Chapter 551: Remember to Keep It Confidential

Hearing that, the soldiers around instantly boiled over, cheers and shouts rose one after another, shaking the surrounding air into a lively buzz.

"Great! Long live Colonel Jiang!"

"Four thousand jin of pork! Now we can eat our fill!"

"She Pigu's cooking unit makes the best rice; now we're in for a feast!" It's clear that Ma Dazhi's culinary skill has already earned everyone's approval.

Liu Wu slapped his thigh excitedly, shouted at the top of his lungs, "I knew Colonel Jiang cared most for our brothers! In a bit I'll eat three big bowls of braised pork, no, five big bowls!"

The soldiers laughed and teased him, "Liu Wu, don't brag; if you can't finish it, you'll become a laughingstock!"

"Exactly, with your small frame, even three big bowls would be impressive!"

Dai Anlan looked at the bustling scene, then at Jiang Anguo, eyes full of gratitude: "Anguo, thank you. The brothers all remember your kindness."

Jiang Anguo smiled and shook his head, "Thank what? It's only natural. The brothers shed blood on the battlefield to protect our homeland; I just did what I had to do."

He walked to the big pot, lifted a ladle, scooped a piece of braised pork, tasted it, and nodded, "Hmm, the flavor's good, just a bit scant. When She Pigu's cooking unit arrives, have them add more ingredients and make the brothers the most fragrant braised pork."

"Yes! Colonel Jiang!" the soldier in charge of cooking replied eagerly, his face beaming with joy.

Jiang Anguo chatted with the soldiers again, asking about their living conditions and any difficulties; the soldiers responded one by one, their tones full of contentment and gratitude.

Some soldiers said they had received their wages and planned to send part home to buy food for their families.

Some soldiers said they wanted to use the break to go to Yangon's shops for daily necessities.

Others said they would definitely fight well in the future, defend Nanko, and not disappoint Colonel Jiang's expectations, though that chance seemed slim.

Soon after, Xiao Si arrived with She Pigu's cooking unit. The unit's soldiers carried pots, bowls, ladles, and spices, hurried to the center of the area, and immediately got to work.

At the same time, the transport vehicle hauling the pork arrived; the four thousand jin of pork were unloaded one by one and piled aside, making the soldiers' eyes light up.

She Pigu briskly approached Jiang Anguo, saluted, and said with a smile, "Sir, our cooking unit has arrived. We guarantee to make the most fragrant braised pork for the brothers of the 200th Division, so everyone can eat their fill!"

"Alright, thank you for your hard work," Jiang Anguo said with a smile, "Add more ingredients so the brothers can eat heartily."

"Don't worry, Sir!" She Pigu pounded his chest in assurance, then immediately ordered the cooking unit's soldiers to get busy—washing vegetables, cutting meat, stoking the fire, stewing the pork—with clear division of labor and orderly progress.

Dai Anlan stood beside Jiang Anguo, watching the bustling cooking unit and the excited soldiers, and sighed, "Anguo, with you here the brothers feel reassured; following Nanko, we'll only get better and better."

Jiang Anguo nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant Yangon Airport, his tone firm: "It will happen. Once we finish building Yangon and Nanko, so the brothers all have houses, food, and money, and the common folk can live stable lives, that's the true purpose of our war."

At this moment, the braised pork in the big pot was simmering again, its rich aroma growing stronger and drifting far and wide. The soldiers gathered, chatting and laughing, faces full of joy and anticipation; the lively atmosphere dispelled the fatigue of war.

To be honest, Dai Anlan was a bit envious of Nanko, a newly founded nation so wealthy and powerful.

Dai Anlan also knew well that her brother‑in‑law was closely connected with Nanko.

Jiang Anguo turned back and whispered, "Brother‑in‑law, you've spent all the money; does my sister know?"

Dai Anlan's face turned a bewildered shade; indeed, he hadn't considered that aspect.

"Anguo, you must keep this secret for me!" Dai Anlan said helplessly.

Jiang Anguo replied cooperatively, "Don't worry, brother‑in‑law, I'll keep it secret."

In fact, Jiang Anguo was just joking privately with Dai Anlan.

"Anguo, everything at home is fine, right?" Dai Anlan asked.

"All good. If I hadn't stopped them, they'd have all come to Yangon," Jiang Anguo said helplessly.

Sister‑four was so out of touch that she didn't even know if her words received a response.

At home, Jiang Anguo had already made arrangements; he had asked several sisters, all of whom expressed willingness to work in Nanko. Accordingly, Jiang Anguo had Lin Yi first assign a few logistical posts for them in Lashu.

Mainly, everyone was also thinking about how to contribute to the front lines.

Elder sister Jiang Anwen thought of bringing her family and children to Mandalay, because at that time Jiang Anguo and Dai Anlan had just taken Mandalay; everything was unstable. Though few remained in the city, Jiang Anguo was still uneasy.

Including present‑day Yangon, it would definitely be taken over in the future, but not yet, as Yangon had only been recaptured for a few days.

Lashu was different; it was Jiang Anguo's main base and the first place to clear out spies. Another reason was that Lashu lay deep in the rear, very safe.

Jiang Anguo knew Japanese Army spies were hunting him, meaning he himself was already a target for assassination; having family nearby would clearly be unsafe.

And in a rear area like Lashu, few people knew Jiang Anguo's sisters, making it even safer.

Jiang Anwen also kept in touch with the families of some generals in Chongqing; the national government was busy with the war, and the rear was also difficult, so Jiang Anwen used Jiang Anguo's transport aircraft to occasionally aid them.

She also wrote letters many times, urging them to come to Lashu.

Some were willing to come to Lashu; after all, Chongqing was crowded, resources scarce, life hard, so they might as well come to Lashu to see how it is.

Jiang Anguo privately gave each of the three sisters 200 Nanko yuan per month; of course, they each also earned a salary of 18 yuan.

Even without Jiang Anguo's subsidy, their 18‑yuan salary alone was enough to support their families.

Jiang Anguo would send whatever the household needed each month in advance; usually the elder sister Jiang Anwen handled household affairs, so if anything was lacking, she would directly telegram Jiang Anguo.

Second sister Jiang Anping followed Chen Jiageng's fourth son, Chen Boji; the two lived in the United States.

Currently Nanko occupies most of Myanmar, effectively splitting the country in two; the only Japanese forces still in Nanko's territory are the Japanese Army 33rd Division at Ma Gui and a small Japanese contingent near Moulmein.

The rest of the territory is in Nanko's and the Expeditionary Force's hands.

The Expeditionary Force has no intention toward Myanmar; their mission was to open the Dian-Mian Highway, and now that the highway is opened, their mission is complete.

Because the Japanese still have a division entrenched in Myanmar, the Expeditionary Force cannot be careless.

The Japanese Army's first step in invading Myanmar actually began at Moulmein; after successfully taking Yangon, they dispatched warships to transport more troops to Yangon, then moved northward.