Chapter 14 Chapter Eleven Historical Misunderstandings
Like a drop of cold water splashing into a hot oil pan, the large editorial room of the Kunming branch of the Central News Agency was full of noise.
Reporters and editors talked cautiously and eagerly about General Stilwell.
On October 21, 1944, Stilwell left China suddenly and quietly.
What was the real reason for Stilwell's recall to the United States?How did he leave Chongqing?How did people from all walks of life react to his departure?This is news that can make a big fuss, however, this news was frozen.In the United States, too.However, on October 31, the front page of the "New York Times" published a report by the famous reporter Atkinson-Stilwell secretly told him the whole process of the callback on the eve of leaving Chongqing. It's all in the history books.At that time, President Roosevelt, who had been re-elected for three terms, was facing his fourth election!Atkinson's report immediately set off a chain reaction. Reports, editorials, feature articles, and radio translations about Stilwell and China were so surging that Roosevelt had to hold a press conference because it was the last day of the presidential campaign. Crucial last week!Roosevelt amiably insisted that Stilwell's recall was entirely due to the disagreement between Stilwell and Chiang Kai-shek.Of course, the answer to the "personality question" did nothing to calm the tumultuous tide of public opinion.But, in these extraordinary days, newsman Stilwell was a silent man.
The topic of "personality problems" was finally fed back to the editorial office in Kunming.News is originally the most sensitive and precious thing for journalists, but when news cannot be output as news, let’s talk it out behind closed doors.
Liveliness belongs to men.Chen Xiangmei sat quietly at the desk, resting her chin on her hands, listening quietly.She didn't join the discussion, not entirely because of immaturity.Recently, she has repeatedly published a number of weighty and characteristic feature articles on Chennault and the Flying Tigers, which impressed Editor-in-Chief Shao and colleagues.Naturally, it is by no means sophisticated and silent.She was just dreaming of literature again, trying to emerge a real Stilwell from the intricate and inconsistent comments—she had never had the chance to meet Stilwell!And women, who believe in intuitive thinking too much, seem to be unable to lack the first impression.
Chongqing.Yan'an.washington.Zhu De.Li Jishen.Xue Yue. "Dixie Mission".rent supplies.Hump transport. X-Force. Force Y.14th Air Force.Roosevelt.Wallace.Marshall.Chennault.Hurley.nelson.Gauss.Wedemeyer.Chiang Kai-shek.Song Ziwen.Pacific island hopping battle.China theater.Battlefield in northern Myanmar.Lido Highway...
All of this is deeply entangled with Stilwell.
Gradually, a skinny but energetic American general appeared in front of her eyes. He was a 61-year-old man who refused to accept his age.
He trekked long distances in the tropical jungle, charged in the mud in northern Myanmar, and stubbornly insisted on building the Tonglido Highway.He was adored by GIs who called him "the best four-star commander in the Army."At the same time, American pilots sarcastically called him "the best four-star battalion commander in the Army".He is a brave military strategist of genius?Or a military mediocrity without a strategic vision?
He seems to have an indissoluble bond with China. I came to China for the first time at the age of 38, and returned to China several times later. It has been three full years since I returned to China to serve as Chiang Kai-shek's senior foreign chief of staff.He speaks Chinese fluently, has written many vivid Chinese stories, and traveled all over the country, both inside and outside the Great Wall. He has long called himself a Chinese.He is well versed in the details of Chinese culture, but he uses American behavior to deal with Chinese political figures.He hated Chiang Kai-shek to the point of utter hatred, and denounced the corruption and incompetence of the Kuomintang regime; he made no secret of his curiosity and affection for the Communist Party and Yan'an.Is he right or wrong?Like is there a relationship with the highway or no relationship?When he came to China for the first time, he served as the chief engineer of road construction in Shanxi and Shaanxi. But this time, does the road built with perseverance have more advantages or disadvantages?
In the eyes of the world, he was originally a popular and important figure in the China-Myanmar-India War Zone.When the Chinese theater was in frequent emergencies and the situation became more and more dangerous, President Roosevelt couldn't wait to inform Chiang Kai-shek: "The critical situation we have learned now requires the appointment of a person who can dispatch all the Allied forces in China, including the Communist army. ... I am promoting General Stilwell to general, and I suggest that you consider it as soon as possible, recall him from Burma, and give full responsibility and authority to command all the armies of China and the United States under your leadership, so as to Scheduling and commanding the necessary actions and preventing the enemy's penetration. In the eyes of Roosevelt, the one who turned the tide in the Chinese theater seemed to be none other than Schweizer!However, on October 19, it was not President Roosevelt who ordered Stilwell to leave Chongqing within 48 hours?Rather, both Chiang Kai-shek and Roosevelt probably wanted Stilwell to disappear without a trace. On the afternoon of October 31, General Wedemeyer arrived in Chongqing and took over Stilwell's position.This day is the day when the New York Times published Atkinson's report.The world is always full of drama intentionally or unintentionally.Does Stilwell's ups and downs show the unknowability of fate?Or does the radiation reflect the intricacies of the entire war situation and interpersonal relationships?
Who can figure it out? 19-year-old Chen Xiangmei was full of confusion and perplexity, and everything attracted her like a mystery, and she listened obsessively.Editor-in-Chief Shao pushed the door open, and he scanned the room gently and sternly. The discussion ebbed immediately, and everyone was back to work. Only Xiangmei was still meditating with her hands on her chin.Da Feng sitting across from him couldn't help asking in a low voice: "Hai, Anna, what are you thinking about?"
Startled, she smiled shyly.
Da Feng joked: "You, I'm afraid that only Chennault and the Flying Tigers are on your mind, so why not apply for an exclusive report."
She shook her head: "I want to interview on the Burma Highway, and, one day, I will interview General Stilwell himself."
"Really?" Da Feng smiled: "Stilwell and Chennault are probably a pair of natural enemies."
She smiled and said nothing.So what?Complicated characters and events always tempt journalists to solve mysteries forever.In any case, she decided that Stilwell was a very personal and legendary figure.
The situation on the battlefield in China is still grim and dangerous. In the first ten days of November, the Liuzhou area was covered with dark clouds and heavy rain poured down, but the Japanese army stepped up their attack on the city. On the night of the 7th, another raging fire broke out at the airport base. Vincent flew away in the silver P-51. Three days later, Liuzhou fell.The Japanese army not only attacked the forward bases of Hengyang, Guilin, Liuzhou and Nanyan from Hankou, but also surrounded other forward bases of Suichuan, Ganzhou, Nanyang and Gulong.In order to prevent the enemy from defending the airport, Chennault organized the East China Air Force Task Force to fight desperately. The task force arrived in Suichuan on November 20. At that time, General Xue Yue was leading troops to fight bloody battles with the Japanese army near Suichuan. The 14th Air Force planned to drop 1,000 tons of supplies to Xue Yue's troops, but Chiang Kai-shek still refused to let the supplies fall on Xue Yue. hand! On January 27, 1945, the Japanese army captured Suichuan and on February 7, Ganzhou.The Japanese army is still advancing, and the Japanese cavalry has appeared on the Guizhou Plateau!Many people believe that the next goal of the Japanese army is to capture Guizhou and Kunming.
