This was an old plane that Song Meiling was riding in, and the comfort level was certainly not comparable to Chiang Kai-shek's private plane.

Even more unexpectedly, the old plane's performance matched its appearance.

When the plane was near Tianmu Mountain, the pilot calmly reported: the plane was leaking oil and needed immediate repair.

Repairing this plane certainly wouldn't be like a car, where you could just brake and stop for inspection at any time.

Song Meiling, who had been told to fasten her seat belt, turned pale with fright and quickly did as the pilot said.

Song Ziwen was by her side, smiling and saying, "Don't be afraid! Nothing will happen.

In this day and age, if you don't experience a few forced landings when flying, how can you have the nerve to say hello to your friends?"

The nervous Song Meiling really couldn't appreciate such a joke. She just gripped the armrests of the seat tightly, feeling the plane flying lower and lower.

Her heart became more and more nervous.

The plane flying low meant it was about to make a forced landing.

The most dangerous time was during these few minutes of forced landing!

The setting sun outside the porthole shone on the high peaks, and shadows flashed past outside the window.

The whole plane seemed to enter a bottomless abyss and turned dark.

Then the plane began to shake, and Song Meiling felt as if something was pulling her, trying to drag her out.

She bit her lip tightly, not making a sound: I am the First Lady, I can die, but I cannot lose face.

The pilot carefully made a forced landing in front of a dilapidated temple, a safe landing.

Then the crew on the plane began to get busy.

At this time, Song Meiling was already cursing Zhou Zhirou, the Air Force Commander who had assigned her this plane.

At this time, the sun had already set, and this long-abandoned dilapidated temple was not near any village or shop.

Surrounded by wilderness, they could only wait in place for the plane to be repaired before taking off again.

Song Meiling, who had been pampered since childhood, really regretted it: she should not have taken this broken plane.

She vowed she would never ride in such a broken plane again.

After playing in Guangzhou for a few days, she returned to Nanjing.

Still remembering this incident, she specifically found Air Force Commander Zhou Zhirou and threw a tantrum in his office.

She blamed him for giving her such a broken plane to ride in, almost costing her life.

Zhou Zhirou had never seen the beautiful and elegant First Lady throw such a big tantrum before. He dared not say anything, dared not do anything, and didn't know how to appease her.

He could only stand there dumbly, motionless, letting her scold him to vent her anger.

After venting her anger, the First Lady saw that the Air Force Commander was still dazed, and then asked, "Do you have anything to say?"

Zhou Zhirou immediately turned on the mode of complaining: "I also want to equip the Madam with a high-end advanced aircraft!

But our country has no aircraft manufacturing plant, and the Air Force has no huge funds.

I, the Air Force Commander, am just a figurehead, only able to muddle through.

The money needed to add advanced aircraft is not a small amount. The current Air Force funding is already robbing Peter to pay Paul just to maintain the existing aircraft.

Not to mention adding new aircraft.

Now the country has less than three hundred airplanes, and only twenty or so are new.

The rest are old planes, and just keeping them flying costs a lot of money every year.

Not to mention adding new aircraft."

Seeing Zhou Zhirou's trembling appearance, Song Meiling thought about the current national situation and realized that it was indeed very difficult.

She couldn't bring herself to say any more scolding words.

But Zhou Zhirou at this time, suddenly had an idea, wanting to latch onto the First Lady.

He sighed and said, "Madam, the Air Force is so backward that it is not suitable for today's world development situation.

If a big battle happens with the devils one day, and the Air Force drags down the entire National Army,

when I am pushed to the execution ground by the Principal and my head falls to the ground, Madam must speak up for me and beg the Principal for mercy!"

Song Meiling thought for a while: "Commander Zhou, in this situation, what is your solution?"

"Of course there is a solution. My solution is to invite the Madam to take the position of Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee.

Under your personal leadership and command, the Air Force will definitely have great development."

Zhou Zhirou's sudden suggestion was completely unexpected to Song Meiling.

But she immediately understood: as long as she became the Secretary-General, equipping herself with an advanced, high-end plane would be justifiable.

Thinking of this, she said with a smile, "Commander Zhou, I only know how to ride in airplanes, I don't understand airplanes, and I don't know how to fight wars. How can I lead? How can I command?

