Chapter 141: 140, Wilderness Equipment, Purchasing Munitions: Chicago Typewriter
Finally, the most important topic of the evening had arrived.
Fang Wen’s small group had some experience with how airplanes implement nighttime bombing.
For example, in the Shenyang bombing of the Japanese Army barracks, Shopkeeper Liu and Sun Debiao personally participated, and the others knew a little about it.
As an eyewitness, Shopkeeper Liu voiced his concerns.
“Nighttime airplane bombing requires guidance. The Japanese Army outside the Great Wall is stationed in a wilderness environment, and our people can’t get close at all, let alone light torches inside the Japanese Army barracks.”
This was a very serious problem.
Whether strategic bombing or long-range artillery fire, both require precise target guidance.
Even Fang Wen, relying on mechanical perception ability, couldn’t find the target in the pitch-black night sky, so the last time they bombed the Shenyang Japanese Army barracks, it was the Treasure Hunting Group’s action group that went out and lit torches around the barracks as bombing guides.
In the heavy mountains and ridges outside the Great Wall, where the Japanese Army is stationed in open wilderness environments, who has the ability to sneak into the barracks and light torches unnoticed to guide the bombing.
It’s simply impossible.
Therefore, Fang Wen’s initial plan was the same as the French Air Force’s request to design the f.220: carry a large number of napalm bombs and conduct large-area drops in the estimated area.
Although this wouldn’t be precise, relying on the judgment of mechanical perception ability, it would still have some destructive power.
But now, Fang Wen didn’t think so anymore.
He had a better plan.
That was to hand it over to the radar equipment being researched by Tsinghua University Physics Department.
But not the kind of radar from the future.
The general idea was to install a specific dedicated frequency radio wave receiving device on the airplane.
Then have someone carry this specific dedicated frequency radio wave transmitter outside the Great Wall, and use the launch device to lock onto the Japanese Army barracks.
After the reflected radio waves are received by the primitive onboard radar, they can form a continuous signal source, thereby determining the enemy’s exact position.
Of course, this primitive equipment would be useless on airplanes at the current stage; the complex positioning calculations alone would give mathematicians a headache.
Only Fang Wen, entering the mechanical perception state, could unlock its functionality.
This secret Fang Wen couldn’t reveal, so he explained it in another way:
“I’m preparing to install a special device on the airplane that can precisely locate ground targets, but it requires someone to carry the other part of this device outside the Great Wall for remote positioning.”
As he spoke, he stood up and made a more vivid description.
“The person carrying the device outside the Great Wall doesn’t need to get close to the barracks; they just need to continuously lock onto the barracks in a way similar to aiming with firearms. Leave the rest to me.”
Sun Debiao immediately raised his hand.
“This has to be me, but as the general manager said, I don’t know how to operate that equipment specifically.”
Fang Wen nodded: “Sun Debiao has a lot of experience operating in mountainous areas and has trained in airborne drops, so I’ll leave it to you. Don’t worry about the specific operations; I’ll teach you. Also, for hiding in the wilderness, I need to prepare some things for you so the Japanese won’t discover you.”
After assigning Sun Debiao’s task, Fang Wen looked at everyone.
“I hope the factory hurries up with production. Once that set of devices is installed, we’ll do an airdrop. Time is tight.”
“Let me explain the current job positions.”
“Sun Debiao comes back to Shanghai with me for parachuting training, as well as wilderness hiding and equipment operation training.”
Sun Debiao was overjoyed; he could finally go back.
“William will take over Sun Debiao’s work, training 100 company hired troops. Also, in a while, I’ll airlift a batch of German-made equipment over.”
William stood up and greeted everyone; as a newcomer, he paid great attention to his image in Fang Wen’s small group.
“Fang Shun will continue managing the tinware factory and oversee the safety work in the loading workshop.”
Shunzi was full of a sense of accomplishment; now he was a real factory director.
“Huo Duanyang will still be in charge of the chemical laboratory and also manage the daily operations of Xiangxi Airport.”
Huo Duanyang panicked: “General Manager, I’m afraid I can’t do it well.”
“There’s nothing you can’t do well. Don’t underestimate your own abilities.” Fang Wen replied. Currently, airport construction was nearing completion, and daily management wasn’t complicated. Huo Duanyang definitely had the ability, and the chemical laboratory work wasn’t busy, leaving enough energy to handle airport daily affairs.
Seeing Huo Duanyang still hesitant, Fang Wen patted his shoulder: “Each of us has important responsibilities, and we’re all working hard for a better future. Everyone started from nothing; as long as you put your heart into it, I believe these things won’t stump you.”
Under Fang Wen’s encouragement, Huo Duanyang nodded seriously in agreement.
Then, Fang Wen continued.