During this period, the Burmese battlefield has advanced by leaps and bounds. On December 15, Zheng Dongguo led his troops to attack Bhamo after a month of fierce fighting; on January 15, 1945, Sun Liren led his troops to conquer Nankan; The Japanese army launched an attack on Mangyou, the last stronghold on the China-Myanmar border. After four days and nights of fierce fighting, our army captured Mangyou on January 27.At this point, the Japanese army in northern Myanmar was eliminated; at the same time, the Lido Highway was cut in and connected with the Burma Highway at Bhamo; on January 28, a grand meeting and opening ceremony was held in the border town of Wanding between China and Myanmar.
Chen Xiangmei got her wish, and she and Fontaine went to the Burma Highway for an interview.In the cold wind and mud, in the atmosphere where the gunpowder smoke has not cleared, the two of them, who are covered in mud and sweat but still look heroic, look like veritable war reporters.
In the town of Wanding, in February 1942, the Chinese Expeditionary Force went abroad for the first time to fight, and in October 1943, the second counter-offensive, all of which stirred up excitement in this border area.After experiencing failure and humiliation, thousands of battles, large and small, and more than 60,000 Chinese officers and soldiers were killed or injured. Today, they finally returned to the court victoriously.Many of these officers and soldiers have been away from the motherland for three full years!With colorful flags fluttering, flowers like a sea, gongs and drums blaring, how many men silently wiped away their tears, how many relatives and old friends reunited could not stop holding their heads and weeping!Chen Xiangmei and Fang Dan were even more tearful.In Chen Xiangmei, there is more sadness and loss.
She came here to look for Bill, but Bill was nowhere to be found.
There are always big and small legends in life.Just the day before she came to the Burma Highway for an interview, when she went to the airport to pick up people from the head office, she met Poipet by accident!Poipet carried a suitcase and hurried up the gangway last.She called to him, but he couldn't stop, the ground crew was about to withdraw the gangway.The sentence she hurriedly shouted was: "Tell me——where is Bill?" The sentence he dropped before entering the cabin was: "I heard that the Burma Highway—"
Is it really true: where do we not meet each other in life!
All the way to interview, all the way to find.Her eyes hurt, her throat became hoarse, and she was expecting a miracle to appear in an instant—she and Bill reunited after a long absence!However, hopes were dashed like soap bubbles.Is she and Bill destined or not?
In Kong Luoluo's heart, there was a clear feeling of relief.Could it be that when she was persistently looking for Bill, she was firmly rejecting Bill?Has her heart been taken by General Chennault?
It has been a few months since I met Chennault, but these few months are the most difficult, busiest and unhappy days for Chennault and the Flying Tigers to fight.As a distraught Chennault flies around trying to turn the tables, she tracks down and interviews him, admiring his indomitable and heroic wisdom, but she also understands his pain and embarrassment.Not only does she often appear in the headquarters office, she is also often invited to be a guest in his small house with red tiles and earthen walls.She knew he liked her very much, but he never commented on Stilwell to her because he firmly remembered that she was a professional reporter?Or forget that she is a reporter and just see her as a woman?Even as a "little thing" who doesn't know much about the world?she does not know.
The first batch of transport convoys headed for Kunming in a mighty way, and Kunming was filled with festive jubilation.People happily flocked to the streets, and the sound of firecrackers and gongs and drums came and went one after another.Chiang Kai-shek declared: "We have broken the blockade of China. To commemorate the contribution of General Joseph Stilwell and the great role played by the Allied and Chinese troops under his leadership in the Burma campaign and in the construction of this road , I named this highway the Stilwell Highway."
Stilwell, a name that was originally intended to be downplayed, was excitedly pushed out again.
In the lively crowd, Chen Xiangmei sighed and said: "What kind of character is Stilwell? His fate seems to be full of dramatic changes, is it caused by his personality?"
Fontaine shook his head: "The so-called tragedy of character, I think it can only explain the fate of ordinary people; if it is a person with status, his fate is like a chess piece on a chessboard, which changes rapidly with the rapid changes of the chess game. I can't help myself."
Xiangmei said, "You speak the words of a philosopher."
Fontaine said: "Believe it or not. I would like to think that Stilwell was relieved to hear that the road was named after him? Or does it bring back bitter memories that are not far away?"
At this time, Stilwell just had his own position in the Pentagon. On January 23, he was appointed as the commander of the US Army Ground Forces Command.However, he is not used to life in the office building.There is a Chinese poem "Old man standing on the ground, aiming for a thousand miles", he is eager to go to the battlefield, and he wrote in a letter to his wife: "I can endure as much as I can, but if I can't bear it, I will explode."
After he suddenly and quietly left China and returned to the United States, he has been patient in silence.His life trajectory has gone from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the cliff in a blink of an eye. He hates Chiang Kai-shek!He didn't care about Chiang Kai-shek's hypocrisy at all. According to his personality, he had to grit his teeth and scold "little people", "politicians", and "peanuts" a few times!However, it happened that this "peanut" defeated him!
During a meeting in Washington in May 1943, Roosevelt suddenly asked Stilwell: "What is your impression of Chairman Chiang?" Stilwell replied impulsively: "He is an erratic, treacherous, and unreliable old man Guy—he never kept his word!" Roosevelt turned to Chennault and asked, "What do you think?" Chennault replied decisively: "He never broke his promise to me, and he kept his word." Chennault and Stilwell looked at each other silently They are facing each other, but they are all exposed.
In July 1944, Roosevelt urgently suggested to Chiang Kai-shek that Stilwell should exercise command over the Chinese army. How could Chiang Kai-shek accept it?It's just that under the pressure of the United States, he didn't dare to refuse clearly.Roosevelt did not change his original intention. On August 7, Merrell pinned the fourth star on General Stilwell's military uniform, and Stilwell was officially promoted to general. On August 9, Marshal Li Jishen sent someone to meet with the US Consul in Guilin, and proposed to establish an autonomous government in Guangdong, Fujian and other provinces, and at the same time publicly demanded that Chiang Kai-shek resign.Stilwell couldn't help writing in his diary: "This (rebellion) criminal is doing well!" Although the fire in the south did not form a prairie fire, the various crises of Chiang Kai-shek's regime have been fully exposed.Around this time, the first batch of observation missions sent by the United States to Yan'an - the "Dixie Mission" reports also met with the public. The vitality of the Loess Plateau was refreshing and inspiring.The "initiator" of this mission can be said to be Stilwell's staff officer.Shi Wei also publicly proposed many times that the leased materials should be sent to Yan'an, and to the anti-Japanese Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army.Stilwell had sought to exercise "full responsibility and authority." On September 6, Major General Hurley, the special envoy sent by Roosevelt, arrived in Chongqing via the Soviet Union.The descendant of this extremely active Irishman has served as Roosevelt's special envoy many times since the outbreak of the Pacific War, going to various countries in the world to solve many difficult problems.Roosevelt believed that he could sort out the complicated political entanglements in China and coordinate the relationship between Stilwell and Chiang Kai-shek, so that Stilwell could smoothly take command.All of these, consciously or unconsciously, paved the way for Stilwell to victory.
