Chapter 140: 139, Napalm Acceptance, Fang Wen’s Small Group’s Internal Meeting
60 detonating workers received strict training from Huo Duanyang and his chemistry team.
According to the chemistry team’s requirements, the detonating process must strictly follow every step without any errors.
Regarding this, the experienced fireworks detonating workers had no objections.
They had seen incidents where not following the rules led to explosions causing their own casualties, and to become a skilled detonating worker, one must understand the value of life.
Therefore, they carefully listened to the entire detonating process and seriously watched Huo Duanyang’s demonstration.
Then they began simulated inspections.
The 60 detonating workers perfectly replicated Huo Duanyang’s operation demonstration, which satisfied him greatly.
Next, he conducted small-batch detonating tests.
This batch of produced napalm bombs would undergo several tests.
But they were not conducted immediately; instead, they waited for the general manager to come for inspection and acceptance.
April 29, 1933.
f.220 landed again at Xiangxi Airport.
After the airplane was parked, Fang Wen brought his small group members down from the airplane.
Kuang Mingzhu, Shopkeeper Liu, Pan Jiafeng, Shao Sishen, Howard, and William who could communicate in Chinese conversation.
Plus Sun Debiao, Fang Shouxin, and Fang Shun here.
All members of Fang Wen’s small group were present.
They would jointly witness the napalm bomb test and acceptance phase.
Then hold a group meeting.
Huo Duanyang, as the project director, hosted the test and gave introductions.
“The test is divided into five parts. The first test item is combustion performance test, the second is viscosity and adhesion performance test, the third is human injury test, the fourth is environmental test, and the fifth is safety test.”
Times are different now; Huo Duanyang used strict industrialized inspection processes to verify the product’s various performances to ensure that large quantities of bombs would not have problems during bombing.
Fang Wen came this time also to see the effects; several tons of bombs for bombing was no child’s play.
Immediately, the first test began.
The combustion performance test examined the flame temperature and duration formed after the napalm bomb exploded, to assess its combustion efficiency and killing range.
Without specific detection equipment, this test could only be conducted through temperature detection.
Of course, not using a thermometer to measure temperature, but determining melting points.
After the napalm bomb exploded and burned, the tester in protective clothing threw substances with different melting points into the flames.
Finally, Huo Duanyang announced.
“After testing, the high temperature can melt salt but not iron blocks, indicating a temperature of around 1000 degrees Celsius.”
1000 degrees Celsius was enough to burn most common substances.
This test passed.
Second test.
Viscosity and adhesion performance test.
The tester detonated another napalm bomb.
The exploding fire spots adhered to different materials.
The testers carefully observed and made records, announced by Huo Duanyang.
“The exploding flames have good viscosity and adhesion, able to adhere to objects for a long time and continue burning. Test passed.”
Third test.
Human injury test
Of course, not using a living person for the test.
But using a pig bought from local people.
When the test was about to begin, Fang Wen said to Kuang Mingzhu: “You don’t need to watch, or you’ll have nightmares tonight.”
Kuang Mingzhu nodded and turned away to avoid it.
After she left, the test began.
The pig confined in the stone circle, after the napalm bomb exploded, had a large amount of fire spots adhering to its body and ignited.
A live pig actually burned into pitch-black charcoal.
This power moved everyone.
Thinking of the scene that large-scale bombing would cause, each had different thoughts.
The next two tests were quite normal.
Fourth item.
Environmental test
The tester conducted tests in different environments such as buildings, simulated forest, water sources, etc., observing their combustion effects and killing range.
The results proved super high destructive power against buildings and forest.
This also secretly shocked Fang Wen.
Napalm bombs must not be dropped in forest areas; once ignited, they could not be stopped.
Fifth item.
Safety test.
This was also the final key link.
The tester conducted safety tests during storage, transport, and use.
Including 3-meter drop test, 20 kilogram force impact test.
These were to prove whether accidental drops or impacts during transport and use would detonate the napalm bomb.
The results proved that such impacts would not detonate it.
The detonating agent in the napalm bomb would only explode under potential impact from over 500 meters altitude or special detonation impact.
With this test, the danger during future bombing processes was greatly reduced.
After passing the five tests, everyone had a deeper understanding of the napalm bomb.
Subsequently, in the newly built hangar at the airport.
Everyone sat in a circle, ate first, then talked business.
