Chapter 58: 58, Booze-fueled Negotiations, Boeing P26b
Fang Wen strode toward the airport.
That scene just now made his thoughts surge in his heart.
The future and the past always have a generation gap.
Fang Wen, living in a peaceful era, initially could not understand the joys and sorrows of people in this era.
But in this year and more, he understood.
Here warlords divided the land, the situation was chaotic, and the wealth gap was huge.
But these did not break the backbone of the Chinese nation; there were still many people worrying about the country, and even businessmen who calculated interests and gains all day could express a patriotic heart.
No one can colonize China.
Even without himself, China could still stand up and stand atop the world again.
But since he had come, he had to do his utmost.
Nothing else, just an ace fighter jet that could tear apart the Japanese Army Air Force.
Thinking of this, Fang Wen suddenly stopped, turned around, and shouted loudly to the courtyard:
“Shunzi, pack me some good wine and good dishes, bring them to the airport guesthouse; I want to talk with Neil.”
“Got it, Young Master, you go first; I’ll come right after.”
“Remember, it has to be strong liquor that can get you drunk.”
“Got it, Young Master, don’t worry.”
Fang Wen entered the airport and went straight to the second floor of the guesthouse, knocking on the door.
This time, the Boeing sales representative opened the door; his real name was not Neil, but Neil Toledo.
“Neil, thank you for your news; we just heard it on the radio broadcast. To celebrate the ceasefire agreement, I prepared Eastern delicacies and fine wine.”
Neil Toledo showed a smile; he had heard much about Eastern hospitality, but this time because the Japanese Army was still in Shanghai, he had not had a chance to experience what it was like.
Then, he accepted Fang Wen’s invitation and went downstairs to the canteen.
At the long table in the canteen, Shunzi, who arrived soon after, placed the dishes from the food box one by one and took out the pottery bottle.
“Young Master, this is Shuanggou Daqu, bought as per your request.”
Fang Wen opened the wine bottle and poured a cup each for himself, Howard, and Neil Toledo.
“According to our Chinese customs, a guest from afar is a guest; this first cup is to celebrate the ceasefire agreement.”
Looking at the small wine cup in his hand, Neil Toledo downed it without a care.
The spicy taste made him open his mouth involuntarily, and his face became a bit flushed.
“Eat some dishes. When we drink here, we have to eat dishes.” Fang Wen explained with a smile.
Neil Toledo did not know how to use chopsticks; he took out a small box from his pocket, which contained a soup spoon and fork, and he forked up a piece of assorted meatball with the fork.
The sauce aroma of the meatball offset the spiciness in his throat, making him feel much better.
Fang Wen refilled his cup.
“This second cup is to celebrate the complete success of our cooperation.”
Neil Toledo could not refuse and had to raise his cup and drink it down.
Cough cough, he hurriedly ate some dishes to settle it.
“This third cup is from me personally to you, Neil; you are the boldest American I have ever met.”
After two cups, Neil was already feeling it and loosened up completely.
He downed it in one gulp, and his words increased.
“Eastern wine is as strong as whiskey, but I like your hospitality even more.”
This was the atmosphere he wanted; Fang Wen smiled slightly and got up to sit beside Neil.
Straight to the point.
“We are friends now, right?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“What do you think of the tung oil trade?”
“I tell you, it’s very valuable and in short supply.”
“I know, 600 tons of tung oil can be exchanged for a luxury passenger aircraft, but I can get even more tung oil.”
“Really?” A glint of greed appeared in Neil’s eyes.
“Of course, the problem is I don’t have a trustworthy business partner to transport them to the United States for sale.” Fang Wen threw out an irresistible bait.
“I can.” Neil blurted out.
Fang Wen smiled: “What I want is not just US dollars, but also airplanes.”
“You want to exchange tung oil for more airplanes?” Neil sat up straight, adjusting his clothes. “Actually, I came this time with another purpose: to bring back the ashes of my colleague. He came to China to promote military aircraft and ended up dying in battle here.”
“Really? Can you tell me more?” Fang Wen refilled Neil’s cup.
While drinking, Neil recounted an incident that happened not long ago.
More than a month ago, when Fang Wen was carrying out a night airdrop mission at Jianqiao Airport.
In front of Jianqiao Airport, there was also a temporarily built Suzhou Airport.
There were some military aircraft there undertaking reconnaissance missions.
Among them was an airplane salesman from the Boeing Company; acting as a civilian pilot, he flew a Boeing fighter jet to participate in a reconnaissance action.
Unfortunately, at that time, because Suzhou Airport was closest to Shanghai, it was discovered by the Japanese Army naval aviation team and bombed.
That Boeing airplane salesman was a retired US Army aviator who directly took off in the airplane to fight, but in a five-to-one situation, his fighter jet was shot down by the Japanese Army.
To promote relations between the two countries, the National Government designated him a hero and publicized it to the United States.
The Boeing Company, of course, was willing for its employee to become a hero, so it specially sent Neil to bring his ashes home.
Hearing Neil’s words, Fang Wen showed a regretful expression.
“He was indeed great. By the way, are the Boeing fighter jets you sell any good?”
“The best. Wait a moment.” Neil opened the small leather suitcase he carried with him and took out some photographs and propaganda materials.
As an airplane salesman, he carried these things wherever he went.
Fang Wen took the information booklet and flipped through it.
The first model was the Boeing P-12, a biplane.
No matter how glowingly the information booklet described it, Fang Wen would not buy a biplane.
The second model, also the one with the most detailed information, was a monoplane.
The model was M281.
It was the lower-wing monoplane like the Guangdong Air Force K-47 fighter jet.
According to the introduction, it was the export model of the P-26 fighter jet.
But from the information, it seemed to have many castrations.
This kind of export aircraft had much worse performance than the original version; whoever buys it is a fool.
Fang Wen tossed the relevant information onto the table, indicating his disapproval of the thing.
He looked at the others.
Among them was the Boeing Company’s latest model, the P-26A fighter jet.
Those specs were much more impressive than any airplane Fang Wen had previously piloted.
Maximum range: 1020 kilometers
1.5 times that of a biplane.
Top speed: 377 km/h
With this speed, in the Shanghai air combat, those Type 3 shorties with 240 km/h speed would be sitting ducks.
Maximum ceiling: 8350 meters
This altitude ceiling was unreachable by Japanese Type 3 fighter jets, allowing for many more tactical options.
Empty weight: 996 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 1524 kg
Payload capacity: 90 kg bomb × 1
Airborne weapons: One Browning M1919 7.92mm machine gun each on the left and right of the nose
Fuselage length: 7.18 meters
Wingspan: 8.50 meters
Fuselage height: 3.04 meters
Crew members: 1 person
Fang Wen’s eyes could no longer leave that propaganda material.
“Can this airplane be sold?” he asked involuntarily.
Neil looked at the material in Fang Wen’s hand and showed difficulty: “No, this is a US military order aircraft; we cannot sell it abroad.”
Fang Wen looked regretful and checked the others.
There was another very similar fighter jet material, the P-26B.
Probably no go either, but Fang Wen asked subconsciously.
“What about this one?”
“This test aircraft has issues and cannot be delivered; we have stopped production.”
“What issues?” Fang Wen suddenly realized his opportunity had come; with his mechanical perception ability, perhaps he could solve the airplane’s problems, and then a scrapped test aircraft could be bought back for his own use?
