Chapter 55: Chen Nade and Steve! (Recommended, Collected)

  Dinner was at the Tai Fu Lou, where we had Zhejiang cuisine. The security guards were fully armed and surrounded the entire building. Seeing this kind of display obviously made Americans like Shirley, Andy, and Eric feel curious.

  The Nationalist army is now largely equipped with American arms, which also filled these few curious American soldiers with good feelings.

  In 1935, China became the largest importer of American weapons and aircraft under the promotion of Soong Mei-ling. Then, under the arrangement of Sun Xiang, Drake's assistant brought F4U aircraft and the latest US military equipment to negotiate arms purchases with the Nationalist Party, and the two sides almost reached an agreement immediately. The first batch of 50 F4U aircraft had been delivered.

  At the banquet, Soong Mei-ling's superb social skills delighted both hosts and guests, while the delicious Zhejiang dishes such as honey-glazed pork, four treasures of the monkey head, Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, and West Lake vinegar fish left this group of Americans speechless. However, the high-end technique of using chopsticks made several people anxious, until Soong Mei-ling asked the waiter to replace them with knives and forks.

  At first, Drake would occasionally interject, but once the exquisite dishes were served, his mouth didn't stop moving. Not just the men, even Sherry and Rita, two little beauties, were dazzled by the numerous artistic dishes.

  Chiang Kai-shek gave Sun Xiang a pair of chopsticks with Longjing shrimp and asked, "Mr. Sun, you are known for your mighty power in Spain, having defeated the air forces of many countries. You must have your own understanding of air force strength. Can you tell me about it?"

  Soong Mei-ling proved herself to be Chiang Kai-shek's worthy partner, now acting as interpreter to explain their conversation to the Americans present.

  Xun Xiang smiled: "Air force will become more and more important in future wars. If we can't grasp air power, it will bring endless trouble to our army. Obtaining air superiority will be the key to winning a local war. Accurately attacking enemy positions with heavy firepower, playing a reconnaissance role, destroying enemy transportation lines, and raiding key military strongholds - all these depend on the completeness of air force."

  Chiang Kai-shek sighed and said, "Yes, I know these benefits, but we don't have the ability to manufacture planes ourselves now. All our current planes are purchased through imports. A house without a foundation will not have a future."

  Sun Xiang smiled: "Does Mr. Jiang know why the highest person in charge of military procurement you saw is Drake's deputy?"

  Chiang Kai-shek was taken aback: "What?!"

  Sun Xiang nodded: "In this regard, I need Mr. Jiang's cooperation. The Chinese branch of H·S Company will be established in Chongqing, Sichuan Province. H·S Company will send the best team to cooperate with the development of the aircraft industry. Now all the machines are ready, what I need is the full cooperation of the entire southwestern region. Within half a year at most, we can start production, which will be an endless source of power for our country's air force."

  "Soong Mei-ling exclaimed: 'This is really great, now all the planes are purchased from abroad, it's very difficult for me as the secretary-general of the aviation committee... if we can produce our own planes, that would be an extraordinary thing...'"

  At this time, a middle-aged man with a long face walked over and whispered a few words in Chiang Kai-shek's ear. Sun Xiang looked at this gloomy-faced middle-aged man and sighed inwardly. This guy was none other than Dai Li, the notorious head of the Military Bureau of Investigation and Statistics within the Nationalist Party, also known as Dai Chunfeng.

  Chiang Kai-shek's face lit up with joy, saying: "What are you waiting for? Hurry and invite him!" Then he said to Sun Xiang: "He is an American named Chen Nade, who has brought over a hundred American pilots to support China. What a coincidence today! Originally planned to meet him tonight, didn't expect him to come knocking on the door himself."

  Soong Mei-ling smiled and explained, "This Chen Nade is a retired American Air Force captain, recommended by my aviation advisor Hobrock, who said he has great military talent."

  Sun Xiang was taken aback when he heard the name Chen Nade, then solemnly respectful, saying that Chen Nade was a heroic figure who was famous during China's War of Resistance against Japan. It can be said that if there was no Chen Nade, the Japanese air force would have treated the Chinese sky as their own backyard. It can be said that Chen Nade almost single-handedly built the entire Chinese Air Force.

  At this time, a middle-aged man walked into the Taifu Building, wearing a US military uniform, in his 40s, with a resolute face and eyes that flashed with majesty, indeed a tough and pure military man.

  Chennault walked into the Taihu Building, and the whole building had only one table. Obviously, he saw his target task for this trip to China, Soong Mei-ling and Chiang Kai-shek. Before coming, his good friend Holbrook specially introduced him to the preferences and habits of these two people, which made Chennault very confident in this trip to China.

  Chennault saluted the President of the Republic of China: "Mr. President and Madam, good day, I am Captain Chennault of the United States Air Force..." Chennault's eyes scanned to Sun Xiang and others' faces when he suddenly froze, shouting: "You are Steve Sun? Super ace pilot? Defender of Spain?"

  Sun Xiang smiled and gave Chen Nade a military salute: "Nice to meet you, sir! Lieutenant Steve sends his regards."

  Chen Nade returned a military salute: "Don't call me that, my hero. Now I'm just an ordinary citizen, so just call me Chen Nade."

  The two military men hugged each other, and Chennault didn't feel any strangeness at all when he met the most famous air combat hero in the United States for the first time. Sun Xiang also admired this soldier who supported China just the same.

  "Sorry, Mr. President, I didn't expect to see Steve here, I really didn't think you'd invite the king of air combat, I guess I'm not needed here anymore, I need to head back to America."

  Sun Xiang grabbed Chen Nai-de: "Oh, no, no, no, Chen Nai-de, you can't leave now. China needs experienced commanders like you. I alone am not enough. I think Madame Chiang Kai-shek would be delighted to appoint you as her military advisor. What do you say, Madame?"

  "Soong Mei-ling nodded: 'Chennault, Steve is right. We now need a large number of air force personnel. Your understanding of aircraft and aerial warfare is what we urgently need. You can't go back to the United States.'"

  Chiang Kai-shek also pulled Chen Nade: "Stay with Steve, imagine, to create another glory in China, what a tempting thing."

  Erik also stood up and advised: "Steve wants to find more experienced flight instructors, you can come is great, so we can learn more flying skills from you." Andy and Erik nodded together.

  Drechsler slowly got up, patted Chen Nade on the shoulder: "I'm telling you, buddy, your purpose in coming to China is not willing to spend the rest of your life in a dull and tasteless way. Now the Chinese president has given you such a good platform, I think stimulation and challenge will accompany you for the next few years, hehe."

  Chen Nade was said by Drake to have a heart of worry, his skills were exquisite, but the journey was bumpy.

  His comrades were all awarded school officials, but he was 46 years old and still carrying the plaque of a lieutenant. For someone with a strong competitive spirit, his emotions can be imagined.

  At that time, his body was not good either. So his superior took the opportunity to let him retire with the rank of captain in April 1937. At this time, Song Meiling asked the Aviation Committee to find a foreign consultant for herself, requiring the consultant to be a 100% expert, preferably an American, and two American instructors teaching in China unanimously recommended - an American Air Force retired captain Chen Nade, then Old Comrade Chen thought of coming to China to make a name for himself, wanting to let the world recognize his strength and fulfill his dreams.