Chapter 74: 73, Traversing The Shiwan Mountains, Guangzhou Dasha Suthep Airport
Early in the morning, a car drove to the outside of the airport and waited.
Fang Wen came over, bringing Mr. Kuang into the airport.
The two stood in front of the airplane, not yet boarding, when Fang Wen said:
“Mr. Kuang, I must remind you that Qingyun Hao is not as comfortable as a passenger aircraft, and it’s inconvenient to talk during flight, so say whatever you have to say now. By the way, I suggest you handle your personal needs at the airport; there’s no way to stop midway during the over three-hour flight.”
Mr. Kuang nodded and trotted all the way to the toilet to empty himself.
Upon returning, he took the initiative to say, “Mr. Fang, to tell you the truth, for the two flights, the most important thing is the people; as long as the people are brought back, not a single cent of the money will be short.”
Fang Wen led him to the aircraft belly and pointed at the auxiliary fuel tank hanging below:
“Your cargo will all be placed below. If we encounter danger, to increase flight speed and quickly escape, I will choose to discard the auxiliary fuel tank to reduce payload weight. Do you agree?”
“No problem. In that situation, as long as the people return, it’s fine.”
“That’s good then. Let’s board the airplane.”
The two then boarded the airplane, took off, and flew toward Guangzhou, remaining silent the whole way.
Over three hours later, the airplane landed at Dashatou Airport.
Two gentlemen inside the airport had been waiting for them for a long time.
The two got off the airplane and were taken to the nearby hangar to discuss.
One of the men took out a map.
“From Dashatou Airport to Suthep Airport is over 1700 kilometers in total. Can your airplane fly that far?”
Fang Wen calculated and shook his head. “Even with the auxiliary fuel tank, empty load limit can’t make it; the engine load is too high. A transfer airport is necessary.”
The man nodded. “We considered that too, so we contacted the French and borrowed their airport.”
These Chinese merchants operating abroad had incredibly wide connections; they actually contacted the French army in Vietnam and borrowed their airport.
With this transfer, fuel would no longer be a concern at all.
Fang Wen then took the map and examined it carefully.
This was his first time flying such a long distance, so he felt a bit nervous inside.
The other side’s words were not finished.
“We’re worried about flight path errors, so we’re sending a navigator with you. He is fluent in French and can communicate with the staff at the French military airport during the midway stop.”
Fang Wen nodded and looked at the other man; it was he who would accompany him halfway to the French military airport.
He took the initiative to extend his hand: “Hello.”
The other was very shy, shook hands, and replied: “My name is Kuang Anming, Mr. Fang. I’ve seen you in the newspaper; your flying technique is the best in the country. You will surely bring back my sister and grandfather.”
“I’ll do my best.” Fang Wen then pointed at the flight path marked on the map and said: “I just calculated; the entire range is about 8 to 9 hours, so same-day return to base is impossible. My idea is to stop overnight at the transfer airport, depart early the next morning for Suthep Airport, then return to the transfer airport to refuel and continue flying back to Guangzhou. This avoids the risk of long-distance night flying and is safer.”
Safety first, after all; without satellite positioning and electronic equipment, even Fang Wen didn’t dare do long-distance night flying.
Hearing this suggestion, the others nodded in agreement.
With the flight plan confirmed, they needed to notify the two foreign airports in time to prepare in advance.
So, they still had to send a telegram.
But since it was received by a military radio station, the reply came quickly.
Only then could Fang Wen fly.
The airplane took off again from Guangzhou, passing Zhaoqing, Yangjiang, Maoming, Zhanjiang, Beihai, flying along the southwest coastline.
Along the way, every time they passed a city, Kuang Anming would confirm with the map and excitedly report loudly.
But later, entering the airspace over Guangxi’s Shiwan Mountains, Kuang Anming was lost.
The complex terrain and landforms were not suitable for direction recognition.
He worried that without navigation, the airplane would get lost over the Shiwan Mountains.
If so, the airplane, unable to find a landing site, would eventually crash in this mountainous area due to fuel exhaustion.
Kuang Anming’s panic did not affect Fang Wen.
Fang Wen, in mechanical perception state, had a broader field of view.
Flying along the coastline and into the mountains, the entire route in his mind overlapped with the map.
At this angle, they were expected to arrive at the French military airport in two hours.
Thus, the two on the airplane were in completely opposite extreme emotional states: one absolutely calm, the other panicked and uneasy.
