The sky began to darken, and the chaotic Pearl Harbor gradually sank into silence, like a wounded beast that had licked its wounds and finally fell asleep.

Time passed quietly in the night, and soon the dawn of the morning returned to the sea level, and it was so gentle that one almost forgot about the hellish war of Shura.

Zhang Yun looked at the red sun rising in the distance, and felt a little emotional:

No matter how disastrous, heavy, cruel, bloody a day, no matter how historic a moment, time will eventually pass, and the earth will not stop turning because of it.

Yes, a new day has arrived. But what about your own tomorrow? Where is it?

The wound on his left shoulder was no longer bleeding - a doctor had just taken care of it. But Zhang Yun still felt pain, but this pain was in his heart.

"What kind of international jokes......" he muttered dreamily.

Obviously, a day ago, he was an ordinary college student, with a bright future, parents who love him, a beautiful and lovely sister, and even a girlfriend who has been in love for many years......

"Mom, Dad...... Younger sister...... Lin Xiang ...... "He read the most important names in his life, tears rolling in his eyes, bringing a strange pain.

At this moment, this beautiful life has been completely shattered, and fate has torn him out of happiness and thrown him into the smoke of war, struggling in the struggle between life and death.

Zhang Yun admired those seniors who crossed over, who could always adapt to the new environment immediately without saying a word, and follow the adventure with pride. But when this happened to him, he realized how difficult it was.

He didn't have time to think about the battle on the front line of life and death just now, but now that he calmed down, he felt the heavy depression, as if he was about to lose his breath.

He will never go back, for sure, even though the years are still close at hand, but for him there are only memories left.

So the key question is what to do now?

Zhang Yun has been sitting on the ground like this for a day and a night, but he still doesn't know where to go.

He has nothing here but his name, and he doesn't even know where to sleep. The warm ocean monsoon in Hawaii didn't blow away his confusion, but it sent a radio from the city of Honolulu:

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a day of shame that must always be remembered — the United States of America was ...... by a sudden and deliberate attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy and Air Force"

The sound was heavy and heart-wrenching, seemingly coming from the city not far away, but it clearly echoed around Pearl Harbor.

"I regret to tell you that many Americans have lost their lives......"

Zhang Yun sighed, this was the first time he had really heard the voice of the great president, and it turned out to be on such an occasion.

“…… We now prophesy that not only will we do our best to defend ourselves, but we will also ensure that this form of perfidy will never again endanger us. ”

The radio continued to broadcast the president's deep voice, Zhang Yun did not listen to it anymore, he stood up, glanced at the rising red sun on the sea again, and left Pearl Harbor without looking back.

※※※

The bearded man never thought that only one day later, he saw Zhang Yun again.

In the "Night Homecoming" bar in Honolulu, when Zhang Yun sat next to him, the shock on the bearded man's face was obvious.

But it was only a fleeting moment, and soon he calmed down and showed a happy expression:

"You've decided?"

Zhang Yun nodded.

After a night of thinking, Zhang Yun found that he had nowhere to go except to follow the beard.

"Excellent! We are in need of young and promising pilots like you here. ”

The bearded man grinned, and Zhang Yun smiled in return, he was really embarrassed to admit that he had to come with him because he had nowhere to eat and sleep.

"Come on, I'll introduce you." The bearded man tilted his head to the corner of the bar and motioned for Zhang Yun to follow him.

Zhang Yun looked in the direction he was pointing and found that there was an inconspicuous room there. This made him feel slightly strange: shouldn't such a thing as "reporting for duty" be in the spacious and bright office building of the Air Force? How do you feel like a stowaway?

The feeling disappeared as soon as he followed the bearded man into the room. Zhang Yun found himself standing in front of him a middle-aged officer in a straight uniform, with shiny epaulettes indicating his identity, this was a colonel.

Zhang Yun hurriedly stood up and saluted.

"Don't be inhibited." The Colonel smiled kindly at him, "I'm just a retired Colonel. ”

Retire?

Zhang Yun was stunned, but didn't say much.

"I've heard Glenn Beneda talk about your performance at Pearl Harbor," the colonel continued, "I heard you shot down two Japanese planes?" ”

"Yes, sir." Zhang Yun replied loudly, glancing at the beard on the side.

He finally learned the name of this stern Air Force officer.

"Very good." The Colonel approving, "At this age you have such a record to write down in the history of air combat—no wonder Benida thinks so highly of you, it seems that you are indeed the good pilot we need." ”

He paused and stretched out his hand to Zhang Yun.

"First of all, introduce yourself," said the colonel, "Claire Lee Chennault, retired colonel of the U.S. Air Force...... What happened to you? He suddenly found that Zhang Yun was stunned as if he was dumbfounded.

Claire Lee Chennault?

Flying Tigers?

※※※

As long as you are familiar with the history of the Anti-Japanese War, there is no one who does not know the Flying Tigers.

In the 31 air battles in which they participated, the Flying Tigers achieved the impressive record of destroying 217 enemy planes with "5 to 20 usable P-40 fighters," losing only 14 of them, killing 5 pilots and taking 1 prisoner.

In the face of the sky that was almost open to the Japanese invaders, the Flying Tigers were unable to hold up a reliable air defense umbrella for China, but they left a strong mark on history.

This couldn't help but surprise and delight Zhang Yun, who was now standing in front of him was the founder of this legendary team; And the good thing is that just ten minutes ago, he was still deeply regretting that he couldn't go back to China for the Anti-Japanese War, and now he actually has a chance to go back to China!

