Chapter 216: Rematch With Hawk Ii, A Different Kowloon Walled City
“I’m leaving.” Fang Wen bid farewell to his wife on the airplane; this parting was very brief.
The airplane engine roared again.
Kuang Mingzhu put her hands to her mouth and shouted loudly, “Be safe. Remember to find Master Ma Wu.”
Amid her shouts, Shrike Hao took off.
Fang Wen, who hadn’t flown Shrike Hao for a long time, accelerated in the air and showed off a tactical roll.
With the improvement of his abilities, Shrike Hao, this first generation monoplane fighter, had become too simple for Fang Wen.
He took out the amber cross necklace; the energy inside was weakening, and it probably wouldn’t be long before he had to replace it with the bronze ding.
Fang Wen piloted the airplane toward Hong Kong, but his thoughts were wandering.
The V1710 engine had been bought back for so long; while constructing the aircraft manufacturing plant, should he replace Shrike Hao’s power system from the Pratt & Whitney Wasp Engine to the V1710 engine?
That way, Shrike Hao’s performance would improve dramatically.
But with the increase in speed, Shrike Hao’s fuselage would also need changes to reduce drag during high-speed flight.
Although Fang Wen was pondering, his control of the flight did not diminish.
When the airplane flew over Thailand, he immediately snapped out of his thoughts and focused his mind.
The last time he was piloting a seaplane and chased by a Hawk-2, that memory was still fresh.
A seaplane couldn’t compare to a military fighter jet; he could only swallow that mute loss.
If he encountered them again this time, he wouldn’t mind playing with them.
Therefore, Shrike Hao deliberately deviated from the flight path, circling over the border army garrison area where they had appeared last time.
This behavior immediately drew attention from the ground.
Facing Shrike Hao, they sent out three Hawk 2 fighter jets at the same time.
The three airplanes formed a left-center-right pincer attack formation and flew over.
This time, Fang Wen wouldn’t give them time to warn; the airplane suddenly accelerated, the nose dipped, and with speed far exceeding the Hawk II, it broke out of the encirclement.
The speed difference between the two was too great.
Hawk 2’s top speed was 325 kilometers per hour, cruising speed 240 kilometers per hour.
Although it was one of the best biplanes, it couldn’t match Shrike Hao’s 377 kilometers per hour top speed and 320 kilometers per hour cruising speed.
With more than a third speed advantage, Fang Wen toyed with the three Hawk 2s in the air.
Effortlessly.
Fang Wen suddenly had an idea: why not use this opportunity to test the air combat effects after his ability improvement.
Of course, not by using machine guns to shoot down the three airplanes—that would cause an international dispute—but tactical evasion maneuvers training.
In the early and mid-stages of piston-engine fighter air combat, machine guns were primary, and later autocannons were added; these weapons’ characteristics were direct aiming and firing delay.
If flight evasion maneuvers could achieve non-linear flight, denying the opponent chances to aim and shoot, one could gain advantage in air combat.
This was also the signature skill of World War II ace pilots.
After having this idea, Fang Wen’s piloting style became ethereal and unpredictable, with various non-standard flight maneuvers repeatedly shaking off pursuers without giving them chances to aim and attack.
The three Hawk 2 pilots realized they had encountered a formidable opponent; they began closing in on each other.
Fang Wen detected this situation first through mechanical perception and knew the game was over; three Hawk 2s firing together chaotically wouldn’t be easy to dodge.
He performed an extreme tactical maneuver for Shrike Hao: Cobra maneuver.
Shrike Hao, in high-speed flight, suddenly performed a large angle climb, instantly bursting into the clouds, causing the three Hawk 2s to lose their target.
Shrike Hao, charging into the high sky, completed the turn and circled behind the three Hawk 2s.
At this moment, Fang Wen made aiming and simulated firing motions, mentally marking the three Hawk 2s with death labels.
Unfortunately, they weren’t Japanese Army fighter jets; Fang Wen sighed and turned direction to fly out of the border.
Shrike Hao changed its flight path and engaged in another high-speed chase with the three Hawk 2s; with insufficient fuel to fly straight to Hong Kong, it needed to refuel midway.
The refueling spot was the French Military Base where he had landed midway during the trip to Thailand to pick up Kuang Mingzhu and her father.
Fang Wen circled Shrike Hao over the base at high altitude and made a radio request in the French he had learned over the past two years.
“Taishan Airlines Shrike Hao requests landing.”
The ground replied, “Notification received; you may land.”
Then, the airplane landed at the military airport in French Vietnam.
The one who came to greet Fang Wen was still that military officer from two years ago.
He recognized Fang Wen: “It’s you; I remember you came before, bringing a very pretty girl.”
