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

"Okay, let's not talk about unpleasant things." Zhang Chi changed the subject lightly, "The main reason I called you all here today is to recruit soldiers."

"The Japanese have 70,000 troops in Bogu. If you want to survive and defend your homes, you must fight them with real weapons. Therefore, each Qian village must provide a certain number of recruits proportional to their population to join the independent regiment."

He paused deliberately to give everyone time to digest his thoughts, but then delivered an even heavier blow:

"Especially for all of you village heads and elders present here, one direct descendant under the age of 30 must serve in the army. Who of you is in favor of this? Who is against it?"

Zhang Chi's request was to expand the size of the independent group and to "pull these elders to Liangshan".

Once these core members of their families fight under his command, then in the future, whether facing the Japanese or the John people, these people's families will be regarded as his cronies.

Everyone looked at each other. Although they were dissatisfied, no one dared to refute them.

In fact, they are complaining in their hearts:

This young man Zhang Chi is so stingy that he doesn't even set up a proper banquet and just performs this "Hongmen Banquet"?

The Great Zhao at least provided the generals with a few hot dishes during their "releasing military power with a cup of wine" policy, but here, Zhang Chi forced them to express their opinions with just tea.

Zhang Chi saw their reactions and understood what was going on. He sneered and said, "Since you all don't object, I'll take it as your agreement. Regarding the subsequent recruitment of soldiers for each village, please contact my secretary Zhang Guangsong."

After saying that, Zhang Chi waved his hand, motioning Zhang Guangsong who was standing beside him to come forward.

Zhang Guangsong came forward with a stack of documents in his hand, head held high and chest puffed out, looking smugly at the village heads and elders who usually acted high and mighty and now all bowed their heads and smiled flatteringly at him.

As a former member of the Zhang family's side branch, he could clearly feel that by following Zhang Chi, the newly rising big man in Nanyang, he also benefited from it and felt the subtle pleasure brought by power.

He loved this feeling very much.

"The second thing is about mining." Zhang Chi put his hands behind his back and said casually, "Gold has been produced in northern Pegu since ancient times. I, Zhang, currently do not collect taxes or grain. I have two requests of you: either send someone to join the Independent Regiment, or send someone to help the Independent Regiment mine gold in the mountains."

------

After the meeting, Zhang Chi, orderly Xiao Qi and undercover agent Meng Xingfa were the only three people left in the spacious conference room.

After a moment of silence, Meng Xingfa broke the silence first, with a slightly complacent tone.

"Ancient records state: 'From Tengchong, passing Baoshan City, and then passing Dachen to the north of Jinbao City, the circumference is over a hundred miles, and it is all inhabited by barbarians.' Jinbao City is today's Myitkyina in Kazakhstan."

Meng Xingfa quoted from classics and told the story in a leisurely manner. He seemed to want to get closer to Zhang Chi by showing off his knowledge and historical background.

Zhang Chi didn't say much, but just watched him continue explaining with interest.

"During the Tang Dynasty, the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom had military governorates: Tuodong, Yongchang, Ningbei, Zhenxi, Kainan, and Yinsheng. The General's Independent Regiment was stationed on the former territory of the Yongchang military governor."

As Meng Xingfa spoke, he casually opened a yellowed ancient map, pointed to a certain place on the map, and gestured patiently.

"According to ancient records, 'After the Nanzhao conquered the Minuo and Michen kingdoms, they abducted 3,000 to 2,000 people from their tribe and sent them to Lishui to pan for gold.' The Lishui Jiedushi's jurisdiction was north of Myitkyina, from Xinpingyang to Yeren Mountain."

Meng Xingfa's finger traced the map across the Kumen Ridge and the Irrawaddy River, stopping at a point and speaking meaningfully:

"There are many gold mines buried in the mountains in these areas. In the past, many natives and dry people would wash the gold sand in the streams at the foot of the mountains."

He paused, a hint of greed in his eyes.

"There is also a gold mine like this in Nandatongpo near our Mengjia Village. However, that place is now occupied by a group of natives, and they have rifles provided by the devils. From now on, our Mengjia Village will be completely dependent on the general's heavenly soldiers."

Meng Xingfa became more and more excited as he spoke, and the expression on his face seemed to be that he was already fantasizing about the huge wealth in the future.

Zhang Chi, on the other hand, seemed much more relaxed, crossing his legs and saying lazily:

"Okay, after we're done, we'll split the profits 80-20. I'll provide the explosives and weapons, and panning for gold in the creek is too petty. We'll just go into the mountains, use explosives to dig, and dig the gold ore directly!"

