Chapter 462: A Big Fist Is Useful

Nanyang's vast lands have great potential!

Whether it's Jiang Anguo, British, American, or the local natives, the most crucial thing is still the fist!

A big fist is useful.

The Americans still can't reach Southeast Asia; the most crucial problem is that Southeast Asia was never a United States strategic target, not even a strategic objective.

If not for the Pacific Ocean naval defeat, the Americans wouldn't have shifted aid supplies to Asia.

The Roosevelt administration's stance on the war was Europe first, then Asia.

But now it's different; the Japanese aggression forces the Americans to mobilize all resources to guard against a possible Japanese attack on the United States mainland!

Chen Jiageng was somewhat confused, his brows knit together, his tone carrying some puzzlement, and he asked: "Anguo, isn't this Taunggyi Infantry Regiment under your command?"

Chen Jiageng hadn't stayed long in Taunggyi, nor met Song Mengqin much, but both Song Mengqin and the 'Japanese' who assisted him called Jiang Anguo Commander.

That explains a point: this unit must be Jiang Anguo's.

These days, he has personally seen this unit's training: steps orderly, discipline strict, shooting precise, far from a hastily cobbled mob; such an elite unit could not possibly be anything other than under Jiang Anguo's direct control.

Jiang Anguo slowly shook his head, his face showing no hint of jest, his tone solemn and firm: "I never said this unit is mine; they were all formed by overseas Chinese. From now on, they will be the first unit of the 'South China Democratic Federal Republic', under your command."

Jiang Anguo deliberately said so, having already separated Song Mengqin's unit; the formation he now commands far exceeds a division, thirty-three thousand men, not counting two supplemental training regiments airlifted from Sichuan, three thousand more.

Jiang Anguo is no longer just a division commander; he's nearly an army commander.

Chen Jiageng was completely stunned, his eyes full of disbelief, repeatedly gesturing: "Anguo, this is absolutely unacceptable! I'm just a merchant, I've never led troops in battle; how could I command such a unit? Moreover, when has Nanyang ever formed a unit of this scale? As far as I know, the only sizable force is the Nanyang Air Service, responsible for transporting supplies, not a true combat unit."

To mention it, there's another unit: a guerrilla force that entered the Malaya Peninsula and is skirmishing with the Japanese Army, but it's small, poorly equipped, and cannot be compared with Taunggyi's unit.

It is evident that Chen Jiageng knows Nanyang's situation well.

Jiang Anguo watched Chen Jiageng's excited demeanor, slowly rose, walked to the window, and gazed at the soldiers patrolling in the distance, his eyes deep.

He knows Chen Jiageng's concerns and clearly understands this unit's importance to him.

Even in this attack on Mandalay, Jiang Anguo's st Division had not completed a proper reorganization; it was a hastily cobbled unit.

Jiang Anguo is well aware that Chen Jiageng merely issuing a statement is insufficient; he needs recognition from other nations. Relying solely on bare fists won't work; a country must have a sufficiently strong army to protect its people.

"Mr. Chen, I understand your concerns, but handing this unit over to you is the right choice," Jiang Anguo turned, his tone sincere, "Your prestige among the South China overseas Chinese is unmatched; only you commanding this unit can rally more overseas Chinese, and let them see hope, voluntarily joining the anti-Japanese rescue and defense of Nanyang."

He paused, then continued: "I know you have no command experience, but Song Mengqin is a rare talent, has followed me for a long time, brave in battle and meticulous in thought; with his assistance, you only need to coordinate the overall situation and rally morale. This unit, nominally the army of the overseas Chinese‑formed 'South China Democratic Federal Republic', is actually prepared by me specifically for you, and for all overseas Chinese in Nanyang."

Jiang Anguo, of course, would not hand over the army's command authority to Chen Jiageng; that is the real power.

Only when it remains in his own hands can Jiang Anguo be at ease.

He only lets Song Mengqin assist Chen Jiageng; they don't need to fight now, just stay in the rear.

Chen Jiageng stared blankly at Jiang Anguo, his heart a swirl of emotions.

He finally understood that Jiang Anguo wasn't speaking casually, but sincerely wanted to support him, to give Nanyang's overseas Chinese their own armed force, no longer subjected to the bullying of the great powers and the Japanese Army.

These days, he has personally witnessed the Japanese Army's atrocities in Nanyang, overseas Chinese displaced and abused, yet unable to defend themselves without their own arms, leaving him with a burning resolve but lacking the power to change the situation.

"But Anguo, this is the unit you painstakingly built, to just hand it over..." Chen Jiageng's voice was choked, his words unfinished, when Jiang Anguo cut him off.

"Mr. Jiageng, with the nation in crisis and Nanyang in peril, what does personal gain matter?" Jiang Anguo patted Chen Jiageng's shoulder, his gaze firm, "Fists must be clasped together to be stronger. I'm giving you this unit not to hold something for me, but to lead them in protecting Nanyang's overseas Chinese, protecting our shared homeland. As long as we can repel the Japanese Army and let Nanyang's overseas Chinese stand tall, whoever holds this unit is worthwhile."

Chen Jiageng looked at Jiang Anguo's steadfast eyes, his concerns gradually fading, replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility and burning zeal.

He knows that Jiang Anguo is placing all of Nanyang's overseas Chinese's hope into his hands.

He took a deep breath, slowly nodded, his tone solemn: "Anguo, rest assured, I will not betray your trust, nor the expectations of Nanyang's ten‑million overseas Chinese, and with this unit, I will bravely resist the enemy and protect our home!"

Chen Jiageng looked at Jiang Anguo, feeling that the young man had a deeper meaning, which reminded him of his little daughter; perhaps it was a joke then, but maybe not just a joke.

It could also be taken seriously.

Before Southeast Asia fell, Chen Jiageng didn't know where Chen Baoyi was, only that she and a few classmates had gone to Myanmar.

He isn't worried about his other sons, as they are in the United States or Chongqing, relatively safe places.

Only his little daughter worries him.

Jiang Anguo's face showed a satisfied smile; he knew his choice was correct.

Nanyang's vast lands, as long as overseas Chinese are united and their fists are strong enough, will surely carve a path and forge a realm of their own on this soil.