation training courses as well."

[Exchanging for 10 sets of Intermediate Tactical Command and Equipment Operation Simulation Training Pods will consume 10,000 points.] [Exchanging for corresponding customized basic training course packages (including the three types of equipment mentioned above) will consume 3,000 points.] [Total consumption: 13,000 points. Confirm?]

"Confirm."

The point digits flickered, decreasing by 13,000, but Zhang Cheng felt incredibly grounded. This money was spent in an invisible place, but it was the most solid foundation for the future steel torrent.

He could almost see, in some hidden valley or underground base, the first batch of selected backbone soldiers wearing VR headsets, sweating profusely in simulation pods as they learned how to operate those steel behemoths. Meanwhile, Bao Youxiang to the south might still be dreaming of uniting all parties for a counterattack.