On September 15, Stilwell went to Chongqing again to negotiate. Stilwell once again proposed that the leased materials should be equally distributed to the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army. This really hit Chiang Kai-shek's fatal wound.Chiang Kai-shek used offense as defense, and arrogantly proposed: Unless X troops were transferred from Myitkyina to Bhamo within a week, he would transfer Y troops from Burma to the east bank of the Nu River!Stilwell was furious, cursing in his diary "this crazy little bastard!"At the time, Roosevelt, Churchill, Marshall, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were meeting in Quebec.This telegram shocked the participants, because the meeting decided to vigorously promote the opening of the land route to China, but Jiang Jiashi wanted to withdraw the Y troops from northern Myanmar? !Soon, the Ministry of Post and Army drafted it, Marshall corrected it, and the letter to Chiang Kai-shek in the name of Roosevelt was sent by telegram, but it was Stilwell who received the nearly 1,000-word telegram!Stilwell read the telegram, ecstatic!He felt that the telegram was "as powerful as a firecracker". "Roosevelt finally said something that was unmistakable, and he said a lot. Every word was hot." After Hurley read the telegram, he suddenly felt nervous, feeling a bit like an ultimatum; but Stilwell insisted With one heart, he handed over the telegram to Chiang Kai-shek.
Every word is like a bullet fired from the chamber, blaming Chiang, criticizing Chiang, and ordering Chiang.
"...in recent months, I have repeatedly urged you to take drastic action to stem the looming disaster for China and you. Now, you have not put General Stilwell in command of all the troops in China. We are facing the loss of a key areas, and with potentially catastrophic consequences..."
Chiang Kai-shek's face turned gray. He didn't growl in anger, nor tried to explain anything. He just glanced at Stilwell who was sitting leisurely on the armchair, and said, "I understand." In the dead silence , everyone dispersed.Stilwell went down the mountain and crossed the river to return to his residence. As night fell, Chongqing was already lit up with thousands of lights. For the first time, he felt affectionately: Chongqing is beautiful, and Jialing River is even more beautiful.He thought he was sure to win, and he regarded this day—September 19, as the Chinese do, as an auspicious day.
A deadly silence lasted for several days.Roosevelt's telegram pushed Chiang Kai-shek to the extreme: Admitting defeat is a complete defeat; if you don't admit defeat, you may be able to get rid of complete defeat.Chiang Kai-shek could not forget Stilwell's smug eyes, this Yankee who opposed him in everything, he wanted revenge! On September 25, Chiang Kai-shek called Roosevelt back with rare frankness and determination: "I cannot entrust this important task to General Stilwell. I also request that he be relieved of his position as chief of staff of the China Theater and other positions in this area." Received Roosevelt of the telegram was obviously shocked again!Although Marshall and Stimson still insisted that Sweeney must persist in China, Roosevelt had doubts about this judgment.
The god of fate seems to be playing tricks on Stilwell.Over the past year, the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific has not made much progress. The original plan to attack the Japanese mainland through island-hopping operations has fallen into a very difficult situation. The Allied forces plan to land on the coast of China; Groundbreaking progress has been made in China. The United States has moved its air force base from China to the frontier positions in the Pacific Ocean. The plan to land in East China is naturally cancelled, and the Chinese battlefield has become less important. On October 4, Stilwell lamented in his diary: "This war zone has been wiped out, there is no hope for us, and the army will not be sent."
At the critical point, Stilwell and Chennault clashed again!Guilin and Liuzhou were in full swing. In order to prevent Liuzhou from falling into the hands of the enemy, the 14th Air Force fought fiercely in blood and fire. The fuel consumption obviously exceeded the quota. Stilwell also plausibly criticized Chennault for the amount of gasoline airlifted!Chennault was really indignant, this is simply sacrificing East China!The complaint letter flew to Roosevelt's hands, and Roosevelt thought: Stilwell is really unpopular.
Hurley, a key player at a critical moment, telegraphed Roosevelt on October 10: "My opinion is that if you defend Stilwell in this debate, you will lose Chiang Kai-shek, and you will lose China along with it." Wei Wei annoyed Hurley, saying that he was "thrown out of China" by Hurley.
In the early morning of October 19, when Chongqing was still shrouded in thick fog, Stilwell received a telegram from Marshall from the United States, telling him that he must leave Chongqing within 48 hours!At noon, he really received a short and cold transfer order. "The ax fell!"
Suddenly, Stilwell seemed to have fallen into an ice cave, and the flames of shame and anger were burning him again, between water and fire.
48 hours!His inextricable connection with China was cut off?He had a strong premonition that he would never return to China again!
He went to Soong Ching Ling's place to say goodbye, and Soong Ching Ling shed tears of sadness. She understood his grievance when he was recalled to the United States: "That is the rear, but you are a general who leads the troops!" Stilwell's eyes were wet.
He wrote a letter to Zhu De in Yan'an, expressing sincerely: "I am deeply disappointed that I cannot stand side by side with you and your growing and outstanding troops to fight against Japan." At the same time, he ordered Xie Weisi, a member of the "Dixie Mission", to immediately Return to Washington and report what you have seen in Yan'an in order to persuade the government to establish a relationship with the Communist Party.At this moment, his love and hatred are clear and fierce.
However, according to the most basic etiquette, he had to say goodbye to Chiang Kai-shek, whom he hated.Chiang Kai-shek, dressed in a long robe and mandarin jacket, was full of vigor and politeness, and expressed his decision to award him the highest military medal in China - a special medal of blue sky and white sun.Stilwell squinted at Chiang Kai-shek through his steel-rimmed glasses, flatly refusing to accept it, and simply said, "Please remember, what I do is for China."
On October 21, in the autumn wind, Stilwell left Chongqing desertedly.There were only two American soldiers and journalist Atkinson accompanying him, and Hurley and Song Ziwen were the only ones to see him off; He Yingqin drove there in a hurry when the plane was about to take off.Stilwell looked around in a daze, and said to himself sadly: "What are we waiting for?" On November 3, he flew to Washington, and the airport was also deserted and heavily guarded!Neither Marshall nor Stimson went to welcome him, did not interview reporters, did not have a welcome ceremony, and he was admonished not to speak.He is angry!What is he guilty of?He was in tears!But he kept silent.He returned to his home in Palm Beach, and when he was reunited with his wife and children, he felt the vicissitudes of "disarmed and returned to the field, resigned and returned to his hometown".Has his past faded away with the passing years?He did not have his place in the Pentagon until January 23, 1945, but, as Soong Ching Ling said, he was a general leading troops, eager to go to the battlefield.