Wouldn't that just be holding a nominal title? There are so many talented people in the country, please find someone else!"

Zhou Zhirou clearly saw that the Madam had already been moved, but what she said also made sense.

He needed a real reason to convince her! His mind raced, and Zhou Zhirou suddenly thought of something, secretly giving himself a thumbs up.

So he said very seriously, "Madam! I have actually been considering the candidate for Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee for a long time.

There is no one in the entire country more suitable than you."

"Oh! What's the reason? Tell me!" Good words always sound good, and Song Meiling also wanted to hear why it had to be her.

"Madam knows! If we want to develop the Air Force, whether it is building an aircraft manufacturing plant or buying airplanes,

we must deal with foreigners, especially Americans.

Madam is a famous diplomat abroad, with international friends all over the world.

With Madam taking the lead, whether it is importing airplanes or building factories, Madam is the only choice!

Externally: Madam has many friends and can save the country a lot of money.

Internally: Madam has high prestige and can command the wind and summon the rain, and can strive for more funding for the development of the Air Force.

I believe that with your leadership, the Air Force will definitely have great development."

Song Meiling was happy in her heart, and a smile appeared on her face, no longer as angry as when she entered the office.

"In that case, I really should take on this position as Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee," she said happily.

Coming out of the Air Force Headquarters, Song Meiling immediately went to find Chiang Kai-shek: "Darling! Today I went to the Air Force Headquarters, and Commander Zhou Zhirou suggested that I could serve as the Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee.

To contribute to the development of the National Army's Air Force.

What do you think?"

Chiang Kai-shek was also very worried about Song Meiling's accident a few days ago, and knew what she was thinking.

He thought for a moment: "The Air Force is a special kind of armed force, often operating alone. Once they fly into the sky, no one can supervise them.

If Madam can take charge of the Air Force, with Madam's skills, she should be able to firmly grasp the Air Force in her hands."

The Madam's affairs were naturally Chiang Kai-shek's affairs.

In this way, Song Meiling became the Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee.

With the Madam personally serving as the Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee, the government naturally dared not disrespect her.

Huge amounts of funding were immediately allocated.

Zhou Zhirou discussed with Song Meiling: "The development speed of airplanes in today's world is too fast.

Several new airplanes are released every month.

Now the price of an airplane is three hundred thousand US dollars, and the money we have can't buy many airplanes."

Song Meiling thought for a while: "Buying is not as good as building. Let's save this money, and after a few years, we will have enough money to build an airplane factory and start building the factory directly.

Now I will deposit the money in Hong Kong and use the interest to repair airplanes."

"Madam is wise! Madam has courage!" Zhou Zhirou never lacked the level and ability to flatter.

When the Sino-Japanese War began, Chiang Kai-shek summoned his Air Force Commander: "How many airplanes do we have now?"

"Three hundred!"

"How can there be so few? What about the new airplanes bought last year and this year?" Chiang Kai-shek's eyes widened.

The government had allocated huge amounts of money in the past two years.

Zhou Zhirou explained the Madam's plan, and Chiang Kai-shek waved his hand, telling him to leave.

The war had already begun, and it was too late to buy airplanes now.

Fortunately, the money was still there!

Whether it was there or not, it did not affect Zhou Zhirou, the Air Force Commander. This was the correctness of the route.

As long as you follow the right person, whether you can do things or what you do doesn't matter.

Song Meiling, having her thoughts opened up by the dream suddenly mentioned by Chiang Kai-shek, immediately wanted to hold a press conference in Wuhan.

Chiang Kai-shek hesitated instead: "Can this work? Now Britain has colonies all over the world, and it is wholeheartedly trying to squeeze into the "Axis Powers" established by Germany, France, and Japan.

And it also wants to be the leader in their center.

Will they listen to us?

The Americans are now taking a moderate approach, selling all kinds of military supplies to the Japanese on the one hand, and talking about civilization and peace on the other.

How can they stand in the same trench with us?

This is really dreaming!"

Song Meiling smiled: "It's always good to have dreams, what if they come true?

It's not about whether you can do it, but whether you can think of it. Now that we have thought of it, we must do it seriously and use our patience and sincerity to move them."

