Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 480 Counter-espionage Tactics Within Tactics: Replacement of Fake Technical Data

The plane flew to a base in northern Myanmar.

Fang Wen, Fang Shouxin, bodyguard Gong Xiuneng, and five people from the Internal Investigation Department were on board.

During the flight, they discussed how to handle Zhao Dasheng's situation.

While piloting the plane, Fang Wen began, "I think it's best not to alert them. Zhao Dasheng may not be the only mole; there might be others cooperating with him."

Standing in the rear cabin, Fang Shouxin said, "For a logistics staff member to be transferred to the research department and become a researcher who can borrow technical materials is itself a violation of company regulations. That person couldn't possibly not know that. Regardless of his purpose in helping Zhao Dasheng, he is no longer suitable to work in the research institute."

An internal investigation staff member said, "Is it possible that Zhao Dasheng was a disposable pawn, whose purpose was to steal information? Therefore, the Japanese side offered very generous terms, even requiring him to infiltrate the data room and steal technical information at any cost?"

Fang Wen nodded in agreement; this internal investigation staff member had successfully caught his attention through his unique way of thinking.

He used his mechanical senses to observe the investigator behind him.

This person is Shen Weitao, a senior member of the administrative department, who is very organized in his work.

"Shen Weitao, what do you think we should do after we get to northern Myanmar?" Fang Wen asked.

Shen Weitao straightened his back, a hint of joy in his eyes.

He only revealed this emotion when no one was watching, but Fang Wen, who possessed mechanical perception, saw it clearly.

Just like Fang Shouxin's assessment, he is an ambitious person.

He replied, “The general manager has already made arrangements. I think we should follow the general manager’s arrangements. Upon arrival, we should not conduct any public review, but instead secretly review the transfer order file under the pretext of routine auditing to verify Zhao Dasheng’s transfer process. In this way, we can control the personnel handling this matter without raising suspicion. In addition, we should set up sentries in the research institute’s dormitory area and use radio monitoring devices to detect any enemy radio stations that may be hidden, in order to capture Zhao Dasheng’s contact person in one fell swoop.”

After a pause, Shen Weitao added, "I have another idea. Since the Japanese want our technology so much, why not give it to them? Of course, not the real technology, but some fake technical documents containing incorrect data."

Shen Weitao had worked in the administration department for many years and was very good at speaking. His previous words were just a prelude to his final statement, and he said them in a way that would not offend Fang Wen.

But his proposed solution impressed Fang Wen.

This person is meticulous and shrewd, exactly the kind of counter-espionage personnel that Taishan Airlines lacks.

If he performs well in this operation against the mole, Fang Wen wouldn't mind handing him over the position of head of the internal investigation department.

Shaking off his thoughts, Fang Wen spoke:

"Shen Weitao's suggestion is very interesting. The struggle between the enemy and ourselves during wartime will never stop. Even if Zhao Dasheng, his accomplices, and their contact are captured, it doesn't mean there aren't other spies within the company. In fact, more and more spies will be sent in to steal information. On the contrary, using false intelligence to confuse the enemy will be more effective. The erroneous technical data taken back by the Japanese spies will definitely need to be verified. This time will slow down their research and development progress and may also lead them in the wrong direction."

There's one more thing Fang Wen didn't say: if the false intelligence is handled well, it could even mislead the Japanese in their development of high-speed fighters and delay the deployment of the Zero fighter.

In war, every change brings new advantages.

The plane landed at the seaport in northern Myanmar.

Because of Shen Weitao's words, Fang Wen changed his mind.

We still need to investigate Zhao Dasheng, this traitor and his accomplices, and find his contact as well.

However, it's not necessary to capture them all. Create some opportunities in between, let Zhao Dasheng send out fake technical documents, then arrest him, and then let the Japanese contact leave with the fake technical documents.

After the plan was formulated, Fang Wen immediately put it into action.

Outside the Taishan Research Institute, inside the office building that was originally a semiconductor assembly plant.

Fang Wen reopened the small building that had been temporarily abandoned due to the relocation to Yanchuan.

The factory manager's office on the second floor served as his temporary command center.

In addition to Fang Shouxin, Gong Xiuneng, and five internal investigation staff members, William, the security chief of the northern Myanmar base, and Lu Zexuan, the head of the research institute, were also present.

Fang Wen looked serious.

"William, have your men made any discoveries?"

William replied, "We have completed the deployment. There are our people all around the research institute and dormitory area. Their comings and goings are being monitored. We are also conducting radio surveillance, but there has been no suspicious activity yet."

Fang Wen nodded, signaling Gong Xiuneng to open the door and bring Lu Zexuan in.