Not many people in the bustling crowd on the streets of Kunming know all this.In the rumors that "the Japanese army is preparing to capture Guizhou and Kunming", the first batch of transport vehicles driving from the Lido Highway undoubtedly brought auspicious omens to people;
Fontaine continued to sigh with emotion: "The big hand that moves the chess pieces is fate. Therefore, I am correcting the philosophic statement just now. Ordinary people can't escape the mercy of fate. Fate shrouds people, sometimes it is a halo, sometimes it is a haze, so, Either make you brilliant, or suffocate you, no way! No way!"
Xiangmei smiled: "If you continue talking, you will look like a witch instead of a philosopher."
Fontaine made a tricky gesture: "Your General Chennault also can't hold fate by the throat."
She was taken aback, and it took a long time before she said embarrassingly, "Why is it mine?"
In the late spring and April of 1945, Chennault deeply felt that his big hands could no longer hold the throat of fate, and the haze of fate was weighing heavily on his head.
Not because of the severity of the battle.Yes, when Liuzhou Airport was destroyed by explosions and flames, many people believed that this was the last scene of the 14th Air Force in China.However, "while the frenzy of Japan's march was rising and falling in Guizhou, the 14th Air Force, like a phoenix, rose up from the ashes of Liuzhou, and her new wings majestic the sky." Chennault used full of literary passion The language says so.
Chennault also stated bluntly that he was not saddened by Stilwell's sudden departure; on the contrary, he believed that it cleared the way for effective high-level military cooperation between China and the United States.Just as Stilwell was full of arrogant prejudice against him, he responded to Stilwell with fire.He had a good impression of General Wedemeyer, who succeeded Stilwell, and thought that Wedemeyer had a perfect personality and treated people fairly, and the relationship between them was very harmonious.Wedemeyer was not overwhelmed by the aggressive Japanese offensive, he boldly adopted Chennault's long-awaited plan to attack Hankou. On December 18, 1944, the 14th Air Force dispatched 200 fighter planes to attack the airport in the Hankou area; an hour later, 84 air defense B-29s were loaded with incendiary bombs and bombed Hankou; a total of 64 enemy planes were shot down, and the fire continued After burning for three days and three nights, the Japanese army was blown out of their wits and destroyed the huge supply base of the Japanese army. You must know that Hankou is the key to the entire situation of the Japanese army in mainland China!
From winter to spring, the 14th Air Force was fully deployed.Attack enemy bases such as Beijing, Anyang, Yuncheng, Xuzhou, and Zhujiatai; attack ammunition depots in Wuhan, attack vehicles and locomotives on bridges, railways, canals, rivers, and roads; bomb radar stations from Shanghai to Hong Kong, coastal fortifications, Troop camps and military depots; airfields and enemy air forces in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and along the Yangtze River from Hankou to Nanjing were cleared; Shijiazhuang Station, Jinan Railway Station and the Yellow River Bridge were also bombed and damaged.The Japanese air force has been weakened, and the Japanese ground offensive has also been effectively curbed.
Iron-clad military barracks with flowing soldiers!Chennault's two generals, Hill and Vincent, had completed their combat period in China, and Vincent returned to the United States on December 13, 1944.Lieutenant Colonel Herbst and Lieutenant Colonel McComas are still doing great things.In a battle in Hong Kong, McMath shot down 4 enemy planes, sank 1 transport ship and 3 cargo ships in Zhang Victoria Port; on the way back, he dropped a 500-pound bomb and sank the Japanese cruiser.The grey-haired, personable, 36-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Herbst led a plane to attack Nanjing. He drove a P-52 plane to dive-bomb the Tiefeite Ferry between Nanjing Pukou and shot down 12 Tojo-style planes that met him in the air. 5 of the planes; after flying in a large circle, they fired at 60 Japanese planes on the three major airports that were too late to take off.He led the planes to attack Guangzhou three times in a row, smashing the Japanese planes on the ground and in the sky to pieces, so debilitating that he dared not move for the next few months. On January 17, 1945, he planned a surprise attack on Shanghai. 16 Mustangs flew below 200 feet below the ground and slipped into the sky above Shanghai - the Mustangs fell from the sky!The unprepared Japanese plane was knocked out, but none of the American planes were lost.Two days later, they attacked Shanghai and destroyed another 25 enemy planes. Four of the American planes were shot down by anti-aircraft fire, but all the American pilots shot down were rescued by the New Fourth Army.The surprise attack on Shanghai can be described as Herbst's farewell to the sky over China, because he had long since stopped his air duty and planned and participated in the war as an "observer".
Iron-clad military barracks with flowing soldiers!Groups of brave and skilled Flying Tigers returned home in this way.Chennault missed them, and they often sent warm letters to the "old man".The Flying Tigers Association led by Paxton, a veteran member of the Flying Tigers, has taken shape. William Pollet donated 10,000 US dollars to hold a dinner in New York to promote the establishment of the Flying Tigers Association. At this time, Pollet has been appointed by the president Ambassador to Peru, probably he wants to make up for past mistakes.But Chennault was immutable, and he called Paxton: "I will not consent to membership in any organization in which Pauley is a member. Pauley was never an American Volunteer. He did not serve us in our most critical hour. Greetings by the way." The old man still hates evil like a vengeful, and there is no room for sand in his eyes.Of course, Pollet's $10,000 was declined.Because without Chennault, there would be no Flying Tiger Association.
Chennault is not worried about these things either, he is not eager to return to the United States to enjoy the glory; on the contrary, his heart is on China, and he wants to welcome the final victory of anti-fascism in China where he has fought hard for nearly eight years.He had already seen the dawn of victory looming on the eastern horizon.For this kind of foresight, history has proved that he has better vision than Stilwell.Stilwell believed that it would take at least one or two years before the end of the war, and that the final solution could only be resolved by army operations.
In April 1945, the Japanese army launched the final offensive in China with the last frenzy - "Zhijiang Attack".The Japanese army mobilized more than 80,000 troops to capture and destroy the Zhijiang strategic air base.Zhijiang, an ancient city located in the mountains of western Hunan; Zhijiang base, is the most suitable location for the 14th Air Force to attack the enemy's supply line in the East China Corridor, and it is also the only supply base of the 14th Air Force in Suichuan, Changting and Jian'ou airports .Of course, if the Japanese army wants to eliminate the huge threat in the air, open the channel to attack the Southwest, and save them from the fate of complete collapse, they must destroy this thorn that makes them feel extremely painful.The Chinese army and the 14th Air Force must defend Zhijiang and defeat the Japanese attack.
The battle officially started on April 9, and the two armies exchanged fire on April 13.Among the mountains and mountains in western Hunan, there are blood and fire contests everywhere, and the struggle between life and death.The sky and the earth are the crazy desperate gamble of the invaders, and it is the revenge decisive battle of the Chinese army that has endured eight years of humiliation, and it writes the heroic last chapter of the 14th Air Force's support for the Chinese army on the ground.
