In July, at Yan'an Airport in northern Shaanxi, the C47 transport plane landed slowly, and the passengers wearing civilian clothes of the US Army got off the plane, looking around, the magnificent scenery of the Loess Plateau made people's hearts suddenly open, especially for these American soldiers who had lived in Chongqing, the foggy capital for a period of time.

"It reminds me of Colorado." Colonel Bao Ruide of the US military observation group said that it was originally a standard for the delegation, but it was changed to an observation group by Chairman Chiang, and this was the only way to make the trip.

Chen Zikun came to Yan'an for the first time, and he had read Edgar Snow's "Red Star Over China" to get a preliminary understanding of the place, but many years have passed since Snow's visit to northern Shaanxi, and there have been great changes here.

Yan'an Airport is a simple field airport, the Eighth Route Army does not have its own aircraft, the purpose of building this airport is to facilitate others, the runway is compacted, the huge stone mill is still placed next to it during the construction period, a group of sheep in the distance graze quietly, and the young man who herds the sheep holds a whip and looks curiously at these foreigners with high noses and sunken eyes.

The honor guard of the Eighth Route Army lined up at the airport to greet them, with no ranks, no leather boots and ribbons, only coarse cloth uniforms and honest and simple faces, with a strict formation and high morale, and it can be seen that it is a highly disciplined and combat-effective unit.

Zhou Enlai personally came to greet the observation group, his English was still fluent, and the members of the observation group shook hands cordially one by one, and when it was Chen Zikun's turn, he shook it for a longer time: "General Chen, we met again, this time it is finally my turn to do the friendship of the landlord." ”

Chen Zikun said with a smile: "Guests are as they please, we have all agreed on the plane, the observation group and the Eighth Route Army will eat and live together, and will not engage in specialization." ”

Zhou Enlai laughed heartily: "I'm afraid I can't be special if I want to be special, Yan'an is not as good as Chongqing, the materials are really poor, and the greetings are not good, and I hope you understand." ”

After some greetings, the observation team got into the car, which was a dilapidated covered truck, which was said to be the only car in Yan'an, the road was dusty and filled with the smell of sheep dung, but the members of the observation group were inexplicably excited and observed the scenery outside with great interest.

The young man herding sheep by the airport didn't know when he came to the hillside, and his high-pitched singing voice echoed in the vast land: "Riding a white horse and carrying a foreign gun, the third brother ate the food of the Eighth Route Army, and had the heart to go home to see the girl. Thirty-eight guns, no cover, no wife who was a soldier in the Eighth Route Army, stay there to lay down Yulin City, Hu'er hi, one person and one female student. ”

The northern Shaanxi accent was nasal, and the embassy secretary Xie Weisi couldn't understand it, so he asked Chen Zikun what the meaning of this song was.

Chan thought for a moment and said, "This is a farmer expressing his yearning for love, and he is in love with an educated schoolgirl. ”

Xie Weisi suddenly realized: "There is no shortage of such stories in Western fairy tales, and the love between the gardener's son and the princess is really long." ”

"Hu'er hi, one person and one female student ......" the song gradually faded away, the car also arrived in Yangjialing, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army prepared a sumptuous meal for the guests who came from afar, and the palatial banquet hall in Chongqing is different, the dining table is placed in the open-air courtyard, the big trees are dense, the cool breeze is blowing, the chickens and dogs smell each other, the food is fragrant, so that people have a feeling of being at home.

The senior leaders live here, ordinary caves, simple furniture, even the specifications of tables and chairs are not the same, they are clearly pieced together, and the dishes are ordinary peasant dishes, not exquisite, but the portions are very large.

A tall middle-aged man walked into the courtyard, with his hands behind his back, without an entourage by his side, wearing a brand-new Mao suit, and there were traces of folding on the clothes, everyone in the courtyard was busy, and no one paid attention to him, he walked to the corner and sat down, took out a cigarette and lit it, squinting at the guests all over the yard, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth with a mole.

This smile Chen Zikun is a little familiar, when he was in the Red House Library, his smile was youthful and frivolous and ambitious, but now he is looking at the world and full of ambition, he is Mao Runzhi.

"Brother Run, do I remember the old man?" Chen Zikun stepped forward.

Mao Zedong has a strong Hunan accent: "Chen Zikun, you and I haven't seen each other for more than 20 years." ”

The two looked at each other for a moment, and laughed heartily in unison, for 20 years, the world has been disputed, although the two have not met, but they have heard of each other, and they can see each other today, and all kinds of emotions are in words.

Chen Zikun turned around and greeted Bao Ruide: "Colonel, this is Chairman Mao Zedong." ”

Bao Ruide was greatly surprised, when he attended a banquet in Chongqing, Chiang Kai-shek entered the door to ask the guards to announce loudly, and the audience stood up to greet him, but Mao Zedong was so modest and casual, like a neighbor who came to visit the door.

Although the friends in Yan'an do not understand English, they communicate with each other with gestures and talk very happily, Mao Zedong and Chen Zikun and Bao Ruide sit at a table, talking and laughing, and there are many witty words, but unfortunately Bao Ruide does not understand Hunan dialect, and Zhang Er King Kong is confused.

During the meal, I don't know which leader's children came, drilling around in the crooks of the adults' legs, and whose dogs wagged their tails and barked non-stop, the scene was very cordial and lively.

