Chennault continued: "For this reason, I returned to China specifically to work in the military and political circles, but some senior military officials in the country were not interested in this matter. They believed that selling fighter jets to China at this time would be unwise to offend the Japanese."
After a pause, Chennault looked at Zhou Zhihan: "Just when I thought I was desperate, someone helped me. Zhihan, who do you think it was?"
Zhou Zhihan smiled and shook his head.
"It's General Pat Plouffe!"
Zhou Zhihan was very surprised: "My teacher? How is he? I haven't written to him for a long time."
"Yes!" Chennault said with a smile, "You didn't expect it! Hehe, at the critical moment, I went to Major General Pat Plouffe and told him that I was your friend, and he received me. He has now been promoted to lieutenant general and transferred to He left the Randolph Air Force Academy and held an important position in the Navy Department. When he received me, he specifically asked me to return to China to greet you later."
Zhou Zhihan was excited. After leaving the United States for so long, the teacher still missed him.
“After General Pat Plouffe listened to me talk about the current situation of China’s resistance to Japan and the determination of the Chinese people to resist the war, he expressed deep sympathy for China and introduced me to President Roosevelt’s adviser, Mr. Laughlin Corey.
Mr. Cory strongly supported my suggestion. He and President Roosevelt's lawyer Mr. Corcolin suggested that President Roosevelt approve the organization of the Air Force Volunteer Team to fight in China and provide assistance in aircraft weapons and other aspects. "
Zhou Zhirou glanced at Zhou Zhihan. Chennault, the commander-in-chief of the Air Force, didn't know about this matter. This showed that this matter was classified as top secret. He knew that since Roosevelt's staff and lawyers supported aid to China, there was a 60-70 chance that the matter would be successful. However, even if Roosevelt agreed, it would still need to go through the U.S. legal process, and it would not happen overnight.
Sure enough, Chennault continued: “President Roosevelt was very concerned about this matter and secretly summoned me to ask me about the Chinese government’s determination to resist the war.
I told him about the bloody battle of the Chinese army during the Battle of Songhu, how the massacre in Nanjing did not shake the determination of the Chinese army to resist the war, how the Chongqing Massacre did not make the Chinese government surrender, and how the Air Force remained unyielding even in the face of adversity when almost the entire army was wiped out. He fought a bloody battle with the powerful Japanese Air Force to the end. When I told him that during the war of resistance against Japan in the past few years, only the Chinese Air Force had died in battle and no Chinese pilots had surrendered, President Roosevelt was shocked, because in the battle between Britain and Germany, both sides were captured. There are countless pilots, and the fact that Chinese pilots can be so loyal shows that this nation has an indomitable determination. "
Chennault took a few puffs of his cigar and lowered his voice: "That day, President Roosevelt met with me for almost an hour. Maybe because I represented both China and the United States at the time, he told me that his think tanks had discovered , Japan’s war resources began to be insufficient, especially oil, which was very dependent on the United States. I could hear from his tone that he was worried that Japan would one day make irrational actions.”
Zhou Zhihan's heart moved. Before the time travel, there were rumors that Roosevelt knew about Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor but deliberately kept it secret in order to have an excuse to join the war. Judging from Chennault's words, these rumors were not groundless.
"Finally, Mr. President expressed his strong support for forming an air force to support China, but all pilots cannot be composed of American soldiers and must be composed of civilian flying enthusiasts, because at this time the United States does not want to fully offend Japan.
Moreover, this matter cannot be rushed. China must find a way to persuade opponents in Congress, and even if they cannot be convinced, they must sympathize with China.
So these days, Mr. Song Ziwen, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, has been running around and achieved certain results.
Not long ago, Mr. Laughlin Corey, President Roosevelt's advisor, sent me a telegram telling me that he hoped that I and the chief officer of the Chinese Air Force would go to the United States in March or April next year to purchase fighter aircraft and recruit American pilots to China to fight against Japan. "
Zhou Zhirou was very happy after hearing this and said to Chennault: "This is really great. You have the greatest credit for this matter being accomplished!"
"I don't want any credit!" Chennault smiled and waved his hand. After the three clinked glasses, he took a sip of red wine and continued, "When the Anti-Japanese War just started, I was ready to return to China, but with Mrs. Chiang's persuasion and invitation, I went I came to Nanjing, during which I saw the tenacity of the Chinese army and the Chinese people suffering from the war. I couldn’t bear to leave, so I decided to stay and become a member of the Chinese people and fight against Japan together!”
