Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 468, 464: Taishan cigarettes are a hot seller in Paris; inspection of the flight school.

After receiving treatment from the four-faced golden Buddha, the wife's health recovered rapidly. She was able to eat that same day and became energetic the next day.

This change puzzled the company's doctor, who asked General Manager Fang Wen for clarification on the treatment process.

Fang Wen did not hide anything from this, only saying that it was the effect of the blessing from the Four-Faced Buddha in Thailand.

The doctor was skeptical of this, but didn't press the matter further.

After that, Fang Wen continued to stay at home, wanting to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband and take good care of his wife.

In response, Kuang Mingzhu advised Fang Wen: "I'm all better now. I have Chuncao, Qiuju, and Aunt Wu taking care of me at home, so I'll be fine. You should go back to the company. After all, there are many things that you need to handle to get things done properly. Uncle Fang and the others can only manage the general situation at most."

His wife's words made sense, but Fang Wen still hesitated.

"I already have so little time to spend with you, and now that you're pregnant, it won't do if I'm not by your side."

Seeing Fang Wen say this, Kuang Mingzhu pretended to be helpless: "Oh dear, pregnant women are the most idle. I don't do anything all day long, just walk around, eat, and take care of the pregnancy. What could I possibly do? Can you stay with me for ten months? Listen to me, let's go to the company."

As he spoke, Fang Wen was pushed out of the house by his wife. Fearing that his wife might get hurt, Fang Wen quickly said, "Okay, okay, I'll go. You take care of yourself."

"I understand." Kuang Mingzhu saw her husband out the door.

Fang Wen, who had been kicked out of his home by his wife to go to work, arrived at the general manager's office downstairs.

His first action was to call Fang Shouxin, the administrative director downstairs, to come up.

Fang Shouxin has been temporarily in charge of the company's general affairs these days, and Fang Wen needs to communicate with him to understand the situation.

After a while, Fang Shouxin arrived and explained the situation directly.

"Young Master, here's the progress over this period. Taishan Aviation School has been established, located at the No. 1 Aircraft Manufacturing Plant's seaplane training center. The 100 students from China have been enrolled in classes and have begun their basic studies."

Fang Wen nodded. He would go directly to the aviation school later to check on the students' learning progress.

Fang Shouxin continued his report.

"The No. 1 Aircraft Manufacturing Plant has already produced new bulletproof steel plates according to your requirements. They are made of special Soviet steel. Currently, the gunship aircraft from Fuping and the flight regiment are being rotated back for modification. In addition, we have also replaced all the gunship aircraft on our ordinary seaplanes with the new bulletproof steel plates."

"Taishan brand cigarettes shipped from China have officially started to be distributed this month."

Fang Wen was very concerned about the Taishan brand cigarettes incident because it was a fresh start, and immediately asked Fang Shouxin to explain the situation in more detail.

Fang Wen learned about it through Fang Shouxin's explanation.

Taishan brand cigarettes were restocked in airport shops across Asia and Europe via flights, and local branches carried out distribution operations in various regions.

This cigarette was sold overseas before the Red Army's Long March, and it was very popular because of its good quality and taste.

The restocking is now being accepted in various regions.

In Europe, Taishan brand cigarettes were originally not allowed to be distributed and sold, since the initial supply was limited and mainly aimed at existing sales areas.

Pilots at Ke Taishan International Airlines were all using this brand of cigarettes, which caught the attention of Air France pilots. After they all smoked together and the reaction was positive, the French branch specially applied for a batch of goods for distribution in Paris.

They left their limited supply of cigarettes at the airport shop and near the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

Taishan Airlines' special cigarettes, with their unique Asian flavor, quickly became popular in Parisian social circles, unexpectedly giving Taishan cigarettes their first market in Europe.

Upon hearing this, Fang Wen couldn't help but ponder.

Based on what he had seen in Europe, the demand for cigarettes is probably the greatest in Europe today.

A large proportion of people, regardless of age or gender, are smokers.

The main reason why Taishan brand cigarettes were not launched in Europe was because there are many cigarette brands in the European market, and the competition is very fierce.

However, it seems that the taste of Taishan cigarettes is very much to the liking of French smokers, so we can't miss this opportunity to expand the market.

Fang Wen, who had the idea of ​​changing the existing cigarette sales strategy, said: "Telegram to each overseas branch office to find out their cigarette inventory. If there are a lot left, transfer them to France and expand sales by taking advantage of the current trend."

“Okay, I’ll arrange it right away,” Fang Shouxin replied.

After reporting on the cigarette issue, Fang Shouxin continued.

