Two days later, news came from Zhou Haiming's side that the matter had been completed, and that the 7,000 prisoners re-education through labor would be extended for two years in the Second Army of the Expeditionary Force, except for those who had completed their sentences.

Zhou Haiming told Shen Yan on the phone, "Brother, the Second Army Headquarters should receive the documents from the Warden Department in a few days, I have read it, and few of those people have expired within two years, so let them use it with confidence." ”

Shen Yan naturally said some words of thanks, and after the matter was done, he also sent someone to send a gift to express his gratitude. Huma and the others were very puzzled, saying that the matter had been done, why did they send gifts over?

Shen Yan shook his head,

"Although Zhou Haiming is a corrupt official, he can be useful to us. Who knows if this shortage of troops will be resolved after two years? If we can't solve it, won't we have to turn to him for help? If you do it and ignore it after doing a favor, won't it block the road? ”

Huma and the others looked at each other and smiled, and they praised Shen Yan for his temperament.

When things are done, it's time for them to go back. Before leaving, Shen Yan took the time to make a phone call to Chen Liewen, and Chen Liewen instructed him, "Although the frontal battle in Mongolia is not as fierce as in Burma, there is actually an undercurrent. Remember to take it safe and don't act recklessly. ”

Shen Yan thanked him and hung up the phone.

Early the next morning, after Shen Yan and Hu Ma left the room, they rushed to the Dajiaochang plane by car. Today there is a Y-3 transport plane that is going to Jinzhou to deliver supplies, and they have already reserved three seats on the plane through the coordination of the Second Army Command.

At this time, although civil flights have resumed, the number of flights is not rare, especially in remote cities such as Guisui where civil routes have not been opened. Shen Yan and the others did not dare to delay time, so they had to choose to take a military transport plane. Fortunately, now that the Air Force is strong, transport planes and the front line are coming and going frequently, and it is not difficult to get a few seats through the Second Army Command and the Air Force Department Transportation Office.

When they arrived at the airport, an Air Force ensign wearing a shirt and sunglasses came to pick them up, led the three of them out of the military passage next to them, and went directly to the back cabin of the plane.

The rear compartment of the plane was devoid of seats, and all of them were dismantled and stacked with supplies. The three of them were not hypocritical, and after getting on the plane, they sat cross-legged with other flight attendants in the gap between the supplies and chatted.

At this time, I saw a group of honor guards wearing military uniforms walking in unison, and the second lieutenant of the Air Force looked through the porthole and said casually: "I guess which big man is coming again." It's none of our business, guys! Close your eyes and fall asleep, open your eyes and you'll be in Jinzhou. ”

As the second lieutenant said, it didn't take long for the plane to slide off the runway and slowly take off.

When the transport plane took off, over the Dajiaochang airfield, a C-47 transport plane had already begun to lower its landing gear and prepare to land.

The U.S. Air Force logo on the fuselage indicated that there were guests from the United States riding here, and the honor guards that Shen Yan and the others saw were obviously prepared for these people.

C-47 aimed at the runway and began to land, sliding on the ground for some distance before coming to a stop. The plane stopped, the spiral staircase followed, the officers and men of the honor guard lined up, the red carpet had been rolled out, and the welcoming procession holding flowers was dancing, and He Yingqin, deputy chief of the general staff of the Military General Staff, came to the airport to greet them.

A moment later, a thin but tall American soldier stepped down the spiral staircase of the plane, wearing a pair of glasses, and his emaciated face sunken his eye sockets, as if he had been tormented by the harsh weather conditions in Burma.

However, looking at the rank of lieutenant general on his epaulettes, you know that this person should be General Stilwell.

Bai Chongxi stepped forward to greet him, and the welcoming team also waved the flowers in their hands, showing enthusiasm.

"General Stilwell, welcome. On behalf of the Chinese National Defense Forces and Chairman Huang himself, I would like to welcome you again. Bai Chongxi politely stepped forward to shake hands with him.

Stilwell shook hands and replied in fluent Chinese, "We meet again, General Bai." ”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two began to get into the car and drive towards the Ministry of National Defense (Central Executive Committee) building next to Xuanwu Lake.

In the Zhongshan Hall on the first floor of the building, Huang Ke and other members of the Central Executive Committee, as well as principal leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, met with Stilwell and his entourage, and then the two sides held talks in the conference room of the Zhongshan Hall.

If everything that has been said above is a ceremonial necessity, then this meeting is the main purpose of both sides. In fact, prior to the talks, the two sides had already had a basic communication, and Hu Shih, ambassador to the United States, and Huang Ying, editor-in-chief of China Daily, also sent some telegrams one after another, talking about some views and strategies of the US Government and President Roosevelt himself on China.

