Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 118 The 117th Reichstag Fire, Istanbul to Lake Van

2 month 27 day.

With all preparations complete, the treasure hunt at Fan Lake begins.

Fang Wen sent messages on two different frequencies, notifying both sides to prepare their personnel.

Afterwards, he and Lin Shuiwang took a car sent by Farman to the aircraft manufacturing plant, where they waited for night to fall.

Time passed slowly as the two waited aboard the Ford three-engine aircraft.

When it was time for dinner, Lin Shuiwang took out the food he had prepared and gave it to Fang Wen.

While eating, Lin Shuiwang was still a little worried.

"Mr. Fang, are those people really reliable? Can we trust them?"

After finishing his bacon roll, Fang Wen explained, "There's no question of trust. This is a transaction. They couldn't have done this without me. The most important thing isn't finding the treasure, but getting the goods back to Europe."

"What will happen when we get back?" Lin Shuiwang asked. He agreed with Fang Wen's plan. The whole process was under the pilot's control. The others couldn't do without Fang Wen, but the most dangerous time was when the plane returned and the spoils were distributed.

Fang Wen had also considered his concerns.

"I will fly back to Paris and complete the profit sharing here."

Upon hearing that he would be returning to Paris to share the profits, Lin Shuiwang felt much more at ease, believing that the Germans and Americans wouldn't cause any trouble in France.

But then, a gun appeared in front of Lin Shuiwang.

It was Fang Wen who handed it to him—a Browning pocket pistol.

"It's always good to be wary of others. Keep this with you; you can use it for self-defense if anything happens."

Lin Shuiwang nodded solemnly as he took the pistol.

In the following time, Fang Wen took out a map and told Lin Shuiwang about the flight itinerary.

"Tonight we're flying to three places. First, we'll pick them up in Berlin from Paris, then we'll transit in Vienna, and finally arrive in Istanbul. We'll rest in Istanbul during the day and then head to Lake Van in the evening."

At 6 pm, it was getting dark.

The airport runway lights came on.

The Ford three-engine aircraft pulled out of the hangar, accelerated on the runway, and took off into the sky.

After an hour of flying, it was completely dark.

The plane continued flying westward, and in this peaceful time, without radar monitoring, it did not alert the French Air Force at all.

The plane flew over Belgium and entered the territory of the Weimar Republic.

It passed through Aachen, Cologne, Hanover, and Wolfsburg, finally arriving over Berlin.

The flight covered 800 kilometers, and it was already 11 p.m., more than 5 hours later.

At this moment, the central area of ​​Berlin was illuminated by flames.

Fang Wen was surprised. How could a fire break out in downtown Berlin? He had spent a month in Berlin and knew the environment there. It was an open area with patrols, so even if there was a spark, it would be difficult for it to start.

Has something happened down there?!
Will it affect the landing?

Fang Wen's heart sank slightly. He turned the plane around and flew west of Berlin, looking for a landing spot.

On the forest roads west of Berlin, there should be ground torches to guide the landing point, as agreed.

After searching for a while, he saw it: two rows of torches lit up the road below.

He then took control of the aircraft and landed it on the road.

Fang Wen handled the old plane, which had a speed of 150 kilometers per hour, with ease, landing it on the road.

Once the plane came to a stop, seven figures ran over from the roadside.

They were fully armed, carrying large and small bags, and were fully prepared.

Fang Wen gestured to Lin Shuiwang to open the boarding gate and help carry the things up.

After a flurry of activity, various supplies were loaded into the cabin, and seven officers boarded the plane.

The plane accelerated and took off from the road. After it took off, several soldiers appeared by the roadside, removed the torches, and cleaned up all traces.

Ford's three engines are taking off again, with Vienna as their next target.

Fang Wen asked, "Is there a problem with the transit points you arranged?"

“No problem, it’s a farm,” replied the English-speaking officer, who became the German communicator for the operation.

Fang Wen, recalling the fire in downtown Berlin, couldn't help but ask, "What happened with that fire tonight?"

“We don’t know either. We heard that the parliament building was on fire. When we arrived, the arsonist had already been caught. We heard he was a Dutch communist, and he may have been instructed to do so.”

Fang Wen sensed a conspiracy in the other party's words.

Although the Nazis have gained some power, they cannot decide everything.

Under the parliamentary mechanism of the Weimar Republic, many of the Nazi Party's proposals could be opposed by other political parties and thus could not be implemented.

The Weimar Communist Party was the second largest party in the parliament.

Thinking about this, Fang Wen probably guessed it.

If the Nazis were to establish a dictatorship in the future, they would certainly eliminate any dissidents.

This massive fire, coupled with the suspect's obvious identity, could it be a frame-up or something else?
It seems that a change of government in the Weimar Republic is not far off.

Pushing aside his thoughts, Fang Wen asked, "What would you do if the Nazi Party took control of the entire country in the future?"

The officer looked bewildered: "I don't know either."

Perhaps this is the current state of affairs for many Weimar soldiers.

Fang Wen stopped talking and focused on piloting the plane.

More than three hours later, at 2 a.m.

The plane stopped and hovered at high altitude.

Fang Wen announced, "We've arrived in Vienna."

The officers all stood up and looked down.

Looking at the sea of ​​lights below, I was filled with astonishment.

This was a rare experience; the amazing Eastern pilots could accurately find their course at night.

This gave them even more confidence in their treasure hunt.

An English-speaking officer came to the cockpit and said, "The farm we're landing at is south of Vienna, in a rather remote area. Fly in that direction, and you should be able to see the guidance fire."

