Chapter 142: 141, Al Capone, Arms Deal Completed, Fang Wen’s Dedicated Radar Upgrade
Fang Wen sized up that foreigner.
Dark suit, black leather shoes, a simple tie.
Very ordinary formal attire, yet not like a businessman; the indifference inadvertently revealed in his eyes reminded Fang Wen of Gang Leader Wang and Zhao Jiu.
The ring on his right hand had an uppercase letter “M” on it.
Fang Wen asked in English: “Hello, I’d like to know your identity.”
The foreigner introduced himself: “I bring greetings from Mr. Al Capone. In this mysterious East, we want to establish a new market and hope to become long-term partners.”
Al Capone? That name was very familiar.
Fang Wen calmly replied: “I don’t know Al Capone.”
“Sorry, my communication skills are too poor. Please allow me to reintroduce myself. I come from Chicago’s largest gang; Al Capone is my eldest brother. He’s in Chicago prison now, but that doesn’t affect his commanding us to expand business globally.”
Got it.
The man in front of him was from the Chicago Mafia.
Fang Wen also thought of who Al Capone was.
The infamous Scarface Al Capone, who once flooded the network society of the future, described as the most brutal criminal of the 1920s.
As mafia, doing arms business wasn’t strange.
Fang Wen didn’t continue the exchange but walked toward the opened long wooden boxes.
Inside were rifles, pistols, and two different models of spherical grenades.
In another opened suitcase was a submachine gun, a disc-shaped drum magazine, and two normal magazines.
This munitions display was very comprehensive.
What Fang Wen needed to do now was select suitable ones from the pistols, rifles, and grenades; as for the other military procurement, let Sun Debiao follow up slowly later.
The first weapon tested was the long gun: M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle.
With bayonet, it was 1.7 meters.
Without bayonet, 1.3 meters.
From the gun body structure, it looked very simple.
Fang Wen remembered a saying: never point the muzzle at your own people, and don’t touch the trigger before shooting.
He took the gun, with the muzzle up, and examined it carefully.
Zhao Jiu, an old hand with guns, introduced proficiently.
“First turn the bolt to the left, then pull it back fully to check if there is ammunition in the barrel and magazine well.”
“At this point, pulling the bolt will remove it from the rear of the receiver.”
“There is a small floorplate catch fixing the magazine floorplate; turn the catch back, then pull the magazine floorplate down.”
“Finally, remove the magazine floorplate, compress the follower and spring, and you can disassemble the internal components of the magazine.”
Under Zhao Jiu’s guidance, Fang Wen disassembled the long gun.
And thus learned the simple structure of the M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle.
Next was rifle maintenance.
Clean the barrel, magazine well, and various parts to remove dirt and oil stains. Use a clean cloth or cotton gauze to wipe the gun body, keeping it dry and clean. Check and clean the firing pin, spring, and other parts to ensure they work properly.
Then, under Zhao Jiu’s guidance, he reassembled the long gun.
After assembling the bolt, there was one more step.
Before ensuring the firing pin is not affected by the firing pin spring, use repair tools to measure the firing pin protrusion.
The repair tool has two gaps marked 75 and 95, corresponding to 0.75 inches and 0.95 inches.
The firing pin protrusion should exceed 0.75 inches but be less than 0.95 inches.
If the firing pin protrusion doesn’t meet the requirement, use repair tools or a flathead screwdriver to rotate the bolt rear bolt for adjustment.
After doing this, Fang Wen gained some understanding of disassembling, assembling, and maintaining this rifle.
Honestly, it wasn’t complicated, or rather, very simple.
Next was test shooting.
He loaded ammunition into the magazine well, ensuring the ammunition was neatly arranged and properly seated.
Closed the magazine floorplate, raised the gun, and aimed.
Here, there were two standing aiming methods.
Holding with both hands, but unstable, the muzzle easily wobbles.
Right arm supporting the gun, left hand aiming, slightly more stable.
But no standing aiming shot could compare to firing from a rest.
The true use of this gun was to first find cover, then quietly seek targets at long range, delivering a fatal strike before they noticed.
After testing the first long gun, Fang Wen didn’t decide.
Instead, he picked up the second one.
M1903 Springfield rifle.
The previous was Soviet-made, this was American-made.
The two weapons represented completely different design philosophies.
Soviet-made was rugged, emphasizing simplicity and practicality.
American-made pursued more precision.
