Bright Sword: Leading the Special Operations Squadron to Fight the Japs

Chapter 251 Recruiting the Flying Tigers

Wang Meng was completely irritated by you. If his aircraft research institute hadn't just started up, he wouldn't have tolerated your irritation.

"Okay, you're so cruel! Let's meet next month, but I have a condition. You have to send me more technicians, otherwise there will be no one to repair the plane! It's best if they are overseas Chinese!"

William counted on his fingers, then looked up at the sky again, and finally figured it out.

"Ok! My friend, wait for my news. Happy cooperation!"

Wang Meng had full confidence in taking down the Flying Tigers.

Even if all 750 pilots were paid the squadron leader's salary of $50 and given a $120 remote area subsidy, the total would be less than $ million that year.

As for the 230 ground staff, it is even cheaper, $250 a month, plus a $50 subsidy, which works out to $80 a year.

A total of 200 million US dollars is just more than bottles of penicillin for Li Yunlong.

However, these 120 pilots can equip four flying squadrons if they fly fighter planes, and two flying squadrons if they fly transport planes or bombers.

Blood earned!

"Mr. William, I will withdraw now! I look forward to working with you next time!"

Without further ado, Wang Meng immediately invited Chennault to board the transport plane, and then twenty fighter planes quickly took off and flew north.

When he arrived in Pingshun, General Chennault was warmly welcomed.

Government officials represented by Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, Lin Shubing and Jia Guier were all present and expressed their sincere gratitude to this enthusiastic old man from Country M.

"General Chennault, I have heard about the Flying Tigers. I am sorry. Your team, which is capable of winning battles, should not be disbanded, and you should enjoy higher treatment!"

Li Yunlong looked into Chennault's blue eyes and took out a letter sincerely.

"This is the thanks from the Flying Tigers of Pingshun's business and scientific communities. Although it is insignificant, please accept it!"

Chennault opened the envelope and read the contents, but when he saw the densely packed names, his eyes became sore.

Although he did not attach great importance to fame and money, he was very pleased with the recognition from the Chinese people.

"Commander Li, apart from Country M, I have never cared so much about a country and a nation. I love you and I love this land!"

Wang Meng made all the arrangements and walked over.

"General Chennault, maybe you should take a look at our strength!"

All the planes at Qingyang Airport were transferred to Pingshun Airport, and for a while the entire airport was actually a bit crowded.

Chennault watched the fighters, transport planes, bombers and trainer planes strolling on the taxiway like elephants.

"My god! Where did you get so many planes? My dear Li and Wang, can you perform magic?"

Li Yunlong is now a wealthy man and no longer cares about this kind of praise.

"General Chennault, on behalf of the people of southern Shanxi and the Independent Column, I invite you to join the Independent Column."

Chennault thought for a while and hesitated.

At this time, Wang Meng handed a salary slip to Chennault.

"General Chennault, this is the salary list that our independent column will give to your Flying Tigers. The benefits are exactly the same as before, and each person will receive an additional subsidy of $50 per month."

"Of course, for those pilots who don't want to risk their lives in the sky, they can come to our National Defense University Aviation College to teach our Chinese pilots for $300 per month, and we will reward them $100 for every qualified pilot they train!"

Chennault did not expect the Independent Column to be so generous. The salary and benefits increased instead of decreased, and there were more choices.

"Let's take a step back and say that if you unfortunately die in battle, we will provide a pension of $10,000! Of course, none of us want to have such an expense!"

"Oh my god, you guys are so thoughtful! I can assure you, Wang, I can keep all the Flying Tigers! If you want!"

Wang Meng was overjoyed. Although he had always been confident, he was still a little excited when he heard Chennault's guarantee.

"Of course, the more the better. I think our C-54 transport planes and B-17 bombers will arrive in Kunming soon. After you finish flying the trainer plane, you can choose to fly a fighter, transport plane or bomber!"

Chennault was full of confidence. After staying in Pingshun for a day, he immediately brought the good news back to Kunming.

As expected, all the Flying Tigers cheered and threw Chennault high into the sky.

"General, you are truly our lucky star!"

"Yeah, I was ready to pack up and go back to Country M, but you brought us such good news!"

“You’re really going to surprise us!”

He and Chennault's accompanying guard platoon immediately reported to Li Yunlong and Wang Meng via the radio, and requested that ten transport planes be arranged to go to Kunming the next day to bring the Flying Tigers back to Pingshun.

The next day, ten C-54 Skymaster transport planes and ten F6F Hellcat fighter jets landed at Kunming Airport again.

Lu Tianlong walked down from a Hellcat fighter and walked quickly to Chennault.

"General Chennault, I am here on the orders of Commander Li and Chief of Staff Wang to take you home! We will fight side by side in the future, so please take good care of me."

"Master Lu, we are new here, please take care of us!"

From then on, the pilots from China and the volunteers from Country M have completely come together to fight the Japanese in the skies of China.

Twenty planes took off one after another with a roar.

At this time, Dussel, the commander of the 23rd Flying Squadron of the United States, was still far away in Burma.

When he learned that Chennault and all the Flying Tigers had been transferred to Pingshun, his face turned green.

"Immediately lodge a solemn protest with the Chongqing government and order Chennault to return to Kunming with the Flying Tigers! Otherwise, they will be treated as deserters!"

In Chongqing, the transport captain had a worried look on his face.

It was thought that even if the disbanded Flying Tigers could not remain in the 23rd Flying Group, the additional pilots and aircraft from Country M would continue to protect the southwest.

But unexpectedly, Chennault and the Flying Tigers collectively "rebelled" and angered the country's financial backers?

Moreover, the target of Chennault's rebellion was the Independent Column, which he regarded as a major threat.

"Damn it, Li Yun is going too far! Immediately tell Dussel of Country M the truth that the Independent Column does not belong to the regular troops of the Chongqing government. The life and death and future of this unit have nothing to do with us!"

The transport captain's idea now is to let Country M put pressure on the Independent Column, so that Li Yunlong will not only call out Chennault and the Flying Tigers, but also impose sanctions to completely suppress the Independent Column.

After getting the nod from the transport captain, Dussel prepared to take revenge on the Flying Tigers and this little-known team.