Chapter 264: 263 Bombing Effects, Taishan Internal Military Competition
Taishan One circled at high altitude.
Fang Wen, in mechanical perception state, observed Tokyo City below.
There were not many high-rise buildings below, the nighttime lights were not as bright as Shanghai’s, but the city covered a large area.
At the very center, there was a large dark area.
That should be the Emperor’s Imperial Palace, the only place in Tokyo City covered by a large expanse of trees.
Surrounding it were numerous military administration building complexes.
While observing, Fang Wen suddenly received a radio waves positioning signal.
He immediately began airdrop preparations, flew the airplane to the signal-marked point, and dropped the first auxiliary fuel tank bomb.
（World War II Tokyo Imperial Palace aerial photography）
February 29th, 3 a.m.
Soldiers gathered inside the Prime Minister’s Official Residence, waiting for daylight by the burning pile.
They expected an audience with the Emperor to display their ambitions, but they did not realize this assassination would doom them to death.
But this time, they could not wait.
A massive auxiliary fuel tank bomb fell from the sky into the fire pile, causing a huge explosion.
Countless fire points shot out, igniting the Prime Minister’s Residence, while the aviation fuel at the center also erupted in terrifying flames.
The rebel soldiers at the explosion center perished in the sea of fire.
Yoshida, hiding in the distance, was stunned by this astonishing hit rate.
Watching the fire points shooting everywhere, he suddenly pounded on the door of the room where the Prime Minister was hiding.
“Prime Minister, open the door quickly, we have a chance to escape.”
The door opened, and the Prime Minister, now dressed in servant clothes, leaned out to look at the towering flames outside. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know either.” Yoshida pretended ignorance, supported the Prime Minister, and headed toward the back door.
Due to the sudden massive explosion, the defending troops at the back door were gone, and the two smoothly left the Prime Minister’s Residence.
On the pitch-black street, the two did not know where to go.
Yoshida supported the Prime Minister and chose to head toward the Military Department.
Along the way, the First Division rebels had set up checkpoints everywhere, making it nearly impossible to pass.
Yoshida steeled himself and activated the airdrop guidance device in his backpack again.
He targeted the Imperial Palace gate, Metropolitan Police Department, rebel garrison point, government building, and the distant Military Department.
Soon after, bombs rained from the sky as expected, each target struck by an auxiliary fuel tank bomb, accompanied by continuous burning fire points amid towering flames.
Then came a continuous barrage of small napalm bombs from the sky.
Amid this bombing, all of Tokyo City fell into chaos, and the situation, which had eased during the day, immediately worsened.
Dense gunfire rang out, along with air defense alarm sounds and shouts for firefighting.
Taishan One over Tokyo completed all airdrops in just 30 minutes.
Six auxiliary fuel tank bombs were dropped on six different targets, plus 200 napalm bombs for ignition.
In Fang Wen’s mechanical perception state, the six fire zones below showed numerous wooden houses burning, indicating massive destruction.
But the Japanese Air Force did not remain unresponsive to such bombing.
A radar alarm sounded in the cockpit. Though no exact position was given, Fang Wen judged from the alert that dozens of airplanes had taken off from military airports near Tokyo.
These airplanes were coming to intercept him; Japanese aircraft with no nighttime flight or attack experience had gone mad.
Fang Wen thought these airplanes might even use suicide ramming to intercept him. He had no desire to tangle with these Bushido maniacs, so the airplane climbed again.
Taishan One climbed to over 6,000 meters, flying north under cover of night.
Now he needed to create the illusion that the mysterious bomber was returning to a secret base somewhere in Siberia, letting the Japanese know.
Japanese fighter jets taking off one after another groped in this direction.
Like blind men, they charged recklessly through the night sky, trying to find the stealthy bomber.
Two biplane Type 95 fighter jets collided in mid-air due to lack of formation flying.
A massive flash of fire erupted at the moment of impact, illuminating the shadow of a large enemy bomber hidden in the deep sky. Japanese fighter jets immediately turned to encircle and suppress it.
He was discovered!
Fang Wen’s heart tightened.
His mechanical perception state showed a swarm of various model airplanes flying toward him, like poking a hornet’s nest.
Among them were Type 95 fighter jets reaching speeds of 400 kilometers per hour.