Xue Yue's troops participated in the defense battle.Having experienced the bloody storms of the Changsha Defense Battle, the Changde Defense Battle, and the Suichuan Defense Battle, the two troops shared a rifle, each with only 40 rounds of ammunition, but still with unshakable determination, without assistance, Suichuan was recovered in the attack in March. At the end of March, the 14th Air Force launched another attack from Suichuan and the newly built airfield in the north. During the Zhijiang defense battle in April, Chennault once again witnessed the bloody battle of these ragged Chinese soldiers, and once again shook hands with the short and elegant Chinese general. Chennault's heart trembled again!He was moved by the bravery and fearlessness of the Chinese army, and he vaguely reflected his own figure from Xue Yue's body!Although they are very different in skin color, nationality, body shape, experience, temperament, cultural literacy, etc., they are clearly a pair of birds with the same destiny, no, they are vultures that are difficult to spread their wings and soar!No matter in the Eastern Hemisphere or the Western Hemisphere, the iron net of interpersonal relationships always tightly binds the eagle's wings.
At this time, Chennault learned that President Roosevelt died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage in Georgia Hot Springs on April 12.Sadness soaked Chennault's heart.He can't forget the cordial and passionate conversation between the president and him at the Washington Conference two years ago. The president didn't look down at him at all, but understood him, trusted him, and valued him. How do you say this in Chinese?Scholars are listed as confidants.It's just that for various reasons, he has not fulfilled his promise to the president!
He loves Roosevelt also because Roosevelt himself has the power of personality that shakes people's hearts. In 1921, at the age of 39, Roosevelt suffered from polio and his lower limbs were paralyzed.But he faced the challenge of fate with tenacious perseverance. In the 1932 general election, he defeated his opponent Hoover with an absolute advantage, became the 32nd president of the United States, and was re-elected for four consecutive terms as the president of the United States!Since the outbreak of the Second World War, he has been sitting in a wheelchair, traveled between several continents, made unremitting efforts to defeat fascism, and became one of the most influential and greatest political figures in the United States and the world.Even the lace rumors about him and his lover, in Chennault's view, just show that the president is also a man with flesh and blood and rich emotions!
However, Roosevelt passed away forever, and Chennault could no longer get his understanding and trust.
Chennault also learned that the Pentagon was recalling him.Is Marshall, Arnold, Stilwell, etc. going to punish him in the same way, to avenge Stilwell's humiliation?
In the late spring rain, he returned to his small house with red tiles and mud walls in Kundan.Colonel Barrett also came to Kunming.Chennault invited him to dinner in his hut, but Chennault found that Barrett changed his usual humorous and love to talk and laugh, became silent and deep in the bedroom, and closed the door, Cathy, Rose, Al The laughter of Thorpe and Glenn was blocked in the outer room, and the atmosphere in the bedroom seemed dull and mysterious for a while, and the little dog Joe also squatted at Chennault's feet sensiblely, motionless.
Barrett took a sip of the strong Chinese tea, shrugged, and quickly vomited to his old friend.
Wedemeyer had already suggested that Washington promote Barrett as brigadier general, because Barrett had made indelible contributions as the head of the "Dixie Mission"; however, suddenly his head was withdrawn, and his promotion was over. Canceled, and possibly canceled forever, also due to "Mission Dixie"!
Chennault lit a Camel cigarette, and the white smoke curled up. His eyes were blurred. Politics, could it be that things were changing rapidly.
On July 2, 1944, the US military and political observation group was established, named "Dixie Mission". "Dixie" is the American Civil War, representing the rebellious southern states of the United States.The observation group took this name, of course, it is a humor and a symbol of the Americans.Barrett led a delegation to Yan'an and got along very well with the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. He not only wrote many reports praising Yan'an, but also delivered a report on the real situation to the US government, emphasizing that we should strengthen ties with the CCP and jointly resist Japan. On November 7, Special Envoy Hurley flew to Yan'an on a trident to coordinate the relationship between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.However, Hurley just wanted the Communist Party's army to be brought under Chiang Kai-shek's command, and naturally met with strong opposition from the CCP. The CCP wanted to reorganize the National Government into a coalition government. How could the dictatorial Chiang Kai-shek agree?During the coordination process, Hurley turned his hands into clouds and turned his hands into rain. The Yan'an side has determined that he is an untrustworthy character. On December 7, Barrett flew to Yan'an with Zhou Enlai and Dong Biwu.He was originally ordered by Hurley to inquire about Mao Zedong's reaction to the new proposal; Byrd, who was on the same plane, was discussing what help the Communist Party could provide if the United States dropped paratroopers in areas controlled by the Communist Party.All this obviously deeply angered Chiang Kai-shek. Even if the country and the nation were at the critical point of life and death, he had to put personal power at the top.And Washington's policy has always been inclined to Chiang Kai-shek, and they considered more about the control of China after the war.Things quickly turned upside down!Wedemeyer claimed that he did not know about Colonel Byrd and Barrett's trip to Yan'an, and Hurley severely warned American civil and military officials in China not to interfere in China's affairs!Barrett was dismissed, and he was doomed not to be a general for the rest of his life. This was Hurley's first cleansing of the "China Hands" who had a sense of justice and passion.