"The relocation of the semiconductor plant is being prepared. As per your request, the assembly plant, molding plant, and circuit board plant have all ceased operations and the equipment has been dismantled."

"Have the technical personnel selected to go to China been chosen yet?" Fang Wen asked.

“The selection process is complete.” Fang Shouxin paused, then added, “Pan Jiafeng’s wife, Shen Shuyun, works at a semiconductor factory. She also applied to return to China, and I approved it.”

Fang Wen laughed and said, "That's good too. The newlyweds can spend time together."

Fang Shouxin laughed too: "Yes, Pan Jiafeng, that kid, he went with you to bomb Japanese warships when he was 18, and now he's a battalion commander and even married. Time really flies."

It happened so fast. Fang Wen was also a little emotional. It was now September 1938, eight years had passed since he had traveled through time.

I'm about to become a father myself.

Clearing his mind, he said seriously, "The semiconductor factory shutdown has caused us significant losses. We must resume operations at our base as soon as possible. Here's what we'll do: I'll take charge of building the factory back in China. You can continue to handle general affairs at the company."

Fang Shouxin had no objection to this. He only inquired about the management and progress of the semiconductor factory, and he didn't understand the technology at all. Building a factory back in China required someone with technical expertise to be in charge, and Fang Wen was the best candidate.

This concludes the report; Fang Shouxin then left the general manager's office.

Next, Fang Wen will visit the aviation school, and then go to the production base in northern Myanmar.

But before that, he had one more thing to do: to compile and review the intelligence to understand the current domestic and international situation in order to match it with his historical memory.

He took out a stack of telegrams and translated them directly.

A lot happened in September, but he didn't think many of them were particularly important.

One of them was an event he considered very significant.

The Munich Conference was held this month, with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy meeting in Munich. Without the participation of Czechoslovakian representatives, the "Munich Agreement" was signed, ceding the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany.

The weak Czechoslovakia was thus disposed of at the whim of the European powers, and was not even qualified to participate in the conference.

However, according to Fang Wen's future memories, there is also a hidden conspiracy. That is, Britain and France are trying to divert trouble eastward, causing Germany and the Soviet Union to become enemies, thereby making the two countries fight, and Britain and France will reap the benefits.

Unfortunately, the little mustache was not so easily manipulated by the British and French.

The constant compromises and indulgences by Britain and France have unleashed the beast of Europe, which is about to affect them themselves.

World War II was not far off in Europe.

Another piece of intelligence that followed was related to Fang Wen.

To achieve its operational plan of "capturing Guangzhou in the south, attacking Wuhan in the center, and encircling Wutai in the north," the Japanese army planned to concentrate the 26th, 109th, and 110th Divisions, along with the 2nd and 4th Independent Mixed Brigades, in North China to launch an encirclement and suppression campaign against the Jin-Cha-Ji base area. Currently, the Japanese army has launched an advance force of over 2 troops in three columns. However, they have encountered fierce resistance from the base area, which has dispatched a surprise force that, through airborne operations, captured Baoding and Wangdu within a single day, occupying Wangdu and ambushing and annihilating 2000 Japanese reinforcements.

There's a lot of information here, so Fang Wen turned to the next page to continue.

This defeat led to the premature collapse of the Japanese army's mopping-up operation plan. It is understood that the Japanese are currently formulating a new offensive plan. At the same time, they are concealing the enormous loss of the 2000-strong unit that was annihilated in this defeat, falsely claiming that the unit has been transferred elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the new tactics and equipment adopted by the Jin-Cha-Ji base area had been disseminated to various intelligence agencies. The equipment used included low-speed gunboats produced by Taishan Aviation, also known as "flying fortresses," capable of providing sustained air fire suppression and possessing excellent defensive capabilities. In this operation, they also served the function of transporting paratroopers for evacuation.

There is another passage that is specially marked by the Shanghai intelligence station.

Currently, intelligence organizations from various countries are investigating the military industry of our Taishan Aviation. New tactical coordination techniques involving gunboats, aircraft, and paratroopers have been disseminated from China to Europe.

After reading the intelligence, Fang Wen did not become arrogant, but calmly reflected on the situation.

Will other countries, especially Japan, imitate and replicate my tactics?

The answer is probably no.

This tactic is not yet perfect. The fact that we were able to achieve the same performance as last time is actually more related to our own performance.

Without his own overall command and strategic vision, it would have been difficult to continue the operation in Baoding, given the support of Japanese warplanes.

However, they were able to anticipate the situation of the enemy aircraft and formulate targeted combat plans, using gunships and aircraft as bait to successfully annihilate the enemy's support fighter group.