In the middle was a special local Xiangxi eating method: fire pit, ignited firewood placed in the pit, then an iron rack set up, with various pre-fried dishes stewed in a large iron pot.
Sun Debiao liked this way the most and actively introduced: “In our Northeast, this is called random stew; I didn’t expect they like it here too.”
This eating method was casual; everyone gathered around the fire pit and picked what they wanted with chopsticks.
The fire below was a bit strong; Kuang Mingzhu put down her bowl and chopsticks, stirred with the spatula in the iron pot to prevent the bottom dishes from burning.
Fang Wen looked at Howard and William and asked: “Are you used to eating this?”
Howard, who was eating with his head down, responded with a hum.
William replied: “A bit like a barbecue; I actually like dishes made with firewood, especially that black meat.”
“You mean cured meat. Smoked with charcoal fire, the taste is indeed good.” Fang Wen nodded.
He ate two bowls and then stopped, waiting for the others.
After a while, everyone finished. The large iron pot was removed and replaced with a water bottle.
Under high temperature, the water bottle steamed, and soon boiled.
Fang Wen took the tea caddy from Kuang Mingzhu, grabbed a handful for himself, and poured hot water to brew.
“Whoever wants tea, get it yourself; hot water is freshly boiled, be careful not to burn yourself.”
Immediately, the tea caddy was passed around, and everyone brewed a bowl of Longjing.
Only then did Fang Wen start the group meeting.
“Everyone saw the napalm bomb test completed today, which means it will officially go into production and use. I plan to use it to bomb the Japanese Army outside the Great Wall. Does anyone have any different opinions?”
Shao Sishen spoke: “This kind of bombing, if it hits, will definitely be very effective and can change local warfare. But it will also make the Japanese search for the bombing source. If that happens, how should we respond?”
Fang Wen did not answer but looked at the others.
Pan Jiafeng replied: “I suggest setting the f.220 base at Xiangxi Airport; it’s less than 2000 kilometers from the Great Wall and can cover that theater of operations. Even if the Japanese find out, it’s beyond their reach.”
Shopkeeper Liu shook his head: “Everyone’s main concern is not the Japanese, but the National Government.”
This sentence tore away the last cover.
Fang Shouxin directly stated: “If the bombing ends and we are discovered, the National Government will definitely requisition the airplane.”
Huo Duanyang argued: “They can’t fly the airplane; this airplane is a target in the daytime, Japanese airplanes can intercept midway; only the general manager has the ability for nighttime bombing.”
Sun Debiao sneered: “Then they will forcibly conscript the general manager along with it.”
Seeing everyone about to erupt into argument.
Fang Wen hurriedly spoke to stop it.
“Let me share my personal thoughts. Based on my understanding of the National Government, even if the airplane is requisitioned, it’s very likely it won’t be used against the Japanese, which is what I least want to see. Therefore, my idea is to still conduct the bombing, but also do a good job on confidentiality.”
“How to keep it confidential? Such a big airplane.” Shunzi said helplessly.
Fang Wen smiled and responded.
“You are all too involved to see clearly. In your view, f.220 is huge and easy to discover, worrying about leaks. But from another angle, it will only fly at night from now on; who can know where it flies and what it does? It can be said that from now on, f.220 will be a nighttime invisible bomber; the Japanese won’t even discover its tracks at all. The confidentiality I mean is to make the source of the aerial bombs untraceable by the Japanese.”
Immediately, everyone relaxed; yes, an unseen f.220 would be hard to suspect from outside, but the bombs were easy to trace.
Mainly, the raw materials procurement volume was huge, many sourced from Shanghai, too easy to discover.
For this, Shopkeeper Liu and Fang Shouxin suggested abandoning single sourcing from Shanghai and turning to more supply sources.
Fang Wen nodded.
“I agree with diversifying sourcing; this involves two other discussion topics today. The first is responding to the Japanese airplane acquisition plan, the second is launching Taishan Airline Company’s international flights.”
He stood up: “First, the first one. Some time ago, the Japanese opened a counter at the Shanghai Securities Exchange specifically for trading aircraft property certificates. At first I thought they wanted to cause trouble with fakes, but later found it’s not that simple. They really want to acquire all aircraft property certificates to restrict our Taishan Airline Company.”