巴雷特还说，魏德迈已知道陈纳德曾给薛岳空投军事补给，这也是美国指挥官擅自作主插手复杂微妙的时局的又一实例。
陈纳德的脑海中已是乱麻一团。
对史迪威，他是气恼又怨恨的；但对巴雷特，他却视为知己。也许他俩都不是西点军校的毕业生，都是从最下层不屈不挠奋斗出来的，又都看不起无能又骄横的顶头上司吧。
对蒋介石夫妇，他从心底里感恩戴德；似乎没有他们，也就没有他生命中的另一片天空。但对薛岳将军，他同样从心底里生出敬重和友情；尽管薛岳得不到蒋介石的青睐，而是受尽了排挤和提防。陈纳德了解薛岳，血与火结下的战地情是利害关系的剑无法斩断的。
那么，对延安呢？他没有去过延安，也无缘接触到中共领导人。但是，他的飞虎队员中就有因伫战受伤降落后被新四军营救而安全返回者，为数并不少。他对新四军有好感，而且知晓他们实实在在地在打日本鬼子。对延安，对共产党，他的心分明充满了好奇。并且，至少有一点认同：那也是一群不屈不挠的人吧。
他不愿也不能陷进政治漩涡中，他天生不是一个政客，而是一个军人，但是，他无法回避政治。
眼下，他为巴雷特不能晋升而惋惜，同时，也深感到他自己“在劫难逃”，但他不悔。
第二天又是倾盆大雨。午饭后陈纳德坐到办公室的椅子上，点燃一支烟。平常的日子里，这时刻抽完这支烟，摁灭烟蒂后，他便要迷迷糊糊地打个盹，脑袋就这样垂下去、垂下去，竟能香甜地睡上半小时左右，尔后，他会突然醒过来，咳嗽几声，又点燃一支烟，凝视着窗外，一会便站起来，又开始了下午的工作。但此时，他没有一丝睡意！他一支接一支地抽着骆驼牌香烟，双眼凝着窗外，白茫茫的雨帘哗啦啦，是要冲洗掉人世间的尘垢污秽，抑或回归那混沌的天地之初。
巴雷特的话语仍乱糟糟地梗塞心头，要拔除这壅塞的烦恼忧伤，中国古诗句怎么说？Why worry?Only Du Kang.哦，不，除了威士忌，还有打猎，还有女人。
他的生活中并不缺乏女人。凯茜和罗斯仍是他的亲密的女友，尤其是这两家都遭遇了麻烦之后。凯茜是陈纳德部属哈里·萨特的妻子。萨特是瑞士人，会两种语言，是建立最先进的警报网的功臣之一。但他被指控将一些重要的补给品走私穿越驼峰，美军的刑事调查部对他进行了长时间的盘问，但还找不到足够的证据起诉。凯茜带着两个不满10岁的儿女留在了昆明，她常常自然而然地充当陈纳德昆明小屋中的主妇角色，是一个颇具魅力的中印混血女人，也是巴雷特的密友。罗斯是博特纳·卡尼的中国妻子。卡尼从汉口起就一直在陈纳德的属下任教官，以后又加入了美国志愿队，在东瓜度过了艰难的日子。他在一次酗酒打牌时杀了一个中国人，陈纳德向蒋介石求情后，只将卡尼驱逐回美国，罗斯却仍留在昆明。罗斯活得很滋润，因为她极能跟美国人做生意，据说在卡尼前她还有一个中国丈夫和一个儿子，但是，她从不提起她的过去，她是一个漂亮又神秘的中国女人，有时跟陈纳德出现在社交场合。
陈纳德喜爱她们，但不是深爱。
此刻，他抽着烟，不无焦虑地等待着的是另一个女子——他心中的女神、梦里的情人、可爱的小东西陈香梅！
也许是天意，中午时分收到了陈应荣从美国寄给他的信！原来，做父亲的恳请他帮忙说服陈香梅去美国。信的结尾写道：“说来惭愧，对生性倔强的小女，为父的是一筹蜞展了。我从静宜处得知，她崇敬您，而且一定会听您的。在此，让我先谢谢您。”陈纳德笑了，小东西一定会听他的？但他分明冲动起来，立即要见到她！他挂电话到昆明分社，总编说陈香梅外出采访了；他忙问在哪？总编说这时间大概采访完了，上老城墙根排档茶铺吃过桥米线呢，记者的中饭多是这样打发的。他急急放下话筒，急急叫上老汪司机，就要开车去老城墙根寻陈小姐。老汪调皮地眨眨眼说，将军就安心在家吃中饭吧，我保证将陈小姐接来，让老王厨子准备晚餐，做几个拿手的路易斯安娜州的辣味菜，看陈小姐怕辣不怕辣。
老汪怎么变得这般饶舌？难道他察觉了了什么？可是什么也没发生呀。陈香梅不过是来这里采访过几回的记者，还从未请她吃过一餐饭呢。而此刻他的心却怦怦乱跳，就像年轻时第一次约会时那样。
what's wrong with me?他又续上一支烟。也许该想想怎么说服陈香梅去美国，骨肉总是该团取遥，况且她已经经历过太多的苦难。哗啦啦啦，雨下得太大，老汪能找到小香梅么？
“将军——您找我？”陈香梅已冲进了办公室，不安地问道。雨鞋，右手拿着一柄收拢了的雨伞，左腋夹着一本采访簿。因为不安和激动，她的两颊赤红：将军这么着急地寻她来，到底是为什么？
陈纳德怔了一下，方指指办公桌上的信：“喏，你父亲给我来了信，你先看看，坐呀。”
她扔下雨伞，撂下采访簿，急忙抓起信就读，父亲和姊妹们不会有事吧？
却原来仍是老生常谈！
莫非陈纳德将军乐意充当真诚的说客？
陈香梅轻轻放下信笺，慢慢走向窗前，窗外是一片滔滔的白雨，她伸出双手，檐下的雨啪啦啦啦打在手上，竟生出火辣辣的疼，原来，莽苍苍的烟雨还是火炽的。
“陈香梅小姐——”陈纳德也走到窗前，这女孩真有点淘气又野气，给他个背影，似乎要把满肚的气撒到他身上。
她仍定格似地一动不动。
他大声说：“你如果不想去美国，就不要去。”
她这才侧过身子仰望着他，满眼凝虑，仿佛要咂摸出他的话是正话还是反话。
他微微弯下腰来，仍大声地说：“你已不是小孩了，自己的事自己决定。·，我的境况跟你一样，家里人都希望我回美国，可是，自己的事自己抉择，我不违心。我想，我懂得你。”
香梅突然扑簌簌落下两行眼泪，湿漉漉的双手忙将脸掩住，却仍边啜泣边说：“可是……父亲不懂得我……更不懂得母亲……母亲去世的情景……我永远无法忘记……”她为什么说起了这些？
陈纳德太高，又耳背，他弯下腰侧耳聆听，点点头：“我也一样。5岁时，我的生母吐血而殁，呵，我忘不了那悲惨而鲜艳的一幕。15岁时，我的继母又弃我而去，她是那样地健康、开朗，可是疾病也夺走了她。安娜，我历经了两次丧失母亲的苦痛，人生，有时是怨不得谁的……呵，揩掉泪，我们喝杯咖啡可好？”
她接过他递给的一方折叠得齐整的手帕，听话地拭去泪痕。
厨子老王不知何时已立在办公室门口：“报告将军——我给你们沏好了普洱茶呢。”他胖墩墩的肉掌托关的茶盘里，一对青花瓷杯微微冒着气。
“行吗？”陈纳德问陈香梅。
“怎么不行，太好啦，我在香港读大学时，就最爱喝一杯下午茶。”香梅的心情愉快了。
他与她在办公桌前相对而坐。
他问：“你在香港生活了很多年？”
她答：“民国25年到香港，民国31年逃离香港，屈指算算，整整六年半呢。”
他说：“那该是1936年到1942年嘛，我1937年来华后，许多次到过香港，嗳，为什么我在香港总没遇到你？”
她笑了：“也许遇到过，可我们相见不相识。”
他认真地摇摇头：“没有遇到过……若那时遇到你，一定马上……”他打住了，眼里是一片迷蒙。
她的脸红了，似乎知晓他未说出的话。
一时无语。
窗外仍是哗啦啦滔滔的白雨，桌上是两杯香气馥郁的普洱茶，他与她却都忘了品茶。