Precisely because of this, the M1903 Springfield rifle had many parts; Zhao Jiu said: “Better not disassemble this one, I’m afraid we can’t reassemble it.”
Fang Wen nodded and skipped the disassembly, starting to test fire it.
After testing both long guns, Shopkeeper Liu, Fang Shouxin, and Sun Debiao also test-fired them.
Fang Wen discussed with them.
“I think both guns are good. What do you think?”
Shopkeeper Liu said: “I have no opinion; I can’t tell good from bad with guns.”
Fang Shouxin thought for a moment and replied: “Seems the M1903 Springfield rifle is a bit more accurate.”
Sun Debiao had a different view: “Both guns are about the same, but if it were me, I’d definitely choose the M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle. That gun is simple; minor issues can be fixed yourself. In field combat, it’s especially durable. If the M1903 Springfield rifle breaks, it’d be more trouble than the M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle.”
Sun Debiao’s judgment from a military perspective led Fang Wen to decide that Taishan Airlines Security Regiment would use the M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle.
As for pistols, there was only one kind.
Luger P08 pistol, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol that was standard issue for officers in the Weimar Republic, with high output.
Strangely, in China, it was neglected, the only German gear in stock.
After test-firing, Fang Wen found no issues and ordered this pistol.
Next were the infantry’s essential webbing. It had a row of ammunition bags, each holding 15 rifle rounds.
Fang Wen felt this thing was somewhat unsuitable.
How could webbing only hold bullets? One or two grenades were essential, plus other flexible configurations like rations.
He decided to have Sun Debiao go to a clothing factory back home to make a new one based on this idea.
At this point, only grenades and the submachine gun remained untested.
There were two models of grenades, looking quite similar.
Zhao Jiu introduced: “This is the British Mills bomb, one No. 5, one No. 23. Both retired ten years ago, smuggled over for sale. Everything’s good, just the price is a bit high; arms buyers hear one grenade costs 150 bullets and won’t buy.”
Guns have their advantages, grenades have theirs, especially fragmentation grenades, most suitable for the Security Regiment against invading bandits.
Fang Wen decided to test the power.
He took a rubber mat from the car backseat and placed it below a small slope.
Then had Zhao Jiu demonstrate.
Zhao Jiu carefully pulled the pin and threw it quickly.
Ten seconds later, the No. 5 grenade exploded.
Good effect; shrapnel flew into the rubber mat.
Next was the No. 23 test; this model had slightly more power.
There was a threaded hole under the base cap, probably for screwing in a long handle to make it a wooden-handled grenade.
Relatively speaking, Fang Wen felt the No. 23 was more suitable; as long as a matching screw was made to insert, with a wooden handle on the other end, it would better fit Eastern soldiers’ throwing habits.
He chose the No. 23 Mills bomb.
After these selections, only the Chicago typewriter remained.
Fang Wen picked up the thing.
In hand, it was quite heavy.
About 5 kilograms, heavier than the two long guns tested before.
Length under one meter.
That gang arms dealer came over to introduce: “The M1921 submachine gun uses .45 caliber bullets, with two feeding systems: optional 20-round standard magazine or 50-round large drum magazine.”
“Can the two feeding modes be switched anytime?” Fang Wen asked.
The other shook his head: “These two feeding modes are achieved by replacing the entire feeding device. In combat, if a soldier needs to change feeding mode, he must stop shooting, remove the current feeding device（ magazine or drum magazine）, then install the other feeding device.”
“Give me a drum magazine.”
At Fang Wen’s request, the gang arms dealer demonstrated how to install the drum magazine in the feeding port; actually, both magazine and drum magazine installed in the same feeding position.
Loaded, select firing mode via selector: single shot or burst.
Fang Wen chose burst, then disengaged the safety catch and aimed.
Pulled the trigger.
Bullets from the drum magazine fired out like they were free.
At 800 rounds per minute rate of fire, the 50-round drum magazine emptied in under 10 seconds.
The wooden board target ahead was riddled with holes, the effect truly astonishing.
Sun Debiao sighed: “This gun is only for the rich, General Manager. If you equip the Security Regiment with this weapon, our company will be drinking northwest wind.”
Fang Wen deeply agreed and nodded; fun as it was, it really cost too much.
Only gangs could afford it; mow down all opponents, seize territory, and it was worth it.
Though he didn’t want to buy, Fang Wen was very interested in Al Capone.
The reason for his interest was he remembered the V-1710 engine he asked Neil to get from the United States.