“Fang Shouxin comes back to Shanghai with me to continue presiding over Taishan Airlines’ administrative work. Additionally, you and Shopkeeper Liu will handle the aircraft property certificates together, trying to guide the Japanese to aggressively acquire aircraft property certificates.”
The steady and prudent Fang Shouxin didn’t react much, but looked at his son Fang Shun, a bit worried that his son couldn’t handle things alone.
“Shopkeeper Liu, you will still be Taishan Airlines’ chief accountant, managing the company’s accounts. You also need to handle the aircraft property certificates with Fang Shouxin, trying to guide the Japanese to aggressively acquire aircraft property certificates.”
“Pan Jiafeng, you will be the company’s current aviation commissioner, responsible for inspecting the operation of all company flights to ensure normal operations.”
“Howard, the company is establishing a mechanical repair department; you will be the minister, responsible for managing mechanics and procuring repair equipment.”
Shopkeeper Liu, Pan Jiafeng, and Howard’s work assignments had no major changes; all three nodded in agreement directly.
Fang Wen looked at Shao Sishen.
“Shao Sishen, while training the second phase flight apprentices, can you take on one more job?”
Being valued made the disabled Shao Sishen very happy.
“Sure.”
“Good, then you’ll be responsible for selecting and training the company’s future flight attendants. My personal suggestion is to select female flight attendants; they’re more suitable for this job.”
Shao Sishen’s expression changed.
“I, I can’t do it.”
Sun Debiao joked bluntly: “What’s hard about selecting beauties? If I didn’t have an important mission, I’d fight you for this job.”
Amid the laughter, the meeting ended.
Only Kuang Mingzhu’s work wasn’t assigned; she was the company’s deputy general manager.
Kuang Mingzhu understood and followed her husband out of the hangar: “Mister, you go ahead and do your things; I’ll watch over this home and company for you.”
Fang Wen’s small group meeting decided the future arrangements for Taishan Airlines and Taishan Volunteer Army.
Next, they would proceed according to these plans.
The next evening, the f.220 took off, carrying the group away from Xiangxi Airport and returning to Shanghai.
Everyone was busy with their assigned work.
Fang Shouxin took over administrative work again, and under cooperation with Shopkeeper Liu, managed Taishan Airlines’ daily operations in an orderly manner.
Meanwhile, under the two’s deliberate guidance, some unfavorable but unprovable news about Taishan Airlines was spreading.
Some observant people thought it was the Japanese stirring trouble, but since Taishan Airlines didn’t refute it, everyone was puzzled.
Trading at the aircraft property certificate counter of the Shanghai Securities Exchange was booming; at a buying price 30% above value, more and more people were selling their aircraft property certificates.
They would come to Taishan Airlines on the day the transaction was confirmed to change the owner name on the property certificates.
Although Taishan Airlines staff seemed reluctant, the rules were set by themselves, so they still completed the owner name changes on the property certificates.
This truly ignited trading in aircraft property certificates.
At the same time, Fang Wen was handling his own matters.
He had plenty to do.
Sun Debiao’s parachuting refresher training and wilderness equipment preparation.
German-made equipment procurement.
Going to Tsinghua University to discuss radar equipment.
Sun Debiao’s parachuting refresher training was essential; after a long time without parachuting, his skills would degrade, and parachuting without retraining would be very dangerous.
For this, Fang Wen first took him for refresher training, then handed it over to Pan Jiafeng, also letting Pan Jiafeng gain parachuting training capability.
After arranging Sun Debiao’s parachuting training, he also needed to equip him with wilderness equipment.
Without complete equipment, Fang Wen wouldn’t feel at ease sending Sun Debiao outside the Great Wall.
He listed: camouflage suit disguised as stone for wilderness hiding, camouflage tent, and large-capacity backpack that could hold the camouflage suit, camouflage tent, as well as drinking water and food, and the radio wave transmitter.
These things seemed high-end but were not impossible to make.
As long as willing to spend money, they could be made in SH city.
Fang Wen had Sun Debiao go to the city himself to have them custom-made.
Not long after, he returned with samples.
“General Manager, they made them. Take a look.”
Sun Debiao walked into the office carrying a very long and large canvas backpack.
“Let me see.” Fang Wen stood up and examined the things Sun Debiao brought.
The clothing factory had made a large canvas backpack, and camouflage suits painted in grass green and gray.
Drinking water was in a leather water bag sewn into the large-capacity backpack, sufficient for a week’s needs, sucked out through a rubber tube for drinking, and tied off when not in use.
As for food, tightly packed steamed buns, beef jerky, and some digestive snacks.
“Impressive, these should be enough for the wilderness, right?” Fang Wen asked with a smile.
“If I had these things the general manager thought of when I was a bandit on the mountain, I definitely wouldn’t go hungry.” Sun Debiao replied with a hearty laugh; he was clearly very satisfied with them.
