In this Part 1 episode Laszlo provides all the setup and background for the magnificent story of the American Volunteer Group, known more popularly as The Flying Tigers.  Their’s was only an eight month long story but their success at a time when all seemed hopeless provided an inspiration to many and showed Japan was not invincible.    Terms from this episode:   Zhong-Mei guanxi  中美关系  Sino-US relations Zhōng-Mei hezuo  中美合作   Sino-US cooperation Maguan Tiaoyue     马关条约   The Treaty of Shimonoseki 1895 Jiuyiba   九一八   The Mukden Incident of 9-18-1931 Qiqi Shibian  七七事变  the Marco Polo Bridge Incident 7-7-1937 Chongqing   重庆  The wartime capital of Chongqing (also known as Chungking) Kunming   昆明  Capital of Yunnan province.  Terminus of the Burma Road T.V. Soong   宋子文  The often US-based brother of the Song sisters Ailing  宋蔼龄  Oldest sister, Song Ailing, wife of Winston H.H. Kung Qingling  宋庆龄   Middle sister, Song Qingling, Madame Sun Yat-sen Meiling   宋美龄   Youngest sister, Song Meiling, Madame Chiang Kai-shek Baituan Dazhan   百团大战 the Hundred Regiments Offensive late 1940 Peng Dehuai   彭德怀  Legendary PLA general who led the Hundred Regiments Offensive Sanguang Zhengce   三光政策  Japan’s horrific Three All’s Policy Diamian Gonglu  滇缅公路  The Burma Road