The plane of the US military expedition team soared into the sky from Chengdu Airport. At this time, General Stilwell and his entourage changed greatly through an intuitive understanding of the Independent First Army and his attitude towards Mu Yaping who was accompanying him. General Stilwell was very excited after the plane flew smoothly, and said to Mu Yaping, who was sitting opposite him: "General Mu, I believe that you will definitely shock me in this execution of Lanzhou. I have reason to believe that the answers needed will be very satisfied with me."

Mu Yaping smiled without saying a word. General Stilwell said: "General Mu! I am frankly speaking, Americans have had bad views on Chinese people for a long time, and many people are still stuck in the atmosphere of the past. Before I came, many congressmen did not have much hope for my trip. They generally believe that the Chinese army withstood the Japanese army's crazy attack in the west and suffered heavy losses. It is impossible to launch a large-scale counterattack on the Japanese army. However, my own views are different. Now I believe that the Northwest Front Army of China has the ability to launch a large-scale counterattack against the Japanese army."

Mu Yaping said: "Only when the Chinese people are humiliated can the power to shock the world. It can be said that the war imposed on the Chinese people by Japanese militarism can truly awaken the awareness of millions of Chinese people. General Stilwell, his old vision and obeying the rules are history. The weakness and incompetence of the Qing government have caused the people to have no national consciousness. We seem to have been asleep for a long time. Now I will tell you responsibly that the cowardice and a mess of sand of the Chinese people will never return. The unyielding Chinese people will once again create the glory of history. I believe General Stilwell will see what you need, and we will fight side by side with the American people."

General Stilwell looked at Mu Yaping happily, and Mu Yaping continued: "General Stilwell himself and the US government have also seen that after four years of anti-aggression war, the Chinese people have made huge sacrifices and countless property losses. We have withstood the crazy attack of the powerful Japanese army with our flesh and blood. I can no longer exaggerately say that we have grown day by day in the war, and we will eventually defeat the Japanese army with our own abilities alone. But perhaps after several years, China and the United States will join forces today and become a strong alliance, and we will soon defeat the Japanese army."

General Stilwell was infected by him, especially when he saw Mu Yaping's firm expression, they began to have an unrestrained conversation. Through in-depth understanding, General Stilwell was more urgent and inspected the west, and was full of confidence in reaching military cooperation as soon as possible.

When he arrived in Lanzhou, Mu Yaping accompanied General Stilwell and others to visit the Lanzhou aircraft manufacturing plant first. When General Stilwell first visited the fighter aircraft manufacturing plant, he was strongly shocked after the flight performance. General Stilwell even did not believe that everything in front of him was true, especially that Chinese fighter jets were slightly stronger than American fighter jets. After visiting the aircraft manufacturing plant, Stilwell and other entourages fell into silence.

Then he visited the tank manufacturing plant and watched the actual tank combat performance. General Stilwell said to Mu Yaping: "General Mu, now I fully believe in your words. The Chinese army is safe and capable of launching a large-scale counterattack against the Japanese army. There is no doubt about this. I hope that China and the United States will reach military cooperation as soon as possible. I will submit a report to the US government delegation immediately!"

Mu Yaping said: "General Stilwell, I make a few requests: First, I urgently need a bomber group, and I hope the US government will send bombers into China for joint operations. Second, in order to reduce transportation difficulties, I hope the US government will produce bombers in China and Xi'an, and in exchange for our fighter technology, it can be provided to you. Third, I hope the US government will launch light weapons and equipment at the Taiyuan Arsenal, and our infrastructure is available, and there is no problem in producing American standard weapons. In addition, our steel and other raw materials can fully meet the supply."

General Stilwell said: "General Mu, I have no objection to the conditions you have raised. I want to cooperate with military forces. The US government will be able to agree quickly after reading the report I provided. I am very confident about this. However, we will only decide after the investigation of the issue of opening an air transport line from Pakistan to Dihua, Xinjiang."

The railway entering Xinjiang was opened to traffic at the end of the month. A few days later, Mu Yaping accompanied General Stilwell and his party to Dihua to inspect the airport facilities on a transport plane. The transport plane took off in Lanzhou and flew towards Dihua along the railway line. Looking down from the air, a continuous steel transportation line appeared in the vast Gobi Desert. Mu Yaping learned everything about how this transportation line was built to Stilwell and others.

The transport plane landed at the large airport of Dihua, and Xinjiang military and political leaders Peng Xianyun and Xu Xiangqian were welcomed at the airport. After the plane landed, Mu Yaping and Stilwell got off the plane and couldn't help but be shocked by the expanded modern airport. Several Soviet-style transport planes, several cement runs and wide aprons were parked on the airport, which shocked the inspectors.

After the brief welcome ceremony, General Stilwell and Mu Yaping got on the jeep and circled around the airport. General Stilwell was very satisfied with praise. It happened that a plane flew from the southwest. When the plane landed, everyone found that it was a US transport plane.

Peng Xianyun informed the US military transport plane that he had returned from the inspection. After getting off the plane, the US military inspectors found General Stilwell here and immediately reported the inspection situation of Kashgar Airport to Stilwell and brought back a large number of photos of Kashgar Airport. On that day, Stilwell, Muyaping and his party stayed in Dihua City.

