Chapter 149: Final Flaw Resolved, Future Direction: Aviation Logistics Park
The airplane has returned to base, and it was already past seven in the morning.
When the airplane was parked inside the hangar, Shao Sishen made a suggestion.
“I think what we’re doing isn’t safe enough. Taishan One took off and returned to base; we need some pretext for that.”
His words were also what Fang Wen had considered.
Fang Wen nodded. “I’ve been thinking about this too. I’ll handle it. You all go back first.”
After everyone got off the airplane, Fang Wen stayed inside the aircraft alone, pondering.
Now that Taishan One has been bought back, something must be done with it to serve as everyday cover.
But for a heavy transport aircraft with a payload of nearly 10 tons, what could it reasonably carry?
It must make money and operate long-term so that outsiders see Taishan One as an ordinary cargo airplane.
In these times, what kind of supplies are worth air cargo transport?
Speaking of what makes money in this era, is in short supply, and requires air cargo to deliver promptly across the country, Fang Wen knew a few things.
First up is the tobacco business.
Although domestic and foreign tobacco companies compete fiercely and advertise more than each other, no tobacco company is losing money.
This industry has explosively high profits; as long as there’s a market, wealth flows in.
But these tobacco companies are severely lacking in sales channels.
You can tell from how they wage advertising wars in Shanghai until their heads are bloody.
If Taishan Airlines uses air transport to ship their tobacco in large quantities to inland areas and establishes tobacco distribution channels in the process, it can earn huge profits and serve as the best cover for Taishan One.
Besides the tobacco business, medicinal materials are also supplies with huge transport volumes and widespread demand, and air distribution channels can be established for them too.
Just these two are enough.
After making the decision, Fang Wen immediately got off the airplane. It wasn’t to discuss this with everyone, but to go home and catch up on sleep to restore his energy.
That matter could wait until the evening meeting to discuss.
Right, there was also the arrangement for Sun Debiao. Two bombings were already the limit for the Taishan Volunteer Army; it was time to notify him to return.
After returning home, Fang Wen immediately sent a telegram to Sun Debiao.
In the north, Nantianmen Great Wall Section.
Gunpowder smoke still lingered in the sky, with flames dotted across the ground.
Overnight, the battle situation changed.
Soldiers of the 57th Army, their faces blackened, patrolled the Japanese Army positions, searching for useful combat supplies.
Last night’s inferno from the sky swept through three Japanese Army positions, and the 57th Army, along with friendly forces providing joint defense, launched an attack and repelled the Japanese Army.
The Japanese Army, having lost their position defenses, plus the chaos of the nighttime fire, could only retreat to the south bank of the Luan River.
Unfortunately, the 57th Army did not press the advantage afterward but chose to hold the positions.
Until now, the sky had already brightened.
Without the cover of the great fire and darkness, the army’s morale was no longer as high as last night, so this battle came to an end.
And further outside the Great Wall, in that valley Japanese Army camp, due to the terrain, it was also completely burned down by two 50-kilogram napalm bombs.
Sun Debiao, observing these scenes from the mountaintop, felt immensely proud, his emotions overflowing beyond words.
He really wanted to shout loudly that all this was due to his merit.
But in the end, he didn’t say it. How could a great hero boast about himself?
He was just getting old, telling it as a story to his grandsons.
It was exactly 8 o’clock, time for the scheduled telegram reception.
Sun Debiao vigorously cranked the hand-cranked telegraph machine handle and picked up the earpiece to listen.
The radio waves arrived as expected; he listened and recorded.
The general manager sent a telegram saying the bombing was over and he should return.
Sun Debiao felt a bit regretful, feeling like he hadn’t bombed enough; there were so many Japanese devils, impossible to finish bombing them all.
But he also knew the company’s situation; organizing two bombings was already the limit. He could only hope the National Army would seize this opportunity to drive the Japanese Army out of the Great Wall Defense Line.
Right, there was also Zhang Laifu.
This man couldn’t be left here; he knew some of the company’s secrets.
The bandit-born Sun Debiao felt a surge of killing intent, thinking to eliminate Zhang Laifu on the spot to avoid future trouble.
But the next second, his killing intent receded.
He wasn’t a bandit anymore. How could he still act by the bandit’s ways?
Zhang Laifu couldn’t stay here; should he bring him back to the company?
He had a wife, child, and old mother at home. Bringing them all out of this theater of operations would be a good deed and ensure secrecy.
So, Sun Debiao smiled and looked at Zhang Laifu: “Laifu, once I’m done here, I’m going back to enjoy life. Do you want to come with me?”
“Go with you to enjoy life?” Zhang Laifu was delighted but shook his head: “No, I have to go back to take care of my mother.”