This allowed the plan to continue. The ambush in Wangdu County was similar; it required precise control of the enemy's movements and coordination between ground and air forces, which was not something that could be done casually.

With this in mind, Fang Wen felt relieved. He was certain that if the Japanese spent a huge sum of money to imitate him, they would not be able to achieve the same combat results without his forward-thinking and technological support.

Moreover, if the Japanese military were to use high-powered aircraft engines to manufacture low-speed gunships, he wouldn't mind developing a man-portable air-to-air rocket to counter it.

In the future, better military aircraft and other military equipment will replace the current gunboats. At that time, even without Fang Wen's special ability, the same combat effect can be achieved.

With a bright vision for his military industry, Fang Wen put away the telegrams, left the office, and went downstairs.

After leaving the headquarters office building, Fang Wen drove directly to Taishan Industrial Park.

Upon arriving at the industrial park, Fang Wen parked his car in the office area of ​​the No. 1 Aircraft Manufacturing Plant.

Compared to before, this place has become somewhat deserted. Nearly half of the engineering and technical personnel have moved to the No. 2 Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, while the rest are divided into two shifts: one shift is responsible for manufacturing the Xuanming type, and the other shift is responsible for converting the Shuiyun No. 1 seaplane into a gunboat.

The former training center, located to the west of the No. 1 Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, was bustling with activity.

This place has trained pilots of ordinary seaplanes and gunboats, and now it will train pilots of high-speed fighter jets, as well as corresponding mechanics and ground crew.

Therefore, their requirements will be even higher.

Fang Wen walked into the aviation school and went directly to Shao Sishen, who was also the principal of the aviation school.

He directly inquired about the current situation at the school.

Shao Sichen replied, "Compared to before, the aviation school is more professional now. For theoretical courses, there are professional teachers who conduct large lectures. Only students who pass the theoretical exam can proceed to the next stage of training."

This is an improvement. In the past, Taishan Airlines used a teaching method based on words and deeds. Although it taught theoretical knowledge, it did not form a systematic teaching system.

Over the years, Shao Sishen has been improving the entire training process, eventually forming a systematic teaching environment.

It can be said that without Shao Sichen, there would be no aviation school as we know it today.

Fang Wen wanted to know more, so Shao Sishen accompanied him to inspect each classroom.

Different classrooms are teaching different courses.

Aerodynamics is essential. In the classroom, teachers use simple and easy-to-understand language to teach students how an aircraft generates lift, drag, and other aerodynamic forces, and how these forces affect flight performance.

The flight principles course is also an important course on technical theory. In this course, students will learn the flight control principles of an aircraft, including how control surfaces such as elevators, rudders, and ailerons control the aircraft's attitude and flight direction.

The principles of aero engines require a grasp of their working principles, structure, and performance, as well as an understanding of engine startup, operation, and troubleshooting, so that they can be used correctly and handle engine problems during flight.

These three courses are open to all, and pilots, mechanics, and ground crew must take them.

Then came the professional theory courses.

Basic flight simulation training: Basic flight operation training is conducted on a wooden flight simulator, including takeoff, landing, straight flight, turning, climbing and descending, to cultivate students' flight sense and basic operational skills.

Instrument flight training: Learn to use flight instruments such as compasses, altimeters, and airspeed indicators, and understand how to accurately determine the aircraft's status and flight direction under instrument flight conditions.

Taishan High-Speed ​​Fighter Jet Maintenance Practical Training Course: Learn various maintenance cases of high-speed fighter jets, get hands-on experience, and become familiar with the aircraft structure.

Ground crew training course: includes various preparations for aircraft takeoff and landing, fuel depot management, airport vehicle driving, safety principles, etc.

Afterwards, the pilot training class will need to undergo further advanced studies.

Learn navigation methods such as map reading, landmark navigation, and radio navigation, and master the skills to navigate accurately in different environments to ensure the smooth execution of flight missions.

Meteorology: Understand meteorological knowledge, including the impact of weather systems, clouds, wind direction, wind speed, etc. on flight, and learn to formulate flight plans and take corresponding flight measures based on meteorological conditions.

After learning these skills, you can begin actual flight training.

Professor Fang Wenlai was the professor at that time.

For example, tactical flight training teaches air combat tactics and flight skills, such as formation flying, air combat, dive bombing, and reconnaissance flight, to cultivate trainees' combat capabilities and adaptability in actual combat.

Air combat theory involves learning the principles of air power application, combat methods, and tactical principles in warfare, mastering how to coordinate with ground forces, and how to execute strategic and tactical missions.

(End of this chapter)