I am an industrial worker during the War of Resistance

Chapter 90 Run! They're demons!

The leaders all returned to headquarters on the night the new aircraft completed its test flight. Now is an extremely tense time, and everyone is very busy.

On the very day that Chen Changzai's new aircraft successfully completed its first test flight.

Upon receiving orders from the bald man, Song Zeyuan retreated westward to Baoding to direct the battle.

The next day, on the morning of July 29, 1937, Beiping fell to the Japanese.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Changzai could only sigh inwardly.

He knew that in this era, apart from engaging in some industrial activities, he couldn't do anything else.

When it comes to leading troops into battle...

In this era, especially in northern Shaanxi, there was an abundance of talent, like a multitude of fish crossing a river.

Even if someone were to become a squad leader, while others lead a squad, Chen Changzai would lead a company.

They could beat him so badly he'd be running for his life.

He also wanted to tell everyone the history he once knew: the Japanese devils would attack Shanghai on August 13th.

But he didn't need to say any of these things.

Two weeks before the Japanese invaders attacked Shanghai, the newspapers in Shanghai were already buzzing with reports.

Everyone knew that war was about to break out in Shanghai.

The bald man had known for months that the Japanese might take action against Shanghai, but everyone was just pretending not to hear.

He also wanted to create a stir and tell the people of Nanjing to leave quickly, because it would soon become a hell.

But is it useful?
For decades, everyone has known about the brutality of the Japanese invaders.

How many years have passed since the Lushun Massacre?

How many atrocities have the Japanese committed?
But will anyone remember?

If he dares to make a public statement saying that Nanjing cannot be defended and that the Japanese will massacre the city.

So the first person to issue an arrest warrant for him and sentence him to death was the bald guy.

If we accuse him of disrupting morale and spreading rumors, then everything he says becomes meaningless.

Because no one will believe him; they'll just think he's crazy.

When the Japanese troops were advancing towards Nanjing, the city had not yet been sealed off.

Those who wanted to run away have already run away.

Those who believed that the bald man could defend Nanjing, those who were reluctant to part with their family property, and those who thought the Japanese wouldn't kill anyone all stayed.

But were they wrong?

That’s right!

They should have believed that the bald man could defend Nanjing.

Because that's their capital!

If a country cannot even defend its capital, then the country is doomed.

Is it wrong for them to want to preserve the family property and assets they have accumulated over a lifetime or several generations?
That’s right!

Those things belonged to them; they were their possessions, their very lives, their very means of livelihood. What was wrong with them wanting to stay and protect these things?
They held onto a sliver of hope, believing that even if the Japanese invaded, it would simply mean a change in the official in charge.

This is the bustling city of Nanjing; how could they possibly massacre the entire city?

Some of them wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken, so how could they possibly know what wild animals are thinking?
Because they are human beings, not wild animals.

Moreover, the Japanese devils are worse than wild beasts and animals.

They are demons that crawled out of a volcanic hell; how could humans possibly understand the thoughts of demons?

On the night of July 29, Chen Changzai didn't look for anyone, not even Wang Ling.

He got himself drunk all by himself.

Finally, Wang Ling, worried about him, came in herself.

He saw that Chen Changzai had only drunk a little less than half a bowl of sweet potato liquor and was already completely drunk.

Lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), he was muttering something with tears streaming down his face.

Wang Ling moved closer and listened carefully.

Faintly, one could hear Chen Changzai saying intermittently, "Run! Run! The Japanese devils are evil spirits; they will massacre the city."

Hearing this, Wang Ling could only sigh softly.

He knew that Chen Changzai had fled from Northeast China, and that he must have witnessed far too many tragedies.

Now that Beiping has fallen, he must be heartbroken.

Because the Japanese devils had already broken out of Chen Changzai's hometown, which they had occupied.

Chen Changzai's desire to return to his hometown became even more difficult.

They took off Chen Changzai's socks.

They then placed a pillow under the pillow and covered it with a thin blanket.

Wang Ling took out the wine that had been partially drunk and a plate of pickled vegetables.

Finally, she blew out the light, closed the door, and walked out of the cave.