That night, Mu Yaping convened a Xinjiang Military and Political Conference, listened in detail to Peng Xianyun and Xu Xiangqian's report and praised them for their achievements in expanding Dihua Airport and preparing for the construction of Kashgar Airport within a year. At the same time, he learned about the construction of Karamay Oilfield.

The next day, General Stilwell and others were eager to return. During the flight back, Mu Yaping told General Stilwell that a large oil field was discovered in the north of Dihua, which has now entered the development stage. Mu Yaping hoped that the US government would invest in accelerating the development of the oil field. General Stilwell naturally knew that it was hard to obtain strategic resources nearby, and he agreed with Mu Yaping's proposal.

On the return plane, General Stilwell felt that the trip to the west was rewarding and was confident in the report he was preparing to submit to the Ministry of Defense. The plane flew forward along the vast next door. General Stilwell was still unsatisfied and said: "General Mu, currently there are 1.5 million troops in the Northwest Front. If the US Air Force enters, when will you carry out counterattack operations? I want to know your strategic deployment."

Mu Yaping did not think: "At present, the strength of my three corps reaches 1.5 million. In the second half of the year, we will first compete with the Japanese army for air supremacy in the western region, and strive to eliminate the air strikes of Japanese aircraft on the western region. We will launch a local counterattack this winter, and drive the Japanese army out of Shanxi before the end of the year. As for next year's combat plan, it depends on the situation of your air force's entry. At that time, I will inform you of Xiangxi's detailed combat plan."

Stilwell nodded and said, "General Mu, you are very straightforward. I have a question I want to ask you. I heard that the airborne troops you formed have been training for a year. At present, our United States has just begun research on airborne theoretical research, and you have actually started to implement them. Frankly speaking, I was surprised. Time is too hasty, otherwise I really want to go to Helan Mountain Air Force Base to see your airborne troops."

Mu Yaping said: "Your subordinates are on-site inspection at Helanshan Air Force Base. I think you will get satisfactory answers. The airborne troops are a special group of troops. Its role is to go deep into the enemy's back and attack the enemy by surprise. Therefore, the airborne troops must be equipped with strong firepower. I hope your country provides all American equipment. I like American carbines very much. I hope your country can meet our requirements."

General Stilwell said: "There is no problem with the American automatic weapons and equipment of a division. But I also have a requirement. In the future, the United States will also form an airborne force, hoping to receive airborne training at the Helan Mountain Air Force Base. After all, you have accumulated a certain amount of experience and can play a significant role in our rapid formation of an army." Mu Yaping said: "I can promise you, there is no problem." The inadvertent promises of the two indeed prompted the US military to train a large number of US airborne troops at the Helan Mountain Air Force Base in the future.

The two then discussed in-depth military, politics, and strategy and tactics. Stilwell truly experienced Mu Yaping's extensive knowledge and wise mind, and both sides felt a sense of sympathy. At this point, General Stilwell became Mu Yaping's friend. Later, when Stilwell was the chief of staff of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, he often sent telegrams to seek Mu Yaping's advice. General Stilwell also used his power to create his personal glory on the battlefield of Burma.

On May 12, Mu Yaping and Stilwell returned to Lanzhou, and other members of the US military delegation also gathered in Lanzhou. After listening to their report, Stilwell began to write the inspection report. Two days later, they returned to Xi'an. According to Mu Yaping's request, they had to make a short stop in Xi'an and visit the factory facilities of the former Xi'an aircraft manufacturing plant. The Americans were reluctant to produce bombers on site in China.

Just as Mu Yaping analyzed, the Americans were anxious about the great changes in the Pacific battlefield. Although General Stilwell could not see on his face, many things had not been finalized, and he agreed readily, which was enough to prove that the pressure the Americans had to bear was clear. Military cooperation and aid involved war against Japan, and the Americans had no scruples in this regard, but political negotiations were the highlight.

On May 15, a 20-member delegation arrived in Chongqing. Chiang Kai-shek led government officials, including Zhou Enlai, the chief representative of the United States negotiations, and others, to greet them at the airport. Fortunately, the weather in Chongqing was gloomy that day, but it did not rain. The large military transport plane that the U.S. delegation landed smoothly.

The head of the US government delegation is Vice President Henry, including Minister of Industry, Secretary of Commerce, Members of Parliament. Originally, the US Secretary of State also accompanied him, but the result changed in the middle. The US Secretary of State temporarily went to the UK. He wanted to discuss on behalf of President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill about the German large-scale attack on the Soviet Union and other issues.

After the airport welcoming ceremony, all heavyweights drove to Chongqing city. Chiang Kai-shek arranged a grand banquet at the official residence. At the banquet, Chiang Kai-shek delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the Chinese government and warmly welcomed the US government delegation on behalf of the Chinese government. At the same time, he solemnly announced that Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai formed the Chinese negotiation team and was fully responsible for the formal negotiations between China and the United States.

In a reciprocal relationship, Chiang Kai-shek did not participate in the negotiations.
Chapter completed!