There were quite a few Chinese people in Lashio—or rather, throughout Myanmar. They had all immigrated here earlier for various reasons. After the outbreak of World War II, even more Chinese fled to Myanmar, numbering over two hundred thousand.
After the war ended, defeated Nationalist Army soldiers and other refugees headed south, causing the Chinese population to surge once again. By the time of the anti-Chinese incidents, there were already seven or eight hundred thousand Chinese living here.
Most of them lived close together in northern Myanmar, clustering together for mutual support.
This was also part of the foundation Wang Yan could use to win people over...
"Japan is no good. I think everyone has already felt that. I've seen plenty of what Japan has done around here. But I want to tell you this: compared with what the Chinese people suffered, you people here have had it far too easy."
Standing on high ground, Wang Yan spoke through a large tin megaphone, his voice deep and resonant as a great bell. He told the gathered Myanmar natives and Chinese residents about the blood debts Japan had incurred back home.
He used this to show them that what the Japanese army had done here was only just beginning. If Japan was not driven out, the same horrors would fall upon everyone's heads—and perhaps with even greater cruelty.
"You used to think we came here to do evil. I don't blame you for that. But from now on, if anyone still thinks we came here to do evil, I'll have them shot.
Why? Because they stand with Japan. They admire Japan. They are not our brothers—they are our enemies. And enemies must be crushed. They must be killed."
"After saying all that, there's only one thing I want to say: