Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 308, Section 307: The Pressurized Chamber Has a Chance, Important Intelligence from Tokyo, Fang Wen's Military Operation Plan

A telegram arrived from the United States.

The pressurization chamber issue has been resolved.

According to Neil Toledo, Boeing invested heavily in researching better aircraft because of the strong sales of the Boeing 247.

They designated this model as the Boeing 307 and expect to conduct test flights next year.

Unlike existing aircraft, the Boeing 307 uses a new technology developed by Boeing researchers to achieve higher flight speeds without affecting pilots and passengers.

This is the pressurization chamber technology that Fang Wen wanted.

Subsequently, a brief introduction to this technology was also sent via telegram.

Fang Wen read the technical specifications.

Following the research approach of Boeing Labs, they added a pressurization system to the aircraft engine. The bleed air from the aircraft engine compressor is used to pressurize the cabin. The engine draws in the thin air at high altitudes, compresses it, and then discharges it into the cabin after it is treated by the air conditioning system.

The pressurization system continuously pumps fresh outside air into the fuselage and controls the outflow valve to regulate the internal pressure of the cabin and achieve air circulation.

Meanwhile, the pressurization system has a pressure control device that automatically sets the cabin air pressure according to the aircraft's altitude, keeping the pressure difference between the inside and outside within a certain range.

This design is similar to the equipment in Fangwen's Shuiyun-1.

In comparison, Fang Wen's design was much cruder. It simply combined the air-cooled intake and exhaust pipe network of the engine with a water-cooling device to create an airflow heat exchange that could guarantee the temperature inside the venue.

Boeing's design, on the other hand, involves a complete pressurization modification, which can even alter the air pressure inside the aircraft cabin.

This is exactly what Fang Wen wanted.

If pressurized cabins are used in fighter jets, pilots will no longer be affected by that pressure environment during high-difficulty flights.

Therefore, Fang Wen must obtain this technology. His Taishan Aviation Team values ​​quality over quantity, and can only reduce risks by using better technology.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Wen telegraphed back, instructing Zhao Jiu to take full charge of the matter.

Zhao Jiu will urge Neil Toledo to get the pressurized cabin technology out of Boeing's labs.

It is expected to take one or two months, since the laboratory has not yet produced complete results.

Moreover, even if the technology is acquired, the corresponding modifications will require additional specialized equipment, which cannot be done in a short time.

Fang Wen put the matter aside for the time being and continued his garrison work at Jianqiao Airport.

As an outsider, he earned the admiration of the airport staff and soldiers through his outstanding achievements during this period. As a result, no one caused trouble for the various tasks he gave, and everything went smoothly.

People from Hangzhou would also come to the airport gate from time to time, bringing various gifts to thank the air force unit that was protecting Hangzhou.

This is what Fang Wen and his comrades earned by bravely fighting against Japanese aircraft in the air.

In this atmosphere, Hangzhou was not attacked by air in the following days, which was a happy situation for everyone.

But Fang Wen knew that all of this was just a brief calm before the storm, and an even more violent storm was about to hit.

Fang Wen did not dare to rely entirely on his future memories to determine exactly how the Japanese Navy would attack Shanghai next, or whether it would land in Hangzhou Bay as he remembered.

He needs corroboration, therefore, Yoshida, the Japanese pawn, will play a greater role.

August, Naval Ward, Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

While the Kirishima battleship is still undergoing overhaul and refit, Yoshida, who served as the ship's staff officer, has recently been promoted.

Just as Nagano Osamu had told him before, everything had been arranged; this was just a process.

He has now received a transfer order from the Navy Headquarters and will be going to the Naval Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of the Navy.

The Ministry of the Navy is the administrative department of the Japanese Navy, and its Military Affairs Bureau is responsible for military equipment, general military administration, organization of ships and troops, service, exercises, inspections, general military supplies, etc., and has real power in the administrative department.

This was Yoshida's reward for rescuing the Prime Minister, and also the result of being valued by Nagano Osamu.

Therefore, before leaving, Yoshida made a special trip to visit Nagano Osamu.

In Nagano Osamu's study, Yoshida knelt and said sincerely, "General, you are my mentor. I hope you will continue to take care of me. I am leaving for Tokyo this time. What are your instructions?"

This is Yoshida taking the initiative to show his stance, indicating that he will follow the lineage of Nagano Osamu from now on.

Nagano Osamu was very satisfied with this. He had come to regard Yoshida, who had gone through life and death with him and who had been saved by the former prime minister, as one of his own.

After a patient explanation, Nagano Osamu told Yoshida about the Ministry of the Navy, the friends he needed to visit, and various precautions.

These things, though seemingly casual, were the heartfelt words of someone of Nagano Osamu's rank, and were extremely important to Yoshida, who was just starting out in the Ministry of the Navy.

Yoshida listened attentively, bowed, and left Nagano Osamu's house.

Afterwards, he will go to his own residence and pack his belongings.