He asked Lu Zexuan, "Did you handle Zhao Dasheng's transformation from a logistics staff member to a researcher?"

Lu Zexuan's expression changed drastically, and he quickly offered an explanation.

"My main responsibilities were administration and logistics. I couldn't interfere with the research within the institute; that was handled by the heads of the various research groups. Zhao Dasheng was originally in logistics, under my supervision, but he was later transferred to Semiconductor Research Group Two as a special talent. I didn't think much of it at the time, assuming he had a natural talent for it."

Fang Wen pondered.

The institute currently has six research groups.

A research group was set up to improve the man-portable rocket launcher.

A special research group was also established to conduct material matching research on the coolant for V-type aircraft engines.

There are also petrochemical research groups and aerial bomb research groups.

And the original semiconductor research group.

Semiconductor Research Group 1 focuses on theoretical research, while Semiconductor Research Group 2 focuses on practical technology development.

The group leader is Bayer Planck, an applied mechanical engineer.

Was he also bribed?
Fang Wen immediately arranged for someone to bring Bayer Planck over.

Bayer Planck followed Lu Zexuan out of the research institute and into the adjacent semiconductor factory office building.

He was somewhat surprised and asked in broken Chinese, "Weren't you going to the general affairs department? Why are you here?"

Lu Zexuan said expressionlessly, "This is the place. Come up with me."

Meanwhile, outside the building, several guards appeared and blocked Bayer Planck's retreat.

Bayer Planck, who was just a technical expert, panicked but dared not resist and obediently followed Lu Zexuan upstairs.

When he got to the office upstairs, he saw Fang Wen and quickly asked, "General Manager, what's going on?"

Fang Wen said coldly, "You should have focused on your research and then retired with a generous salary. But now you have violated professional ethics and done things that harm the interests of the company and our country."

Bayer Planck was terrified and on the verge of a breakdown.

He naturally knew what he had done and quickly offered an explanation.

“I didn’t expect it to be this serious. A man named Zhao Dasheng came to me and said he wanted to advance his career and no longer wanted to do logistics work, but instead wanted to participate in research work. I was going to refuse at first, but he offered me so much.”

"How much will you get?" Fang Wen asked coldly.

“They gave me 10 small gold bars, which they kept in my dorm room. I handed them all over,” Bayer Planck replied.

The small gold bars of this era, also known as small yellow croakers, were uniformly priced at one tael, or 31 grams.

In US dollars, which are pegged to the gold price, 10 small gold bars would cost $310.

It might seem like a lot to outsiders, but for highly paid experts like Bayer Planck, it's just a few months' salary.

Even the bonus for the successful development of the semiconductor radio last time was more than this.

Fang Wen looked at Bayer Planck with disappointment.

This person ruined his own future.

But for now, Fang Wen cannot imprison him; instead, he needs him to cooperate with his actions.

Therefore, Fang Wen's expression was serious.

“You have committed a very serious crime. You are suspected of serving an enemy country. Now that it is wartime, I can execute you on the spot.”

Bayer Planck's legs buckled, and he slid off his seat to the floor.

Gong Xiuneng, who was standing guard nearby, lifted him up.

Fang Wen continued, "But considering your contributions, I can give you a chance to atone for your sins. If you do it, your crimes will be mitigated." Upon hearing that he wouldn't have to die, Bayer Planck felt a glimmer of hope: "I'm willing, I'm willing to do anything."

“Alright,” Fang Wen stood up and instructed, “Go back now and pretend nothing happened. Just go about your work as usual. After I notify you, go find Zhao Dasheng and ask him to find a technical document in the archives.”

Bayer Planck nodded quickly: "I will do my best."

Immediately afterwards, Fang Wen had someone send Bayer Planck back.

The people had already gone downstairs and were walking towards the research institute. Fang Wen pulled back the curtains and watched Lu Zexuan and Bayer Planck walk away.

He drew the curtains, told everyone to leave, and then disguised himself.

Before long, he disguised himself as an ordinary cleaning worker at the research institute.

After doing all this, he left the office building and headed towards the research institute.

The guards at the gate, who belonged to William's security detail, had been notified and did not obstruct the process.

Subsequently, Fang Wen, disguised as a cleaning staff member, took a broom and went to the archives room on the third floor.

At this moment, the corridor on the third floor was deserted.

As Fang Wen approached the door of the archives room, the door to the monitoring room at the far end of the corridor opened, and Zhao Shanhu rushed out.

"Who are you? You're not allowed to come near here, don't you know that?"

Fang Wen removed the human skin mask, revealing his true face: "Zhao Shanhu, it's me."