Zhou Zhirou stood up and said, "With this in mind, I would like to toast you on behalf of the Chinese people!"
Zhou Zhihan was also moved and stood up. He knew that during the Anti-Japanese War, the Flying Tigers led by Chennault made indelible contributions to China's Anti-Japanese War. He will always be recorded in China's merit book.
After the three of them sat down, Chennault continued: "After getting the affirmation from the White House, I returned to China and told President Jiang about this confidential matter in person. He was very happy and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Song Ziwen, to start discussions. Regarding all aspects of purchasing fighter planes, when the opportunity matures in March or April next year, I will make a special trip back to China to purchase fighter planes and recruit volunteers..."
The three of them ate this meal for nearly three hours. After drinking tea and chatting for a while, Zhou Zhirou and Chennault asked Zhou Zhihan to go back and rest early to prepare for the ace battle tomorrow.
Returning to the large single-family room, Zhou Zhihan took a comfortable hot bath, put on clean clothes, then closed the door, turned on the system, and entered [Sky Overlord].
The time returned to around six o'clock.
Karen sat with Qin Shu and four female soldiers to eat together. The aunt in charge of cooking served them a meal and sat down to eat together. While chatting, she suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, I'm going to buy groceries." When I came back, I passed a small restaurant, and I heard people shouting loudly in the restaurant from a distance, as if they were arguing about something about the ace of our Chinese air force versus the ace of Japan."
Qin Shu quickly asked: "What are they arguing about?"
The aunt only knew that Qin Shu and the others were soldiers, but she didn't know anything else. She is honest and kind, and her son also works at the airport as a ground crew, so the Air Force Logistics Department was relieved and allowed her to cook and clean the room for Karen and the others.
"When I passed the door, I heard a large group of people saying that the owner of the small restaurant was bragging, saying that he didn't even know the ace pilot of the Chinese Air Force, whose name was Zhou..."
Qin Shu said: "Are they talking about Zhou Zhihan?"
The aunt said: "Yes, yes, they are talking about Zhou Zhihan, saying that he wants to fly a plane and fight with the Japanese, and they also say that the owner of the small restaurant is bragging about knowing Zhou Zhihan to help himself.
I wanted to come back to cook, but I didn't listen carefully. The cause of the matter seemed to be that the owner of the small restaurant said that Zhou Zhihan was his brother. The guests in the room laughed at him. Judging from the tone at that time, he might have been beaten..."
Qin Shu frowned, Zhou Zhihan has an older brother? I never heard him talk about it when I was in the United States. He told me that he was an only son. Could this guy lie to me?
"Karen!" Qin Shu asked Karen in English, "Does Colonel Zhou have a brother?"
Karen was stunned and didn't know why Qin Shu asked this: "No, he told me that his father is his only son. What's wrong?"
Qin Shu: "..."
…
The next morning, Zhou Zhihan got up for a morning run, boxed for half an hour, and felt more energetic. Then he went back to take a bath and then went to a small restaurant in Wangwu Lake to eat tofu. When he came back, he saw that Zhou Zhirou had already sent someone to drive to the restaurant. Waiting at the door, he took a shower and then took a car to Taipingsi Airport.
Half past ten in the morning.
Chengdu Taipingsi Airport.
Zhou Zhihan ate 60% full and rested for ten minutes. Accompanied by Zhou Zhirou, Chennault and others, they went to the secret hangar. After circling the fighter plane for careful inspection, they entered the flight cabin and checked that all the instruments were normal. .
Zhou Zhirou tightened the straps for him personally and helped him cover the cabin.
Messerschmitt No. 214 started, slowly drove onto the airport runway, took off, and flew over Yunan Town.
Yun'an Town.
Today, Yun'an Town has become the focus. Military observation groups and reporters from various countries in China have already gathered here.
After negotiations between China and Japan, Japanese journalists were also allowed to come to the battlefield as an exception today.
People in Chengdu and Chongqing received flyers yesterday. Many people traveled hundreds of miles to Yun'an Town to cheer for China's ace pilot. Many people held a blue sky and white sun flag and formed a cheering group, waving the flag and shouting!
For the sake of fairness, today's Ace Battle begins on time at 12 noon, because the position of the sun at this time is fair to both warring parties.
