Chan and Xiong have the same views on the international situation. Since the founding of Sun Yat-sen, the Kuomintang has had many sects, Hu Hanmin, Wang Jingwei and other factions have been scattered, and the people who are currently in power are the Chiang faction, and the Chiang faction is divided into three major factions, the CC faction of the Chen brothers, the Whampoa Military Academy faction, and then there is the political science department that is not party and non-military, and Xiong Shihui is one of the representatives of the political science department.

This Department of Political Science and the Department of Political Science led by Liang Qichao during the Beiyang period are just the same name, because politicians, entrepreneurs, and scholars are the main components, so they are called this, although Chen Zikun is a member of the Central Committee and a military boss, but after all, he is not a descendant, he has been fighting alone, and now he meets Xiong Shihui, he has a great sense of closeness, and even his impression of the Department of Political Science is also better.

Xiong Shihui also had the intention of pulling Chen Zikun into the gang, and the two talked for a long time all night, and decided to put aside Foreign Minister Soong Ziwen and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Hu Shih and make direct contact with the highest US authorities.

Without further ado, they immediately took action, Xiong Shihui had been in Washington for a year, familiar with the way, soon contacted the presidential assistant Curie, and had an informal meeting in a hotel room in Washington, Chen Zikun's fluent English and accurate grasp of the situation left a deep impression on Curie, but after all, he was only an assistant, unable to make any commitments, and could only say that he would forward his opinions to His Excellency the President.

After a few days, there was still no response from the White House, and Chen Zikun was anxious, and wanted to go to New York to visit his daughter Chen Yan, but had to stay in Washington, D.C.

There is no news from the White House, the domestic news arrived first, Hu Shi stepped down as ambassador to the United States, and was replaced by a person named Wei Mingdao, Xiong Shihui said that the main reason for the replacement was that Hu Shi and Song Ziwen were not on good terms, and it was extremely difficult to carry out diplomatic work, but changing someone may not be able to open up the situation.

In the autumn of Washington, the autumn is crisp, but Chen Zikun is depressed, nothing to go to Lafayette Square to feed the pigeons, this day he just arrived in the square suddenly rained, then turned back to the hotel, a humble Ford car parked at the door, in the car sat two men in trench coats, the temperament of the body made Chen Zikun think of the FBI agent at the door of the Pacino family in New York.

I was suspicious but not sure, so I went back to the room and checked the hair tied to the bedroom door, it was broken!

The US side secretly sent people to search his room, and Chen Zikun was shocked, but fortunately he did not have any classified documents and code books around him, and then looked at the car outside the door, it was gone.

Just when he was restless, Xiong Shihui's call arrived, and his voice was pleasantly surprised: "President Roosevelt wants to summon you!" ”

The next day, Chen Zikun changed into a Chinese military uniform, a green tweed uniform, a German-style hat, three stars on his collar badge, and an armed belt, spent 25 cents polishing his leather shoes to a very shiny finish, and got into the car sent by the delegation with great dignity, and went to the White House, the official residence of the US president, with Xiong Shihui.

The White House is simple and atmospheric, and the Star-Spangled Flag is flying high, indicating that the president is in the White House, and on the top of a nearby building, the figure of anti-aircraft guns can be faintly seen.

Chen Zikun had an invitation letter from President Roosevelt, and naturally the road was smooth, and he noticed that the defense of the White House was not very strong, with the police in Washington, D.C., on the outside, and Army soldiers on the inside, which was said to be a temporary measure, and there were not so many guards in peacetime.

Because Chen Zikun is a general of the allied army, the White House held a small welcome ceremony, a squad of army honor guard soldiers accepted his review, and then the ceremonial officer guided him into the White House, the palace interior is simple and elegant, with oil paintings hanging on the wall, quiet and solemn, solemn and magnanimous.

Chen Zikun came to the door of an office, the door opened gently, the attendant made a gesture of invitation, he took a deep breath and walked in, the room was oval-shaped, the floor was covered with a thick carpet, there was no one behind the wide desk, an old man sat in a wheelchair, his eyes were blazing looking at him, no need to ask, he was the famous President of the United States Franklin. Roosevelt.

The talks were informal, and Roosevelt's topic was not limited to the abolition of unequal treaties, but carefully inquired about the fight against Japanese aggression, as well as his views and suggestions on Sino-US cooperation.

"Kid, push me to the garden." Roosevelt suddenly made this request, and Chen Zikun realized that the person sitting in front of him was not only a wise old man, but also a disabled person who was suffering from polio and could not walk.

He pushed Roosevelt to the south lawn of the White House, and the waiter brought lemonade and pastries, and Roosevelt said: "Your proposal is very good, extraterritoriality, concessions, inland waterway shipping rights, the right of warships to sail into territorial waters, the right to manage customs, the right to garrison troops along the Beiping embassy, and the right to garrison troops along the communication routes, these are all unequal treaties, and there will be no existence between two friendly allies, and I promise you that Congress will definitely pass this proposal within three months." ”

Chen Zikun expressed his gratitude neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"You don't have to say thanks, this is what China deserves, since we can't give you so much assistance, we should give you spiritual encouragement, okay, I want to hear your views on the war situation in the China-Burma-India theater, as well as the distribution of materials."

