98: Chapter 98 Provocation from the East: The President's "Twitter" and the Bloodstained Toll

He swallowed his food, pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth carelessly, and then picked up his beloved mobile phone, which was the "scepter" he used to govern the country.

"What is that idiot William doing over there? After spending so much money, is this the return he gives me?" The President typed rapidly on Twitter, wearing that signature arrogant expression of someone who thinks he sees through everything. "Tell William, I don't care about the process, I only want results! I want that kid named Zhang to know that going against me is the worst deal he's ever made in his life! The worst!"

The CIA Director cautiously stepped forward: "Mr. President, William has already united several local factions and is preparing to carry out a three-sided encirclement of Zhang Cheng. But he believes we need to create a 'fuse,' a bit of 'friction' that will make Zhang Cheng lose his composure and make a mistake."

"Friction? I like friction!" The President's eyes lit up, revealing the cunning smile of a businessman. "Tell that guy, what's his name... Zhao Yaoshi, to take action! Go rob the Dragon Kingdom's convoy, go capture their people! I want to make the people of the Dragon Kingdom lose face and make Zhang Cheng embarrassed! As long as the matter blows up, we will have a reason to intervene, and we can even get Congress to approve more money! This is the art of the deal, understand?"

"Understood, Mr. President."

A few minutes later, a new Twitter post exploded across the global network:

The situation in Northern Myanmar is spiraling out of control, and that warlord who calls himself the 'Dominator' is threatening regional peace! The free world will never sit idly by! We possess the most powerful military in the world, and any provocation against our allies will pay the price!

East Shan State, Mong La border highway, about eighty kilometers from Pangkham.

This is a vital trade artery connecting Zhang Cheng's controlled area with Thailand and Laos. Since Zhang Cheng cleaned up the security, the former robbers and road bullies have disappeared, merchant caravans are endless, and large quantities of building materials, food, and daily necessities are transported into Pangkham like blood.

At noon, the scorching sun baked the asphalt road until it seemed to ooze oil. A massive convoy consisting of twenty heavy-duty trucks with Dragon Kingdom license plates was moving slowly along the winding mountain road. This was a batch of heavy-duty power equipment urgently aided by the Dragon Kingdom, among which the gas turbine components were crucial for the construction of the new power plant in Pangkham, and were Zhang Cheng's "precious treasure."

"Everyone stay sharp! Once we pass that mountain pass ahead, we'll be within our autonomous region's patrol range!" Old Zhang, the lead driver from the Dragon Kingdom, clutched his walkie-talkie and shouted to encourage the brothers in the vehicles behind. He had been driving this route for years; in the past, he used to be terrified, but now he held his head high.

"Screech—" Suddenly, a harsh sound of emergency braking rang out.

At the bend ahead, several huge logs lay across the middle of the road. Before Old Zhang could react, a group of armed personnel scurrying around like monkeys suddenly rushed out from the bushes on both sides.

They wore messy camouflage uniforms, some even shirtless, holding rusted AK-47s in their hands, driving several dilapidated pickup trucks painted with skulls, directly blocking the path of the convoy.

"Stop! Stop! Everyone get the hell out!"

Old Zhang frowned, honked the horn twice, leaned out, and shouted: "Brother, don't misunderstand! We are transporting equipment for the Kokang Autonomous Region, and we have a special pass personally signed by Chairman Zhang! Isn't this area the territory of our brothers in the Shan State Army? We are friendly forces!"

"Friendly forces? Screw your friendly forces!"

An armed leader with a pockmarked face and sunglasses swaggered forward. Without a word, he swung his rifle butt and smashed it against the car door with a "bang," leaving a huge dent in it.

"Open your dog eyes and look! I am one of General Zhao Yaoshi's men! This is the territory of the Shan State Army! Zhang Cheng's pass? Hmph, here it's too hard even to wipe my ass with!"

Old Zhang's heart sank; he knew he had run into trouble. He quickly put on a flattering smile, took a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, and handed it over: "Big brother, calm down, we're all just trying to make a living. Look, it's such a hot day, and it's not easy for the brothers either. You name a number, as long as it's not too excessive..."

