HCB Chapter 529: Nanyang Begins Its Founding as a Nation Today (Seeking Gifts)
Chapter 529: Nanyang Begins Its Founding as a Nation Today (Seeking Gifts)
January 1, 1945, Yangon.
The sky is clear and the wind is gentle and gentle.
This city, chosen as the heart of the new nation, has long been drowned in countless flags of the United States of Southeast Asia.
The streets were bustling with people, including Chinese, Pegu people, Siamese, Malays, and people of other ethnic groups, all filled with unprecedented excitement and anticipation.
The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder after the salute.
The national pride in the crowd was almost boiling.
Outside the Jade Palace Square, distinguished guests gathered on the temporary viewing platform.
From abroad were General Marshall of the White Eagle, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivanov of the Russian Bear, Persian Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, representatives of the princes of the five northeastern states of Sindhu, and the personal representative of General Gauldai...
In addition, there were representatives from various factions of the Republic of China, including the close adjutants of Long and Lu from the Yunnan clique, the special staff officers of Li and Bai from the Guangxi clique, the confidants personally selected by Director Dai of the Military Control Commission, and so on...
Zhang Chi also invited some well-known figures in Nanyang, including Chen Lao Da, who had returned from the Republic of China, the former King of Siam, Zhang Zhichao, the head of the Nanyang Zhang family, and others.
Their eyes were focused on the towering white marble foundation stone in the center of the square.
At nine o'clock in the morning, the majestic "March of the Nanyang United States", composed by a famous local Chinese composer in Nanyang, resounded through the sky.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhang Chi, dressed in a specially made dark blue tuxedo, walked steadily onto the platform in front of the foundation stone.
Behind him are the core members of his future cabinet whom he has selected.
No long speeches.
Zhang Chi faced the surging crowd in the square and broadcast to the whole world.
His voice was clearly transmitted to every corner through the loudspeaker:
"My fellow countrymen, my friends, my fellow citizens."
The square suddenly became quiet, with only the flags fluttering in the wind.
"Today, this land beneath our feet, which has suffered so much but is full of infinite vitality, will usher in a new life.
In the name of all the people of Southeast Asia who love freedom, desire peace, and pursue dignity, the United States of Southeast Asia is established.
"Boom——! Boom——! Boom——!"
The eleven-gun salute representing the founding date roared, shaking the earth and announcing the birth of a new sovereign state.
The square suddenly erupted in thunderous cheers, and countless hats were thrown into the air.
Zhang Chi raised his hands, signaling for silence, and continued:
"In accordance with the Constitution of the United States of Southeast Asia and the Independence Act, it is hereby declared that..."
His voice was like a mighty bell, clearly declaring the backbone of the nation:
"Rangoon, the new capital of the United States of Southeast Asia."
The reasons for choosing this place are simple: first, it is close to the sea; second, it is about the same distance from various regions, even from Palembang in Sumatra, which will be attacked in the future, making it convenient to remotely control various places.
Of course, Zhang Chi also knew that Yangon would have many shortcomings as a capital, so he planned to use it only as an administrative center, and the economic and trade center would be moved to Xingzhou in Malacca.
"Mandalay, Myitkyina, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Singapore, these five cities are designated as special cities and are directly under the jurisdiction of the government."
This was his pre-planning plan to strengthen centralization of government power and control key nodes in the future.
The establishment of these five special cities will be like nails, firmly nailed to the core position of the Nanyang territory.
Myitkyina controls the northern gate, Kuala Lumpur radiates to the Malay Peninsula, Bangkok is responsible for stabilizing the newly incorporated Siam, and Singapore locks the throat of Malacca.
Mandalay has become the core of heavy industrialization thanks to the convenient access to the sea from the Irrawaddy River and the rich gold, rubber and iron ore resources in the surrounding area.
The strategic significance of these five special cities made the pupils of the guests on the viewing platform, especially the representatives of the Guangxi and Yunnan cliques, suddenly shrink.
This means that the central nervous system of the newly born Nanyang has powerfully covered the entire territory.
The groundbreaking ceremony was simple and solemn.
Zhang Chi personally placed a brick engraved with "Foundation 45.1.1" on the cornerstone, symbolizing that this young country will take root and thrive here.
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the atmosphere in the square suddenly changed, and a solemn and murderous atmosphere filled the air.
"Military parade, begin!"
With the order from the parade commander-in-chief, the passionate military music sounded again.
The first to pass the viewing platform was the guard of honor.
In front are three soldiers representing the navy, army and air force holding up military flags.
Behind them were elite soldiers of the Nanyang National Defense Force, all of whom were over 1.8 meters tall. They wore neat new military uniforms mixed with trendy Italian designs, wore steel helmets inlaid with dragon badges, and held Nanyang's domestically produced NTB44 Type A combat rifles (wooden stock G3).
"Goose-step!"
Their steps were as uniform as if measured with a ruler, and every step was in time with the same drumbeat.
Swish!Swish!Swish!
The sounds of leather boots hitting the ground came together, and the entire phalanx was like a moving steel wall, rolling forward with the momentum to crush everything.
"Hiss..." The staff officer sent by the Guangxi clique, a veteran soldier who had experienced many battles, couldn't help but take a breath.
He had seen big scenes before, including the Central Army's German-equipped divisions and the Japanese's Type A divisions, but the spirit and discipline displayed by the honor guard before him made him feel a chill from the bottom of his heart.
"These soldiers... have trained too hard. They are full of energy and spirit. I'm afraid they are even stronger than the teaching corps back then." He whispered to his colleague next to him with a serious tone.
Others, including representatives of the Maoxiong and Yunnan factions, also share the same feeling.
Only the representatives from White Eagle and Gaul felt a little jealous.
Isn't your goose-step a little too 'unfree', too Prussian?
They couldn't help but make associations, mainly because of the handsome military uniforms, upright postures, and neat formations, which could easily cause them to suffer from PTSD.
If the military uniforms were not mainly green instead of black or field gray, and if the guns they held were not squad machine guns (Marshall thought they were BAR-like guns from a distance) instead of MG42s, and if the slogans they shouted were in Chinese instead of German, they would really think that the Nazis were attacking.
Marshall rubbed his temples. What else could he do?
Since they're called the United States, and they haven't actually raised their right hands and yelled "Xing! Han!", then of course we can only treat it as a little quirk of Zhang Chi, the founding father of Nanyang, and tolerate him...
Next came the army infantry phalanx.
They were dressed in colorful combat camouflage uniforms, carrying marching bags, with vests designed by Zhangchi hanging on their chests (similar to the tactical vests of later generations), holding Garand M1 semi-automatic rifles, with bayonets everywhere, and looking murderous.
Every time a column passed by, it was accompanied by thunderous slogans: "Defend our country! Defend Southeast Asia!"
The sound waves were getting louder and louder, hitting the viewing platform like a tsunami.
The strong murderous aura made the princes of Sindhu turn pale and they involuntarily took half a step back.
The Persian princess also held her breath slightly, with a strange light in her beautiful eyes. This is the real power.
She looked at the tall figure in the center of the viewing platform, and her desire became even stronger.
What followed was a mechanized phalanx, which instantly brought the entire event to a climax.