The accident shook him on the spot, and it wasn't until Colonel Chennault raised his bewildered tone that Zhang Yun came to his senses.

"I'm sorry, Colonel!" He hastened to explain, "I...... I didn't expect it to be you, so it was a bit of a surprise. ”

"How?" Chennault was stunned, "You know me?" ”

"I've read Your Writings on the Role of Defensive Pursuit." Zhang Yun said, "Actually, I like it very much. ”

This is not nonsense, he did read this book in his previous life.

In the 30s of the 20 th century, the air combat theory of "bombing supremacy" of the Italian military theorist Du Hei was popular in the world air force circles, and fighters were ignored. Chennault was skeptical of this set of theories. He firmly believed that air combat could not be fought without fighters, and in war, fighters would play an important role, like bombers. This was quite advanced tactical theory at the time.

It's a pity that this book has not been able to attract the attention of the upper echelons of the military circles.

So hearing Zhang Yun's words, Chennault laughed like a father whose child was praised: "I'm glad you like it, my child." There are not many people who can really realize its value now, and it seems that your future is limitless~! But for now, let's get down to business. ”

He straightened his face: "Here's the thing, on April 15 this year, President Roosevelt issued an order that was not made public, authorizing me to establish a secret air brigade and allowing reserve aviation officers and soldiers of the army and navy to participate as volunteers. ”

Chennault paused, glanced at Zhang Yun's face, and then said, "Go to China." ”

Really!

Zhang Yun was secretly a little excited.

"I don't want to make any big deals," said Chennault, "and I don't want to talk about empty words, but I'll just say something practical: You're a sergeant, aren't you?" ”

"Yes, Colonel."

"What is the monthly salary?"

Zhang Yun didn't know how to answer for a while—he didn't know.

But fortunately, Chennault didn't wait for him to answer, and said to himself: "If I'm not mistaken, it should be $70, right?" ”

“…… Yes, sir. Zhang Yun hurriedly said.

"If you join the volunteer team, the Chinese pay $600 a month." Chennault said, "In addition, there is a $500 reward for each Japanese aircraft shot down." By comparison, even if you move to active duty, a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps earns a maximum of $347 a month. Not to mention that you're still a reservist, and even if you're on active duty, there's not a high chance they'll let you fly — and Benedict should have told you. ”

"Yes, sir." Zhang Yun responded, a little surprised in his heart.

He only knew that the Flying Tigers had made great contributions to China's War of Resistance and even to the world's anti-Japanese war. But I didn't expect that there was such an inside story behind it: you must know that in fiat currency conversion, the monthly salary of an ordinary pilot in the "Flying Tigers" is 2,000 yuan in fiat currency. At that time, the colonel pilot, who had the highest rank in the Chinese Air Force, had a monthly salary of only 600 legal currency, and the monthly salary of an ordinary second lieutenant pilot was only 100 yuan!

Even in the United States, 39% of families or single individuals earn an average of $1,500 per year ($125 per month), 30% earn an average of $780 ($65 per month), 12% earn $2,500 ($208 per month), and 3% earn $5,000 ($416 per month).

The monthly salary offered by the national government to the Flying Tigers is $600, which is already the level of the high-income wealthy class.

"Of course, if you go to China, you need to take off this uniform." Chennault went on to say, "But what does it matter? In the United States, you are just a sergeant, and it doesn't matter whether you retire or not, but when you go to the volunteer corps and China, you can get the rank of second lieutenant. In addition, the Chinese government has promised to provide each of your pilots with a single room; Separated, separate bathrooms and toilets for all staff ......"

The colonel listed a lot of welfare standards later, and Zhang Yun secretly sighed.

This is the treatment of a star-rated hotel.

“…… In fact, so far, our aviation brigade has recruited 68 aircraft, 110 pilots, 150 mechanics and some other logistics personnel. Chennault continued, "We already had a group of pilots arrive in Yangon in July. I came back this time to bring the last batch of pilots over. If you are willing to join us, I can put you in Benida's First Squadron. Now ......"

He looked at Zhang Yun seriously with a bit of apprehension: "I want to ask for your opinion, of course, I know that it happened yesterday......"

"Jon Spark, request to join the Air Brigade!" Zhang Yun nodded without hesitation.

Since it is inevitable that he will be involved in the war, it is naturally best to be able to return to China to resist the war.

"Good."

Chennault and Benida looked at each other, and both saw surprise and surprise in each other's eyes.

After all, after yesterday's horrific disaster, the vast majority of Americans would not choose to help others against the Japanese. If it weren't for his love for materials, Chennault wouldn't have mentioned this to Zhang Yun - this is the real reason why he desperately emphasized the welfare and treatment of the air team, but he still didn't know the bottom of his heart. In fact, Chennault was even mentally prepared for rejection. But I didn't want Zhang Yun to agree so readily.

Therefore, after hearing Zhang Yun's answer, Chennault and Beneda laughed in unison. And the latter stretched out his hand directly to Zhang Yun:

"Welcome to 'Adam and Eve.'"

Zhang Yun was stunned: "Adam and Eve? ”

"The name of our squadron." Benida blinked a little mischievously, "I think I'm still a bit literate, don't you think?" ”

Zhang Yun only felt a little speechless: he found that this guy was like two people in battle.

Chennault, on the other hand, looked very happy and satisfied.

"Welcome to an adventurous pilot like you – trust me, you won't regret your decision in the future. But now ......"

He poured three glasses of wine from the bar on the side, gave Benida a glass, and handed Zhang Yun a glass: "Cheers to our trip to China~!" ”