This biplane fighter jet lacked flexibility but had a significant speed advantage; once caught, it was hard to shake.
Fang Wen immediately adjusted his flight strategy, banking the fuselage toward the northeast.
Two Type 95 fighter jets crossed paths, completely unaware they had lost the target.
But with so many enemy aircraft, not all could be shaken off.
Three more Type 95 fighter jets spotted Taishan One by the light of aerial bullets and gave chase.
One even rushed to Taishan One’s right wing.
At the moment it approached, Fang Wen dipped the right wing, and the massive bomber’s wing sliced off half the biplane fighter jet’s wings.
That enemy aircraft instantly lost balance, rolling and crashing toward the ground.
The impact caused violent shaking in the cabin. Pan Jiafeng exclaimed, “Master, were we hit?”
“No, the wing just hit the enemy aircraft earlier. It was too fragile and fell apart.” Fang Wen replied with a laughing tease.
In this tense environment, the master-disciple pair’s words lightened the atmosphere.
While controlling the airplane to evade pursuit, Fang Wen talked with Pan Jiafeng—more precisely, educating the three Red Army pilots.
“In nighttime flight, especially secret action missions, secrecy and stealth are paramount. So I removed all the original machine guns from Taishan One. The light from machine gun fire would expose our position, costing us precious escape opportunities.”
“Got it, Master. I understand. Mission success and safe return are what matter.” Pan Jiafeng replied.
Fang Wen replied, “That’s for special missions. In direct combat, it’s different—we need team coordination, using aggression and team combat power for victory and safety.”
With that, he fell silent, controlled the airplane to turn again, broke through the last layer of blind interceptors, and entered the sea area.
After entering the maritime area, Taishan One continued north until confirming no pursuers, then suddenly turned south.
At 4 a.m., the airplane looped back to the Korea Strait.
By then, the sky was slightly bright, with the sun’s rim appearing at the distant sea horizon.
Fang Wen immediately climbed the airplane into the clouds.
Using the cloud cover, the airplane crossed the Korea Strait and Yellow Sea, entering Chinese airspace.
Once in Chinese airspace, they were safe. National Government Air Force airplanes did not patrol daily, and Japanese aircraft would not come here.
Thus, Taishan One, having bombed Tokyo, vanished into the clouds under the cover of the rising sun and flew back to Xiangxi Airport.
It was now 2 p.m.
That afternoon, Taishan One loaded a full cabin of cigarettes and traditional Chinese medicine and flew to Nanchang and Fuzhou.
Under this cover, no one would suspect Taishan One’s connection to the Tokyo bombing.
The Tokyo bombing action ended. Fang Wen instructed participants to keep silent and anticipated the effects.
He had two channels to learn the aftermath: Yoshida and Shanghai intelligence channels.
Yoshida’s reply telegram came only a week later.
He described the subsequent events in the telegram.
For his heroic rescue of the Prime Minister, he received commendation, with no one suspecting his link to the bombing.
He also escaped the Imperial Way Faction’s negative influence.
Later intelligence summaries gave Fang Wen insight into the follow-up.
The Prime Minister ultimately resigned over this.
The First Division was immediately sent abroad, and the Imperial Way Faction was thoroughly purged.
Meanwhile, intelligence analysts believed the rebellion likely involved Soviet participation, with that night’s bombing as side proof.
In response, the Japanese side protested to the Soviet Union but received no reply.
These results did not achieve what Fang Wen wanted.
His original plan was to kill several Japanese executives in the bombing to muddy the waters further.
But the daytime rebellion heightened their security awareness. The nighttime bombing only burned many Japanese military administration buildings and caused some casualties to First Division and Metropolitan Police Department Military Department soldiers, with no greater achievements.
Fang Wen could only sigh that Japan’s fate had not yet run out.
The Tokyo bombing matter ended here.
Fang Wen’s other preparations continued.
March 1936.
One month after the establishment of Taishan International Security Company in the United States, the company recruited 500 Europe and America retired soldiers as the first batch of employees.
The company’s first business deal was signed, with the first batch of employees sent to Marshall Islands as mercenaries for security protection work.
Meanwhile, on March 7, Germany sent troops to control the Rhineland area, a demilitarized zone from World War I, suddenly tensing the European situation.
