Chapter 61: The Reinforcement Army

  The first meeting went smoothly, and the next morning, Sun Xiang received a call from Drake.

  Derek: "Boss, Mr. Hughes wants you to go to Shanghai Port to receive goods fifteen days later."

  "What? Goods? I didn't say I wanted goods! What did Hughes say?"

  "Hey boss, you don't know how I knew, but based on my guess, it's probably something like strategic materials."

  Sun Xiang's forehead was covered in black lines: "Aren't you just talking nonsense? Otherwise, can you arrange a boat for me?"

  "Boss, everything else is fine, it's just the problem of skilled workers. Otherwise, I'll go to the United States to recruit a batch of workers? Many people will come if they are given high wages."

  "Then just go and tell Hughes directly, let him think of a way, it'll save time that way!"

  Derek sneered, "Boss, Hughes boss said there's a chick named Ekaterina who claims to be your girlfriend. It's causing quite the stir in America right now. Hughes boss went to check it out and apparently she's extremely sexy."

  Sun Xiang looked puzzled: "I don't know any Aikarena, let alone these useless things. Hurry up and build the base, there are still many things that can't be done without you, my Drake."

  "Derek on the other end of the phone trembled with excitement: 'Boss, I'll finish things up here as soon as possible, don't forget to take me to try all the delicious food in China.' The dial tone sounded, and he actually hung up my call. Sun Xiang felt a wave of frustration."

  He then sent a telegram to Howard asking what was on board and also helped recruit skilled workers.

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  Los Angeles City

  Howard Hughes and Paul study shooting problems for their next film in a Los Angeles villa.

  Paul looked at Hughes helplessly and said, "Boss, if you want to make a war movie, it should be an air force movie. We can just find an air force base for that. If you want to film on location, taking scenes directly from the battlefield is simply impossible."

  Hughs' face was determined: "This matter has been decided, what you need to worry about now is not whether it can be done, but how it will be done. Now turn around, leave the villa and think carefully about what to do."

  Paul slowly got up, dragging his feet as he walked out of the gate.

  Katharine Hepburn walks down the stairs wearing a sexy nightgown, the hem of which is open, revealing her slender and fair skin as she moves, exuding a charming and alluring flavor.

  Hughes suddenly threw away all his troubles and hugged this stunning beauty tightly.

  Catherine looked at Hughes: "Who's going to star in this movie you're about to shoot?"

  Hughs chuckled and said: "Beauty, let's not discuss this issue today." He then kissed Hepburn.

  Catherine dodged Hughes' attack and said seriously: "I have to figure this out today, I need to know what you're thinking, dear."

  "Hugh had to surrender: 'I'm ready to actually film Steve's battle scenes, such a scene can't be shot by myself, I've already edited the aerial combat scene of Steve in the base last time into a five-minute short film, it's too brilliant, after seeing this effect, I don't want to use models to simulate some scenes anymore, that feeling is too terrible, and this time I'm also going to film us into the movie, just shoot real things, slightly process the story, I think this must be a classic movie, oh! I'm so genius!'"

  Catherine rolled her eyes, this guy had entered his own fantasy.

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  On June 18, 1937, all base pilots took part in the first dress rehearsal, with 108 aircraft taking to the skies, including 50 F4Us, mostly American but also French and Soviet types.

  Chennault brought 100 pilots to compete for positions, and the 49 technically proficient ones formed the First Air Group with Sun Xiang. The remaining Chinese pilots, mainly flying Hawk III planes, formed the Second Air Group and conducted an air combat exercise.

  The final result was stunning, as Chen Nade was a loyal follower of the squadron, so most of the more than 100 pilots had undergone squadron training, plus the overwhelming victory of the F4U aircraft's performance. The final result was a one-sided massacre. After these American pilots landed, they were also amazed by the plane's performance.

  This guy is too much, a hundred planes dogfighting and it's over in just 15 minutes, the result is an astonishing 58 to 2, Gao Zhihang got off the plane with a shameful face, this blow is too big, although one of those two planes was shot down by him. But if the real opponent were Japanese, such a record would be humiliating, it's a complete defeat!

  Gao Zhihang and the other Chinese pilots went all out, training for more than 16 hours a day. This intensity shocked the American soldiers, and under this high-intensity training, they quickly mastered the skills of aircraft formation attacks, and the coordination between the lead and wingmen was also in place.

  The process only took ten days, and the American pilots were amazed at the speed of Chinese learning. As long as they could become pilots, they were all top-notch talents. So, it was reasonable that with careful practice, mastering this skill was not a big deal for them. However, this marked the beginning of China's flight force slowly emerging.

  Just as Sun Xiang and the Chinese-American pilots were working hard to hone their team, Japan began to make big moves. Starting from the spring of 1937, the Japanese side transported a large number of troops from outside the pass into the country, increasing the number of Japanese troops in the Pingjin area to 30,000-40,000 people. From April 25th, the North China Garrison Army frequently conducted combat drills in the suburbs of Pingjin, and began day-and-night exercises aimed at attacking Lugou Bridge and capturing Wanping City from June. On June 21st, the North China Garrison Army urgently established a temporary combat department. All signs indicated that the Japanese military was actively preparing for war.

  This move made the situation between the two sides subtle, and the 29th Army, which had been confronting Japan all along, did not find anything abnormal. At this time, their army commander Song Zheyuan returned to his hometown in Shandong for recuperation, and the actual leader of the 29th Army was Zhang Zizhong.

  Sun Xiang secretly said that it was a bad thing, because Song Zheyuan had always been worried that the Chiang Kai-shek government would swallow up his own troops, so the 18th Army's secret march north was afraid that Song Zheyuan would find out and make things worse.

  Sun Xiang immediately called Chiang Kai-shek: "Director Chiang, can the 18th and 29th Armies join forces to resist the enemy?"

  Chiang Kai-shek laughed heartily: "If it were Song Zheyuan who was still in Beijing, I'm afraid there would be some difficulties. But now that Zhang Zizhong is leading the troops, you can rest assured! I've already heard from Mao Bangchu about the results of your exercises this time. Now I can really put my heart at ease, with you around, I feel secure in the air!"

  Xun Xiang said humbly, "Everyone has learned the new formation method for aircraft, and the gap won't be so obvious anymore. By the way, Chairman, our base in Sichuan still needs your attention. The main issue is with mineral resources; we must find good raw materials, which are crucial to the solidity of the aircraft itself. This cannot be taken lightly."

  Chiang Kai-shek's tone immediately became serious: "This matter, I'll take care of it. I will make all the manpower and resources in Sichuan converge on aircraft manufacturing. Now, appoint Sun Xiang as Major General of the Republic of China, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force."

  "Affirmative! Chairman!" Sun Xiang replied immediately. He sighed inwardly, fate was playing tricks on him, now he had become a National Army Major General. This matter was quite troublesome, he scratched his head and headed towards the airport.