Sun Debiao immediately became nervous: “If they get all aircraft property certificates, can’t they demand stopping the lease of airplanes to us? Without airplanes, how can Taishan Airline Company continue operating?”
What Sun Debiao could figure out, others naturally could too.
Fang Shun came up with an idea: “How about we don’t recognize those property certificates, say they are all fake.”
After he spoke, Fang Shouxin glared at him fiercely and said exasperatedly: “That won’t work; they bought them with real gold and silver from the original owners; every seller of property certificates is their witness. Doing that would ruin Taishan Airline Company’s credit.”
Fang Shouxin’s explanation turned this into a deadlock.
Everyone began discussing, with the focus mainly on how to stop the Japanese actions.
Seeing no one had the same idea as him, Fang Wen spoke: “I think we can let them buy the aircraft property certificates; anyway, the airplanes have been flown for over a year, it’s time to replace with new ones; we can afford to buy.”
“Buy new airplanes! Where? How to transport them? How much?” Shopkeeper Liu asked three key questions in a row.
“France’s Dewoitine Company’s d.332 passenger aircraft can carry 22 passengers, range 2000 kilometers. Perfectly suitable for us to develop international flight routes, and also for domestic flight routes, achieving multiple stops per day.”
Everyone present was from Taishan Airline Company, particularly sensitive to airplanes, especially passenger aircraft. Fang Wen’s words immediately hit their excitement.
Pan Jiafeng praised: “Much better performance than Boeing 247.”
Shopkeeper Liu’s focus was different: “22 passengers, Boeing 247 only 10; even if twice as expensive, it’s worth it.”
Indeed, from a business perspective, higher passenger capacity means higher profit margin; longer range means higher ticket price; d.332 passenger aircraft’s two advantages perfectly matched airline company needs.
This made it a perfect replacement for Boeing 247.
Everyone looked more eagerly at Fang Wen, wanting answers to the other two questions.
Fang Wen replied: “I asked through someone about the d.332 price; their response was that it’s not yet officially in production; the first finished product will do a long-distance test flight; if I agree to fly Asia-Europe once more for propaganda, they are willing to sell to us for 2.2 million francs, about 100,000 US dollars per unit. If negotiated, I will directly discuss international flights with airports along the way and fly it back to China.”
100,000 US dollars per unit was really not expensive; back when buying Boeing 80, it cost 110,000 US dollars, now this new airplane was 10,000 cheaper.
Discussing the comparison, everyone basically accepted abandoning Boeing 247 and buying d.332.
After all, this also met Taishan Airline Company’s development needs; truly having their own flight assets would give more confidence.
The next discussion was how to set up the trap to lure the Japanese to smoothly complete the aircraft property certificate acquisition, then come to Taishan Airline Company to force the issue.
Sun Debiao thought hard and came up with: “Our Taishan Airline Company is so good; those short of money will sell property certificates, those not short even if offered 20-30% higher may not sell; after all, it’s a matter of face.”
His idea was correct; not all aircraft property certificate holders would sell.
If the Japanese couldn’t buy a large number of aircraft property certificates, they couldn’t implement their plan; without the plan, Taishan Airline Company couldn’t do aviation asset replacement.
This way, it turned into Taishan Airline Company wanting the Japanese to complete the plan.
Not only make the Japanese plan succeed, but also let those tung oil merchants supporting Taishan Airline Company development earn another fortune.
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh knowingly.
Fang Wen held back his laugh and spoke: “If it’s because Taishan Airline Company is too good, then we’ll make it worse a bit, let everyone think we’re in trouble.”
Shao Sishen agreed: “Right, this is showing weakness to the enemy, perfectly paralyzing the Japanese.”
With this line of thinking, everyone came up with many new ideas.
They say doing good is hard, but doing bad is too easy.
Falsify some accounts financially and leak them externally.
Cause disputes and accidents during flights.
Plus leaks from Taishan Airline Company internal employees.
All could create negative impacts unfavorable to Taishan Airline Company.
These negative impacts would damage Taishan Airline Company image, but since they were fabricated, after the Japanese helped Taishan Airline Company complete the asset replacement, they could announce clarifications anytime to restore reputation.
Discussion reached here; Fang Wen raised his hand to stop the talk: “Alright, discussion on this stops here for today; we’ll talk details later. Now the last item: how our Taishan Volunteer Army should support the Great Wall Campaign army, bombing the Japanese Army outside the Great Wall.”
