Chapter 108: 107, Scheming For Falmang, Bad News From Shanhaiguan
The Farman F.220 bomber was too much in line with Fang Wen’s image of a heavy bomber.
Fang Wen, who had a deep understanding of air combat, could clearly see its strengths and weaknesses from the current information.
The strengths are:
Strong endurance, a range of 2000 kilometers can accomplish various land-based long-range bombing missions.
Large payload capacity, 8 tons of payload capacity, can perform plow-like coverage bombing on a strategic target.
But its weaknesses are also very obvious.
Flight altitude at most only 8000 meters, flight speed at most only 320 kilometers per hour.
At this speed, old-style biplanes cannot catch up, but monoplanes like the p26 can easily intercept.
Once chased by fighter jets, even with wingman guards protecting, it is hard to evade.
The 3 machine guns equipped on the airplane are better than nothing; once locked by enemy aircraft, there is no chance even to turn and dodge.
At that time, it would be an aerial coffin.
This is also why the French Air Force required it to be designed as a night bomber.
Additionally, even as a dedicated night bomber, with current radar technology, it is impossible to achieve aircraft positioning, let alone the use of future bomber technologies like infrared and satellites.
Fang Wen could even feel a kind of French-style military romance.
Flying the heavy bomber through the night sky, dropping the bombs and leaving, regardless of accuracy, at least safe oneself.
It can be said that Fang Wen has determined that this bomber will achieve nothing in the war.
But for Fang Wen, it was completely different.
If mechanical perception could integrate with the Farman F.220 bomber, then at night, Fang Wen would be the king of the air.
Driving the Farman F.220 bomber to the bombing zone, accurately dropping bombs, creating strategic effects.
This could perhaps produce remarkable results for the War of Resistance.
For this reason, Fang Wen gave birth to the plan to go to Farman Aircraft Manufacturing Company for an on-site inspection and close contact with the Farman F.220 bomber.
If possible, he also wanted to fly the Farman F.220 bomber in the air once.
If it was as he envisioned, he would find a way to purchase a Farman F.220 bomber.
Fang Wen told this idea to Lin Baoluo.
The other party was extremely surprised.
“Arranging a visit to Farman Company is something I can do, not difficult. But flying the Farman F.220 bomber, and even buying it, I think it’s impossible. After all, this is a new bomber being developed by the French Air Force; how could they sell it to others?”
“Whether it works or not, we’ll know when the time comes. You arrange the visit to Farman Company first,” Fang Wen replied.
“Alright, I’ll find someone, but it will require spending some money, and you need to make some changes; the French are very particular about appearance.”
After speaking, Lin Baoluo went out and left.
Fang Wen agreed with what Lin Baoluo said about the appearance issue.
Without an identity background that could attract the other party’s attention, why would he be qualified to discuss test flying and purchasing airplanes with others.
This identity is not just superficial packaging, but also requires some powerful background display.
At two o’clock in the afternoon, which was eight o’clock at night in Shanghai.
Fang Wen took out the telegraph machine and sent a telegram.
January 3, Shanghai, 8 p.m.
As usual, Taishan Airlines, belonging to Fang Wen’s small group, gathered in the small courtyard.
Kuang Mingzhu instructed Chun Cao and Qiu Ju to prepare tea for everyone.
Everyone was waiting for Fang Wen’s call.
At 8:05, Shopkeeper Liu raised his hand, signaling that he had received the signal.
After recording the Morse code and translating it into plain text, he stood up and handed it to Kuang Mingzhu.
Holding the paper, Kuang Mingzhu read:
“Mister says he is now in France, everything is fine. Because he needs to visit an aircraft manufacturing company, he requires a special identity. Let us go to the Nanjing Government to find people to pull strings, contact the Republic of China Consulate in France, to help with identity certification. The identity he wants is a Republic of China Government proxy arms dealer.”
Everyone started discussing.
“One identity, without needing money or effort, should not be difficult to arrange.”
“The two dividend shareholders we brought in have been taking generous returns and only put in some effort on airport matters; it’s time to have them help.”
“Yes, these people get so many dividends a year; they have to do something, especially since it’s for the general manager.”
“I’ll go to Nanjing tomorrow to find them.” Shopkeeper Liu, who had gone with Fang Wen to negotiate the shares issue, knew how to contact the white gloves in Nanjing and volunteered.
Kuang Mingzhu nodded: “Then I’ll trouble you.”
At that moment, someone knocked on the door outside.
Pan Jiafeng stood up and went to open the door.
After a while, he came back, his face heavy.
“Company people brought back news from the city: the Japanese Army has captured Shanhaiguan.”
