"What? The conversation between Zhou Zhihan and Laughlin Corey lasted longer? Baga, how is this possible? The empire is invincible on the Chinese battlefield and its reputation is far-reaching. Didn't this old guy Laughlin Corey say to suspend arms sales? ……"
After Nakaso Moritaka saw the secret letter, the pride on his face was replaced by anger. What kind of magic did Zhou Zhihan cast on the Americans to get favoritism?
Another week passed, just when the Japanese were trying to find out the contents of the conversation between Laughlin Corey and Zhou Zhihan by using their connections, good news came. After comprehensive consideration, the U.S. government was very likely to directly End the sale of fighter-bombers to China and Japan because this is not in the interest of the United States.
A few days later.
The president's chief adviser, Mr. Laughlin Corey, simultaneously summoned the ambassadors and aircraft purchase representatives from China and Japan, and informed them face to face that the United States had decided not to sell weapons to China and Japan.
Just a few days after the Japanese representatives celebrated happily in private, the U.S. military suddenly invited representatives from China and Japan to participate in and observe the test flights and training of U.S. fighter-bombers.
Because on May 5 next month, the Corpus Christi Naval Air Base in Texas will usher in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Although China and Japan have not reached their intention to purchase fighter jets this time, the United States, China and the United States The friendship between Japan and Japan still exists, so they are allowed to test-fly various US military fighter-bombers as an exception.
Corpus Christi Naval Air Station is located in Nueces County, Texas. Construction began in 1938, and the first flight training will take place on May 5, 1941.
For this ribbon-cutting, the US military invited militaries from all over the world to participate, including the Soviet Union, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, Vichy France and other countries.
For now, none of these countries have military conflicts with the United States, and most of them still have economic and trade exchanges.
After all, no matter how much war goes on, food and development must continue.
There is only one word between countries - interests!
On the day of the ribbon-cutting test flight at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Base, all fighter-bombers did not carry weapons. Invited pilots could perform various flights in the air, including single, double, and triple flight performances, or participate in squadron flight performances. And participate in red and blue side confrontation performances.
China readily agreed. This was a great opportunity to learn the advanced technology of the U.S. Air Force, take the opportunity to communicate with outstanding pilots from various countries, learn from each other's strengths, and bring advanced training concepts from Western countries back to China.
Of course, Japan agreed. She is a nation that likes to learn, and she also wants to take this opportunity to show the world the superb skills of imperial pilots.
In mid-April, Chinese Ambassador Song Ziwen submitted a letter of intent to lease American fighter-bombers to the U.S. Congress.
Within the stipulated time after receiving China's letter of intent to lease, the relevant parties in the United States began legal proceedings.
[Lend-Lease Act] was established in March 1941. As long as all countries meet the conditions, they can apply to the United States for Lend-Lease, including materials, food, weapons, ammunition, etc.
China's proposal immediately encountered strong opposition from Japan.
In response, the United States declared that Japan's objections were invalid and that the United States could not change its own laws because of Japan's unilateral objections.
One day later, the Japanese Embassy also submitted an application to lease fighter-bombers to the United States.
But the next day, Japan’s lease application was rejected on the grounds that there were no U.S. concessions or leased land, sites, military bases, etc. in Japan, and the reason why China met the conditions was because Shanghai, China, was a U.S. concession.
Nakasa Moritaka became so angry that he immediately went to the Japanese Embassy in the United States and sent a message to Tokyo for instructions.
The next day, Moritaka Nakaba proposed to the U.S. military on behalf of the Japanese military that he would like to have a unique friendly competition with the Chinese Air Force pilots in the United States on May 5, the day of the ribbon-cutting test flight at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Base, to prepare for that day. The ribbon-cutting test flight added to the atmosphere.
In response, the U.S. military readily agreed.
The friendly confrontation between China and Japan on the ribbon-cutting day is destined to be exciting. Why not agree?
This is a good opportunity to directly observe the true strength of Chinese Air Force pilots.
