A transport plane, escorted by several fighter jets, went in the opposite direction in the glow of the rising sun. In the cabin, Ouyang Jian and Stilwell, including five American servicemen, were seated. In mid-July, a five-member US military investigation team headed by Major General Clark arrived in Chongqing. The US military investigation team seemed to be in a hurry more than its host, and the day after it arrived in Chongqing, it took a transport plane to the west to inspect the main transport artery. As the western transportation channel should be opened as soon as possible, large-scale military aid to China is imminent, and the US inspection team should provide a detailed inspection report.

After the Japanese attack in Burma failed, they quickly increased their air power in southern Burma, intending to cut off India's air routes to China through Burma. During this period, the United States was eager to aid China in an attempt to open up a hump route, that is, to fly over the Himalayas. After a test flight, a transport plane crashed in the Everest area, and the US pilots reacted that the Hump route was too dangerous. The Chinese side suggests that the Western Railway has been built to Dihua and that the air route from India to Dihua via Kashgar in China will be opened safely and securely.

Although this route is a long route, the US side only needs to transport military supplies to Dihua, and the Chinese side is responsible for transshipment to China. Although the western air transport route is farther, the safety of this route and flight safety are particularly important.

The transport plane landed at the Xi'an Field Military Airport, and Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng, military and political chiefs of the Northwest Military and Political Department, personally greeted them at the airport. The owner did the friendship of the landlord and did not show the hospitality. The group stayed in Xi'an for a day late, and then flew directly to Lanzhou. Soon the plane arrived in the sky over Lanzhou, and overlooking from the air, Lanzhou had initially formed the prototype of an industrial city.

As the plane circled and landed in the air, the Americans looked down through the portholes with a surprised expression on their faces. They couldn't believe that an industrialized city had emerged in the desolate and isolated west of China. Such scenarios are rare in the east and even in the coastal zone. The US delegation visited Lanzhou for one day and continued its westward flight the next day. Entering the vast next door, the undulating sand dunes, and the railway line that continues to the west under their feet, like a long snake winding, the American personnel are even more amazed.

The US investigators in the cabin were talking a lot, and their eyes showed confusion and incomprehension. "General Ouyang, I want to know when the construction of this major artery in the west began?" Major General Clark made an inquiry. "It's 35 years of exploration and 36 years of formal construction. Due to the outbreak of war in 37, the paving was affected, and it took 6 years before and after. "It's really unimaginable, the conditions are not available during the war, and the construction environment is so bad, the difficulties in laying this railway can be imagined, and you have created a miracle in the history of road construction in the world."

Ouyang Jian did not deny the unimaginable difficulties encountered in the construction of this railway, not to mention the difficult conditions, and the death toll alone reached more than 3,000 in six years. Even though the vast majority of those who died were prisoners of labor camp and captured puppet soldiers, it is a testament to how difficult it was to build the railway. Regarding the real situation, Ouyang Jian is inconvenient to say, otherwise the hypocritical Americans will think that this kind of behavior is cruel and inferior to labor prisoners and prisoners of war. A bird's-eye view of the rolling sand dunes next door below has Americans asking questions.

"General Ouyang, Lanzhou is very closed. How long has it taken for this industrial city to develop to the point where it is now? "Five years?" Once again, the Americans exclaimed. They believe that it will take at least 20 years for Lanzhou to reach its current size, and the transport plane will land at the Dihua military airfield amid the sighs of the Americans. The Dihua military airport was completed last year and has two concrete runways that can take off and land large transport aircraft.

After the plane landed, the members of the delegation, accompanied by airport officials, began to inspect the airport facilities. At this moment, Ouyang Jian and Stilwell stood at the airport and browsed. "General Ouyang, I didn't expect the airport to be so modern and very standard, and there was no problem with taking off and landing large transport planes. I'm sure the expedition will be unanimously approved. There's also an airport on the west side, what's going on? "It was the Eighth Route Army Flying School in Dihua, which was established in 40 years to train pilots. If you're interested, I'll take you to see it! ”

Stilwell naturally had no objection to his interest, and Ouyang Jian instructed his subordinates: After the US delegation is finished in a while, lead the members of the delegation to the railway station in the city. Ouyang Jian and Stilwell then drove to the south side of the flight to the school, the military jeep kicked up a cloud of dust on the dirt road, and the flight school was arranged with barbed wire from a distance. The runway is very pristine and exposed with yellow dirt. There are several training planes parked on the side of the apron, and many ground crew members are busy.

The jeep was stopped by the sentry, and after checking the documents, the sentry did not let it go, but called to report it. After a while, several officers of the Eighth Route Army ran over from afar, and one of the officers ran to the front and raised his hand and saluted: "Report to the Chief of the General Staff, the subordinate is Zhang Daming, the principal of the Dihua Flight School, and I didn't know that the chief came to check, so I didn't make preparations to greet him!" "How did you know I was coming to Dihua?" "It was Director Xu who called to inform us of your whereabouts, so that we could be mentally prepared."

Ouyang Jian nodded and introduced Stilwell, and everyone walked towards the tarmac. "Principal Zhang, tell me about the flight school?" "Chief of the General Staff, according to the order of the headquarters, I led a group of flight instructors and ground crew from the Jiujiang Aviation School in Jiangxi Province in May 40 to Dihua and prepared to build this flight school. At present, the implementation of the flight school is still being improved, with 6 trainer aircraft, 10 flight instructors, 300 students, and 200 ground and other personnel. The headquarters requires the training of pilots as soon as possible, but there are too few of our trainers! ”

"President Zhang, after the opening of the Western Air Transport Line, the headquarters has decided to give priority to providing you with 20 training aircraft. Next year, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo Border Region will set up two flying regiments, and you can't drop the chain. "Please rest assured that as long as the flight training can be satisfied, I promise to complete the mission!" The two of them took a look around, although the facilities of the flight school were simple, the training enthusiasm of the flight cadets of the Eighth Route Army was very high, and they were all alive and well. Ouyang Jian was very satisfied, and a smile appeared between his eyebrows.