“Bring your whole family.”
“Really? That’s great, let’s go back.”
Zhang Laifu happily agreed.
The two dug a big pit on the spot and buried everything in it, leaving nothing behind.
Then they retraced their original path back.
At four in the afternoon on May 13th, Fang Wen got up from bed.
Kuang Mingzhu, who had already changed out of her red wedding dress, brought a water basin, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
While Fang Wen was washing up, Kuang Mingzhu fetched a package.
“This is intelligence just delivered from the city; it hasn’t been opened yet. Look at it after you finish washing up.”
“Oh,” Fang Wen mumbled in response, his mouth full of toothpaste foam.
Finishing up quickly, Fang Wen took the package and cut it open with a paper cutter.
After taking out the intelligence inside and reading it, he slapped his thigh hard: “Good, Mingzhu, let’s have a celebration banquet tonight. We’ll get some good wine and dishes.”
Kuang Mingzhu smiled and replied: “We have good wine; the leftover good wine from the wedding banquet is stored in the inner room, enough for you all to drink for a while. For the dishes, I’ll make them.”
“I’ll go with you to buy ingredients.” Fang Wen smiled, put away the intelligence package, and went out with his wife.
The two went out, notified the Taishan Volunteer Army members to meet, then went to the nearby market street to buy some fresh ingredients.
After buying the ingredients, they returned home and, with help from the cook, Chun Cao, and Qiu Ju, prepared a big table.
After finishing this, it was already 6 p.m., and all members had arrived.
Everyone took their seats, and Fang Wen poured wine into the small wine cups in front of each person.
Then he gave a toast.
“Tonight’s meal is the Taishan Volunteer Army’s celebration banquet. Everyone knows our current capabilities can only achieve this much, but the results are outstanding, enough for us to celebrate. Let’s all drink a cup together, then I’ll summarize our two bombings.”
Shopkeeper Liu, Pan Jiafeng, Fang Shouxin, Fang Shun, Shao Sishen, Howard.
Along with Fang Wen and Kuang Mingzhu, they all raised their cups and drank together.
Fang Wen poured himself another cup and toasted into the air.
“This cup is for Sun Debiao in the north, and Huo Duanyang and William at the Xiangxi Airport.”
After finishing his second cup, he took out the paper he had written and read aloud.
“The first bombing caused 2300 casualties to the Japanese 6th Division’s Hiraga Brigade, killed one brigade commander and several senior military officers, directly leading to the brigade’s chaos. Unfortunately, without ground troops following up, the chance to annihilate the brigade was lost, allowing it to retreat safely and regroup.”
“The second bombing, though we can’t tally the results, caused chaos across all positions of the 6th Division last night. Meanwhile, the 57th Army, withdrawn to the second defensive line behind the Luan River, launched a counterattack and successfully repelled the Japanese Army as a whole.”
After hearing Fang Wen’s words, everyone was in high spirits.
Shopkeeper Liu said: “From what I know, the Japanese Army committed two divisions, two mixed brigades, and 30,000 puppet army in the Great Wall Campaign. The 6th Division was their main force for the southern flanking operation. If we seize this chance to drive the 6th Division out of Shanhaiguan and recover the lost territory inside the Passes, that would be the best outcome.”
Fang Wen said nothing.
The old him might have agreed with Shopkeeper Liu.
But now, having seen real combat between the two armies, he realized the huge gap between them.
In the Great Wall Campaign, the best fighters were on top of the Great Wall.
The other troops, fighting on flat ground, were no match for the Japanese Army at all.
Last night’s results were not the best outcome he had imagined.
After one night of counterattack, with Japanese Army positions engulfed in fire across the line, they still couldn’t drive the Japanese Army to the north bank of the Luan River.
The outcome could be said to be not optimistic.
Sharing his view was Shao Sishen.
Shao Sishen shook his head and said: “It’s difficult. If last night we had pressed the advantage and driven the Japanese Army to the north bank of the Luan River, then held the Luan River for prolonged stalemate, there might still be hope. Now, with the Japanese Army on the south bank of the Luan River, fighting with their backs to the water, they’ll likely launch a counterattack soon. Then, the recaptured positions will probably be lost again. And we can’t provide them bombing support anymore.”
His words were very realistic, plunging the members of Fang Wen’s small group into silence.
Fang Wen could only continue with other intelligence.
“Currently, the Japanese still suspect the strategic bomber came from Soviet forces in Siberia. They’ve assembled a force north of Rehe for defense.”
“At the same time, they’re conducting an internal investigation to find inside help guiding the airplane bombing.”
