Chapter 463: Nanko: Massive Propaganda

Jiang Anguo knew in his heart that having only elite troops was far from enough; propaganda work was equally important.

He wanted the Nanyang populace, Chinese expatriates, and all factions to know the existence of the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic and to know President Chen Jiageng.

Thus, on the day Chen Jiageng formally announced the founding of the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic,

Jiang Anguo's pre‑arranged printing workshop sprang into full speed, and a huge number of newspapers were printed through the night.

Each newspaper's front page featured a portrait of Chen Jiageng in a Zhongshan suit with a solemn expression, and beside it prominently read "President Chen Jiageng of the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic".

Below it was attached the founding declaration of the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic, every word resonant, proclaiming the resolve to protect Nanyang, resist the Japanese Army, and shelter Chinese expatriates.

The word "President" was thus steadily placed on Chen Jiageng through one newspaper after another by Jiang Anguo.

What he sought was not to force immediate recognition from everyone, but first to broadcast the title so that Chen Jiageng's image would take deep root in the hearts of every person watching the Nanyang situation.

If everyone sees Chen Jiageng as President, over time this "recognition" will naturally come about.

At this time, Nanyang's Japanese‑occupied area was vast; from Yangon in Myanmar to the Malaya Peninsula, huge tracts of land lay under the Japanese Army's iron hooves, and getting these propaganda newspapers into the hands of the people everywhere was far from easy.

Jiang Anguo had long calculated; currently the only area where he possessed air superiority was Myanmar, so conducting the Air Drop over Myanmar was the best choice.

That afternoon, Taunggyi Airport roared with engine noise as Song Yunfei personally led a bomber formation, slowly taking off under the escort of dozens of fighter aircraft.

Beneath the wings hung neatly bundled propaganda newspapers, the fuselage painted with camouflage markings, and the aircraft flew toward the various cities of southern Myanmar.

After reaching the target area, the bomber's cargo doors opened slowly.

One newspaper after another bearing Chen Jiageng's portrait drifted down like snowflakes from the sky, landing on the streets and alleys of Yangon, Bosa, Moulmein and other cities, in the hands of civilians, on rooftops, and even inside Japanese Army barracks.

The news quickly reached the Japanese Army's 15th Army headquarters in Yangon.

Commander Iida Shojirou, who was deploying troops on a map, slammed his command baton onto the ground in a flash of iron‑blue fury when he learned that Jiang Anguo had sent people to airdrop propaganda newspapers and loudly proclaim Chen Jiageng as "President".

"Damn! Jiang Anguo, you brat, how dare you be so arrogant! Chen Jiageng is just a merchant—does he even deserve to be called President?"

Iida Shojirou gritted his teeth, his eyes full of murderous intent, and ordered, "Immediately seal off the streets of Yangon, confiscate all propaganda newspapers, and punish any who hide or spread them without mercy! Also, dispatch fighter aircraft to intercept their bomber formation and be sure to shoot them all down!"

The adjutant general beside him quickly responded, "Hai!"

But he knew very well that the Japanese Army's air power in Myanmar had long been crippled by Jiang Anguo's forces, making it extremely difficult to intercept the heavily escorted bomber formation.

Sure enough, the fighters that were sent up were intercepted shortly after takeoff by Jiang Anguo's escort fighters; the two sides engaged in fierce aerial dogfights, the Japanese fighters suffered heavy losses and were forced to limp back, unable to stop the newspaper Air Drop.

When Iida Shojirou learned of the interception failure, he trembled with rage; he understood that Jiang Anguo's move was not merely propaganda for Chen Jiageng but a provocation of the Japanese Army's authority, shaking the foundation of its rule in Myanmar.

"Jiang Anguo, Chen Jiageng… I will make you pay!" Iida Shojirou clenched his fists, his eyes cold with malice, and immediately ordered heightened vigilance across Myanmar, while mobilizing troops to launch a surprise attack on Jiang Anguo's forces at Taunggyi, aiming to eradicate this major threat once and for all.

Meanwhile, Jiang Anguo had already prepared for this; he simultaneously ordered Song Yunfei to continue leading his formation to Air Drop propaganda newspapers over the cities in northern Myanmar—Bamo, Myitkyina—held by the Expeditionary Force.

At the same time he covertly dispatched troops to reinforce Taunggyi's defensive works against the Japanese Army's raid.

Bamo and Myitkyina are currently under the Expeditionary Force; units of the Fifth Army still control these two locations, and, as it happens, Jiang Anguo's main force was then stationed at Lashu, watching the Lashu 56th Division, before handing the two places over to Du Yuming.

Bamo and Myitkyina have frequent contacts with minority peoples inside Huaxia, and there are many Chinese there; Jiang Anguo knew these places were key to winning hearts and expanding influence.

To win the genuine allegiance of the locals, Jiang Anguo had already sent envoys to persuade them.

The persuaders carried propaganda newspapers, telling the locals about the vision of the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic, Jiang Anguo's sincerity, and recalling the bygone effort of building the Dian-Mian Highway.

Back then, to support the anti‑Japanese war, more than 200,000 Yunnan civilians were mobilized to construct this vital strategic route.

It was these people who labored with shovels on their shoulders, even sacrificing their lives, that opened this lifeline.

Yet today they still live in poverty, even suffering oppression from the Japanese Army.

At the same time, Jiang Anguo offered an extremely attractive incentive: any civilian willing to join the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic and remain in Myanmar would receive five mu of land per adult and three mu per child, with the land owned individually and accompanied by government support and a three‑year tax exemption. This condition instantly moved the locals, especially those with no land to farm and suffering poverty, who eagerly expressed willingness to join.

The offer was not lofty but fit the reality; near Mandalay there were vast tracts of arable land, and Jiang Anguo would find ways to address the locals' needs.

With a rice yield of two hundred jin per mu, five mu already sufficed for an adult's normal livelihood.

In fact, rice yields could be higher; with careful cultivation even without fertilizer, three hundred jin per mu was attainable.

Beyond that, Jiang Anguo had an even longer‑term plan.

Myanmar's development could not proceed without people, yet the native Burmese were ultimately outsiders, unable to truly share the heart of Huaxia's Chinese expatriates.

Therefore, he must bring more Huaxia civilians to Myanmar, bolstering the population and solidifying the base, so that Huaxia people in Myanmar would have sufficient voice to truly hold this land and achieve the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic's lasting development.

Subsequently, Jiang Anguo immediately dispatched people to the Yunnan border to contact local officials and civilians, publicizing Myanmar's favorable policies and urging them to immigrate.

The Yunnan border is mountainous, its people live in poverty, and upon learning they could receive land and a stable life in Myanmar,

they also counted on Jiang Anguo's troops for protection against Japanese Army incursions.

A great number of civilians responded, packed their belongings, and followed the people sent by Jiang Anguo in batches toward Myanmar.

Along the way, Jiang Anguo arranged for troops to escort them; northern Myanmar was extremely dangerous, though no Japanese forces were present, the civilians had little food, so Jiang Anguo ordered the troops to set up supply stations along the route.

He safely delivered batch after batch of Huaxia civilians to Bamo, Myitkyina, Lashu and other locations in Myanmar, allocating land, building houses, distributing food, and helping them settle quickly.

The arrival of these immigrants not only bolstered Myanmar's population but also strengthened Jiang Anguo's and Chen Jiageng's influence, making the foundation of the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic even more solid.