Instantly, everyone’s faces changed.
“Should we tell the general manager?” someone asked.
“Mister said that if there’s something happening domestically, we must tell him immediately.” Kuang Mingzhu firmly instructed Shopkeeper Liu: “Reply to mister.”
Paris
Fang Wen received the reply telegram from Shanghai.
The first half of the telegram message indicated that the matter would be handled as soon as possible, but the second half added a sentence.
“Shanhaiguan has been captured by the Japanese Army.”
Fang Wen quickly took out the map to check.
Shanhaiguan is a pass in the eastern section of the Great Wall, bordering the Yan Mountains to the north and the Bohai Sea to the south.
There is a narrow passage there leading inside the Passes.
In the past, Qing Dynasty regent Dorgon led the Eight Banners Army together with Ming general Wu Sangui, inside-outside coordination at Shanhaiguan to defeat Li Zicheng’s Dashun army, allowing Qing troops to enter the Central Plains.
But now, it’s different.
The Japanese cannot advance alone from Shanhaiguan to attack Beiping and Tianjin.
The armies at other Great Wall passes will make detaining moves behind them.
Therefore, the fall of Shanhaiguan is just the beginning; next will be the Great Wall Campaign.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a Farman F.220 bomber now; otherwise, flying over and dropping 8 tons of bombs on the Japanese heads outside the Great Wall would be satisfying.
He waved away his thoughts, put the telegraph machine and map back into the canvas bag.
They all say appearance is important; time to do as the Romans do, find a tailor’s shop in Paris and dress up properly.
Now it’s only 2:20 Paris time; the shops on the street should still be open for business.
Preparing to go out, Fang Wen did not forget to hide valuables.
He dragged the wooden bed in the room aside, scratched the wallpaper at the headboard position on the wall, dug a hole in the wall behind the wallpaper with a small knife.
This hole was just right to fit the leather bag containing 300,000 US Treasury bonds.
After putting the leather bag in, Fang Wen pasted that piece of wallpaper back, glued it securely, swept the dust and dirt on the floor clean, put it in the used pastry paper bags, and finally pushed the wooden bed back to its original position.
After doing all this, he put several bags of the wrapped dust and dirt into the canvas bag, slung it on, and prepared to go out.
Wait, he had seen in spy movies how to judge if a room had been intruded.
He imitated it, took a needle and thread box from the canvas bag, tied one end of the fine thread to the door lock and the other to the door handle. This way, if someone opens the door, the fine thread will immediately break.
Going out, he reached in after the door, hung the fine thread, closed the door, and tested by opening it again.
After confirming the security measures were effective, Fang Wen knocked on the neighboring room.
“Lin Shuiwang, let’s go out and get a good outfit.”
The two went out; Lin Shuiwang was very familiar with the nearby area and directly took Fang Wen to a clothing store named Cifonelli.
He introduced at the door.
“Cifonelli opened six years ago; the shop owner is a Roman, mainly does custom suits; in the past two years, Paris officials all like to get custom clothing here.”
Lin Shuiwang’s thinking was that a place where Paris officials get custom clothing must be right.
Fang Wen nodded; this was a judgment that fit aesthetic standards. He and Lin Shuiwang pushed the door and entered.
There were already customers inside.
The shop owner was using a soft tape to measure for a customer, with a very young apprentice holding a tool tray beside.
They were not speaking French or English, but very fast.
From the speed, it could be judged as Italian, especially when two fellow countrymen from Italy are together, they talk a lot.
The shop owner was chattering with the fellow countryman while having the apprentice come to serve Fang Wen and the others.
The apprentice came over and asked: “Gentlemen, are you here for custom clothing or ready-made clothes?”
In the tailor’s shop, besides professional custom work, they also made a batch of ready-made clothes, both as samples for display and sold at lower prices to suitable people.
Lin Shuiwang replied: “Make a full custom set for this mister; I’ll have a set of attendant clothes fitting his identity.”
The apprentice didn’t know how to respond.
Just then, the other side finished chatting; the boss saw his friend out, came over with a full face of smiles.
After listening to the apprentice whisper in his ear, he spoke out:
“May I ask what identity it should conform to?”
“A government procurement merchant from the East, a big shot who can decide very important matters,” Lin Shuiwang replied.
“I understand. Very formal, official attire, but different occasions require different wear, like banquets, formal work, visits. I suggest making three sets to cope with various social occasions.”
Cifonelli’s boss spoke authoritatively; although there was intent to sell products, it also fit the characteristics of current French executives’ social interactions.
These investments were necessary; Fang Wen directly agreed.
After measuring height, chest, waist and other data, Cifonelli’s boss said.