Just like that, the two-hour flight passed; it was already 2 p.m. when Fang Wen suddenly said loudly.
“Kuang Anming, look below—is that the airport we’re landing at?”
Kuang Anming snapped awake and hurriedly looked below; he was very familiar with the terrain there and could identify it without a map.
He shouted excitedly: “Yes, it’s here. My god, oh God, I thought we were lost.”
Fang Wen smiled slightly, took down the microphone from the radio device, and handed it back to Kuang Anming.
“Contact the ground, request landing.”
Kuang Anming, taking the microphone, called in French.
Moments later, a French response came from the radio station.
“They agreed and said we can land now.”
After getting ground permission, Fang Wen controlled the airplane to circle in the air searching for the landing angle, then lowered the fuselage and landed at this crude French military airport.
Soldiers stationed at the airport came to greet them.
An officer looked at the airplane painted in Eastern colors and said in surprise: “This is a Potez 25?”
After Kuang Anming translated, Fang Wen replied: “Yes, a Potez 25. I made some minor modifications.”
The other shook his head: “Absolutely not minor modifications. I feel like except for the engine, you’ve completely rebuilt this airplane. Haven’t seen this model in a long time; it was once the pride of France.”
Kuang Anming couldn’t help boasting for Fang Wen: “It has a brilliant combat record in Asia too, you know. This pilot flew it and sank a cruiser.”
The officer clearly couldn’t believe such words; how could a reconnaissance bomber sink a cruiser? The probability was too small.
But then they saw the warship painted on the airplane, which made them somewhat believe it.
For this, they enthusiastically invited Fang Wen to the barracks as a guest to share the details of that air combat.
This had happened more than once; it was a good chance to build relations with the French army at the airport, so Fang Wen began describing that battle again.
After listening, the officer gave a summary.
“This is the result of a combination of technology, reaction, talent, and luck. If it were me, I absolutely couldn’t fly a Potez 25 to accomplish such bombing. Mr. Fang, you are a soldier worthy of admiration.”
Kuang Anming translated back.
Fang Wen replied: “I’m not a soldier, but faced with that situation, any Chinese person, as long as their blood is still hot and they have the ability, will take on the responsibility of defending home and country.”
Kuang Anming listened excitedly and translated the words eloquently to the officer.
This surprised the French; they couldn’t understand the Chinese nation’s inherited culture of homeland and world, but they acknowledged the statement.
To show respect, the officer arranged two clean rooms for Fang Wen and the other to stay overnight.
After one night, Fang Wen got up early, woke Kuang Anming, and found the airport management.
It was the French army officer who received them yesterday.
With Kuang Anming’s translation, the other understood they needed to add fuel and generously had the airport’s aviation fuel added to Qingyun Hao.
While refueling, the officer noticed the design of Qingyun Hao’s auxiliary fuel tank.
Surprised again.
“This kind of fuel tank that increases range, I’ve only heard of it, but I didn’t expect you’d already modified it onto this fighter jet.”
Fang Wen smiled and replied: “There should be more in the future; this is just a simple modification.”
After saying that, he boarded the airplane and took off from the transfer airport.
Taking off from the transfer airport, the remaining flight would be much more dangerous for Fang Wen.
One was a flight path he’d never flown, with that kind of forested terrain and poor high-altitude visibility.
Another was uncertainty about the situation in Thailand now and whether the army at Suthep Airport would cooperate.
These unknown risks required Fang Wen to maintain a high state of mental concentration.
Qingyun Hao flew over the peninsula, passing Vietnam and reaching Laos.
Laos and Vietnam were separated by a mountain range, with relatively higher terrain.
After this plateau, the green on the ground increased again.
Fang Wen slowed the airplane speed; he felt they were almost there.
Through the man-machine integrated perspective, comparing the map, and confirming direction with the compass.
This should be the Chiang Mai area; where was Suthep Airport?
The airplane circled over the densely built area, searching for a possible nearby airport.
After careful searching, they finally found it.
The airport wasn’t as large as imagined, and with surrounding trees, it gave the illusion of not being an airport.
Fang Wen picked up the radio device.
“Calling Suthep Airport, respond if you hear. This is Qingyun Hao, requesting landing.”
After three consecutive calls, a voice came from the radio station—in Mandarin, surprisingly.
“Qingyun Hao, landing request approved. You can land now.”
After approval, Fang Wen adjusted the position and landed on the airport runway.
Once the airplane stopped, he didn’t get off but turned direction on the airport runway, maintaining takeoff state.