"A number?" The pockmarked man slapped the cigarette out of Old Zhang's hand and grinned hideously. His greedy gaze swept like a hook over the truckloads of brand-new equipment and the parts on the trucks that looked valuable. "We want this shipment! The people get lost, the trucks stay! That is the number!"

"That won't do!" Old Zhang was anxious; he pushed the door open, jumped out, and spread his arms to protect the front of the truck. "This is aid material, a mission entrusted to us by the country! You can't..."

"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, startling the birds in the forest.

Old Zhang let out a miserable scream, clutched his thigh, and fell to the ground. Blood instantly stained his gray work pants red. The severe pain made his face turn pale, but he still grabbed the pockmarked man's pant leg tightly: "You can't rob this... This is power plant equipment for the common people..."

"You ungrateful old thing!" The pockmarked man blew the blue smoke from the muzzle of his gun and kicked Old Zhang in the face, kicking him until his face was covered in blood. "Transporting things for Zhang Cheng makes you our enemy! The Americans have already spoken, we are to sanction you! Detain everyone! Whoever dares to resist, just shoot them!"

"Tie up all these Dragon Kingdom guys for me! Take them back to the camp! Tell Zhang Cheng to bring money to ransom them! One million per head! If a single cent is missing, I'll chop off a hand and send it to him!"

The surrounding militants swarmed up like a pack of hungry wolves pouncing into a flock of sheep, dragging all the drivers and technicians from the convoy, beating them with rifle butts, and tying them up with ropes. While beating them, they fired warning shots into the sky, acting extremely arrogant.

"Tell Zhang Cheng!" The pockmarked man stepped on Old Zhang's head and shouted arrogantly at the dashcam lens, "This toll, he has to pay it whether he wants to or not! Not convinced? Let him come and bite me! Hahaha!"

Half an hour later, at the Bangkok Camp.

"Bang!" Zhang Cheng smashed his fist hard onto the solid wood desk, and the hard tabletop was actually smashed with a visible crack.

On the big screen, the last footage transmitted back by the dashcam was playing—Old Zhang falling to the ground after being shot, covered in blood, and his compatriots being beaten and humiliated like livestock.

"Good! Very good! Zhao Yaoshi, and his American masters behind him, are courting death!"

Zhang Cheng laughed in extreme anger; his voice was so cold it seemed to drift from the deepest hell, and even Old K, who was standing to the side, felt that tangible killing intent.

"Dominator," Old K's eyes flickered with red light as he calmly analyzed, "This is a probe. A typical 'salami slicing' tactic. They are testing our bottom line and also testing the Dragon Kingdom's reaction. If we endure it, or just protest, they will intensify their efforts next, cutting off all our eastern supply lines and trapping us to death here."

"Endure? In my, Zhang Cheng's, dictionary, there has never been the word 'endure'! Especially not for these animals!"

Zhang Cheng stood up abruptly and strode to the huge tactical map, his finger jabbing fiercely at the red circle on East Shan State.

"Isn't that old madman of a President shouting on Twitter? Didn't he say he would make us pay the price? Fine, then I'll collect some interest first!"

"Pass on my order!"

Zhang Cheng's voice echoed in the command room, carrying a murderous aura of war, each word sounding like a bullet:

"First, initiate the 'Hunt' program! The special operations squadron is to depart immediately, target—the armed group that hijacked the convoy! I want to see their heads before sunset! The hostages must be rescued without a single hair harmed! If one hair is missing, I will kill ten of them to be buried with them!"

"Second, tell the Dragon Kingdom side that I will handle this! Let them rest assured; since the supplies were lost on the edge of my territory, I will get them back twofold! If they lost face, I will earn back the substance for them!"

"Old K, you lead the team yourself! I want Zhao Yaoshi to know that some tolls must be paid with one's life! Bring me the head of that pockmarked man; I want to hang it on the flagpole at the port of entry so that everyone who wants to have crooked thoughts can take a good look!"

"Yes!" Old K saluted, turned, and strode away, his black cape flapping loudly behind him.