Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 158, Section 157: Kabul and Tehran Reach an Agreement on the Friends of Indiana Plan

Inside the cabin, not only flight attendant Cheng Dayou was tense, but everyone else was more or less nervous as well.

Bai Zeshan put down his book.

Gu Xingzuo and Dai Shimao got up and moved away from the cabin door.

Zhao Jiu concealed a dagger in his sleeve.

Only Fang Wen and Vanderka Chandra performed normally.

Vandeka Chandra said, "They greeted us like VIPs, it's fine."

Fang Wen nodded, walked to the back, opened the hatch, and got out.

Vandeka Chandra also accompanied them.

The other party said in English: "Welcome to Kabul Airport, Taishan Airlines. Shah would like to invite you to the Royal Palace."

Vanderka Chandra whispered, “Shah is the king; you must go.”

Fang Wen checked the time.

We left Kolkata at 6 a.m. and it's already 3 p.m.

If I attend the banquet, I won't be able to complete the remaining 1600 kilometers of flight and will have to stay here overnight.

He said, "I can't make a decision for my passengers. Please wait while I ask them."

The officer nodded in agreement. Fang Wen turned and entered the plane, asking, "The king here would like to invite us to the palace. If we want to go, we'll have to stay here tonight. Are you willing?"

An invitation from the King?!

Gu Xingzuo and Dai Shimao agreed without hesitation. The two of them had paid money for this wonderful experience, and being able to attend the king's banquet was fantastic.

Zhao Jiu, Cheng Dayou, and Bai Zeshan had no objections.

Not to mention Vanderka Chandra outside.

Fang Wen turned and got off the plane, smiling as he said, "It's an honor to attend Shah's banquet."

The officer nodded and waved, and two cars drove up.

The group got into the car and drove towards the palace.

It was a magnificent building constructed on a solitary mountain.

(Daruaman Palace)

The two cars went up to the top of the hill, drove through the magnificent royal gardens, and finally stopped at the front gate.

This is a classical building, or what you might call a neoclassical European building.

The front has three stories, and the sides have four stories. Together with the royal gardens and swimming pool outside the palace, it embodies the majesty and luxury that only a monarch could enjoy.

At the main gate, two teams of soldiers lined up to welcome them.

An elderly man in formal attire stepped forward: "Welcome, guests of Taishan Airlines. Please follow me."

Fang Wen led the way, and everyone followed, passing through the magnificent hall, turning left, and arriving at the banquet venue.

There were already many people waiting there, all of them men.

The elegantly dressed old man said in a low voice in English, "You can let the others move around freely. I'll take you to see Shah."

Fang Wen turned to everyone and instructed them: "Order whatever you want, eat whatever you want, but follow their rules, don't leave the banquet area, and don't go to places you shouldn't go."

Zhao Jiu replied, "General Manager, you go ahead. I'll keep an eye on them; nothing will go wrong."

Fang Wen nodded and walked out of the banquet hall with the elegantly dressed old man, going directly upstairs to the study on the second floor.

There, someone was waiting for him.

"Shah, Fang Wen, the general manager of Taishan Airlines, has arrived." The elderly man in formal attire finished speaking and stood beside the desk.

Behind the desk, a man stood up, shook hands with Fang Wen, and then pointed to the side: "Come sit here. I am very curious about the East and interested in your experience. We have a lot to talk about today."

He was pointing towards the fireplace, where there were two armchairs and a coffee table in the middle, which was probably where the king and his close friends chatted.

"It's an honor to meet you," Fang Wei replied with a smile.

He walked over and sat down, remaining silent, not wanting to cause any misunderstanding by being too proactive.

After all, this route change was initiated by the other party.

The other party said, "Taishan Airlines is doing something very meaningful, connecting Asia and Europe by air. I can imagine the impact it will have on various places after the route is opened. That's why they took the initiative to request that the route pass through our area."

"It is indeed more convenient for planes to fly from here than from Karachi, but the altitude here is higher, which will affect the flight process," Fang Wen responded truthfully.

"What impact will this have?" the king asked in surprise, clearly unaware of the relevant information.

Fang Wen carefully explained:
"At high altitudes, the thin air and reduced oxygen content lead to decreased engine combustion efficiency, thus reducing aircraft performance and efficiency. Due to the reduced air density, the aircraft generates less lift with the same thrust, affecting its maneuverability and obstacle-crossing capabilities. Furthermore, during takeoff and landing, the reduced air resistance necessitates longer runways to achieve sufficient speed and lift. Additionally, the lower temperatures at high altitudes cause fuselage components, hydraulic fluids, and lubricants to harden, potentially reducing the pressure resistance of hydraulic lines and increasing the risk of airframe damage and malfunctions."