Chiang Kai-shek still wanted to think about it.

Song Meiling got angry: "Our current situation is like begging for money, going to their door to ask for some. They should give us at least a little bit, otherwise we won't leave."

This press conference was held in Wuhan.

But such a conference did not have any effect. Chiang Kai-shek displayed shell fragments with the USA mark found on the Jiangyin battlefield at the meeting.

He sternly questioned the Americans that in the devil's launched war of aggression, not only did they not make any effort to stop it, but they were also fueling the flames: selling the Japanese a large number of munitions and weapons.

At the same time, he also revealed at the meeting the news that the Soviet Union had sent airplanes and pilots to help Nanjing bomb the devil's warships.

At this time, a foreign reporter stood up and asked: "Mr. Chiang, why didn't you resist Japan like this during the "September 18th Incident" in 1931?

At that time, there were not many devil soldiers in your country, and you could have easily driven them away.

I heard that at that time, a policy of "pacifying the interior before resisting foreign aggression" was also formulated.

Completely ignoring domestic public opinion demanding a united resistance against Japan."

Chiang Kai-shek suddenly didn't know what to say.

At this time, an American reporter stood up and said: "Mr. Chiang, it is said that the German ambassador, Mr. Trautmann, is still mediating the war. May I ask, is there such a thing? Is the war likely to stop?"

Chiang Kai-shek said: "Your information is very accurate. To be honest, this matter is being negotiated, and the specific details cannot be disclosed."

In fact, German Ambassador Trautmann's mediation had been going on.

Tang Shengzhi's ability to stand up and serve as the Commander of the Nanjing Garrison District also had this factor in the middle.

In his view: the peace talks would reach an agreement before the devils rushed to Nanjing.

He was only playing a defensive role in Nanjing.

Chiang Kai-shek also had great confidence in the peace talks at the time.

What he never expected was that the devils were dazed by a series of victories, and the bargaining chips they demanded were getting higher and higher.

It had reached a point that he could not agree to no matter what.

On the evening of the tenth, the Nanjing Garrison District in Nanjing City held a summary meeting.

The commanders of the Central China Area Army attacking Nanjing City also held a summary meeting in the headquarters in Tangshan.

As soon as the meeting started, Gu Shifu began to demand that his direction of attack must have heavy artillery support.

And he believed that: if there was heavy artillery, Nanjing would have been occupied today.

His words resonated with all the division commanders attending the meeting. Every division commander believed that if there was heavy artillery to destroy the city walls today, they should now be in Nanjing City.

The new Commander of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army, Asaka no Miya Yasuhiko, stood up.

His thin body moved around the meeting, and his shadow swept across the body of every participant under the lights.

He said coldly: "Are the soldiers of the Empire unable to fight without heavy artillery now?

When have the soldiers of the Empire completely relied on cannons to fight?

If we were like this today when we fought against the Russians,

could we have reclaimed the entire Manchuria?"

After Asaka no Miya Yasuhiko spoke, the division commanders who were still full of anger suddenly fell silent.

Of course, they could not refute Commander Asaka no Miya Yasuhiko's words.

Asaka no Miya Yasuhiko walked to the map, pointed at Nanjing City and said: "We have reached the edge of the city wall.

Entering the city is in these two days, and the soldiers are already very tired.

The hard work of these soldiers over the past few months should be compensated.

Convey to all the officers and soldiers:

After entering Nanjing City, all the gains can be mailed back to their hometowns.

Consider it as the Empire's reward for their loyalty."

The amount of information in his words was too great, and these division commanders were at a loss for a while.

The current Matsui Iwane is the Commander of the East China Area Army, managing the Tenth Army and the Shanghai Expeditionary Army.

His position is still above Commander Asaka no Miya Yasuhiko.

But he never had such thoughts, and he did not dare to have such thoughts.

He explained: "After the Empire captures Nanjing, it will set up a collection point at the Xiaguan Ferry.

All the soldiers' spoils of war on the battlefield can be sent back from here."

"But..." Nakajima Kesago wanted to ask about the fact that the soldiers' spoils of war would not be too many.

Division Commander Gu Shifu had already brought it up: "Commander! Is half a month okay?"

No one present would think that he was asking about capturing Nanjing City half a month ago.

