The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 467: The Taste of Power is Much Better than the Golden Rod

On the outskirts of Mandalay.

A uniquely shaped and imposing long steel train, spewing out billowing white smoke, slowly drove into the dedicated platform of Mandalay Railway Station.

This is not an ordinary passenger train, but a mobile headquarters and fortress of Zhangchi, a special train code-named "Army No. 1".

Its train body is obviously thicker and more solid than ordinary passenger cars. The exterior is covered with bulletproof armored steel plates painted dark olive green, with thick and dense rivets.

The car window glass is several inches thick. It looks dark from the outside, but you can clearly observe the outside world from the inside.

The most eye-catching feature of the train is the special carriage mounted behind the steam locomotive at both ends, which is the armed guard carriage.

The tops of these two armed carriages are not closed, but are equipped with rotatable turret platforms.

Two 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, were prominently mounted on the platform, their barrels pointing obliquely toward the sky, while ammunition boxes were neatly stacked inside the vehicle. (Picture)

There are firing holes on both sides of the vehicle for guards to shoot outwards, and the muzzles of heavy machine guns and the figures of vigilant guards can be vaguely seen.

The central armored carriage is equipped with two twin 20mm Oerlikon cannons, which are flexible enough to tear apart any low-altitude targets or lightly armored ground threats that attempt to approach. There are firing holes on the sides of the carriage.

The entire train is like a giant steel python armed to the teeth, exuding an aura that keeps strangers away.

The special carriage belonging to Zhang Chi has a luxurious and comfortable interior, with various functional areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms.

The platform was already under martial law at this time, and countless elite guards were lined up in two rows, standing scattered on the platform to keep watch.

The train door opened, and Zhang Chi, dressed in a neat dark green officer's uniform, stepped onto the platform surrounded by several elite guards.

Mandalay Garrison Commander Chen Shaoan and a number of officials from the Mandalay Municipal Committee, as well as Deputy Director of the Central Bank Preparatory Committee Shen Zhiyuan and others who had been waiting here immediately came forward to greet them.

"Mandalay's defense has been deployed at the highest level, please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief!" Chen Shaoan saluted first in a loud voice.

"General Zhang, you have worked hard on the journey." Ye Angwin, a member of the Mandalay Municipal Committee and a member of the Saka ethnic group, respectfully stepped forward to greet him in Mandarin with a slight accent.

Lin Aung Win was originally called Aung Win. He was the first among the local Saka chiefs in Mandalay to surrender to Zhang Chi. He even took the initiative to learn Mandarin, changed his name to a Chinese one, and added the surname Ye.

After seeing his sincerity, Zhang Chi naturally gave him a position as a committee member in charge of the labor department.

After shaking hands, the other officials who came on the special train also got off the train. Shen Zhiyuan met Chen Zhenchuan and came to Zhang Chi together.

After Chen Zhenchuan nodded slightly, Shen Zhiyuan stepped forward, with a look of excitement and nervousness that was difficult to conceal, and said to Zhang Chi:

"General Zhang, the vault and printing house are ready and available for inspection at any time."

Zhang Chi nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping over the guards standing solemnly on the platform and the air defense positions vaguely visible in the distance. "Thank you for your hard work. Everyone, let's go check out the vault together first."

Just at this moment, the special bulletproof car was unloaded from the flatbed car of the special train. Zhang Chi got directly into the bulletproof car, and the huge convoy drove directly away from the heavily guarded station.

Although the agents from the Security Department and the Intelligence Department had already wiped out two waves of native radicals who attempted to cause trouble and even assassinate Zhang Chi, Chen Shaoan still did not dare to take it lightly.

Therefore, the convoy did not enter the complicated urban area, but instead went around the city and headed towards the suburbs.

There are many checkpoints along the way and the commands are strict.

Finally, the convoy stopped in front of an unremarkable building disguised as a large storage warehouse.

Everyone got off the car, Zhang Chi was in front, Chen Zhenchuan, Chen Shaoan and others were half a step behind, and the young Shen Zhiyuan walked in the front, acting as a guide.

Entering the warehouse, the huge heavy iron door slowly slid open, revealing a deep passage extending downwards.

Once you go underground, the temperature drops sharply.

After passing through three heavily guarded checkpoints with multiple armed guards, a heavy alloy explosion-proof door appeared before everyone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the security of this central bank vault. The vault door is made of heavy-duty alloy, 30 centimeters thick (pictured). The interior is made of a composite of steel, copper, and concrete, perfectly resistant to drilling, cutting, and blasting. It also contains hidden ball hinges to prevent disassembly by external forces."

Shen Zhiyuan introduced it to everyone with pride.

"The door uses a rotary dial combination lock that needs to be precisely rotated to a preset number sequence. There are no electronic components inside, so it's resistant to interference." Shen Zhiyuan took out a key from his suit pocket and said, "You need two keys at the same time to unlock it."

On the other side, the military police major in charge of the vault defense also took out the key hanging around his neck.

Shen Zhiyuan: "From a technical perspective, this vault door is no different from the vault at Citibank's New York headquarters, and is even more secure."

Chen Zhenchuan whispered in his ear at the right moment: "Zhiyuan used to work at Citibank in Shanghai. He's very smart and down-to-earth."

Zhang Chi nodded with satisfaction. Since the person in front of him was capable, he might as well give it a try.

"Open it and take a look."

Soon, the vault door slowly opened, revealing the shocking space inside.

This is more like a steel fortress buried underground than a vault.

Before traveling through time, in the TV shows and movies that Zhang Chi watched, countless talented and ambitious people, whether they were driving fast cars, performing magic, or repairing sewers, always wanted to rob bank vaults.

It seems that the bank's vault is full of holes, and taking away the gold, banknotes and jewelry inside is as easy as taking candy from a bag.

However, considering the actual level of the great thieves before and after World War II, the team of the great sage Ram was considered first-class.

At least they still had some explosives and a small acetylene cutter.

More gangs only have a few guns.

The entire exterior of the space is cast in one piece from high-grade reinforced concrete, with walls exceeding two meters thick.

The top is covered with densely interlaced I-beams, dotted with incandescent bulbs, illuminating the inside of the vault.

Zhang Chi walked in slowly and felt insignificant.

He couldn't help but sigh. With such defense, not to mention the military police outside who were armed with live ammunition and heavy machine guns and were responsible for security, even this concrete wall would take ordinary thieves dozens of hours to dig through.

Zhang Chi looked forward and saw rows of alloy steel frames standing under the ceiling, with golden bars neatly stacked on them. They were the most solid anchors for the "Nanyang Dollar" to be issued.

Zhang Chi twitched his nose. The air was filled with the smell of cold metal and desiccant.

It’s funny, which boy hasn’t dreamed of robbing a bank?

Take the endless gold and piles of banknotes in the vault for yourself?

However, less than three years later, Zhang Chi looked at the yellow blocks in front of him again and felt that they were nothing special.

Power tastes much better than a golden stick.