The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

"Commander, as per your orders, the elders of all the Qian immigrant villages in Kachin State have been invited to the Independence Regiment headquarters. They are currently visiting. Do you have any specific instructions?"

Zhang Guangsong, the personal secretary of the new head of the independent regiment, stood at the door of the office and respectfully reported to Zhang Chi who was in deep thought.

Zhang Chi looked up at Zhang Guangsong in front of him, then pulled his attention back from the system interface in his mind and responded lightly:

"First, let those old guys take a good look at our strength. We need to show off our tanks and artillery. With that intimidation, we can discuss the rest of the matter. By the way, where's the data I asked you to collect?"

Each of these young people in the Nanyang Overseas Chinese Volunteer Army had their own academic strengths. They were either arranged by Zhang Chi into the production field or as technical soldiers. Some young people who graduated from normal schools also helped Zhang Chi establish an elementary school night school within the independent regiment.

Only Zhang Guangsong, who studied classical drama, had nothing to do, so Zhang Chi arranged for his "eldest nephew" to be his personal secretary, specializing in handling various documents and reports, and being responsible for welcoming and seeing off guests and other miscellaneous matters.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Guangsong is also very talented as a secretary. He completes all secretarial work very well.

Hearing Zhang Chi's request, Zhang Guangsong nodded, quickly opened the file, and began to report:

"Pre-war statistics show that the number of Qian people migrating throughout Bago was considerable. Historical records show that Qian people were mainly concentrated in several large cities and commercial centers, especially Yangon and Mandalay."

"The vast majority of Qian people migrated to Bago from Fujian, Guangdong and other places during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. It is estimated that there are currently about 60 Qian people and their descendants living in Bago, mainly engaged in commerce, handicrafts, and plantations."

Zhang Chi relaxed, tapping the tabletop as he pondered, "Six hundred thousand... It seems that if I want to start an uprising in Pegu, these 60 Qian people will be my core population. What about the mixed-race population?"

"There are also approximately 300 million mixed-race people with some Qian ancestry. Most of them are descendants of immigrants who intermarried with local people. Of these, approximately 100 million can speak Qian dialect," Zhang Guangsong continued. "This population may not be as obedient to us as pure Qian immigrants, but they are still a force that can be won over."

Zhang Chi nodded, his eyes becoming more serious. "There are about 1600 million people in all of Pegu. We have 60 Qian people as the core population, and 300 million mixed-race people with some Qian blood as the acceptable peripheral population. There is a lot of room for development."

As a time traveler, he is not a reckless man who only knows how to fight the Japanese. Zhang Chi also knows that without a solid base and a large population supporting him, even if he exchanges more tanks and planes from the system, it will be useless.

Zhang Chi said bluntly, "Since the Fusang people have taken over and favored the Pegu people while persecuting the Qian people, our opportunity has arrived."

"That's right. The Fuso Army confiscated many Qian-run shops, farms, and businesses, demanding huge ransoms. Many Qian-run families are already overwhelmed." Zhang Guangsong continued, "Even our Zhang family, several major families have suffered huge losses of life and property."

"Because of this, your 'grand plan' has attracted the attention of the families, and all the major families are willing to provide all kinds of assistance, including intelligence, funds, and supplies."

Zhang Chi was delighted to hear that all the major families were willing to support him. He clapped his hands and said repeatedly, "Very good, very good."

There is an old saying that goes, "Make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible."

Zhang Chi clearly realized that this was the critical moment to unite all forces that could be united in Pegu.

As a time traveler, his biggest trump card, apart from the system, is his accurate insight into future developments.

He knew that the biggest obstacle to his "grand plan" of establishing an independent nation seemed to be the 7 Japanese devils stationed in Pegu. However, once the war was over, the real resistance to his founding of the country would actually come from the United Kingdom of John.

His independent regiment currently has less than 4000 people. Even with systematic support, Zhang Chi is very clear that it is impossible to truly establish a presence and complete the "grand plan" of establishing an independent country by his own strength.

He needed the support of these large Qian families spread across Southeast Asia - just like how Liu Bang relied on his team from Pei County to become emperor from a village head.

As a member of the Zhang family, aren't these big families in Southeast Asia the natural team for him to build his great cause?

"Ah, go on." Seeing Zhang Guangsong standing there in a daze after being interrupted, Zhang Chi casually waved his hand, signaling him to continue reporting.

Zhang Guangsong immediately continued, "Due to the various targeted persecutions by the Fuso people, the young and middle-aged Qian people in Nanyang have actively organized and participated in a large number of anti-Japanese guerrilla forces. So far, there are 593 local Qian people who have taken the initiative to join the independent group."

"As for the rural guerrillas and urban resistance forces that have come into contact with our independent regiment, there are even more. According to rough estimates, the resistance forces led by the Qian people throughout Pegu currently number over ten thousand people."

"Is that true? There are tens of thousands?" Zhang Chi was so surprised that his eyes lit up when he heard this.

At this moment, his plan saw new hope.

Aren’t these tens of thousands of resistance forces his first choice for future military expansion?

In his previous life, he had only heard of sporadic deeds of the anti-Japanese guerrillas in Southeast Asia, but he did not expect that there were already tens of thousands of armed forces in Pegu.

You have to know that the Japanese occupied Pegu for less than two months. In such a short period of time, they were able to provoke such a large-scale resistance. Zhang Chi could only say: "The Japanese are really inhuman..."

"Yes, but most of them lack weapons and ammunition. They contacted us for support."

Zhang Chi thought about the various canned goods in the system that cost 1 Silver Lion coin for a large box, as well as the monthly airdrop supplies promised by Stevenson, and made a decision instantly.

He patted the table and said decisively:

"Here! Our independent regiment doesn't need that little bit of supplies."

"Guangsong, please make arrangements later. We've captured so many Japanese weapons that we can't use them. Why not send them directly to these guerrillas? Besides weapons, we'll also provide medicine and dry food. Let them survive the Japanese encirclement first, and then slowly recruit them."

Zhang Chi learned that various resistance groups in Pegu were developing in full swing, so he prepared to build the independent regiment into a solid backing for these resistance organizations and provide them with various support.

After all, Zhang Chi knew very well that according to the experience of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army and history, this kind of resistance would generally be most intense in the first few months, and then due to lack of external support, it would quickly fall silent under the encirclement of the Japanese invaders.

Zhang Chi said firmly, "We have planes and torpedo boats. We can use both air and water transport to continuously deliver supplies to the resistance organization and let the Japanese have a taste of what Princess Iron Fan feels like when a monkey stirs in her belly."