These words basically encompass Fang Wen's summary of the problems related to high-altitude flight.

The king hadn't expected so many problems; no wonder so few planes flew this way.

He asked with concern, "Can your Taishan Airlines solve these problems and operate flights here? If so, we are willing to pay a service fee every year."

As he spoke, he waved, and the old man behind him took a box from the desk.

The king opened the box, revealing its contents.

A box full of gems.

“This is a local specialty. If we can establish a direct flight route, we will send the same gemstone to Taishan Airlines every year as part of the flight fee.”

Looking at the box of gems, Fang Wen felt as if he had returned to Lake Fan.

But unlike there, these gems are all unprocessed.

He hadn't expected that deliberately showing hesitation would bring him such a fortune, so of course he wouldn't let it go, and immediately replied:

"No problem. If the engine's combustion efficiency decreases, we can slow down. If the lift is reduced, we can lower the flight altitude. As for other problems, we can solve them too."

The king's face lit up with delight: "You mean international flights pass through here?"

Fang Wen said tactfully, "That's right. Currently, international flights have reached an agreement with British India and here, but there are no negotiations in Tehran and Istanbul yet, so I can't guarantee that it will be successful."

"I believe you will succeed." The king handed the box to Fang Wen as a deposit.

Fang Wen declined. As the general manager of Taishan Airlines, he represented the company's image, and it was better to let his subordinates collect the money after things were settled.

Another international flight destination has been secured, but there are still details to consider.

He then discussed the matter with the king.

such as,

The runway surface in Kabul needs to be leveled, and radio operators need to be trained to maintain flight communications with Taishan Airlines.

There are also airport security issues, local boarding ticketing issues, and local dining and shopping issues after landing.

He spoke about the planning of Taishan Airlines' own airport, and his presentation was very professional. The king listened and nodded repeatedly, and then found the person in charge of the matter to write down what Fang Wen said.

Of course, these measures alone cannot ensure the smooth operation of the entire international route. After the official launch of Taishan Asia-Europe international flights, commercial operations personnel will be stationed at all transit airports to be specifically responsible for maintaining the daily operations of Taishan Airlines.

The conversation ended there, and the king led Fang Wen to the banquet hall for the formal meal.

There was even a main meal! Zhao Jiu and his companions, who had already eaten in the banquet hall, were filled with regret. No one had told them that the food on these tables was appetizers.

But it doesn't matter, we have to finish the main course at the foreign palace to make it perfect.

They then enjoyed a royal dinner with European hospitality and Afghan local flavors.

Just like Fang Wen's experience in the Pahlavi dynasty, there was a long dining table with guests sitting in two rows, and the king in the main seat.

However, the food was quite different. Because of its proximity to the sea, seafood was an essential part of Persian cuisine during the Pahlavi dynasty.

But in Afghanistan, the entire country is high-altitude and mountainous, and the main foods are pasta, beef, mutton, and chicken.

Royal banquets are even more exquisite.

The waiters served up a variety of local delicacies.

Kabul rice is an essential staple food.

Made from long-grain fragrant rice, carrots, raisins, mutton, etc., it's similar to hand-pulled mutton rice.

The key to its taste lies in the long-grain fragrant rice, which absorbs the mixed aroma of meat juice and other ingredients after being simmered for a long time.

The stew called Qorma Lawand is also quite good.

The translation is saffron stewed mutton.

This is a dish that Fang Wen ate in Tehran.

But the taste is quite different here. Persian saffron stewed mutton is mainly about the aroma of saffron, but here other things are added, such as pine nuts, and some local spices that are hard to describe.

There's also whole roasted lamb, jam, and yogurt.
This meal finally allowed passengers on the long-haul flight between Asia and Europe to have a decent meal.

Afterwards, having eaten and drunk their fill, they were taken to a guest room in the palace, where they truly enjoyed the opportunity to spend the night.

Everyone happily went to bed, except for Fang Wen, who still had things to do.

He took out a hand-cranked telegraph machine and sent telegrams to Tehran and Istanbul.

They need to contact people at Boeing in Tehran, and also send a telegram to Indiana so they can meet up.

Istanbul was also the place that contacted Boeing.

These two stops are also the last two stops in the Asian segment of the Asia-Europe route. If an agreement can be reached, there will be no problem with Taishan Airlines' international flights.

Tehran is fine.