In addition to issues such as the command of the Burmese Expeditionary Force and the material aid to China, the US Government also made a request to establish an air base in China, with the United States providing long-range bombers and pilots to bomb the Japanese mainland.

For a long time, both the Chinese side and the United States had limited their wars with Japan on their own soil, and although Durant bombed Japan after Pearl Harbor, those were only symbolic and had a very limited practical effect.

In fact, as early as the late stage of the defense of Nanjing, Air Force Minister Xu Shaozhou proposed a bombing plan aimed at the Japanese mainland, and for this reason, he specially found Xu Shaozhou and experts from the Equipment Department to conduct research.

The study concluded that an improved version of China's domestically produced H-2 bomber could take off from Nanjing and other places to bomb the Japanese mainland, but considering the current comparison of power between China and Japan in the air, coupled with the relatively scattered distribution of Japanese industry, Huang Ke did not sign up to this plan.

He explained to Xu Shaozhou, "It's not that I don't agree with your plan, it's just that at the moment we can only achieve a balance between our air power and Japan on our own territory, and if we bomb rashly, it is of little practical significance, and it will cause Japan's crazy retaliation, so this kind of deal is not cost-effective." ”

After the bombing plan was thus shelved, a turning point was finally ushered in.

With the recovery of China's fighter production capacity and the addition of the U.S. air force to aid China, the balance of air power over China and Japan has begun to tilt in favor of China.

On the other hand, Stilwell, through Marshall and the Allied General Staff, also had a corresponding understanding of some of the demands and expectations of the Chinese side, and the main purpose of the meeting between the two sides was to refine specific matters. Again, the main issues were focused on three areas: U.S. aid, Allied command, and the location of the Joint Bomber Formation.

On the surface, there is no major controversy over the three issues, but there are quite a few contradictions and conflicts in the specific details. In terms of command, Huang Ke himself was nominally the supreme commander of the Chinese theater, while Stilwell was only the chief of the general staff of the Allied forces. But out of politeness and lack of time to care about the Burma battlefield, Stilwell naturally became the supreme commander of the Allied forces in the Burma battlefield. In addition, there are trivial issues such as the material aid to China, and it can be said that this meeting is also full of variability.

Fortunately, both sides are talking with a common belief, and there will be no moths.

The meeting began in a friendly atmosphere, with Huang Ke first asking Stilwell about his fatigue and rest, and then asking some inconsequential words. Stilwell answered them all.

"General Stilwell, let's talk about the situation in Burma. My men have reported to me that they wish to start a war against Japan in the Tonggu region, and this is where there is some disagreement with you. Huang Ke directly threw out the first question, he knew that there was no need to hide it when dealing with Stilwell.

Stilwell seemed to be expecting Huang Ke's bluntness, and he spread his hands and said, "Yes, Mr. Chairman." I think that the present situation in Burma seems more appropriate to start a battle with the Japanese army in Myitkyina, but unfortunately, General Sun Liren seems to have followed only Nanking's orders. ”

With that, Stilwell leaned back, making a helpless look.

Huang Ke smiled slightly, "I don't know much about the specific battlefield situation in Burma, so the Nanjing Ministry of Defense did not issue any orders to the expeditionary force. Of course, we can also give such an order, because I am the supreme commander of the Chinese theater of operations. ”

This was said absolutely, and Stilwell's face was a little displeased.

Huang Ke didn't care about the change in his expression, but continued: "The deployment and judgment made by Sun Liren are all based on the specific situation of the battlefield. As you know, General Sun Liren was a very good commander, he once graduated from the Virginia Military Academy in your country, participated in many actual battles such as the Battle of Shanghai, and grew up step by step from a lower-level officer, he knew the Japanese very well, and was very familiar with their tactics. ”

The latter sentence Huang Ke obviously said to Stilwell himself, Stilwell is admirable many times, but his command level is not flattering, Huang Ke bluntly said this, but also hopes that Stilwell can face up to these problems.

"Mr. Chairman, I have not questioned the command level of your subordinates, that is, General Sun Liren, but as a soldier, you should take it as your duty to obey orders. We are allies, and I am his commander, there is no doubt about that. Stilwell's voice was amplified, and he expressed his displeasure in fluent Chinese.

Huang Ke also responded solemnly: "General, please also understand that I am also your commander in the Chinese theater. ”

Seeing that the issue was about to collapse, other personnel on both sides also came over to persuade them, so the meeting had to be temporarily adjourned. Stilwell's adjutant Warren looked at it, touched his forehead and said helplessly: "God, this is a bad start!" ”