Asaka no Miya Yasuhiko clearly said: "Half a month is too long, and we must also consider the international impact.

After entering the city, seven days is enough!"

Now no one cared about the problem of heavy artillery anymore.

They all knew the meaning of these eight words: after occupying Nanjing City, there would be no military discipline for seven days.

This was letting all the soldiers move, rob, and steal during these seven days.

Nanjing is a metropolis with a population of more than 1.5 million, and a famous historical city.

It is also the economic center of the Nanjing government, seven days!

All the division commanders looked at each other: enough!

Although they did not get the heavy artillery, having such a military order was better than any weapon.

They believed that the soldiers in their hands tomorrow would be even more valiant than today, and the battle would be even braver.

At the end of the meeting, Asaka no Miya Yasuhiko then said: "A heavy artillery regiment of the Sixth Field Heavy Artillery Brigade will arrive at the front line by train tonight.

Currently, it can only support the attack in one direction."

December 11, 1937: Last night, the sound of guns rang all night outside the city.

Everywhere was filled with flares, fire, and gunfire.

Letting the people still in the city not sleep well at night.

This family living in Beisan Alley in Shuiximen, the male head of the household is tall and mighty, working in a factory.

The female head of the household is petite and gentle, also working in a yarn factory.

These two days, the devils had already reached the edge of the city, and the factory had stopped work.

The female head of the household, Zhang Xiaoyun, said to her husband, Zheng Mingfang: "The guns were firing so loudly last night. These Japanese are coming, I hope nothing happens."

Zheng Mingfang laughed: "The Japanese are civilized people, and the matter of fighting is a matter for their officials.

What does it have to do with us ordinary people?

We just need to live our own lives."

The fifteen-year-old daughter, Zheng Yuanyuan, is the apple of the couple's eye. She said in a low voice: "The school says that the devils are very fierce, coming from Shanghai, burning, killing, looting, and doing all kinds of evil along the way.

Many villages have been massacred by them."

Zheng Mingfang comforted his daughter: "Don't believe those rumors. I also heard from my coworkers that the devils will release prisoners they capture.

There are just too many rumors these days. No matter who comes, we ordinary people, those who work will work, and those who do business will do business.

Isn't it the same to work in anyone's hands?"

Zheng Yuanyuan wanted to continue speaking, but Zhang Xiaoyun said: "Yuanyuan, eat well.

In this time of war, don't go out today."

"Okay!" Zheng Yuanyuan stopped talking.

Zheng Mingfang stood up: "Let's go out and take a look!"

Zhang Xiaoyun looked at her husband's tall figure and said in a low voice: "You have to be careful, don't get caught and become a soldier."

Zheng Mingfang laughed: "I hope they can catch me."

His height exceeds 1.8 meters, and he is tall and strong. Ordinary two or three people cannot get close to him.

Walking on the street, everyone will make way for him.

In fact, Zheng Mingfang just went to the teahouse outside to listen to a storytelling.

And listen to the people in the teahouse bragging, and then come back.

Today he arrived at the teahouse, and soon many people like him who had nothing to do gathered around.

Someone said: "Did you hear the thunderous sound in the city yesterday?"

"Heard it! Heard it!"

"Those were from an artillery battalion next to my house firing their guns.

Now it's over, the devils will definitely fire their cannons over. All of us were scared."

"What are you afraid of?" Zheng Mingfang asked.

"Think about it! They hit the devils too hard. After the devils enter the city, knowing that the shells were fired from next to us,

won't they come looking for us?

We are also afraid that the devil's planes will come again today and bomb us."

"What should we do?"

"Hehe!" The man who was just anxious smiled sinisterly a few times.

He stopped talking.

"He wants to be a traitor!" Someone else whispered from the side.

When he spoke, the sound in the teahouse suddenly quieted down for some reason.

Many people heard this.

The man who had just spoken loudly said: "What's wrong with being a traitor? Is there anything wrong with learning advanced civilization?

So many people in the government have personally gone to the devil's country to study.

They are also friends with the devils.

What's wrong with us doing something for the devils?

Isn't it just for survival?

In this day and age, is it wrong to want to survive?"

He shouted a few times, and someone immediately echoed: It's hard to survive, it's hard!