Such an important engine, perhaps Neil couldn’t get it, but for mafia like Al Capone, it might be possible.
Therefore, this connection must be maintained.
He looked at the man and smiled: “If Mr. Al Capone wants to open a new market in the Far East, I think munitions aren’t the best path. We can have more cooperation.”
The other was intrigued: “Mr. Fang, what do you mean?”
“I have big business to discuss with him, but not now.”
What Fang Wen meant was he was willing to have more business cooperation with Al Capone, but what exactly, this man wasn’t qualified to hear; he wouldn’t say.
The other didn’t feel offended. “I’ll report to Mr. Al Capone; hope your big business is really big.”
“Absolutely big.”
Fang Wen finished the gun inspection, talked with Zhao Jiu, and confirmed the munitions to purchase.
They agreed Zhao Jiu would act as intermediary, responsible for delivery to the airport, completing the transaction there with money and goods cleared.
Then, everyone got in the car and returned.
Two days later, the munitions arrived; Fang Wen flew the f.220 at night, transporting the weapons to Xiangxi Airport.
Then he returned to Shanghai and flew the Shrike Hao to Beiping.
Landed at Beiping Qinghe Airport, borrowed his senior student’s car, and drove to the nearby Huaqing Garden.
The car entered Tsinghua University; Fang Wen recalled his last visit and drove to the Physics Department.
He parked, went straight upstairs to the teacher’s office.
There, the professor who had received Fang Wen before immediately stood to greet him.
“Isn’t this Taishan Airlines General Manager Fang? Coming all this way, here to check on the radar project, right?”
“Yes. How’s the project progressing now?” Fang Wen asked.
“Follow me to the laboratory.”
The professor took Fang Wen to the laboratory built specifically for radar development.
There, two professors were conducting experiments with students.
They connected the equipment to power.
The antenna on the equipment began rotating.
A nearby student seriously listened on the microphone.
“Echo signal detected.”
They tried calculating based on the return signal’s feedback time.
And determined direction.
This was a complex calculation process; even using designed formulas, results couldn’t be obtained immediately.
And the feedback time wasn’t that accurate.
In short, for radar to reach World War II levels, it was still a long way off.
The two professors, learning Taishan Airlines General Manager came to inspect, showed embarrassed expressions.
And explained:
“We need to optimize and purchase more advanced time measurement devices to get more precise results.”
They thought the funder would be very unhappy.
But unexpectedly, Fang Wen agreed directly.
“Fine, report expenses to Shopkeeper Liu; he’ll disburse funds after approval. I’m here to learn about something else. Have you completed the continuous radio wave transmission and reception device?”
Hearing this, the two professors eagerly introduced their achievements.
“The transmission and reception devices aren’t hard to make. This is our transmitter, composed of oscillator, amplifier, antenna. The oscillator generates periodic electrical signals, i.e., oscillating current. The amplifier amplifies the oscillator’s electrical signals, increasing electromagnetic wave transmission power. Then converts the amplified signals to electromagnetic waves and transmits them into space via antenna.”
“As for the signal receiver, it includes antenna, amplifier, tuner. Antenna receives electromagnetic waves propagating in space and converts them to electrical signals. Amplifier amplifies the weak received signals for further processing. Tuner selectively receives specific frequency electromagnetic waves, filtering other frequency interference.”
The two professors’ explanation made sense to Fang Wen; actually, he’d been using these two devices for a while.
Wasn’t it just the telegraph machine!
But what he came for this time wasn’t a telegraph machine.
He asked: “I want a device that specifically transmits radio waves at a particular frequency, needing continuous radio wave transmission effect. And a specific frequency reception device that specifically receives reflections of this signal.”
The professors nodded without thinking: “Sure.”
Fang Wen continued: “I have more requirements. The specific frequency reception device needs high power to expand listening range. The specific frequency radio wave transmitter should be miniaturized, ideally under one meter long, weight not exceeding 30 kilograms, and powered by hand-cranked generator.”
As he spoke, he drew a blueprint on paper.
The specific frequency radio wave transmitter was like a gun, front like future radar structure, semi-circular cross-section serving as antenna.
Rear connected to other equipment and hand-cranked generator.
The professors listened to Fang Wen and took serious notes.
What he wanted could be made.
As for whether it would achieve the effect Fang Wen wanted after making.
That would require mounting on an airplane, then cooperating with Sun Debiao for an exercise to know if it worked.