The $30,000 I brought from home, some clothes and daily necessities, and that small telegraph machine.

After placing the telegraph machine in a hidden compartment of the box, putting $30,000 in cash on the outside of the compartment, and then weighing it down with clothes, Yoshida packed his luggage and set off for the naval port.

There were warships heading to Tokyo. Yoshida showed his transfer order to a captain he knew and boarded the ship amidst congratulations.

The warship took two days to arrive at Tokyo Port. Yoshida, who disembarked from the warship, went straight to the Ministry of the Navy to report.

Everything was arranged. He visited the seniors and colleagues introduced by Nagano Osamu, and took over the connections built by Nagano Osamu, officially settling down in the military affairs unit.

The work in the military affairs department was tedious, and Yoshida's job was to be in charge of general military supplies.

General military supplies refer to the procurement of daily necessities for fleets at all levels, such as uniforms, clothing, and bulk commonly used items. These supplies are all handled by the Ministry of the Navy, which approves their procurement and distribution.

It's also the most lucrative job in the military affairs department, where you have to deal with various suppliers every day.

Of course, Yoshida couldn't possibly gain much from this; he was in this position simply to protect the interests of Nagano Shuichi's faction from being violated.

This comfortable working environment almost made Yoshida lose his ambition.

Until his father arrived.

Yoshida's father, who had also entered the House of Nobles and obtained a position, gave his son a stern lecture, urging him to have lofty ambitions and to bring glory to the family.

After seeing his father off, Yoshida couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Everything about myself now, and the changes in my father, are all the result of the planning of that mysterious mastermind behind the scenes in China.

In order to get himself to that position, he was even able to assign bombers to bomb Tokyo.

He also kidnapped Nagano Osamu, using the pretext of bombing to force himself to rescue the former prime minister, paving the way for his own promotion.

All of this was done to ensure that he could continuously provide the navy with valuable intelligence.

Yoshida sighed, realizing that he was now inextricably linked to the other party, and those secrets were destined to never be revealed, and he could only comply with any request from the other party.

At 8:30 p.m., he skillfully got up, closed the doors and windows, secretly observed the situation outside, and after confirming that there was no problem, he took out the hidden telegraph machine, put on his headphones, and listened to the telegraph on a special frequency.

A telegram arrived today.

His transcription was in response to a request for information on the Navy's latest strategic deployment.

This troubled Yoshida. This kind of information was not relevant to him; it was something only high-ranking naval officers could access.

He could only look for opportunities in his daily work to see if he could make contact. The next day, he went to work as usual, chatted with a supplier for the morning, and accepted some gifts from the supplier.

In the afternoon, the Minister of Military Affairs made a sudden announcement.

"His Excellency the Chief of the General Staff will be visiting the Ministry of the Navy. Everyone, please make preparations."

The officers of the military affairs department echoed their agreement.

Yoshida, however, had a different idea. The Chief of the General Staff was a prince or member of the imperial family and rarely came here.

He probably didn't come here specifically for an inspection; he's likely attending a very important meeting.

Therefore, Yoshida carefully inquired about this information and eventually obtained the information he wanted from an officer he knew.

The Chief of the General Staff is here to hold a military and political conference.

To be responsible for military and political meetings, a stenographer needs to be drawn from the officers of the Ministry of the Navy.

No one wanted to take on this temporary position because it would be considered a dereliction of duty to make mistakes in recording important meetings.

Yoshida, however, had no such worries. He took on the job of a stenographer with great enthusiasm, embodying the image of a newly recruited, ambitious naval officer.

Subsequently, a naval military and political conference was held, and he carefully and meticulously recorded the contents of the meeting.

After the meeting, the Minister of Military Affairs specifically requested that he organize the stenographic notes before submitting them.

Yoshida, who worked until seven o'clock, returned home and immediately took out the telegraph machine to write down the contents he had memorized and send them out.

Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport, at night.

At this time of year, Fang Wen would contact Taishan Airlines headquarters and Jinan Airport by telegram to inquire about the situation.

It usually takes about an hour, which can be considered his simulation of the future online office mode in this era.

At fixed times, he would also tune to a specific frequency to see if there were any telegrams from Yoshida.

The sound of the radio waves roused Fang Wen; he eagerly awaited the information Yoshida would bring.

After translating a long section of the telegram, he looked at the translated text.

The Chief of the General Staff convened a military and political meeting at the Ministry of the Navy, during which the strategies for conquering Shanghai and Nanjing were discussed, along with a general overview of the military geology of the areas surrounding Shanghai and Nanjing.

【根据参谋总长提及的《上海派遣军作战要点》，第11师团主力在浏河镇方面登陆，第3师团及派遣军直属部队在吴淞方面登陆，随后还有第16师团、第13师团、第9师团、第101师团由战舰及其他船只载送抵沪。】

[In addition, the war in the north was mentioned. The Chinese army put up a fierce resistance at Nankou in Beiping, and several attacks failed. The army requested that three more divisions be sent to North China to participate in the war.]