Germany’s remilitarization—and Nazification—as a main World War I belligerent worried European countries.
In Asia, the first batch of Taishan-recruited mercenaries had arrived in Yangon.
At the same time, the third Taishan Flying Club event was about to be held.
Also, the civilian aircraft wartime militarization modification plan needed to begin research.
After staying a month in Wuhan, Fang Wen had to return to Yangon.
The airplane landed in Yangon. After Fang Wen disembarked, William and Howard, who came along, followed.
William came for mercenary management, Howard for helping with the civilian aircraft militarization modification plan.
As for the three Red Army flight cadets, they stayed in Wuhan for continued flight study and training.
He brought William and Howard to the Industrial Park, had Bai Zeshan take Howard to the aircraft manufacturing plant, and took William to the mercenaries’ area.
The mercenaries were stationed near the shooting range behind the Industrial Park. It was originally for bullet testing, but now had a long row of bungalow residences added—suitable as a mercenary camp.
He and William entered the barracks area and saw a chaotic scene.
Burly mercenaries everywhere were playing poker, kicking soccer, washing clothes, and spectating fights.
Fang Wen communicated with William: “What do you think of these people?”
William replied, “They are all very confident. No one yields to another; management will be difficult.”
“Do you have a way?”
“No way. They are not even from the same army; rivalry and hostility are inevitable. Forcing them into one group could backfire.”
Hearing this, Fang Wen agreed inwardly. Integrating this batch of combat-capable but uncooperative mercenaries was a problem.
At this moment, Wu Yingzong, Chen Suoxin, and Liu Yinshou arrived.
These were recruited by Chen Suoxin and Liu Yinshou; Fang Wen planned to hear their opinions.
Unexpectedly, Wu Yingzong interjected: “General Manager, some arrogance in soldiers is fine, but it needs real skill, or others will look down on them.”
Wu Yingzong was the Taishan Volunteer Army armed troops commander; his soldiers were jianghu people from domestic sources, all with some skills.
Clearly, he felt these foreign soldiers were overly proud, sparking competition.
Yes, the military feared no competition; soldiers afraid to compete were no good soldiers.
Through competition, these foreign mercenaries could be quickly integrated, forming group consciousness.
Immediately, Fang Wen discussed with Wu Yingzong and William.
That day, William, accompanied by Chen Suoxin and Liu Yinshou, announced his role as mercenary commander.
After becoming commander, William communicated with representatives from the mercenary groups, built some rapport, then suddenly assembled the troops and announced.
“Gentlemen, our Taishan International Mercenary Corps is newly formed. Other friendly forces do not recognize our abilities and have challenged us. In three days, we compete. If we win, they pay compensation and apologize. If we lose, we hang a loser’s banner outside camp. Do you accept the challenge?”
This was a contest to ignite collective sense of honor. Mercenary soldiers could not tolerate the shame of cowardice and immediately accepted.
Three days later, the two sides held a military competition.
The competition content was specially designed by the General Manager.
Three events: orienteering and intelligence collection objective, tactical shooting competition, battlefield rescue and medical aid
Orienteering and intelligence collection objective:
Teams must traverse complex terrain（mountain land, jungle, rivers） within time limit, using map and limited intelligence clues to find and collect “intelligence documents” scattered around.
Rules: Use compass, map, and simple navigation tools to evade “enemy” patrol chases while completing physical challenges（climbing, jumping obstacles etc.）.
Scoring: Based on intelligence collected, remaining action team members, and completion time.
Tactical shooting competition content:
Simulate actual combat scenarios with multiple shooting areas: static targets, moving targets, concealed targets, etc., testing shooting accuracy, reaction speed, and tactical ability.
Scoring: Based on hit rate, time used, and tactical execution.
Battlefield rescue and medical aid objective:
Simulate battlefield personnel search and emergency medical aid procedures.
Content: Within time limit, teams assess “wounded soldier” injuries, perform hemostasis bandaging, stretcher transport, etc., and safely transfer to designated area.
Scoring: Based on wounded soldier treatment effect, transfer speed, and team collaboration quality.
The three events tested field battle ability, shooting, and battlefield medical rescue, most directly evaluating the two troops’ overall strength.
Fang Wen also wanted to see which of his two assembled troops was stronger.