Fang Wen nodded, “There’s one more thing for you to do in the city.”
“General Manager, tell me.”
“Go find Zhao Jiu and have him inquire about buying weapons.”
“Got it, I’ll go right now.”
“Wait, I’ll write down the requirements.”
Sun Debiao took Fang Wen’s German-made equipment procurement list and headed into the city again.
After getting off the shuttle bus, he took a rickshaw straight to Zhabei and arrived at Fugui Casino.
A Green Gang kid by Fugui Casino saw Sun Debiao and grinned as he welcomed him: “Sir, please come in; inside there’s food and drink, and the best fun.”
Whoever believes that is a fool; go in as a big shot, come out broke as a nobody.
Sun Debiao, with years of jianghu experience, knew this well. He didn’t mind Zhao Jiu doing this business; if Zhao Jiu didn’t, plenty of others would.
He said: “I’m looking for Zhao Jiu, from Taishan Airlines.”
The first half made the Green Gang kid change color and reach for his piece; the second half brought an instant smile.
“Please come in quickly; Master Jiu said to bring Taishan people straight to see him.”
Sun Debiao followed upstairs and met Zhao Jiu.
He got straight to the point.
“The general manager wants you to handle something.”
Zhao Jiu waved the woman beside him away.
“The general manager doesn’t need to beg me; no need to be so formal, just say it.”
“He wants to buy a batch of weapons; here are the requirements.”
Zhao Jiu took the weapons list and looked.
Rifles, 150.
Pistols, 50.
Steel helmets, 200.
Water bottles, 200.
Webbing, 200.
Leather shoes, 200.
Grenades, some.
Ammunition, some.
Zhao Jiu’s pupils contracted slightly.
“The general manager is planning something big?”
“Just a local security regiment.” Sun Debiao replied.
Zhao Jiu looked at the bottom.
“Weapons required to be German-made; the rest is easy, but German-made weapons are hot right now. The Central Army is promoting German-made equipment, hard to find on the market. No stock in the concession either.”
Sun Debiao nodded, “Then I’ll call back to ask.”
He used Zhao Jiu’s telephone to contact Fang Wen.
“General Manager, no stock on German-made.”
Fang Wen held the microphone, listening to Sun Debiao’s report. If no German-made, switch to others; William was a Weimar officer, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t use individual weapons from other countries.
“Then what’s available now?”
“Hold on, I’ll ask Zhao Jiu.” After a while, Sun Debiao replied: “There’s Soviet M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifles, American M1903 Springfield rifles, and Luger P08 pistols in stock. Oh, Zhao Jiu says two Americans brought a batch of new stuff called ‘Chicago typewriter’; very powerful, but ammo consumption is high.”
（M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle）
Fang Wen was stunned.
‘Chicago typewriter’—that name was too memorable.
Wasn’t that the dedicated weapon of early American gangsters?
Sweeps out big groups, astonishing power, casually wiping out whole families, making everyone change color at the mention of Chicago Gang.
This thing was also brought to Shanghai for sale; Fang Wen was very interested.
As security troops for an airline company, firepower had to be sufficient.
He replied: “Bring back some samples; we’ll test which ones are suitable.”
“Got it.”
Sun Debiao hung up and said to Zhao Jiu: “General Manager says take some samples back to test; can you manage it?”
“Simple. Wait here for me.”
Zhao Jiu went out and returned two hours later.
Bringing several long wooden boxes and a foreigner carrying a suitcase.
He said: “Hard to move the stuff; I’ll send you out of the city. This is the guy selling the Chicago typewriter; he insists on talking in person.”
Sun Debiao glared at the foreigner; could go, but no weapons.
The foreigner didn’t understand, but under Green Gang gestures, handed over the handbag and was searched before agreeing to follow out of the city.
At 4:30 p.m., it was quitting time at Taishan Airlines; employees were walking around inside and outside the airport in small groups.
A small truck drove out from the city and stopped at Taishan Airlines Headquarters.
Fang Wen came downstairs with Shopkeeper Liu and Fang Shouxin.
He said to Zhao Jiu in the truck: “I’ll lead the way ahead; follow me. Not suitable to test guns here.”
Then, he drove his own car, carrying Shopkeeper Liu and Fang Shouxin, setting off; the small truck followed behind.
The two vehicles headed south, all the way to a deserted suburb with no people, before stopping.
Zhao Jiu jumped down from the truck and called: “Unload the stuff carefully; don’t cause a misfire.”
Green Gang subordinates immediately began moving the munitions.
Zhao Jiu, with Sun Debiao and the foreigner, walked toward Fang Wen’s car.
He introduced to Fang Wen, who was getting out: “This is an arms dealer from the United States; he wants to talk to you.”