Now we have generators and light bulbs.

But now every drop of oil and every unit of electricity is extremely precious.

They are now all going to be used in industrial production.

In all the laboratories, the light bulbs can be left on all night.

In the workshop, light bulbs can also be used to illuminate the workshop brightly.

All the electric motors can run continuously day and night.

However, Chen Changzai himself was still using a kerosene lamp.

Since he didn't use electric lights, no one in the entire Wujiabao industrial base dared to connect electric lights to their homes.

The next morning, Chen Changzai found warm water already placed on the washbasin stand after he got up.

After washing her face, Wang Ling brought over breakfast.

Breakfast was simple: corn and sweet potato porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables with chili oil. However, Chen Changzai found a boiled egg in his bowl.

Looking at Wang Ling sitting opposite him, head down, drinking porridge, Chen Chang used a spoon to put an egg into her bowl.

“Eat it. You’ve been working really hard lately, and you’ve lost weight.”

"Hmm," Wang Ling said, without saying that she didn't like the food or anything.

Because she knew that no matter what decision Chen Changzai made, it was basically impossible for him to change his mind.

Whether it's business or personal matters.

However, Wang Ling'er still divided the egg in half, one half for each of them.

After watching Wang Ling'er eat the half egg, Chen Changzai said, "There must be a lot of work in the logistics department lately, right?"

Now the front lines are about to be engaged in battle again, and this time it may be a major battle.

All the factories are now operating at full capacity, with workers putting in extra hours.

It's unavoidable where you are too.

Upon hearing this, Wang Ling'er laughed and said, "This little bit of work is nothing. No matter what, it's still much better than climbing snow-capped mountains and crossing grasslands."

Our work here is just a bit complicated, but not particularly strenuous.

On the contrary, you've been working too hard lately; you need to take care of your health.

"This is a huge operation, and so many people are counting on you."

Chen Changzai smiled and said, "The way you're talking makes it sound like the earth won't turn without me. Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. I'm looking forward to the day when our troops fight our way back to my hometown, and I'll take you there to see it."

After hearing Chen Changzai's words, Wang Ling'er blushed slightly and lowered her head to start drinking her porridge.

The two ate quickly, and breakfast was finished in no time.

Wang Ling'er did not ask Chen Changzai why he cried last night.

Chen Changzai didn't ask if Wang Ling'er had covered him with the blanket last night.

This had become an unspoken understanding between them.

At the test flight site.

This is now the fifth day of the test flight.

Apart from Jiang Dacheng and Zhu Xiuzhi's group,
Nine other groups also personally piloted the plane and flew it in the sky.

However, only Jiang Dacheng and two other pilots who had actually flown airplanes were qualified to lead these nine team members.

The remaining seventeen pilots, who had never touched an airplane before, could not be allowed to fly a plane solo on their first flight, no matter how good their performance was on the ground.

Because no one who has actually flown at high altitudes can understand the psychological changes that come with being in the sky.

So during these five days, in addition to test flights of the aircraft, the new pilots were also trained.

Over these five days, the plane gave Chen Changzai a very big surprise.

He himself hadn't expected that the aircraft he had built would have such good performance.

These past few days, although I haven't performed any major maneuvers because I've been training new pilots.

After all, those maneuvers are not suitable for novice pilots to attempt for the first time.

However, Jiang Dacheng and his team also performed some moves that were somewhat difficult.

For example, emergency climbs and dives during level flight, low-speed sideslips to escape pursuit, and large-radius turns to escape.

As for those more difficult small-radius maneuvers and tail-biting maneuvers...

For example, a high-speed sideslip to escape followed by a small-radius turn and climb, or a dive to bite the tail.

For example, the rapid ascent after a high-speed dive has not yet been performed.

As for the rotating drum, this is a maneuver that can only be seen in later flight performances.

With the current power output of the aircraft's engine, it is not yet possible to achieve this on a biplane.

According to Chen Changzai's calculations, it would require at least a 1200-horsepower engine.

Don't assume that making an airplane perform a 360-degree axial rotation is such a simple thing.

There are many things needed for this.