This was pre-arranged; danger might arise here, so the pilot would never leave the airplane. If problems occurred, he could immediately start the airplane and take off.
Meanwhile, a group of people already waiting inside the airport began bustling.
They rushed over carrying various cargo.
Behind them was a plump woman in a qipao, holding a boy of a few years old.
They came below the airplane; Fang Wen pulled the hidden tab on the pilot seat, opening a small door on one side of the aircraft belly’s auxiliary fuel tank.
Then, touching the small pistol in his lower pocket, he called out to those below: “Do you know where to put it?”
The plump qipao woman stepped forward from the crowd: “I know. Please let my son board the airplane first; I’ll direct them below.”
Fang Wen nodded, had the airport staff set up the boarding ladder, then got off to carry the child to the rear pilot seat.
Soon after, he returned to the airplane and watched the bustle below.
The woman had the demeanor of one in charge; everyone listened to her and did as instructed.
One by one, the seemingly heavy cargo items were loaded into the airplane’s auxiliary fuel tank.
While watching, the little boy behind perhaps felt scared in the unfamiliar environment and started crying.
How to coax a crying child?
He didn’t know.
Fang Wen immediately felt at a loss.
But he couldn’t let the child keep crying.
He remembered that last flight, worried passengers might suffer low blood sugar from sudden high-altitude descent, so he had Shunzi buy some candy.
It seemed casually tossed in the right storage compartment.
He reached into the storage compartment, took out the candy—it was lollipops.
The wrapper said: “Shanghai Candy Factory, maltose stick.”
Unexpectedly, lollipops existed in this era; they were essential for coaxing children.
Fang Wen handed the lollipop back.
“Little guy, want some candy?”
Hearing candy, the child stopped crying, took the candy, skillfully removed the wrapper, held the stick end, and happily licked it.
Seeing the child’s appearance, Fang Wen couldn’t help smiling.
At that moment, gunfire rang out.
Fang Wen immediately entered mechanical perception state for a broad view observation.
From the airplane’s altitude, he saw two groups of people fighting in the distance, all in plain clothes.
The army inside the airport surprisingly didn’t participate.
He quickly slid down the boarding ladder, regardless of whether the cargo was fully loaded, and directly closed the storage opening.
Then grabbed the plump woman: “Get on the airplane quickly; something’s wrong.”
The woman, who had started with poise, became disoriented at the gunfire and couldn’t move despite Fang Wen’s shouts.
The child above got anxious and called out with the lollipop: “Mom, wake up; aren’t we taking the airplane?”
At her son’s call, the woman snapped out of it. For her son, she mustered courage, regained strength, and climbed the boarding ladder.
The gunfire grew denser; who knew if it would reach them soon.
Fang Wen ignored any taboos about physical contact; anyway, she was an older woman, so he directly pushed her buttocks upward.
With his help, the woman finally climbed to the rear pilot seat, hugged her son, and trembled.
Fang Wen quickly moved the boarding ladder and climbed up, directly starting takeoff.
In mechanical perception, the blocking group was routed.
The attackers shot at those on the ground, leaving no survivors, while nearby, the airport army showed no intention to join.
As Qingyun Hao slid on the airport runway, that group panicked and ran over shouting.
But they seemed to have some qualms and didn’t shoot at the airplane.
This gave Fang Wen the best chance to leave; the airplane accelerated, nose up, and flew into the sky.
Only then did those below realize the people had escaped; this battle was for nothing. They raised guns to shoot into the air, but the best timing was lost.
Qingyun Hao quickly climbed to over 1000 meters altitude, a distance where most individual weapons couldn’t threaten the airplane.
After escaping danger and relaxing, Fang Wen noticed the woman behind still in fear, hugging her son tightly; the child looked uncomfortable.
He loudly comforted the woman behind.
“It’s fine now; we’ll be back home this afternoon.”
Hearing this, the woman reacted, subconsciously looked outside, saw they were already high up, let out a long breath, and released her son.
Upon release, the child stood up, leaned to one side peering out.
Little feet raised, half his body out, happily shouting.
“So high!”
Goodness, this child’s guts were huge; Fang Wen urgently shouted: “Hold him tight; this kid is distracting me from flying.”
The woman hugged her son tight again and thanked: “Thank you; without you, my son and I couldn’t return home.”
Fang Wen thought to himself, if your son can safely ride my airplane back, I’m already thanking the heavens.