“Come for fitting in a week; any unfit places will be adjusted.”
Fang Wen couldn’t wait a week; he looked at Lin Shuiwang.
After some bargaining, he paid extra reward and confirmed to pick up the clothes in two days.
After doing this, Fang Wen and Lin Shuiwang went back.
They solved the dinner problem at a small restaurant near the hotel.
The restaurant’s dishes were simple: smoked meat, bread, pea soup.
But the taste was decent, probably French home-style flavor; many middle-class people would come here to eat.
While eating, Fang Wen explained the domestic situation.
“The Japanese have moved again now; Shanhaiguan fell yesterday.”
Lin Shuiwang was surprised: “Shanhaiguan is gone; how can it still be defended? Isn’t Beiping and Tianjin right under the Japanese’s nose?”
“Not yet; other Great Wall passes are still under our control. Japan must take down other passes to connect outside and inside the Passes.” Fang Wen explained.
Lin Shuiwang had patriotic feelings, which was why he was willing to come help proactively.
He was very unhappy about Shanhaiguan being captured.
He simply ordered a bottle of brandy.
For locals, brandy is the high-proof wine among wines.
Lin Shuiwang downed two bottles before getting dizzy from the aftereffects.
Fang Wen had to put money on the table to signal settling the bill, then helped the dizzy Lin Shuiwang leave.
Out of the restaurant, Fang Wen supported Lin Shuiwang to a nearby alley, let Lin Shuiwang lean against the wall first, then took out those paper bags with dust and dirt from the canvas bag and threw them into the sewage-filled alleyway.
Only then did he support Lin Shuiwang again and go back.
Arrived at the hotel.
Threw Lin Shuiwang on the bed, closed the door well, Fang Wen returned to his own room.
He opened the door and gently pushed.
A fine thread snapped tight.
It seems no one had broken into his room.
Removed the fine thread from the door handle, Fang Wen entered, closed the door behind him, took a bath and rested.
January 5, 1933.
Lin Shuiwang, after a night of hangover, surprisingly got up earlier than Fang Wen.
He brought Paris-style breakfast and woke Fang Wen.
After getting up and washing, Fang Wen prepared to eat breakfast, looking at the two paper bags in front unsure which to choose.
“What’s inside?”
Lin Shuiwang took the food from the two bags.
“Croissants and hot chocolate. And fresh buttered baguette slices.”
Melted chocolate with croissants, this calorie intake is enough to satisfy a morning’s needs.
It was just too greasy.
Fang Wen preferred to eat the buttered baguette.
While the two ate breakfast, there was a knock on the door.
They looked toward the half-open doorway.
A gentleman outside introduced himself.
“Hello, Mr. Fang. I am from the Paris Consulate; your matter has been notified by domestic telegram. We will fully cooperate.”
Fang Wen stood up to shake hands with the other party and invited him in, stating his plan.
“Thank you. I want to invite Farman Company executives to a dinner in the name of the consulate.”
“Farman has many collaborations with the military; just inviting Farman Company people might not be convenient. It would be better to invite a batch of commercial enterprises in the name of the consulate.” The consulate person analyzed.
“That works too; I’ll handle the banquet, trouble you with the invitations.”
“Sure, I’ll go back and arrange now.”
After seeing the other party off, Fang Wen and Lin Shuiwang discussed.
“The funds brought this time cannot be used recklessly; for the banquet, do you have a way to save some?”
“Saving is possible, just not sure if it fits. My suggestion is to find our Chinese people to help; among them there are restaurant owners and waiters; all the people you need can be gathered. Leave this to me; I guarantee it will be done well.”
Since Lin Shuiwang gave his word, Fang Wen agreed.
Immediately, Lin Shuiwang went out.
Lin Shuiwang left the hotel and found Lin Baoluo resting at home nearby.
He explained the situation: “Mr. Fang plans to hold the banquet himself. As the boss of an airline company, to save funds for procurement, he’s saving everywhere; we should also help out.”
Lin Baoluo agreed: “Although I haven’t gone back, the blood flowing in my veins is still that of Chinese people; I’ll definitely help when I can. Tell me how to do it.”
“Go to Rue au Maire to find people.”
“There are many fellow villagers there; indeed, we can ask if they are willing to help.”
The two finished discussing and headed to Paris’s 3rd arrondissement.
The 3rd arrondissement has many famous places: Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde.
The two walked along, arrived at the right bank of the Seine River, and found Rue au Maire.
It was a pedestrian street, with shops on the first floor of the buildings on both sides, several of which were opened by Chinese people.
Lin Shuiwang walked into one of the restaurants.
