Chapter 50: General Chennault

Looking at Zhou Zhihan for a full six seconds, Major General Arthur King nodded.

Everyone has their own aspirations and cannot be forced. From the match just now, he saw the kindness, purity, lack of pretense, and absence of affectation in the heart of this young Chinese man.

In that contest, if it had been ninety-nine percent of the cadets at West Point, they would have deliberately thrown the match to let him win, but that was not what he wanted at all.

From the conversation just now, Superintendent Arthur King once again saw loyalty and bravery, passion and faith in Zhou Zhihan!

Such a young man was truly rare.

The match between Superintendent Arthur King and Zhou Zhihan had concluded, and Major Jeff Hunter instructed the cadets to disperse and continue visiting and observing the physical fitness tests of the graduating class.

Zhou Zhihan no longer needed testing; his physical fitness already met the standards for returning to Randolph Air Force Base.

The cadets scattered, and the instructors went about their respective duties, leaving only the adjutant and Major Jeff Hunter with General Arthur King.

General Arthur King lit the tobacco in his pipe, walked over to a table specially provided for cadets to replenish their fluids, and sat down: "Cadet Zhou, a war between China and Japan is inevitable, yet the air power of your Chinese side is weak and simply cannot engage the Japanese air force head-on.

As far as I know, your total number of aircraft currently does not exceed one hundred and twenty, and most of the models are obsolete and backward. No more than half of them are capable of taking to the air to fight Japanese planes. Among that half, no more than one-third can contend with the Type 96 carrier-borne fighters. How do you intend to fight?"

Major Jeff Hunter handed Superintendent Arthur King a cup of water: "Last night, an old friend of mine just returned from China and gave me a call."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhihan looked at Major Jeff Hunter.

Major Jeff Hunter looked back at Zhou Zhihan, hesitating to speak.

Superintendent Arthur King understood what Major Jeff Hunter meant, took the water cup, and said: "If it is not a military secret, you may speak."

Major Jeff Hunter said: "My friend's name is Claire Lee Chennault. This January, at the invitation of the Chinese Air Force Colonel Mao Bangchu, he assumed the position of flight instructor at the Central Aviation Academy in Hangzhou. During our phone call, he chatted with me briefly about the Nationalist Government's air force establishment plan."

Zhou Zhihan blurted out, "Claire Lee Chennault?"

Could this Claire Lee Chennault be the same Claire Lee that Brother Huang and the others mentioned?

"You know him?" Major Jeff Hunter asked casually.

"Major!" Zhou Zhihan said, "Isn't his full name Claire Lee Chennault?"

Major Jeff Hunter: "No, no, no. His name is Claire Lee Chennault. We are old classmates, graduated from the cadet school, and later he went to the aviation academy to study flight technology. With exquisite skills, he wrote a book upon graduating from the flight school called *Pursuit Aviation*, which caused quite a sensation at the time. He went to China this January and returned home for a family visit last night."

Zhou Zhihan nodded. He remembered that Chennault was called Chennault because he later married a woman in China whose surname was Chen, which was how the name Chennault came about.

The Chinese only knew Chennault and did not know that his original name was actually Claire Lee Chennault. After marrying a Chinese wife and changing his name, Westerners referred to him as Claire Lee Chennault, but the Chinese people preferred to respectfully address him as General Chennault.

At present, Americans did not yet know who Claire Lee Chennault was.

Major Jeff Hunter continued: "My old friend said that currently, the quality of the Nationalist Air Force's aircraft is mostly obsolete, the air force pilots lack systematic training, their flying foundations vary unevenly, and their airport facilities are also very outdated. Should a war break out, they would easily be attacked by the enemy. Generally speaking, once war breaks out between China and Japan, they will not be able to gain any advantage against the Japanese Type 96 carrier-borne fighters."

Zhou Zhihan remained silent. Before transmigrating, he had spent a period specifically studying the history of the War of Resistance, knowing the foundation of the Republic's air force at that time. In the predecessor's memories, before going abroad, their batch of trainees had been pinned with high hopes by the air force, and naturally they also knew all the assets of their own air force.

Major Jeff Hunter spoke quite directly, basing his words on facts: "Japan's advantage lies in their powerful aircraft carriers, which are essentially mobile airfields, whereas you only have some airports with backward facilities and obsolete technology. There is simply no comparison with them."