After reading the telegram, Fang Wen immediately unfolded a map and drew the strategic layout described in the telegram.

Looking at the map, Fang Wen understood the Japanese army's strategic intentions; they were launching a full-scale attack on Shanghai.

But there is a major problem here: if they come by troop transport ships and warships and are bombed by the Chinese air force, will this stop the operation or even cause heavy losses to the Japanese army?

The massive air raid he envisioned, if successful, could even change history.

As a result, Fang Wen became agitated, got up and paced back and forth in the room, and then drafted a military action plan.

After finishing the plan, Fang Wen took a deep breath and forced himself to regain his composure.

Whether it will work out depends on what Nanjing decides.

First, this military action plan needs to be sent to the Military Commission in Nanjing for review.

Captain Gao is currently in charge of Nanjing's air defense command, so he has a lot of influence. Hopefully, things will turn out well.

Unable to sleep all night, Fang Wen instructed his subordinates to take charge of aerial patrol and protection in Hangzhou early the next morning, and then piloted the Shrike to Nanjing.

A little over an hour later, they arrived in Nanjing. After the plane landed, Fang Wen immediately spoke with airport staff to inquire about Captain Gao's whereabouts.

After finding out where they were going, Fang Wen went to Captain Gao's command post at the airport.

There was a commotion there, with several officers arguing loudly.

Captain Gao remained silent, neither stopping nor participating.

He was a little surprised to see Fang Wen coming over, and got up to greet him.

"Commander Fang, what brings you here?"

"I need to talk to you," Fang Wen replied.

Captain Gao interrupted, "Gentlemen, this is Fang Wen, the commander of the Taishan Independent Regiment and the owner of Taishan Airlines. The day before yesterday, he used 4 planes to fight against 20 enemy planes, shooting down two enemy fighters and two bombers, and also preventing the bombing, successfully protecting Hangzhou."

The argument ended, and the others came over, chatting with Fang Wen with smiles on their faces.

After exchanging pleasantries with these people for a while, Fang Wen made an excuse to leave the command post and speak privately with Captain Gao.

Fang Wen glared at Captain Gao with annoyance.

"You're using me as a shield, aren't you?"

Captain Gao sighed, "Yes, these people are even harder to manage than my soldiers. They argue during battles, they argue when it comes to dividing credits, and they can quarrel for ages over a few supplies. I can't do anything with them. In order to unite as one to fight the Japanese, I can only let them make a fuss."

It seems that being an air combat commander is not an easy job for him.

Fang Wen offered no words of comfort, but instead produced a map and his own action plan.

"Don't think about that. I have something more important to talk to you about. Look at this."

"what is this?"

"Japanese Strategic Map of Shanghai"

"What? You actually managed to get your hands on this? Really?"

Captain Gao carefully examined the map and then picked up the action plan to read it. Because he was worried about exposing Yoshida, Fang Wen did not write down which divisions were on the specific troop transport line.

Even so, it's still amazing.

Captain Gao couldn't help but read aloud:
"The Japanese army relies on its naval strength, and China is powerless to confront it at sea. Therefore, we plan to send a large number of troops to Shanghai at once, all aboard temporarily modified troop transport ships, escorted by the naval fleet. Recently, our air force has fought bravely, demonstrating combat capabilities no less than those of the Japanese army. If we can concentrate our superiority and combine our various squadrons into one to bombard the Japanese troop transport lines in a concentrated manner, we will surely achieve significant results. At best, it will hinder the Japanese advance on Shanghai; at worst, it will cause heavy losses to the Japanese army, and it may even become a turning point in the war."

After reading the action plan, Captain Gao looked at Fang Wen with a complicated expression.

"Commander Fang, if your plan succeeds, it will be a great blessing for China and will save countless civilians from the ravages of war."

At this point, Captain Gao sighed again: "Unfortunately, this is destined to fail. Did you see what happened just now? This is just a routine matter for each air force. On a larger scale, your plan is to use all the elite air force forces of the Republic of China government to fight the Japanese naval air force to the death in the East China Sea. The higher-ups will definitely not agree to it."

Hearing what Captain Gao said, Fang Wen's excitement subsided.

Although the plan was very exciting, the reality was complicated. Captain Gao said it was possible, but if I didn't do it, there would be no hope at all.

He stared intently at Captain Gao: "I'm going to the Military Commission. Would you like to come with me?"

After hesitating for a moment, Captain Gao nodded: "I am the most convincing person on this matter. The officers of the Military Commission will definitely want to know my opinion. Even if the hope is slim, I am willing to help you."

At this moment, Captain Gao became Fang Wen's strongest supporter of the action plan. Regardless of whether it succeeded or not, the two were willing to give it a try.

The two got into a military vehicle, left the airport, and headed to NJ city.

(End of this chapter)