"General Manager, you've arrived."

"Go back to the monitoring room and keep watch. I need to go to the archives. No one is allowed to approach me before I come out."

"Yes."

Zhao Shanhu turned around and went straight back to the monitoring room.

Fang Wenze took out his key, opened the door to the archives room, went inside, and then closed the door behind him.

He knew the documents in the archives very well, and then went to the third bookshelf.

That bookshelf was full of technical documents about aircraft.

These materials include: design drawings and technical data of the Shuiyun-1 civilian seaplane, the Shuiyun-2 gunship aircraft, the Xiluo improved V12 engine, the Xuanming long-range seaplane, the Hengshan-1 bomber, and the Taishan first-generation high-speed fighter.

What the Japanese wanted most was definitely the information on the first generation of high-speed fighter jets from the Taishan.

Fang Wen took out the document and, being familiar with the data, carefully considered it.

Replacing all the data is not an option; the problem will be easily discovered.

It would be better to make changes to key data and some structures. The problems won't be apparent on the surface, but will only be discovered after the product is completed and undergoes test flights.

After an hour of deliberation, Fang Wen rewrote the technical documents.

After rewriting it, he put the document back in its original place and left.

The technical documents have been revised, and Bayer Planck has agreed to cooperate.

The next step is to get the information to Zhao Shanhu and the Japanese contact without them suspecting anything.

Therefore, Fang Wen, Fang Shouxin, William, and Shen Weitao discussed how to set up the scheme.

After some discussion, they decided to find someone from another research institute to cooperate.

The operation began a day later.

Bayer Planck repeatedly wiped the sweat from his head and palms with a handkerchief.

I kept telling myself that I must not mess this up.

dong dong.

There was a knock on the office door.

"Come in," he replied, trying to use a normal tone.

The door opened, and Zhao Dasheng came in from outside.

"Team leader, what can I do for you?"

"Everyone else in the group has experiments to do. Go to the archives and look up some materials. Here is the list of materials you need to look up."

As he spoke, Bayer Planck handed a piece of paper to Zhao Dasheng.

"Ok."

Zhao Dasheng took the paper, turned around and left, closing the office door behind him. A look of delight instantly appeared on his face.

He suppressed his elation and went to the administrative office on the first floor, where he submitted a request to Lu Zexuan, the head of the research institute, to review the materials.

Lu Zexuan glanced at the completed application form and signed his agreement.

"Why are so many people applying to check information today? There are already people waiting, you'll have to wait a bit before you can go up."

Zhao Dasheng smiled and said, "It's alright, I'll wait."

He took the signed and approved application form and went to the guard room next door.

A guard was assigned to accompany him upstairs to review the documents.

Then came the waiting.

Half an hour later, he received permission to enter and went up to the third floor with the accompanying guard.

Outside the archives room on the third floor, a researcher was arguing with a security guard: "I must go back to the archives. The latest aircraft design drawings and related technical documents are not back in their original places. If the technical documents are leaked, can you take responsibility?"

The accompanying guards, of course, would not take responsibility, and the door was reopened.

As the two entered, Zhao Dasheng stood outside the door observing the situation inside.

He saw the researcher place the data on the third bookshelf, in the second column, on the far right.

The researchers and accompanying guards then came out, closed the door, and left.

After everyone left, Zhao Dasheng pretended to complain, "That guy is so careless. And he's supposed to be a researcher."

His accompanying guard opened the door: "Go check your files, why are you bothering with other people's business?"

The two then entered the archives room.

Zhao Dasheng took out the index sheet and searched on the bookshelf.

He deliberately dawdled, testing the waters of accompanying the guard.

Seeing that the accompanying guard did not react, he walked to the third bookshelf, took out the stack of documents from the far right of the second column.

The document clearly states "The First Generation of the Taishan Machine".

Such important information, however, was transformed into gold bars and opium paste in his eyes.

Driven by desire, he made the decision to betray his master, secretly taking out a miniature camera that could be picked up with two fingers.

(A miniature spy camera from the Republican era)
Thinking no one knew, Zhao Dasheng took advantage of the moment when the accompanying guards weren't paying attention, using his body as cover to photograph page after page of documents with a miniature spy camera.

However, in the monitoring room at the very back on the third floor, Fang Wen and the others witnessed the entire scene.

Fang Wen asked in a deep voice: "Next, we need to put him under full surveillance. We must not let him leave the surveillance range. Once he passes the intelligence to the contact person, we will arrest him. Remember, we need to act convincingly, but we can only arrest him. The contact person must be released."

(End of this chapter)