Sitting next to Chairman Mao was a woman with bright eyes and bright teeth, wearing a clean and tidy uniform, not talking much, smiling very brightly, from time to time to the chairman of the food, like a bird, Chen Zikun felt familiar for a while, but he couldn't think of where he had seen it.

……

The U.S. military observation team stayed in the cave, the cave in northern Shaanxi is a house dug out on the soil slope, warm in winter and cool in summer, unique, the night sky of Yan'an, the moon is bright and the stars are sparse, the air is pure, compared to the smoky Chongqing, it is like another world, there is no high and low, there is no oppression and struggle, just like a paradise, a utopia in a dream.

During the day, the observation group visited schools, organs, and troops, and had meals, classes, and exercises with cadres and soldiers, and the students of Kang Da played badminton and poker with the US army, and Peng Dehuai also came to join in the fun.

Every day in Yan'an, the members of the observation group are surrounded by enthusiasm and friendliness, the senior cadres are approachable, there is no shelf, the party meeting is held in the cave, everyone sits cross-legged on the kang, smokes locally rolled cigarettes, eats peanuts and roasted sweet potatoes, just like a family.

Bao Ruide was dragged by Commander-in-Chief Zhu De to hunt, Chen Zikun and Xie Weisi came to Chairman Mao's cave to chat, and now Chen Zikun knows that the little woman with low eyebrows and pleasant eyes is actually the chairman's lover, called **, her Chinese is very authentic, always looks a little shy, sitting far away to help the chairman sew clothes.

Today, Chairman Mao did not wear the new tunic suit, but an old one, and he smoked a paper cigarette and talked eloquently, shocking Xie Weisi with his understanding of the international situation.

"China is a national party, an independent party, by no means a branch or vassal of any organization, our purpose is to break the Kuomintang ****, set up a coalition government, truly achieve the separation of powers, realize the ideals of Mr. Sun Yat-sen, and build China into a free, rich and powerful country like the United States."

"Germany and Japan will be defeated, after the end of the war, the power structure of Europe and Asia will be redivided, Britain and France will be greatly damaged, the scenery will no longer be beautiful, the world will dominate the Soviet Union, the United States and China, China's rise is unstoppable, China's peace will become the cornerstone of East Asia's development, China is chaotic, East Asia is chaotic, East Asia is chaotic, the world is chaotic."

Xie Weisi nodded frequently, thoughtfully, but Chen Zikun joked: "Speaking of a coalition government, your party can be confident that it will defeat the Kuomintang in power and form a cabinet to govern the country." ”

Mao Zedong said: "The end of **** is not the end of the means, the Kuomintang ended the rule of the Beiyang warlords, it is meritorious in history, but all affairs are in the hands, talents can not be reused, good suggestions can not be implemented, the so-called ** under the ** only empty name, only allow all parties to participate in politics, everyone supervises each other, learn from each other, make progress together, in the face of strong competition from other parties, the Kuomintang will only be more honest and diligent, and will not be weakened, so the end of ****, is really beneficial to the country and the people, A great thing for all generations. ”

Chen Zikun said: "What Brother Run's words are very true, very true! ”

Mao Zedong was light-hearted, snuffed out the cigarette butt on the kang, put on his clothes and got out of bed: "Let's go out for a walk." ”

Towering pagoda mountain, rolling river, the three of them walked on the dirt road of Yangjialing, smoking while talking about the general trend of the world, how fast.

"General Chen, I invite you to eat braised pork, with spicy seeds and sorghum rice, that is called a fragrant, eat a full meal and then come to the cigarettes produced in the border area, happy like a fairy." Mao Zedong pointed to the distance, "That is the direction of Nanniwan, the 359 Brigade is cultivating land there, self-sufficient, the base not only produces grain, but also wool and flue-cured tobacco, we all wear our own woolen uniforms in winter, the Kuomintang wants to blockade us, pinch our necks, I think they are blind people lighting lamps, in vain." ”

Xie Weisi laughed, but Chen Zikun could only smile bitterly, after all, he now represents the Kuomintang authorities.

……

Before leaving, Colonel Bao Ruide said with emotion: "The heartfelt cooperation and practical assistance given by the Eighth Route Army to the US military are almost perfect. ”

In mid-August, Jiefang Ribao published an editorial entitled "Welcome to the Comrades-in-Arms of the US Military Observation Group." It is said that the term "comrades-in-arms" was modified and added by the chairman himself.

Chongqing is still the same, the weather is very hot, and prices are skyrocketing, but due to the heroic efforts of the Chinese and American air forces, Japanese bombers have not visited the mountain city for a long time.

Chen Zikun returned home, and Xia Xiaoqing came out and said, "Guess who is coming." ”

"It can't be Yan Qingyu who came from Shanghai." Chan said.

A familiar voice came from the room: "Brother-in-law is really clever, but it's not just me, an old friend is also here." ”

With the words, Yan Qingyu and King Ryu walked out.

"Chen Sang, long time no see." King Ryūo bowed.

Chen Zikun hurriedly turned around and closed the door: "Mr. Yu, why are you here?" ”

King Goryu got straight to the point and said: "General Koiso Kuniaki succeeded Hideki Tojo as the new prime minister, and I came to negotiate peace matters on a secret order from the cabinet, and the peace between Japan and China is tied to the general, so, please." ”