“Additionally, today’s Japanese offensive remains strong. Though the 6th Division’s threat has weakened, pressure from the Rehe and Chengde directions has increased. Artillery fire has reached the Miyun area, and Japanese airplanes are still conducting intimidation flights over Beiping.”
At this point, Fang Wen felt indignant.
He blurted out: “I really want to fly the Shrike Hao over Beiping and shoot down the Japanese airplanes.”
Fang Shouxin analyzed: “It’s difficult. This would require approval from the National Government and the Beiping military division committee. A mere civilian like the general manager would never be allowed to join the fight.”
“Not necessarily; we have to ask to know.” Fang Wen thought of Yue Jinping and the dividend shareholders of Taishan Airlines; perhaps they could help smooth things over.
But this wasn’t for discussion now.
He continued to the next agenda item of the meeting.
“Our two bombings have used up all our bomb material reserves. Considering we can’t continue large-scale procurement in Shanghai, future bombing resources need to be transported by airplane from the South Asia port of Yangon. This requires sending someone to oversee airport construction and communicate flight path matters with Kolkata. Who wants to go?”
Fang Shouxin, Shopkeeper Liu, and Shao Sishen all raised their hands.
The first two volunteering was expected, but why was Shao Sishen willing too?
Fang Wen looked at Shao Sishen in surprise: “You want to go?”
“Yes, general manager. Don’t worry about my health; I can walk normally now, and my right hand can grip.”
As Shao Sishen spoke, he stood up specially to walk; though limping a bit, he moved smoothly.
He then demonstrated gripping the wine cup with his right hand; it shook a little but held firm.
In this half year, Shao Sishen had actually restored his disabled body through exercise.
Fang Wen was somewhat moved but didn’t agree immediately. Instead, he asked: “Shao Sishen, tell me what advantages you bring. The Yangon Airport is very important.”
Shao Sishen replied: “Our Shao family originally did business abroad and only settled in Guangzhou in recent years. Kuang Mingzhu can vouch for me.”
Kuang Mingzhu explained: “Our Kuang Family deals a lot with the French, so my family’s old third studied in France. Their Shao family mainly deals with the British; their previous overseas industries involved trade in British colonies.”
Shao Sishen chimed in: “Yes, my family mainly did porcelain exports, via the Kolkata-to-Europe sea route. The elderly at home often sailed ships; I learned from an early age. Plus, we have acquaintances in Yangon.”
This made Shao Sishen indeed a good candidate. Fang Wen nodded: “Alright then. Prepare yourself; in a couple days, I’ll fly you to Kolkata, and you can go to Yangon by ship or land.”
“No problem.” Shao Sishen gladly agreed and added: “The theory class for the second batch of flight apprentice training is done; actual flight training will be taken over by Pan Jiafeng. The general manager can oversee it occasionally. As for the flight attendant selection and training, who should handle that?”
Shunzi stood up immediately: “I’ll handle the beauty selection.”
“You little punk, your dirty thoughts are spilling out. Sit down.” Fang Shouxin laughed and pulled Shunzi back to his seat.
Come to think of it, among all these people present, it seemed only Fang Wen had a wife.
A bunch of bachelors handling flight attendant selection and training wouldn’t be appropriate.
Fang Wen looked at his wife.
“Mingzhu, I think you should take this on.”
Kuang Mingzhu smiled in agreement.
At this point, there was still one agenda item left.
Fang Wen continued: “The last matter is about Taishan One. Such a big airplane, if not used for transport regularly, will definitely raise suspicion. I’ve thought it over: let it do air distribution channels.”
What are air distribution channels?
Everyone was puzzled.
Fang Wen explained to them.
“What I’m planning is high-profit tobacco and medicinal materials. First, tobacco: high sales volume, high profits, but tobacco companies lack stable, timely supply channels.”
As Fang Wen spoke, he unfolded the map.
“Taishan Airlines has this advantage. Look: we can fly large quantities of cigarettes to major cities like Jinan, Wuhan, Nanchang, Fuzhou. Then establish warehouses locally for distribution. With Taishan One’s carrying capacity, we can deliver 8 tons at a time, even multiple round trips a day, transporting over ten or twenty tons no problem. Those high-profit tobacco companies want sales volume, and we solve that for them.”
Fang Wen paused.
“Medicinal materials are also high-profit commodities that can support air freight costs. Same logic: we deliver large batches promptly to various places and radiate to surroundings. Local apothecaries lacking nonlocal or precious medicinal materials can get them through our distribution warehouses.”
Everyone listened in confusion yet like discovering a new continent.
Little did they know, what Fang Wen described was the future air logistics park—though not yet at that level; it required continuous effort.