Chan said: "I think the top priority is to remove Stilwell. ”

Roosevelt raised his eyebrows, of course, it was not the first time he had heard this kind of statement, but it was a little strange that this came out of Chen Zikun's mouth, after all, Stilwell had previously called Chen Zikun the most American Chinese general in the report, and suggested that he be appointed deputy commander of the China-Burma-India theater to replace those Chinese generals who did not communicate well, because those people were Chiang Kai-shek's family members, not soldiers of the country.

"Isn't Joe a good friend of yours?" Roosevelt asked.

Chen Zikun said: "It is precisely because Qiao and I have been old friends for many years that I suggested this, Stilwell's temper is too straightforward, he understands the rules of Chinese officialdom, but he is unwilling or disdainful to follow them, he does not respect Chiang Kai-shek, does not give him face, and face is more important than anything else for the chairman, since the two people don't look down on each other, why bother to twist them together, let Stilwell go to Europe to command a group army, I think he will be happier." ”

Roosevelt smiled: "So, what do you think of Chang Kaishen?" ”

The pronunciation of Americans is naturally not as perfect as that of Chinese, Chang Kaishen is the transliteration of Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Zikun pondered for a moment: "Chairman Wuxiong has a big strategy, and the country is governed by an almost primitive way of meeting the party, in other words, the Kuomintang is not a modern political party in the true sense, and in some respects he is even inferior to ***." ”

Roosevelt was interested: "You elaborate. ”

Chen Zikun told the story of the implementation of the three-three-** system in the base areas of the Eighth Route Army and the direct election of village chiefs in the countryside that he saw, and concluded: "Military supplies are better handed over to the Eighth Route Army than to the regular army, their equipment is very poor, but they have a strong will to fight, if they can be equipped with American-style weapons, they can greatly contain the Japanese army in North China, of course, the task of frontal combat is still responsible for the regular army, so I suggest that Stilwell arm 100,000 Chinese strong men, all of which need Chiang Kai-shek's approval, after all, he is the leader of China, at least for the time being." and no one can replace him. ”

Roosevelt said: "Maybe I should consider Stilwell's going, but it's always bad to change generals, this matter will be discussed later, now talk about you, child, Stilwell's report makes me very interested in you, now it seems that Stilwell's evaluation is still conservative, you are not only a general, but also a politician." ”

Chen Zikun said: "Maybe my background and experience are not the same as ordinary people, I have seen more things, and the angle of looking at problems is naturally different, although I am a member of the Kuomintang and a member of the Central Executive Committee, but I am not loyal to a certain person or a certain party, I am only loyal to my country and nation." ”

Roosevelt said: "It seems that Chang Kaishen has a good vision, you are indeed the best candidate for Sino-US liaison, Stilwell wants to award you the rank of the United States Army, but his pen is too small, I will do this job." ”

Speaking of this, he cleared his throat: "Chen, from now on, you will be a brigadier general of the United States Army." ”

Chen Zikun was shocked, just a meeting, how did he become a brigadier general of the US army, he went to school at West Point, and he knows a lot about the rank system of the army, the US army is different from China, a turnip and a pit, most officers are promoted step by step, even if they are promoted without exception.

Roosevelt said: "China and the United States are allies, you are a general of the Chinese Army, you have commanded large-scale battles, you have personally piloted planes to bomb Japan, and according to your conversation, you have also studied the strategic level, in order to ensure your work, it is not too much to award a Brigadier General of the United States." ”

As he spoke, he winked slyly: "And you were born in San Francisco, and you are technically an American citizen." ”

Now Chen Zikun was stunned, it seems that the Americans are serious enough about their own investigation, since President Roosevelt gave face, then he had to continue, he stood up and saluted: "I am willing to accept it." ”

Roosevelt smiled: "Stay and eat in the evening, the veal steak in vanilla juice at the White House is delicious." ”

……

At half past eight in the evening, Chen Zikun came back from the White House, Xiong Shihui accompanied him, but he didn't have a chance to meet the president, and he was sent back when he had dinner. ”

Chen Zikun said: "If the negotiations are completed, the unequal treaties will be abolished." ”

Xiong Shihui breathed a sigh of relief: "After talking for so long, it must be very hard." ”

Chen Zikun said: "It's not hard, just a word, and we talked about something else, and had dinner by the way." ”

Xiong Shihui was so envious, what an honor it was to be left by Roosevelt to eat, he asked, "What topics did you talk about?" ”

Naturally, Xiong Shihui couldn't be told about those big rebellious topics, and Chen Zikun said lightly: "Regarding the matter of Sino-US liaison officer, the United States gave me the rank of brigadier general. ”

Xiong Shihui's eyes were about to pop out: "What! You are now an American general! ”