65: Chapter 65 With a solid financial foundation, the killer move is well hidden.

The glory on TV, the curses from the south, and the international discussions—none of it could disturb Zhang Cheng's pace as he moved forward at his own rhythm.

After the exclusive interview, he became even more low-key, rarely making public appearances except for necessary administrative activities and internal meetings.

External matters were increasingly handed over to the maturing Li Lanzhi and his group of officials.

He himself devoted the vast majority of his energy to military training and how to efficiently use the ten thousand points that arrived steadily in his account every day.

Time passed day by day amidst superficial calm and intense activity beneath the surface. One month, two months...

Within the Kokang Autonomous Region, the changes were real and visible to the naked eye.

The roads connecting major towns had their roadbeds widened and compacted. Although most surfaces were still paved with gravel and were far from smooth, they were at least passable in rain or shine; trucks could run, and the flow of goods was much smoother.

Small hydropower stations and patches of solar panels provided many remote villages with stable light for the first time at night. Although it might only be enough to light a few lamps, it was sufficient to dispel the long-standing darkness and the fear that accompanied it.

Zhang Cheng's personal points account grew steadily and reliably.

Ten thousand points arrived every day without fail. Except for exchanging for necessary training equipment, gear, and ammunition, he saved most of them.

The "little treasury" that only he could see grew to an increasingly staggering amount.

In the invisible ledger in his mind, the points needed for future lethal weapons were slowly being gathered. The goal was clear:

[M1A2 SEPv3 Main Battle Tank x 50]: 425,000 points (Unit price 8,500 points. Saving hard... At current income, it only takes 40+ days to save enough!) [AH-64E "apache" x 20]: 440,000 points (Unit price 22,000 points. Expensive treetop killer, a distant but hopeful goal...) [M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer x 30]: 180,000 points (Unit price 6,000 points. High cost-performance, can be prioritized...) ["javelin" Anti-Tank Missile System x 200 sets]: 30,000 points (Unit price 150 points. Very cheap, individual weapon, can be exchanged for armed infantry at any time!) [MQ-9 "Reaper" Drone (Simplified Version) x 10]: 120,000 points (Unit price 12,000 points. Eye of the battlefield, decapitation blade, worth the investment)

If these things were all exchanged at once right now, they would definitely scare Bao Youxiang in the south to death and terrify Naypyidaw into immediately requesting United Nations intervention.

But Zhang Cheng held back. He knew it wasn't time to show his hand yet.

"Accumulate grain widely, delay claiming kingship." This was ancestral wisdom.

No one knew that fifty kilometers outside Pangkham, deep in a valley designated as a "Military Restricted Zone"—guarded so heavily that even a strange bird flying by would be recorded—the first batch of physical equipment quietly exchanged with points was already resting silently under reinforced camouflage nets.

Five M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tanks in dark green livery, their barrels lowered like sleeping steel behemoths, their depleted uranium armor glinting coldly in the sunlight filtering through the camouflage netting. Three M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers crouched on the flanks, their 155mm muzzles pointing to the sky. Further away, there were twenty newly unboxed "javelin" anti-tank missile launch units and five disassembled MQ-9 drones being assembled by Death Soldiers engineers.

These pieces of equipment were few in number, but they were a seed, a beginning.

Responsible for guarding and initial learning was a "Technical Testing Company" composed entirely of Intermediate Death Soldier units, absolutely loyal and reliable. They were working day and night to familiarize themselves with the operation manuals, maintenance procedures, and basic tactics of these steel partners.

Zhang Cheng would occasionally visit in secret, standing on the heights of the valley, looking down at those cold creations representing a higher level of warfare. He reached out to touch the tank's cold composite armor, feeling the violent power within, enough to destroy the old era.

This feeling of holding a heavy hammer but not swinging it made him feel incredibly secure.

As for probes from the outside world, he was not without response.

"Commander-in-Chief, a sizable mining company inspection team has come from the southeast of Dragon Country. Led by a vice president, they want to talk to you personally about cooperative development of the copper mine and associated rare earth mines in the northern Hpakant Mountains."

When Li Lanzhi reported her work, her face showed obvious fatigue, but her eyes were bright—the excitement of seeing the dawn of development.

"The conditions they offered are quite generous, and they are willing to invest in building a processing plant and supporting roads, but they demand controlling interest and long-term mining rights."

Zhang Cheng looked up from the map and thought for a moment: "You take full charge of the negotiations. The old rule: resources are our bottom line. We can cooperate and share benefits, but the control must be in our hands. Mining must be environmentally friendly, local labor prioritized, and not a cent of tax missing. If we can reach an agreement, they're welcome; if not, see them out. Good mines aren't afraid of having no takers."

"Understood!" Li Lanzhi noted the key points, hesitated, and added, "Also, an expert team from Dragon Country's Ministry of Agriculture suggested that our climate and soil are suitable for high-value economic crops like coffee, nuts, and medicinal herbs. They are willing to provide technology and seedlings and help connect us with sales channels. I think this is feasible; the returns are higher than just growing grain, and it can increase farmers' income."

"We can run a pilot program, it's up to you." Zhang Cheng nodded, his gaze turning to the window again, as if he could already see a further future where the land no longer had only poppies, but vibrant tea gardens, orchards, and herb fields.

The foundation grew more solid, power accumulated bit by bit. Calm on the surface, but undercurrents surged beneath, waiting for the right moment.

Zhang Cheng knew clearly that Bao Youxiang and the people in Naypyidaw would never watch him truly grow strong, and the surrounding forces were no pushovers either. Every second of this six-month development period was precious.

He had to be fast and steady.

"Tell Old K, 'Hurry up with the theoretical study and simulation training for the new recruits and backbone members on those heavy equipments! Tighten it up! What I want is that when the time comes, they can be pulled out and used, and once used, they win!'"

"Yes!" Old K's voice came from an unknown corner, cold and firm.