"General Ouyang, presumably all this is your masterpiece, premeditated. I heard that you lobbied Mr. Chiang to build this western artery. I don't know what the conditions were at that time, for what purpose? "The reason is simple, at that time, the Sino-Japanese war was on the verge of breaking out, and the Japanese army had a powerful fleet, and it was easy to blockade the Chinese coast. From a strategic point of view, there must be a safe external access, which is a helpless move. Originally, it was counting on Soviet Russia to help, but Soviet Russia could not protect itself. ”

"Maybe we are so lucky that the Japanese actually target the United States and become an ally with the powerful United States, so that this western artery can really work." "You're so cunning, you're terrible!" Both sides couldn't help but burst out laughing.

After investigation, the US inspection team gave approval to the Dihua Airport and the Dihua Railway Station. Two days later, the two transport planes took off again from Dihua Airport and headed straight for Kashgar. After a few hours of flight, we arrived at Kashgar Airport smoothly. Due to the dry climate in the western part of the country, the members of the US delegation believed that although the western route was far away, there was hardly any bad weather, which was very favorable for the flight.

Kashgar, an ancient town on the ancient silk route, except for the mosque in the city, the city walls show a dilapidated scene. This once prosperous ancient city makes it difficult to find the grandeur of the past. Looking down through the porthole, Ouyang Jian sighed in his heart.

After the planes landed one after another, and after the planes came to a standstill on the runway, Ouyang Jian, Stilwell, and members of the US delegation stepped off the plane. Two concrete runways have been formed, and the airport's ancillary facilities are still under construction. Although the airport is ready to take off and land large transport aircraft, the airport facilities are not perfect. A commander of the engineering regiment of the Northwest Army, who was in charge of the construction, hurriedly rushed forward to report and carefully explained the preparations for the construction of the airport. According to the report of the head of the engineering regiment of the Northwest Army, it will take at least a month for the Kashgar airport to be officially put into operation.

Ouyang Jian accompanied Stilwell and the members of the US delegation to inspect the newly built runway, which was the key point. The runway has a characteristic smell and a gray color. At this time, two British transport planes flew over the airfield and prepared to land. "Gentlemen, this is a British transport plane flying from India, and according to the Sino-British agreement, the British side is responsible for providing cement and other building materials for the Kashgar airport." Under Ouyang Jian's introduction, the two transport planes landed smoothly, and sure enough, the transport planes were loaded with cement, steel bars and other building materials.

The members of the US inspection team carefully inspected the scratches on the runway of the aircraft tires and felt very satisfied. As for the annexes of the airport, the Americans don't seem to care too much.

During the inspection on the same day, the US personnel headed by Ke Clark held that although the auxiliary facilities of the Kashgar airport were not perfect, there were no problems with the runway taking off and landing large transport planes at the airport, and the conditions for opening up air routes were fully met. On the same day, the members of the US delegation bid farewell to Ouyang Jian and Stilwell and flew directly to Pakistan, India, to continue their investigation (Pakistan now belongs to the British Commonwealth).

When he first arrived in this border city with a strong style, Ouyang Jian proposed to stay in Kashgar for a few days to appreciate the customs of ethnic minorities, and Stilwell had no objection.

It happens to be a Sunday, and the local devout congregations go to the mosque to worship. Ouyang Jian and Stilwell stood in front of the mosque, seeing good men and women coming in and out, and couldn't help but sigh when they received Allah's call. Ouyang Jian used the topic to talk eloquently, and the ancient Silk Road seemed to have come from the dust of distant history and presented in front of Stilwell. The splendid civilization of ancient China aroused Stilwell's great interest. Afterwards, the two browsed the bustling business district and tasted unique snacks. Stilwell rave about the local delicacy pilaf.

Two days later, the two returned to Dihua on a transport plane. The sky was clear, and Ouyang Jian asked in the cabin: "General Stilwell, you Americans are far more efficient than the British, General Clark is very satisfied with Dihua Airport and Kashgar Airport, if there is no problem with the Pakistan Air Force Airport, the opening of this air transport line is just around the corner." "Ouyang Jian's intention is to make Stilwell more efficient.

"General Ouyang, Clark is very dissatisfied with the efficiency of the British. The expansion of the largest airfield in northern Pakistan has not been completed after half a year. At present, a large number of military supplies have been disembarked in the port of Karachi, and the British say that the opening of air routes will not be until the end of the year at the earliest. ”

"General Stilwell, the Overseas Chinese Association of America purchased 300 fighters, 50 bombers, and 20 transport planes for the Eighth Route Army. I am preparing to deploy in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo Border Region to protect the safety of the railway line. In addition, preparations were made for a counteroffensive on Shanxi. I hope that you will facilitate your work within your authority and include you in the list of supplies for aid to China as soon as possible. "There is no problem with this, I will arrange the first batch of supplies to come in." "Thank you for your great support!" "It is also my duty to launch a counterattack in Shanxi in advance."

Stilwell continued: "I heard that your 1st Corps has been secretly requisitioned to the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo border, and such a large-scale transfer has not leaked, it seems that you have already prepared?" ”