Fang Wen shook hands with him and smiled back, “Yes, she later became my wife.”
“Congratulations.” The military officer looked at the airplane and exclaimed, “You’ve changed airplanes this time too; really beautiful. Just a bit short on medals.”
The medals the military officer mentioned were the airplane’s battle record; Qingyun Hao had a battle record, having sunk Izumo and shot down a Japanese Army fighter jet.
That was the airplane’s glory; its pilot owner would personally paint the battle record on the fuselage.
But Shrike Hao had none, so even after flying tens of thousands of kilometers and going through much, it had regrets.
Fang Wen stroked the fuselage and replied affirmatively, “It will have medals.”
“Really? I look forward to your story continuing.” After speaking, the military officer had the fuel truck drive over and fill Shrike Hao with fuel.
After refueling at the French military airport, Shrike Hao took off again, passing through Gulf of Tonkin and Leizhou Peninsula, finally arriving in Hong Kong.
Fang Wen controlled the airplane to circle at high altitude, admiring Hong Kong of this era.
The entire Hong Kong was mostly mountainous area, with hills stretching continuously.
Only around Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula did it have the appearance of a densely built city.
Where was the landing airport?
Fang Wen scanned to the right.
Between Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island was Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong’s deep-water port; the airport was there too, on the Kowloon Peninsula side.
This airport was very similar to Guangzhou Dashatou Airport; both were built in the city.
Having confirmed the airport location, Fang Wen activated the radio device and called.
This time, he used the name of British Indian Navy; the ground control tower immediately approved the landing request.
After the airplane landed, Fang Wen parked it in the rented hangar, then met with the British Army personnel who came to receive him.
He carried a small leather suitcase and handed it to the British Army military officer: “This is what British Indian Navy Colonel Johann asked me to give you. There’s also a small gift from me inside; thank you for your help.”
The military officer opened the suitcase, saw various items brought by friends, and a stack of British pounds.
Clearly, the British pounds were the gift this pilot mentioned.
The British Army military officer smiled: “Thank you. If anything happens in Hong Kong, you can come find me at the barracks. By the way, this is your entry identification.”
He handed Fang Wen a document labeled special pass and chatted a bit more before leaving with the suitcase.
Watching the British Army military officer leave, Fang Wen immediately prepared to get to business.
He needed to figure out who was the white gloves for the person sent to negotiate, and how big their appetite was.
These things could originally be learned directly by going to the negotiation site and communicating with them.
But remembering what his wife said, he decided to find Master Ma Wu first.
Leaving the airport, Fang Wen looked around; the transportation conditions here were actually similar to Nanjing, with buses and rickshaws, but very few taxis.
The rickshaw pullers who noticed him all stood up and pulled their rickshaws over to ask.
“Sir, want a ride?” “Take my rickshaw; I run fast.”
That accent came from all directions, very mixed.
“I want to go to Kowloon Walled City,” Fang Wen replied.
Immediately, half the rickshaw pullers turned back.
Some rickshaw pullers didn’t mind and explained, “They think the place is too remote; taking you there means no business on the return. I’m different; as long as there’s money, I’ll take you. Sir, my rickshaw is only 1 silver dollar.”
In this world, you can’t judge a book by its cover; even close friends might have hidden agendas.
Fang Wen touched his small pistol, smiled, and nodded: “Alright, take me there.”
He got on the rickshaw; the rickshaw puller ran briskly while being very chatty.
“Kowloon Walled City was originally a Qing Dynasty official’s residence. Later, the British occupied the land to build Victoria City and set up artillery batteries there. When Hong Kong was leased to the British, Kowloon Walled City wasn’t included, so it still belonged to the Qing Dynasty, but the next year the British took it by force. After taking the walled city, the British neither lived there nor stationed guards, leaving it empty. Later, people from Guangzhou gathered there to live; there are over a hundred households, more than 2000 people. Sir, you’re from Guangdong, right? Looking for relatives?”
A pile of words, and now he was probing.
Fang Wen replied, “I’m not from Guangdong; I’m going to Kowloon Walled City to find Master Ma Wu.”
The rickshaw puller suddenly fell silent and pulled the rickshaw forward quietly.
After a while, the rickshaw puller spoke: “Kowloon Walled City has arrived.”
The Kowloon Walled City at this time was completely different from the Kowloon Walled City Fang Wen knew from future networks.
It was really just an official residence, with fortifications and artillery batteries built outside.
Built against the hill, with high terrain, perfectly controlling the Victoria Harbour area.
（Kowloon Walled City in the 1930s）
Arriving at the place, the rickshaw didn’t stop but went straight inside.
The rickshaw puller said, “You said you want to see Master Ma Wu; good thing, I’ll take you there.”