However, problems arose in Istanbul.

Fang Wen frowned as he looked at the telegram.

The Boeing representative in Istanbul called back, saying that it was not possible to establish international flight operations at Istanbul Airport.

The reason is that Turkish Airlines was established this year and is headquartered in Istanbul. Therefore, Istanbul Airport refused to give the honor of the first Asia-Europe international flight to Taishan Airlines.

Fang Wen never expected that Turkish National Airlines would be established this year, and that he would become its competitor.

If Istanbul doesn't work, where should the international flights be relocated?

He opened the map.

The original plan was: Shanghai – Guangzhou – Kunming – Kolkata – Delhi – Kabul – Tehran – Istanbul – Rome – Paris.

If we can't land at Istanbul Airport, which airport should we choose for the Tehran leg?

He saw Ankara, a major city below Istanbul.

It's not far from Istanbul, the capital of Türkiye, and also has a large airport.

He immediately drafted a telegram to the Boeing representative in Istanbul, asking him to inquire in Ankara.

[Going to Ankara: If we reach an agreement tomorrow, it'll be $1; if we agree the day after, $5000; and if we agree three days later, $2000.]

During negotiations, the costs of airport parking, management, and toll fees can be further increased.

Getting help from Boeing isn't free. According to the agreement between Taishan Airlines and Boeing, if Boeing's international sales representatives can successfully negotiate international flights, they will receive a substantial bonus.

This is off-company revenue that Boeing allows, and Fang Wen doesn't believe the other party doesn't want to earn this money.

Not to mention, international flights to Paris and Rome have already been arranged, and the bonuses there will be paid out once the planes arrive. Aren't the Boeing representatives here envious?

He waited patiently for a reply.

Twenty minutes later, the other party called back.

I'll go to Ankara immediately and give you an answer tomorrow.

After a good night's sleep, Fang Wen was the first to wake up.

He knocked on the door of the next room, and flight attendant Cheng Dayou opened it groggily.

"General Manager, what's up?"

"Get dressed. We're going to Europe today. Tell them to get up quickly."

Flight attendant Cheng Dayou hurriedly woke everyone up one by one.

After a flurry of activity, everyone dressed neatly and prepared to leave.

An elderly man in formal attire came over and brought breakfast.

Those are Bolani, pancakes made in the palace kitchen. They're packed with flavorful fillings and perfect for breakfast.

After thanking them for their hospitality, Fang Wen and his party got into a car and headed down the mountain to the airport.

When they arrived at the airport, it was already 7 o'clock. Fang Wen finished his pancake in big bites, started the engine, and took off again.

The plane flew from the Afghan plateau to the Iranian plateau, taking five hours to finally arrive in Tehran.

There are no plans to stay in Tehran, as international flights there have already been arranged with the help of Boeing representatives and Indiana.

During a break from refueling, Fang Wen communicated with the local Boeing company representative and Indiana.

The Boeing representative produced a power of attorney bearing the seal of the King and explained.

"This is the authorization for flight takeoffs and landings and airspace passage. You just need to pay the various fees annually according to the amount agreed upon above."

Fang Wen took the authorization letter, glanced at it, then looked at Indiana. After receiving a confirmation look, he took out a stack of US dollars and handed it to the Boeing representative.

"This is your reward."

"Thank you." The Boeing representative took the money and tactfully walked aside, not wanting to disturb Fang Wen and Indiana's conversation.

Fang Wen smiled and shook hands with Indiana: "Long time no see."

“Yes. How is William?” Indiana asked.

"He works as an instructor at my company, training 100 mercenaries."

"That kind of life should suit him well, since he can't go back to Weimar anyway."

"Is he still wanted by Weimar?"

“Definitely, that person’s power is now unmatched.” Indiana suddenly sighed. “I feel this industry is getting more and more dangerous. Maybe one day I won’t be able to hold on and will choose to retire early. When that happens, I’ll go to China to take a look.”

Fang Wen couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

"An agency called the Gestapo has been established in Weimar, and MI6 has also begun sending people abroad. I can already smell the gunpowder."

Indiana actually wanted to retire, but Fang Wen was not willing.

He needed a friend in the U.S. intelligence community, and Indiana was a good choice.

Indiana's concerns were simply related to his location.

After all, being a frontline intelligence officer was very dangerous during the impending outbreak of World War II.

But if he gets promoted, wouldn't that solve the problem?

Fang Wen said tactfully, "Indiana, why don't you take a leave of absence and come to America with me? I have something important to do there, and it might be helpful to you."

(End of this chapter)