“将军，芷江保卫战能取胜吗？”记者的职业惯性是驱散了尴尬，还是破坏了佳境呢？
将军肯定地点点头：“胜利一定属于我们。一定。”
“您与魏德迈将军相处很融洽，是吗？”
他又肯定地点点头。
“他与史迪威，仅仅是性格上的不同？您对史迪威，怎么看？”
他愣了一下，随即摇摇头：“今天能不把我当采访对象么？”
他不想涉及这个话题，并不是要对她隐瞒什么，错综复杂阴暗晦涩的事，他都不情愿她介入。他虽然说她已不是小孩了，但他的整个生命中，自始至终她永远是他的女孩。
茶凉了，他们一口都没喝。
晚饭也没吃成。芷江前线来急电，陈纳德须马上飞去；而陈香梅，下午也有她的采访任务。
以后的日子，他们也注定聚少离多。
晴天一声霹雳！
1945年7月8日，陈纳德痛苦又决然地提出辞职。斯特拉特迈耶很快批准，并任命他的参谋长史东接替陈纳德指挥第14航空队。然而，诚如陈纳德所说，他们没有过哪怕是一天的中国经历呵。
这究竟是为什么？
中国朝野震惊了，美国舆论界也又一次搅起了狂澜，为什么？胜利的曙光已经出现在地平线上了，难道又要这位飞虎将军骤然又然地退出舞台？
谁解其中谜？
昆明分社的大编辑室又沸腾了。
陈香梅没有加入议论，但决不是上回议论史迪威时的旁观静听，她的双颊烧得赤红，喉咙火灼般疼痛，全身的血液在燃烧，她为陈纳德的遭遭际愤愤不平，她很想立即见到陈纳德，可陈纳德正在重庆。
打暮春那次见面后，他们仅在几次公众场合有缘相处，大雨窗前的一幕竟恍若梦境，她理不清她与陈纳德是远是近？是熟稔是陌生？是心有默契还是毫不相干？直到有一回，将军的秘书调皮地为她画了张漫画像，夸张了她的两只小虎牙，她哭笑不得地夺过：“太丑了！”没想到陈纳德冷不丁说：“挺有意思，这张画像就送给我吧。”她急了：“不好不好，太丑了，一点也不真实，以后送您像样的。”一旁的摄影记者凑趣道：“何必等以后，立马给你来张真实的。”陈纳德拍拍她的肩膀：“来张合影吧。”她的心怦怦乱跳，就这么合影？秘书笑说：“陈小姐，得露出可爱的小虎牙呵。”她将嘴抿得紧紧的，满脸的深沉与严肃，会是什么兆头呢？他们之间总有点不寻常，就像那暮春时节本多潇潇雨，他满世界寻她，却是倾盆大雨的日子。
这期间，世界形势发生了根本性的转变。5月，德国首相柏林被苏、美国、英、法军队包围，希特勒自杀；5月8日，德国向联合国无条件投降。欧洲战场反法西斯战争取得了辉煌胜利。
芷江战火正炽。湘西的丛山峻岭丘陵田野，挖掘出无数战壕修建了成群的地堡；日军以最后的疯狂发起了进攻，而中国不再是1937！炮筒的森林在怒吼，机关枪的子弹织成死亡的暴雨，威武的坦克向前碾去，骑兵队在冲锋，前沿阵地的守军在肉搏……杀！kill!kill!积郁了八年的深仇大恨终于到了冲杀雪耻的一日！血债定要血来偿！第14航空队与中美混合大队的战鹰群密切配合，铺天盖地般向敌军俯冲扫射，炸瘫了敌军的炮兵阵地，炸得日军地面部队只敢夜间出动，但纷纷投下的纳帕姆燃烧弹喷出复仇的烈火，将白昼蛰伏在洞穴和战壕里的敌军也烧成灰烬！ 5月23日，日军被迫撤回原阵地。历时近两个月的湘西会战，以日军的惨败和中国军民的胜利而告终。中国几乎所有的报纸都在头版作了长篇报道，而外国报纸则将这场殊死的血战，称为“小斯大林格勒保卫战”。芷江，这古老的城镇，成了中国军民骄傲的象征。占地4000余亩的芷江空军基地，又一次记载了中国军民和美国飞虎队并肩抗击法西斯的战绩和友情。
5月，日军已经在印度支那地区全面败退；6月，日军从南宁、从广州、从上海等处全面撤退。第14航空队不失时机予以歼灭之。近广州的北江敌军的血染红江水长达一周，近赣州的赣江为敌尸及破船所阻塞，近南宁的西江亦如此。在遂川，溃逃日军迂回绕过机场，不敢与守卫机场的薛岳部队碰头。中国军民挺直腰杆扬眉吐气的日子到了！
这当儿，陈纳德亲自驾着运输机飞越敌人的前线和薛岳会晤。薛岳则步行了两天，赶到陈纳德降落的江西境内的机场。不为别的，只为了见一面，说上半个钟头的话！并没有庄严热烈的仪式，也没有丰盛热闹的酒宴，两个不同种族的男人走上机场旁的小山坡，夕阳西斜，芳草连天涯，都有千般心事沉甸甸压在心头，都渴求倾诉，可千言万语又不知从何说起！他们默默车转身，默默对望着，一切尽在不言中。尔后，大步流星下山坡，向陈纳德的运输机走去。在陈纳德欲上机前，他解下了他的空军制服上的腰带送给薛岳。薛岳一愣，旋即接过并立观佩上，他的手指微微颤2拌着，抬眼与陈纳德告别时，泪珠竟扑簌簌地滚落在他那坚强斗士的两颊上！陈纳德的眼也濡湿了，是生离死别般的感受。
就要胜利了，但对于他们，辉煌深邃处是荒凉！
陈纳德只有一个自然的期望：想继续留任中国，从“七七”卢沟桥事变开始，他在这方土地这方天空鏖战了整整八年，他有权利在中国迎接抗日的最后胜利，尝尝凯旋的滋味。
但是，美国的五角大楼没有这份宽容和理解。
从客观现状来看，随着5月3日爷光为盟军攻克，缅甸之战的结束，原设加尔各答的斯特拉特迈耶司令部和第10航空队，自然看上了中国，当作仍可施展身手的唯一的亚洲地方。于是绞尽脑汁，策划了他们迁往重庆，而将第14航空队调往昆明的计划。这不合理的计划因运输无法跟上又突然停止，但是，华盛顿已匆匆通过了将斯特拉特迈耶提升为三星级中将的事项，他必须拥有与三星级相配的指挥职务，也就是说，他必须领导中国战区的空军，必须将陈纳德从中国战区撤出！
6月20日，魏德迈在成都召都集所有在华的美军将领参加了紧急会议，会议极短，严格执行“只能耳听、不准记录”的规定。原来，这次神秘的短会仅仅是为了轰走他陈纳德！
魏德迈读了阿诺德给他的特别信件，是由斯特拉特迈耶亲手带交的。
“陈纳德将军在中国已呆了很长的时间，以最少的资源打了一场御战。补给不足和由此产生的游击式战争应变成一场现代化的打击风格和进攻性的空中力量。我坚信，彻底改变你们战区的作战方法并转而采用现代化的进攻战术和技术的最迅速和最有效的办法是撤换指挥官。你若同意陈纳德将军及早从中国战区撤出，我将不胜感激。他应利用现在给身体上不合格的军官的退休优待(即他们的薪金不必交所得税)，否则，他会回到退休军官的行列之中，其军衔将保持退休时原封不动的状况。”
耳背的陈纳德就坐在魏德迈的近旁，为的是听清楚这紧急会议的字字句句，却原来是这样！他感到羞愤难当。阿诺德在不得不承认他以最少的资源在苦战的同时，却轻蔑地贬他们为游击战，应被现代化的进攻战所淘汰！而且，为了将陈纳德轰出中国，真是软硬兼施，威胁利诱全用上了！
信中再三强调，驻华空军的改组事宜，“不管后果如何”，必须依原定计划实现。God!陈纳德宁愿自己的耳朵彻底聋掉，他不敢相信，这样赤裸裸的话竟敢写成文字！
羞愤之火燃烧着这条老汉子。
苦涩的滋味浸透了这条老汉子。
他回到了昆明，从未有过的疲倦袭击着他。
he is tired.
