85: Chapter 85 Formulating a Strategy! A Surprise Attack Across the Shan Plateau

On the sand table, that winding, roaring Salween River looked like an insurmountable chasm, cleaving North Wa and South Wa apart.

On the south bank of the river, dense clusters of red dots gathered like a swarm of ants—that was the heavy force Bao Youxiang had assembled.

"Master, the situation is not optimistic." Old K held a telescopic pointer, pointing at the string of red defensive markers on the sand table, his voice remaining as cold and devoid of emotional fluctuation as ever. "The American advisory group really knows their stuff. In just one month, they have constructed a deep defensive system on the south bank of the Salween River, primarily consisting of reverse-slope positions, permanent firing points, and minefields."

Old K tapped the controller in his hand, and the holographic projection instantly zoomed in, revealing the details of the riverbank beachhead.

"Look here. Beneath these seemingly ordinary bushes are cross-fire points arranged in inverted triangles, and there are even bunkers. And here, on the high ground behind several key ferry crossings, a large number of 'javelin' anti-tank missile teams and mortar positions have been deployed. They have turned the riverbank into a meat grinder. If we follow conventional tactics and rely on armored forces to force a crossing, even if we manage to take it, the casualty rate for the first wave of assault troops is expected to exceed 40%."

"40%?" Li Lanzhi, standing to the side, gasped, and the teacup in her hand wobbled. "That's thousands of lives! Our pension payouts are generous, but we can't just throw them away like that. These are our core assets."

Zhang Cheng crossed his arms and stared fixedly at the river, a mocking sneer curling the corners of his mouth: "That old fox Bao Youxiang thinks that because he's hugged the thigh of the Eagle and gotten his hands on a few foreign guns and cannons, he can set up a grand formation for me by the Salween River? He wants to fight a war of attrition with me? He wants to bleed me dry?"

He turned abruptly, walked to the window, and looked at the troops assembling outside. His voice was low and powerful: "I won't let him have his way! War is about using your brain, not about who is more stubborn! I want to unify Northern Myanmar, not destroy the young men of Northern Myanmar!"

"Old K, pull the map to the east!"

The sand table image shifted instantly, skimming over the heavily defended Salween River and stopping at a vast, green-covered area—the uninhabited region of the eastern Shan State plateau.

This was a dead zone forgotten by the world. Towering mountains, primeval forests, venomous snakes and fierce beasts running rampant, and miasma filling the air; even the most seasoned local hunters dared not venture there lightly.

"Here." Zhang Cheng's finger stabbed heavily onto that green, uninhabited area, as if trying to pierce through the table. "Bao Youxiang has bet everything on the river defense line, leaving his rear completely exposed! He thinks this is a natural barrier, but in my eyes, it's a thoroughfare!"

Li Lanzhi's eyes widened: "Commander-in-Chief, are you thinking... of crossing through here? But there's no road there at all! How will tens of thousands of troops and heavy equipment get through? And what about supplies?"

"If there's no road, we'll tread one out!" A wild, confident light flickered in Zhang Cheng's eyes. "Our soldiers are not ordinary people; they are Death Soldiers! They are the most enduring and iron-willed warriors in this world! As long as I don't give the order to stop, they will crawl across even if they have to use their hands! As for heavy equipment, we don't need to bring much. We'll travel light and catch him off guard!"

He turned around, his eyes becoming as sharp as knives, and issued the operational orders:

"Orders!"

"The First and Second Mountain Infantry Brigades, attached with special operations squadrons and engineering detachments, totaling 12,000 men, will form the 'Eastern Front Assault Cluster'! You, Old K, will personally take command!"

"Your mission is not to capture cities and land, but to serve as a 'silent dagger' for me! Carry light weapons and sufficient individual rations, use night-vision goggles to hide during the day and move at night, and cut through this uninhabited region! The target—the side and rear of Wan Hong, the capital of South Wa!"

"Tell any East Shan State troops or other small armed groups you might encounter along the way that anyone who dares to block your path is to be wiped out! I want you to appear like ghosts at Bao Youxiang's bedside at dawn seven days from now!"

Old K snapped to attention and gave a standard military salute: "Yes! Guarantee the mission will be completed! If I cannot arrive on time, I will bring my head to you!"

"It's not over yet!" Zhang Cheng walked to the other side of the sand table and pointed at the north bank of the Salween River. "If you're going to act, you have to do the whole thing. If we don't give Bao Youxiang a little 'surprise', how will he obediently move all his main forces to the riverbank?"

"Order the First Mechanized Infantry Brigade, the Tank Battalion, and the Artillery Battalion to deploy immediately on the front of the north bank! All M1A2 tanks, M109 self-propelled howitzers, and those infantry fighting vehicles—bring them all out and show them off! Conduct live-fire exercises during the day, covering the south bank positions with artillery fire; at night, turn on the floodlights and build pontoon bridges, acting as if we are about to force a crossing at any moment! Keep drones hovering over the river around the clock—the more arrogant, the better!"

Zhang Cheng grabbed a pencil from the table and snapped it viciously: "I want that old bastard Bao Youxiang to be convinced that I am going to smash his teeth out one by one from the front! I want him to move all the garrison troops from Wan Hong to the riverbank to fill the gaps! When he has fed all the meat to his own mouth, Old K, you will stab him hard in the back!"

"This is called—building a plank road in the open while secretly crossing the Chencang!"

"Yes!"

With Zhang Cheng's order, the massive war machine began to roar into motion.