The legal process for the Lend-Lease Act has now been started, and China is also eligible for the lease. The lease agreement will be reached soon, and American fighter jets will be shipped to China.
In fact, the U.S. military invited Chinese representatives to test-fly fighter jets just to verify the true strength of Chinese pilots. Unexpectedly, jealous Japan helped in this matter.
The pilots who can go to the United States to purchase fighter jets on behalf of China this time must be among the top pilots in the Air Force. They represent the current flying level of the Chinese Air Force. Let’s take a look at their level first, and then decide which level of American pilots to recruit. China volunteers to fight.
The U.S. military is very thoughtful. If the Chinese Air Force pilots are good, then the U.S. military’s requirements for recruiting domestic pilots must be increased accordingly. Otherwise, if you send a group of rookies to China who are not as good as Chinese pilots, wouldn’t it be a loss of the U.S. Air Force? s face.
Therefore, the U.S. military’s reply to the Japanese military was that it agreed to conduct a flight confrontation between Chinese and Japanese test pilots on the day of the ribbon-cutting, but this required the consent of the Chinese pilots and requested the Japanese side in advance to ensure that both sides safety, otherwise the consequences will be very serious.
Japan immediately stated that it abides by the rules. No matter how proud and arrogant Japan is, it still dare not cause trouble on the day of the ribbon-cutting and test flight at a US military base.
After receiving confirmation from Japan, the U.S. military asked the Chinese military.
The answer given by the Chinese military after research is that Zhou Zhihan is currently the plenipotentiary representative of the Chinese Air Force in the United States, and the matter is decided by Representative Zhou Zhihan.
There is a saying in Chinese art of war that foreign kings will not accept their orders. Zhou Zhihan had to make a decision based on their actual situation at this time.
Zhou Zhihan rejected the Japanese request
You specifically said you wanted to have a friendly match, and then labor and management started a friendly match with you?
Go to Nima's friendly match.
District Nima’s friendship.
Where does the friendship between the Chinese and the devils come from?
What's the point of friendship with a kid?
Unless there is an opportunity for you to kowtow on the ground, labor and management can consider it.
Based on the domestic feedback to the United States, which allowed Zhou Zhihan to make his own decision based on the actual situation, Zhou Zhihan, Song Ziwen, Zhang Mufei, and Gong Yeti studied and concluded that the country was unwilling to have the possibility of extraneous complications at this critical moment.
The Japanese clearly said that this was a friendly match without gunpowder, but in fact everyone could see that the little devil had no good intentions and wanted to cause trouble and interfere with China's purchase plan.
On the night when Zhou Zhihan rejected Zhongxuan Shengxiao, Chennault ended his vacation early, rushed over to meet Zhou Zhihan and the others, and brought good news.
Laughlin Corey told Chennault that the Lend-Lease Act applied for by China has been passed. Next, China can submit written materials on how many fighter-bombers it applies to lease.
Immediately, the Chinese Embassy held an internal low-key celebration that evening.
Sure enough, two days later, Laughlin Corey summoned Zhou Zhihan and Song Ziwen, showed them the documents confirming the passage of the Lend-Lease Act, and reminded them how many fighter-bombers they could apply to lease.
Finally, Mr. Laughlin Corey suggested that Zhou Zhihan accept the Japanese request because this is an opportunity to show China's capabilities to the world, and China will also need to recruit American pilots to form a volunteer army to go to China to fight against Japan.
Mr. Laughlin Corey, who has always supported China's Anti-Japanese War and sympathized with China, said to Zhou Zhihan: "If you can shine at this ribbon-cutting test flight ceremony, I can take this opportunity to strongly recommend to President Luo to sign the permission. Your order to recruit volunteers at military bases across the United States."
Song Ziwen, who has rich diplomatic experience, said: "Mr. Chief Advisor, our motherland is being ravaged by Japanese cavalry. As iron-blooded soldiers, we are determined to fight to the end and have no friendship with the Japanese army.
We are deeply grateful for your continued sympathy and help to China! We must attach great importance to your suggestion. Please allow us to give you a reply after serious discussion again! "