The brisk rickshaw puller forcefully pulled the rickshaw into the walled city area, going deeper until reaching a large courtyard where he stopped.
He shouted loudly outside the courtyard: “Master Wu, today I picked up an out-of-towner fare, thinking it’d ease my hunger, but he says he’s here to find you. I just want to ask if it’s true.”
With that, several men who had followed the rickshaw surrounded them; clearly accomplices of the rickshaw puller.
Fang Wen drew his pistol, gripping it in his right hand with his left covering; if anyone dared approach, he’d shoot.
Just as it seemed a fight was about to break out, an elder holding a pipe walked out from the courtyard.
His appearance made those people scatter again.
The elder walked to the rickshaw and asked, “Who is looking for me?”
“Kuang Shanming’s son-in-law; my father-in-law said that coming to Hong Kong, I must visit Master Ma Wu; he and you are the best of brothers,” Fang Wen replied.
The elder immediately smiled and waved: “All of you disperse; this is a guest from an old friend’s family; don’t make me lose face.”
The rickshaw puller and the others said no more and left.
Only then did Fang Wen put away the pistol and get off the rickshaw.
He cupped his fists in salute, then presented a gift bag.
“Master Ma Wu, I’m Fang Wen; visiting this time on short notice, I only prepared some modest gifts.”
The elder shook his head, didn’t take the gift bag, and turned toward the courtyard: “Follow me.”
Fang Wen followed him into the courtyard and sat at the stone table in the courtyard.
Soon after, a maidservant set out tea utensils and brewed hot tea.
Only then did the elder speak: “You brought gifts because you don’t know my friendship with your father-in-law. He sent word this morning; I’ll definitely help with your matter. Tell me, what do you need?”
Fang Wen nodded: “The people they sent are waiting at Swire Building for me to negotiate. I want to feel out his background first.”
Master Ma Wu was stunned: “Swire Building? My people can’t get in there; who have you provoked to stay on Swire’s turf?”
“All very powerful people,” Fang Wen sighed.
Tai Gu Foreign Firm in the Republic of China was no ordinary foreign commercial institution; it had built tall buildings in places like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Wuhan, and other locales, landmark buildings everywhere.
This was just for Tai Gu Foreign Firm’s offices; its industry involved trade, shipping, industry, banking, proving the vast scale of its business empire in China.
From this, Master Ma Wu inferred that the people Fang Wen provoked were of high level, or they wouldn’t receive Tai Gu Foreign Firm’s hospitality.
It seemed he couldn’t get the opponent’s information through Master Ma Wu; Fang Wen settled for the next best: “Then get me a few people tomorrow to accompany me to Swire Building for negotiations; don’t let us lose in momentum.”
Master Ma Wu nodded, “Then we’ll need some tough guys.” He called out loudly: “Guan Dequan, bring your men.”
The man arrived; that Guan Dequan was actually the rickshaw puller, somewhat embarrassed as he cupped fists in apology: “Young Master Fang, don’t mind; it’s jianghu rules, not me deliberately making trouble.”
Fang Wen smiled and nodded, handing the gift bag to Guan Dequan: “Tomorrow come with me for the show of strength; can’t skimp here. Use the money inside to get each of you a suit at a Western clothing store.”
Those men immediately beamed with joy.
The first night in Hong Kong was spent sleeping in the abandoned Qing Dynasty official residence, Kowloon Walled City.
Backed by mountains and facing the sea, unlike the future surrounded by towering illegal buildings, it was quite comfortable to stay in.
The next day, Fang Wen was woken by someone; getting up, he saw Guan Dequan and five others in suits, standing straight outside the door waiting.
This image was decent; after washing up, Fang Wen went out with the five.
Since they hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, Guan Dequan suggested stopping at a food stall on the way.
Fang Wen laughed: “All expenses today are covered; when you go to Swire Building, eat, drink, and play freely; don’t save money for them.”
Hearing they could enjoy at Hong Kong’s most luxurious place, Guan Dequan and the five were overjoyed.
Then, they took a boat from Kowloon Dock to Hong Kong Island.
Getting off the boat and entering Connaught Road by the seaside, they could see Swire Building.
“Let’s go; I’ll handle the negotiations, you handle the enjoyment—go all out,” Fang Wen said with a smile, leading the team across the wide Connaught Road.
They arrived at the first-floor entrance of Swire Building.
Two red-headed Sikhs stood guard at the gate and stopped them in Chinese:
“Sorry, Chinese people not from this company may not enter without an invitation.”
These words enraged Guan Dequan and the five, who were about to curse.
Fang Wen raised his hand to stop them and sneered: “Go report that Taishan Airlines General Manager Fang Wen has come specially for the negotiations.”