He put forward the conditions calmly, his tone revealing a natural sense of control.

Now even a local tyrant like Meng Xingfa, 'Huang Silang', has to speak according to Zhang Chi's expression, so Zhang Chi is not polite. He has guns and men, so he can just stand there and make money, and 80% of it is of course his.

Upon hearing this, Meng Xingfa did not show any dissatisfaction.

On the contrary, he was quite satisfied with the 20% share. He was well aware of the power of the Nanyang Zhang family - to say that they were as wealthy as a nation would not be an exaggeration. In his eyes, being able to connect with Zhang Chi was a great fortune in itself.

In his opinion, Zhang Chi took the lead in Kejianbang this time at the instruction of the Nanyang Zhang family, and was ready to rise up in this chaotic era.

You have to know that when the Johns were here, under their colonial rule, guns were always firmly in the hands of the Johns and the natives.

Although the John people allowed the Qian people to control industry and commerce, they would never allow the Qian people to possess military force.

Therefore, the Qian people have always been positioned as wealthy piglets in the South Sea colonies - they can be slaughtered and eaten at any time by the Johns when they want.

Now, with the advent of war, all the rules have been reshuffled. Not only have the Qian people organized a large number of resistance forces, but the Nanyang Zhang family also controls a powerful army. Once the Japanese are driven away, the Zhang family will definitely become the top force in Nanyang besides the John people. (This is what Meng Xingfa sees)

Meng Xingfa naturally knew the principle that 'the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish', so he surrendered to Zhang Chi early on.

He was not only after the 20% profit from the gold mine, but also wanted to hold on to Zhang Chi's golden thigh in advance so that he could have a share of the profits after the war.

-----

A few days ago, Zhang Zhichao, the head of the Zhang family who was hiding in the mountains at the Nanyang Zhang family headquarters in Malaysia, finally received news from the two brothers Zhang Guangsong and Zhang Guangjun in Pegu.

"The Zhang family of Guangfu controls an army of 3000 people in Bago Kejianbang? Not only are they well-equipped but they are also quite independent. What do you think, Xuewen?" Zhang Zhichao, who is over 70 years old, asked his eldest son.

Zhang Xuewen stroked his increasingly thinning goatee, thought for a moment, and replied, "Guangsong may be boastful, but Guangjun is a steady and measured kid. Since Guangjun confirmed the news in the telegram, I'm afraid it's almost certain."

Zhang Zhichao's eyes lit up when he heard this. "Great! Heaven will not destroy our Zhang family. Notice to all the lower branches and the Liu, Li, Bai, and Yan families that it's time to take out their coffins and support this good son of Zhang Xueyi from Guangzhou."

Over the years, the Zhang family's business in Southeast Asia has spread all over the place, including plantations, farms, restaurants, and shops.

However, the Japanese invaders began to plunder as soon as they arrived, and even ruthlessly ransacked the Zhang family's home on the grounds that they had supported the war of resistance.

The elderly man Zhang Zhichao once thought about settling the issue peacefully. He thought it didn't matter who ruled, as long as he was an obedient citizen, he could save his life and property.

However, now hiding in the mountains, he has long understood that without power, even if he is a submissive citizen, he will not be able to escape the disaster. (Don't think that the overseas Chinese who supported the war of resistance know the cruelty of the Japanese. Most people don't feel pain unless they are cut by a knife.)

"The Johns have been bullying us for decades, and when the Japanese invaders came, they burned, killed, and looted indiscriminately. Do they really think we Qian people are all cowards without baskets?"

As a last resort, Zhang Zhichao finally took out the momentum of fighting to the death.

He sighed and murmured, "Gold, manpower, intelligence, whatever Zhang Chi wants, we will give it to him. We only hope that he can drive away the Japanese for us and leave a way out for our Zhang family when John's people return."

But Zhang Xuewen was not satisfied with just preserving his family.

As a radical among the second generation, he knows that 'chaos is the ladder to progress' and has already planned more.

With the clan leader's approval, he summoned several of his trusted aides and whispered, "The throne of Southeast Asia has been held by the Johns and the Japs, and it's time for our Zhang family to try. Xin Can, you will lead the team to Pegu this time. Prioritize the interests of the clan and act accordingly."

Zhang Xuewen patted his son's shoulder and watched him walk out of the Zhang family's secret stronghold with determination, his eyes flashing with ambition.