The lunch that Pang Yuan prepared to welcome General He and the Allied inspection team was neither simple nor extravagant. It was a combination of Chinese and Western, including roast pork chop, bread, foreign wine, Chinese roast chicken, dumplings, and Fenjiu wine.
At the time of the national crisis, the people were in dire straits. It was too extravagant and disgusting, and too simple and disrespectful to the guests. This arrangement was appropriate.
Nine foreign buddies from the Flying Tigers were also invited to the welcome luncheon. The foreigners sat on one side of a long table, and the Chinese officials represented by Chief He, Pang Yuan, and Xie Tian sat on the other side. It was convenient for everyone to communicate face to face. .
Stilwell was obviously very satisfied with the lunch arranged by Pang Yuan. In Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan, Stilwell was in a bad mood every time he attended the banquet arranged for him by the Nationalist Government.
If you just look at the delicacies on the table and the feasting after the banquet, does this look like a country being invaded by the Japanese?
When Chiang Kai-shek asked Roosevelt to replace him for the first time, he really wanted to take a photo of Chiang's banquet table and take it to Congress to show it to the congressmen. Government officials like this in this country are worth our efforts. Do you support it?
Stilwell already had a good impression of Xie Tian, and seeing the arrangement of the banquet increased his good impression. He knew that the Tenth War Zone was truly down-to-earth in doing things.
Fortunately, this banquet was arranged by Pang Yuan. If Xie Tian failed to arrange it and prepared eight dishes for him, the people below might prepare these eight dishes extravagantly, which would be a bad thing.
After taking a few bites, Stilwell raised his glass of wine to Xie Tian across from him with a smile on his face: "I heard that you and the Flying Tigers shot down five Japanese planes. Congratulations."
Xie Tian picked up the wine glass, leaned over and touched it with Stilwell, and said modestly: "Thanks to the help of our friends from the Flying Tigers today, otherwise it would be difficult for us to achieve such results."
Stilwell laughed: "You are the only Chinese general I have ever seen who can fly a plane to fight the Japanese, but I still want to criticize you. As the commander-in-chief of a theater, your job should be in the headquarters. , you should not put yourself at risk."
Xie Tian said with a sad face: "There is no way, General Stilwell, my team was established not long ago, and the limited number of pilots were trained randomly by ourselves. Well, the guys from the Flying Tigers also saw it, our The pilot is even just a child, so when the situation has arisen, I have no choice but to go into battle myself.”
Stilwell frowned slightly: "Is your pilot still just a kid?"
Xie Tian had already seen Tiedan and Sansheng, who had been pulled together by the Flying Tigers team and were sitting between them. He waved to them and shouted: "Tiedan, Sansheng, you two come here and help me." A toast from General Stilwell."
The dining table was too long and everyone was talking to each other, so Xie Tian could only shout.
Tiedan and Sansheng heard the sound and hurriedly came over with wine glasses. Seeing the two and a half-year-old children standing in front of them, Stilwell stood up and took the wine glasses from the two people's hands and put them on the table. He picked up a bottle of Coca-Cola and gave them The two of them each poured a glass and handed it to them and said: "You are not old enough to drink. Children of your age in the United States should be studying in school instead of flying to fight the Japanese devils."
During this half day, Xie Tian and Stilwell communicated in English. Tiedan and Sansheng were confused. Xie Tian translated: "General Stilwell is praising you for your bravery in combat. Thank you quickly, Stilwell." General Wei."
On the side, Pang Yuan had been translating the conversation between Xie Tian and Stilwell in a low voice for Chief He. After hearing this, he rolled his eyes at Xie Tian, you are almost a big fucking liar.
As a result, Stilwell glared at Xie Tian fiercely and said in Chinese: "Xie, this is very bad of you."
Xie Tian was stunned and laughed: "So
y, so
y, I forgot that General Stilwell spoke Chinese. "
Stilwell patted Tiedan and Sansheng on the shoulders and said in Chinese: "Children, you should study."
Tiedan smiled broadly and said: "My godfather beat me with a stick and I couldn't read anymore. I'm not the material for reading. I'd rather follow my godfather and beat the Japanese to have fun."
"Your godfather?" Stilwell looked at Tiedan in surprise. He didn't quite understand the word, but he knew that the word "father" was the Chinese name for father.
Xie Tian smiled at Stilwell: "This kid is my son."
Stilwell understood, or thought he understood the relationship between Xie Tian and Tie Dan, he couldn't help but hugged Tie Dan, put his arm around San Sheng's shoulders, hugged them both on the left and right, and said to The photographer on the side ordered: "Take a picture of us. I want to show those in Congress the determination and courage of the Chinese people to fight the war."
Several reporters hurriedly recorded this scene with their cameras.
This should be regarded as unintentional. Xie Tian, Pang Yuan and Director He are naturally happy to see the results.
In fact, Stilwell himself was not a general who only sat in the headquarters. After sitting down again, Stilwell looked at Xie Tian and asked: "I heard that your troops are besieging Yangquan and Niangziguan?"
Xie Tian nodded: "The siege has been going on for more than ten days. Originally, I thought it would attract the Japanese troops from North China for rescue, but it turned out that they just tried it out and immediately retreated. There is no point in continuing the siege. I am preparing this This battle ends in two days.”
Stilwell raised his eyebrows and stared at Xie Tian and asked, "Were you originally planning to gather around for reinforcements?"
Xie Tian nodded: "This was the plan at the beginning, but Okamura Neji was not fooled. The results of this battle can be considered acceptable if the Miyamoto division in Yangquan can be defeated."
Stilwell stared at Xie Tian for a long time, then laughed and said: "Thank you, that's not how you brag. As far as I know, the Ishikawa Brigade has also been supplemented by the Miyamoto Division. The Miyamoto Division's current strength should be 40,000. How many soldiers and horses do you have now, and you actually want to eat him?"
Xie Tian smiled slightly and looked at Stilwell and said: "General Stilwell, let me correct you. The Ishikawa brigade has been annihilated by me, and the tank regiment of Miyamoto's division has also been eaten by me. His turtles Almost half of the Tian Brigade was wiped out by me, and the Miyamoto Division now only has one and a half brigades left, including some non-combat troops."
Stilwell was stunned for a moment: "What did you say?"
Xie Tian smiled and nodded, raised his wrist and looked at his watch and said: "The little devil's dinner time is 18:15 in the afternoon. Our department is preparing to launch a general attack on Miyamoto's division at this time today. If General Stilwell If you are interested, we can go to Yangquan to observe the battle in person. I have knocked out all the anti-aircraft firepower in Yangquan, and we can take a transport plane over to inspect the battle from a high position. If nothing goes wrong, the battle in Yangquan should be over before midnight today."
Stilwell quickly raised his wrist to check his watch, looked at Xie Tian and asked, "Is there an airport in Yangquan where I can land?"
Xie Tian nodded: "Yes."
Stilwell said seriously: "Please take us to your army to have a look."
Xie Tian replied succinctly: "Okay."