From the aircraft's aerodynamic layout to the engine's power to the pilot's skills, all of these are indispensable.

As for things like the cobra maneuver, forget about it.

But today is different.

After completing the final flight yesterday, Chen Changzai, Su Zhihong, and the others conducted a full-scale medical check-up on the aircraft overnight.

It was finally determined that there were no problems with the aircraft, whether it was the engine, the control system, or the airframe fatigue.

It fully meets the conditions for entering the second stage of high-difficulty maneuver testing.

So this morning, Chen Changzai said to the Air Force pilots who were both test pilots and flight trainees: "Comrades, through these five days, you have achieved initial integration with this aircraft."

I think you already understand the basic characteristics of this aircraft.

If it were during peacetime, or when the war was not so intense...

I will ask you to spend at least three months gaining a deeper understanding of this aircraft.

But now it's wartime, and I don't know when we'll have to take to the skies in this plane to fight.

Therefore, I cannot give you too much time to gradually figure out its temperament.

You'll need to learn these things gradually in future battles.

But now we need to know where its limits lie.

Therefore, starting today, we will begin high-difficulty test flights.

Since it has been stated that this is a highly challenging test flight, it means that this work is extremely dangerous.

Moreover, experienced pilots are required to complete the testing of these highly difficult maneuvers.

I will not make a decision regarding who will be appointed as the pilot for this challenging test flight.

Let you decide for yourselves. You can have a discussion in the meeting room first.

I await your decision.

After Chen Chang finished speaking, he was about to leave the meeting room, which had been temporarily converted from a hangar cave.

At this moment, Jiang Dacheng said to Chen Changzai, "Director Chen, there's no need for a meeting. I'll be the first one."

I was the first to fly this plane, and I know its characteristics best.

So everyone else is a little short except for me.

Just as Chen Changzai was about to speak, the other two veteran pilots objected, saying, "Old Jiang, it's true that you were the first to fly this plane, but that doesn't mean your skills are much better than ours."

It's not that our skills are equally good, but you were lucky enough to beat us at guessing beans, so we gave you this opportunity.

Now you're saying your skills are better than ours? Haha, Old Jiang, your shamelessness is almost as thick as an old ginger stalk.

"Commander, Political Commissar, you two have to be the judges in this matter."

The only two people in this air force squadron who couldn't fly a plane were the squadron leader and the political commissar.

Although neither of them could fly a plane, one understood the Air Force's operational plans and personnel management, while the other was skilled in the duties of a political commissar.

Therefore, the two men held a very high level of prestige within the Air Force squadron.

The two men glanced at Chen Changzai.

Chen Changzai then said to the two of them, "You should discuss this matter in an internal meeting."

"Don't we have organizational principles?"

After finishing his speech, Chen Changzai smiled and left the meeting room. He was going to check the plane with his students one last time.

Before he even reached the entrance of the cave dwelling, he heard a huge commotion behind him.

Less than an hour later, the air force squadron leader and political commissar arrived at the aircraft hangar and found Chen Changzai.

He said to Chen Changzai, "Director Chen, we have made a decision. Comrade Jiang Dacheng will once again serve as the test pilot for the first high-difficulty flight maneuver."

At this moment, Chen Chang asked curiously, "Oh, why are those two so generous as to give up the opportunity again?"

The company commander and the political commissar exchanged a glance, and the political commissar, suppressing a laugh, said, "Old Jiang's bean-guessing skills are superb; he won again." Then both the political commissar and the company commander burst into laughter.

Chen Changzai also burst into laughter.

Amidst the indignant gazes of the other two veteran pilots, Jiang Dacheng accepted his leather flight helmet.

However, after seeing Jiang Dacheng holding his flight helmet in his arms, the two veteran pilots came to him and each gave him a deep hug.

Then he patted his arm and said, "Old Jiang, be careful, don't be too reckless, you have to survive."

We still need to win back the beans we lost.

Jiang Dacheng then said to his two old comrades, "Don't worry, I will fly out all the performance of this aircraft."

They will return safely.

The two old comrades-in-arms could say nothing more.

As veteran pilots, they know best how helpless they are when something happens in the sky.

(End of this chapter)