Chapter 500: Security

Jiang Anguo originally planned to keep a division's establishment under one person, making it more flexible on the Myanmar battlefield, but now he thinks it's best to drop the idea.

That's already impossible; just the three Infantry Regiments total over ten thousand men, and adding the Tank Regiment, Artillery Regiment, and various support arms, the number already exceeds...

Zhuge Mingliang looked at the establishment list and slowly said, "Division commander, the personnel ratios of each unit are reasonable, the troop types are complete, covering offense, defense, fire support and logistics, and can adapt to the northern Myanmar battlefield."

Then Jiang Anguo took the adjusted establishment list, checked it again, and in a solemn tone said, "Everyone, the establishment of the st Division is now clear, the total manpower totals... people."

"From now on, the heads of each unit must strictly follow the establishment, reorganize the troops, strengthen training; Deputy Division Commander Lin Yi will coordinate the training of all Infantry Regiments and directly subordinate battalions, and Zhuge Mingliang will assist me in formulating operational plans and coordinating joint actions."

"Yes! Division commander!" everyone present answered in unison, their tone firm, eyes full of fighting spirit.

After the meeting ended, the attendees gradually left, leaving only Jiang Anguo, Lin Yi and Zhuge Mingliang in the command post.

Lin Yi looked at the list in his hand and said, "Division commander, the 201st Division now has sufficient manpower and a full complement of troop types; it's no longer the unit that could only barely fend off the Japanese Army's attacks. As long as we train well, we'll surely hold our ground in northern Myanmar and protect the safety of the Chinese."

Zhuge Mingliang also said slowly, "Indeed, once the establishment is clear, each unit can perform its duties, and joint combat capability will improve greatly."

"However, we must also note that as the force expands, management difficulty increases, especially the joint training between units, which must be launched promptly to avoid coordination problems. Moreover, the South China Freedom Army also needs to quickly become combat‑ready and cooperate with the 201st Division to form a pincer, responding to the ensuing battles."

Jiang Anguo nodded, his gaze deep, and said, "You're both right. Lin Yi, draft the training plans for each unit as soon as possible, focusing on strengthening joint training between units to ensure seamless coordination on the battlefield."

"Mr. Zhuge, you are responsible for drafting the joint operation plan between the South China Freedom Army and the 201st Division, while also monitoring the situation in northern Myanmar, gathering intelligence from all sides to provide a basis for our operational decisions."

"Understood, Division commander!" Lin Yi and Zhuge Mingliang answered together.

Jiang Anguo looked at the previous manpower plan and seemed to think it didn't need revision; the war must eventually end, and some rear‑area cities also need garrison troops for defense.

A single Infantry Division's numbers are just right; it can meet combat needs while reducing supply consumption.

The key is that these two establishment plans serve different purposes—one fits the current situation, the other can be used in the future.

The establishment of the 201st Division is officially confirmed.

At this moment, all personnel of the 201st Division have gathered in Mandalay, and various reorganization and training tasks are proceeding orderly, but Jiang Anguo, looking at the list in his hand, suddenly recalled something that had been overlooked.

The list is incomplete; besides the already specified regiments and battalions, there is a special unit—the Guard Battalion.

This unit originated as the Guard Company of the Independent Regiment; as the force expanded, it was upgraded to a Guard Battalion, with its commander Jiang Xingxue, maintaining a strength of five hundred men, and its core duty is singular.

To stay within a step of protecting commander Jiang Anguo's safety, it is his most trusted and reliable personal force.

In reality, the 201st Division's establishment is massive, even impossible to give a precise figure.

Mentioning the Guard Battalion, Jiang Anguo's thoughts drifted to distant places, a hint of worry surfacing in his heart.

His family—four sisters and several children—had long been secretly relocated by him to Lashu to escape the war.

Now the situation in northern Myanmar is turbulent, with remnants of the Japanese Army, local Burmese militias, and colonial forces intertwining, danger lurking everywhere.

The safety of his family is always his greatest concern and his only soft spot.

When the fighting was intense before, he had no time to worry about his family's safety; now that the troops are growing and have secured some territory, he can no longer let his family fall into danger.

Although Lashu is under Expeditionary Force control, the situation remains complex and tolerates no negligence.

Without any hesitation, Jiang Anguo immediately ordered someone to summon Jiang Xingxue.

A moment later, Jiang Xingxue briskly entered the command post, standing tall, expression respectful, and gave a slight bow, "Commander, you called for me?"

Jiang Anguo turned, his tone solemn and earnest, eyes full of instruction, "Xingxue, pull a platoon's worth of troops from the Guard Battalion and head straight to Lashu, station them around the place where my sisters live, maintain round‑the‑clock defense, and be sure of their safety—no mistakes allowed."

"Yes, Commander!" Jiang Xingxue replied without hesitation.

As the former Guard Company Commander for Jiang Anguo, Jiang Xingxue knows Jiang Anguo's concern for his family and the importance of this matter, and dares not be even slightly lax.

Although Jiang Anguo only asked for a platoon, considering Lashu's complicated situation, he immediately decided to pull a fifty‑person team to ensure flawless security.

After receiving the order, Jiang Xingxue turned and left at once, quickly selecting elite guards, arming them with fine weapons, and rushed to the estate.

In less than two hours, this fifty‑person guard team arrived at the destination.

In the northwest corner of Lashu lies a secluded estate, the residence of Jiang Anguo's four sisters and the children.

The estate's grounds are extensive, with lawns and forests, allowing nearby recreation without boredom.

Perhaps that's one of the privileges—you can have the best.

Jiang Anguo deliberately placed his family here rather than inside Lashu City, for his own reasons.

First, Lashu City's populace is dense and chaotic, a mix of Expeditionary Force soldiers, many Burmese locals, and numerous unidentified individuals; the uncertainty is great and accidents easy.

Second, if enemy spies seek opportunity, the crowded, noisy city would be their first choice; by contrast, the quiet estate outside the city is safer and easier to defend.

In fact, Lin Yi had already considered Jiang Anguo's family safety; after the family was moved to Lashu, he proactively pulled a company of soldiers to station outside the estate, patrolling day and night, securing the estate thoroughly.

Lin Yi knows that Jiang Anguo is the core of the 201st Division and the hope of the Expeditionary Force; his family must not suffer any mishap, lest it damage Jiang Anguo's morale and shake the troops' spirit.

Learning that Lin Yi had already arranged troops to protect his family gave Jiang Anguo some comfort, yet his mind was still not at ease.

He is well aware of the battlefield's cruelty and human complexity; the more precaution, the safer his family.

Even with a company's soldiers defending the perimeter, he decided to pull an elite Guard Battalion as well, creating an inner‑outer double layer of protection, so that when he commands in Mandalay he can truly set his mind at ease, with no rear‑ward worries.

Actually, Jiang Anguo also asked Lin Yi to inquire about the soldiers' families, mainly those from Chanda.

If their families are all far in the rear, they could be transferred entirely to Lashu, where living facilities are comparatively better.

After the fifty guards arrived, they immediately coordinated with the perimeter soldiers arranged by Lin Yi, quickly familiarizing themselves with the estate's surrounding terrain.

They set up guard posts at key points inside the estate, along the walls, and at entrances, implementing 24‑hour rotating watches, vigilantly observing all movements.

Whether it's a rustle of wind or an unfamiliar person approaching, they will detect it instantly and deal with it promptly.

Once the arrangements were complete, Jiang Xingxue promptly reported the defensive deployment to Jiang Anguo.