"Sigh!" After hearing Major Jeff Hunter's words, General Arthur King shook his head at Zhou Zhihan: "You people are simply throwing eggs at a rock!"

Zhou Zhihan remained silent.

Although he had arrived in the United States upon transmigrating, he knew the strength of the Chinese air force during the War of Resistance, and the words spoken by General Arthur King and Major Jeff Hunter came from the bottom of their hearts.

In the twenty-first century, relevant departments had researched that during the War of Resistance, the average life expectancy of Chinese air force pilots was only three months. Especially during the Battle of Shanghai, Chinese air force pilots practically went to their deaths en masse. Knowing they were outmatched, they still went unhesitatingly, writing an immortal legend in the Chinese skies with their glory and passion!

A tragic and heroic emotion surged up. Zhou Zhihan knew that perhaps one day, he too would be one of those pilots going to their deaths en masse.

Seeing the tragic, heroic, and desolate expression on Zhou Zhihan's face, Superintendent Arthur King patted his shoulder again: "Young man, there are many ways to be patriotic. If you stay in the United States, you can still contribute to the Chinese air force just the same! I suggest you join the Marine Corps; there is a world there you have never seen before!"

Major Jeff Hunter had been worried all along that Zhou Zhihan would bring up the matter of yesterday's stimulant. If General Arthur King were to find out about that, he would likely be in big trouble.

As a major officer in charge of daily training at the school, questioning a cadet's use of stimulants without evidence was extremely amateurish behavior. If the cadet appealed, Major Jeff Hunter would be investigated by the military school's judicial department, which would have a significant impact on his future.

Therefore, since Zhou Zhihan did not mention the matter at all, Major Jeff Hunter felt deeply grateful: "Cadet Zhou, West Point is the cradle for cultivating military talent for the United States, while the Marine Corps is composed of the cream of the crop from various U.S. military branches. They are the nation's elite! I hope you will consider it carefully!"

General Arthur King said: "Cadet Zhou, even if you are unwilling to stay in the United States, you can still participate in the Marine Corps selection candidate tests. Their training methods are unlike anything you have ever seen. When you return to China in the future, you can also use the techniques and tactics learned from the Marine Corps to train your soldiers. That is also contributing to your country."

Zhou Zhihan was somewhat tempted.

Major Jeff Hunter hesitated for a moment and said: "General! Without U.S. citizenship, one cannot participate in the Marine Corps selection."

General Arthur King: "That is easily resolved. We can have Cadet Zhou participate in the Marine Corps selection tests throughout as an observer and technical study researcher for our school."

Major Jeff Hunter praised: "General! That is a wonderful solution!"

"Thank you, General! Thank you, Sir!"

Zhou Zhihan knew he could not afford to be unappreciative, and indeed he was tempted. Being able to participate in and understand the U.S. Marine Corps selection tests, and later returning home to impart advanced tactics to domestic instructors, was equivalent to indirectly enhancing the combat effectiveness of domestic soldiers. Why not do it?

Major Jeff Hunter chatted casually: "General, do you have time to attend the Military Officers' Club the night after tomorrow?"

"I have no idea myself!" General Arthur King said with a smile, "That depends on whether my wife and daughter give me the time."

Major Jeff Hunter and the adjutant laughed simultaneously.

Majestic as Major General Arthur King was, serving as the superintendent of the world-renowned West Point, his "status" at home ranked behind his wife and daughter.

General Arthur King looked at Zhou Zhihan: "Oh, right, Cadet Zhou, you may go as well the night after tomorrow. Just have Major Jeff Hunter issue you a special pass!"

"Thank you, General!"

"Tomorrow afternoon, come to my office and I'll get you a special pass." Major Jeff Hunter said with a smile, "You rascal are truly in great luck to have gained the General's favor. The Military Officers' Club can only be attended by active-duty or retired military personnel. As cadets, you are currently not qualified to attend."

Zhou Zhihan saluted militarily: "Thank you, General! Thank you, Major!"

"The night after tomorrow, Claire Lee Chennault will also be there to catch up with a few old friends. I will introduce you to him then. When you return to China in the future, you can go find him directly," Major Jeff Hunter said. "When he returns to China after this home leave, he will likely be a major general chief of staff, holding a Republic military rank!"