他愿意静静地离开壮丽悲凉又龌龊荒凉的舞台、他只希望不要影响中国走向胜利。
他没有向新闻界宣汇他的痛苦、委屈和无奈；当然，更没有惊扰他心爱的小东西。
小东西却偏偏想力挽狂澜。她想立即赶去重庆，采访陈纳德，写出火辣辣的文章，她的血液中情感生与记者天职的激情在燃烧着，她不能让将军没颜落色屑然离开中国。然而，中央社就设在重庆，哪轮得上她这个乳臭未干的小女子记者插一杠子呢？
正当她不顾一切想搭乘第14航空队的运输机时，重庆正在召开欢送陈纳德将军的盛大集会，陈香梅过虑了。
陈纳德辞别重庆的日子，是这座山城历史上绚烂多彩的一页。
8月2日清晨，薄雾缭绕的重庆郊野的大路小路，一派人流滚滚。人们擎着锦旗，抬着横匾，敲锣打鼓涌向重庆。他们多是周遭乡村小镇的老百姓，也有走了几天几夜从邻城邻县赶来的热心遭乡村小镇的老百姓，也有走了几天几夜从邻城邻县赶来的热心人——他们要送送陈纳德将军！
素有雾都之称的重庆，建筑物又多是灰色的，总给人雾··灰扑扑的印象，但这天清晨却跳跃着鲜艳热烈的色彩，高楼上屋顶上中美国旗迎风招展，大街小巷商店民居到处张贴着飞虎图画，以及丘吉尔的著名的胜利的V字，一串串的红爆竹点燃了，噼哩啪啦的热闹与浓郁的硝烟味泻染出节日般的气氛。山城里用鹅卵石或青石板铺就的街巷，起起伏伏极有特色，而打一大清早起，便挤满了送行的人群，无数人流涌向广场——与将军的告别大会那里举行。
蒋介石派他的专用汽车接陈纳德去广场，前夜，陈纳德在第14航空队的宿舍里与他的将士们呆在一起。人山人海，汽车难以开行。当人们知道车内就坐着将军时，人们欢呼起来：“陈纳德——陈纳德——”一时间，像无线电的电波辐射向整个山城，成千上万的人喊着这个名字。司机只有熄了火，让热情的群众推着汽车前行，陈纳德从车窗探出身子，他挥着手，想说什么，但民众的声浪淹没了他的声音，他的喉咙哽哽的，视野一片模糊。无数双手推着这部车，上坡下坡，穿街过巷，一连几个小时！也许绕了许多弯路，可是，这是民众的心愿。恍惚间，他的眼前浮现出八年来忘我地修筑机场填平跑道的无数普通老百姓的手！
广场早已被人群围得水泄不通。中央搭着高台，高台前是松枝与鲜花扎成的圆拱门，周围则装饰着巨大的飞虎队徽。
雾散了，八月的烈日辉煌灿烂，汗流浃背的人群川流不息涌向高台，送上名贵的礼品，尔后仿效西俗，与陈纳德紧紧地握手。晶莹的玉石、精致的漆器、祖传的古玩、名流的画卷、彩绣的锦旗……五颜六色，堆积如山；而“陈纳德——”这热切的呼唤声浪仍在此起彼伏。陈纳德长久地伫立在高台上，富有演说天赋的他，在这个将让他终生难忘的日子里，却说不出一句动听的话语。最后，他伸开两只手臂，像要拥抱敬爱他的人们；一张嘴，却泪如泉涌；他不去揩拭，让感激的泪水放纵奔流在他纵横交错的树皮脸上。
他忽然懂得了中国俗话：故土难离。
他已经离不开中国！
如果他是一只苍鹰，是中国给了他翱翔的天空；如果他是一棵大树，是中国给了他移植成活并青枝绿叶的土地，他已经根系中国！
是中国，给了他生命的真正辉煌。
“我已经是一个中国人了。”他生命的深处在呐喊这一句。
送别会上还有千人签名题词慰送陈纳德将军的一巨册。蒋中正、宋子文、礼祥熙、陈诚、于右任、白崇禧、王世杰、周至柔、何应钦、吴国桢、吴铁成、盛世才、贾景德、张治中、俞鸿钧、愈冰鹏、朱家骅、谷正纲、王宠惠、孙科、于斌、戴传贤、查良·、张道藩、邵力子、黄仁霖、朱学范、黄翠峰、沈剑虹、熊式辉、蒋梦麟、许世英、贺耀祖、何成·、贺衷寒、莫德惠、沈钧儒、刘航琛……每人一页，纸短情人。
晚上，蒋价石举行宴会送别。将中国最高的青天白日勋章授予陈纳德，并附有蒋价石亲笔书写的奖词。魏德迈则在陈纳德的特殊功勋章上还加上第二个橡叶丛，并感慨万千地说：“陈纳德对中国军政官员的信任和尊敬很感欣慰。中国人民爱戴他，也尊重他。事实上，他是一位民族英雄。我认为这里理应如此的。”似乎有点模糊概念，但魏德迈的感觉是真实的。
蒋价石满心的歉疚，因为他对陈纳德的离华无能为力。他跟陈纳德单独交谈时说：“对于这，我真觉得抱歉，倘若夫人在这儿的话，她会把事情弄得清楚些，我希望你能谅解。”宋美龄其时在巴西。但是，即使她在中国，只怕也不敢为此事再跟五角大楼作较量。他们已经赢过了史迪威这着棋，而眼下，杜鲁门总统的对华政策他还捉摸不透，斯大林则咄咄逼人地想控制整个满洲，他不敢失去他们的援助，否则他对付不了蒸蒸日上的共产党。
随后，蒋价石像是不经意地问道：“我刚听说，将军对徐悲鸿先生的《双鹫图》很感兴趣？”
陈纳德一愣，是的，参观徐悲鸿画展时，他在这幅中国画前痴立良久，为徐先生的艺术功力和非凡意境所折服，同时，触景生情，想起了自己和薛岳。于是，他不多言，只点点头。
蒋价石也连连点头：“好。好。”
蒋价石即派人去向徐悲鸿索要《双鹫图》，徐悲鸿摇摇头：“