Ford turned three times and hovered over the south of Vienna.

After a while, the officers started shouting in German.

The English-speaking officer explained:
"They found it. It's down there."

Fang Wen had actually seen it earlier and immediately landed the plane.

From Paris to Berlin, and then to Vienna, a distance of 1300 kilometers, the fuel was more than half used up, and it was necessary to refuel before it could take off again.

He waited on the plane while two officers and Lin Shuiwang jumped off to negotiate with the farm's people.

After a while, an oxcart pulled up with a large fuel tank, and Lin Shuiwang took out a stack of pounds to pay for the fuel.

With the fuel tank full, the plane took off again, heading towards Istanbul.

This journey of over 1000 kilometers also highlights some of the minor advantages of the Ford triple-engine.

Although it is extremely slow, its performance is stable.

Because of its slow speed, it is less demanding in terms of landing sites and can land in various challenging environments.

It was almost as if it were tailor-made for this treasure hunt.

The flight from Vienna to Istanbul is 1200 kilometers long and takes 8 hours.

The Ford III arrived in Istanbul at 10 a.m.

The aircraft called for permission to land from the air and, after receiving approval, landed on the runway.

A man in a suit and wide-brimmed hat was waiting by the track.

Fang Wen waved from the cockpit: "Good morning, Indiana."

“I’ve been waiting for you here all day. I hope your treasure is real,” Indiana replied.

“It should be right. Get on the plane, we’ll talk over there.” Fang Wen pointed to the hangar where he parked his P26. Indiana boarded the plane after being pulled by two officers on board, and the plane flew towards the hangar.

Upon arriving at the hangar, Fang Wen gave the key to Lin Shuiwang and asked him to open the door.

After the hangar door opened, the Ford 3D drove in and parked temporarily.

Fang Wen also immediately came down to check if his Shrike was alright.

For two months, the Shrike remained quietly in the hangar, with no problems except for a layer of dust.

Relieved, Fang Wen turned back.

At Ford's three-engine side, everyone had already disembarked from the plane.

However, they split into three groups.

Seven German officers were on one side, while Lin Shuiwang and Indiana stood on the other.

They didn't know each other well and were wary of each other.

Fang Wen came over to introduce himself.

"These seven are from the Weimar Republic's National Defense Forces. This is Indiana from the U.S. Office of Strategic Services, and there's Lin Shuiwang, my assistant."

Indiana's expression cleared: "You make Germans and Americans work for you, and then use the distribution of the treasure to control us?"

Fang Wen calmly replied, "Yes, I only take 30%, but I have to bear the burden of flying thousands of kilometers. There is no better organizer than me."

"So, I get 20 percent of the rest, and these Germans get 50 percent?" Indiana glanced disdainfully at the seven German officers.

His words and actions, after being translated, angered the officers, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Lin Shuiwang leaned closer to Fang Wen and whispered, "Sir, the situation is not good."

“Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think. I think this is Indiana’s strategy. The Germans aren’t stupid either. They’ll probably have to renegotiate the allocation of power,” Fang Wen explained.

As expected, no fight broke out, and the two sides discussed the matter.

After a while, they invited Fang Wen to join them.

The English-speaking officer explained the outcome of the negotiations.

"This American says he can take care of turning the treasure into currency for us, and we're willing to give him 10% of it. Fang, do you think he can do it?"

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the predecessor of the CIA, so it's not surprising that Indiana had connections in Europe. Fang Wen nodded.

“If you agree, then that’s settled. Once I get my hands on the treasure, I’ll drive it back to Paris, cash it out there, and then we’ll split the profits among the three parties.”

Paris is the art capital and a hub for antique collectors, making it the perfect place to monetize ancient treasures. Everyone agreed to the proposal.

Next, they just had to wait for night to fall. After all, it was best not to let the local government know about their treasure hunt.

During this time, Lin Shuiwang and Indiana went out for a trip.

When I returned, I brought back the most popular local dish: Turkish kebab.

Lin Shuiwang also gave Fang Wen a special introduction.

"They call this dish Doner Kebab, and it's made with lamb leg meat."

Fang Wen watched as the local Turks set up their tools and grilled the food.

Unlike the vertical rotating barbecue that will sweep the world in the future.

They skewer meat slices mixed with vegetables and plant tubers into long skewers and grill them like Xinjiang lamb skewers.

Fang Wen couldn't help but suspect that the so-called globally popular Turkish kebab of the future might actually be an innovation, while this Doner Kebab is the traditional way of making it.

After roasting for a while, the aroma of oil and spices combined is irresistible.

It greatly increases one's appetite.

Germans, who love meat, really enjoyed this food and immediately gathered around to feast on it.

Watching them eat, Fang Wen also felt hungry.

Immediately, everyone in the treasure hunting team sat together and enjoyed the delicious food.

They not only have grilled meat skewers, but also another way to eat them: cutting open a naan bread made of flour and stuffing it with grilled meat, which is very similar to eating roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).

They ate together and their relationship gradually became harmonious.

Indiana and the German officers chatted and laughed together.

Watching this scene, Fang Wen felt a pang of emotion. He thought, "Let's cherish this brief period of peace. In just a few years, a major war will break out in Europe, and these people will become irreconcilable enemies."

But on second thought, it seems that China suffered the hardships of war for a longer period of time.

From the late Qing Dynasty to the present day, war has never stopped, and it is expected to continue for another ten years. China has spent almost half a century in war.

Thinking of all this, Fang Wen secretly resolved to make good use of the valuable things he had obtained on this trip to Europe after returning home, in order to work towards ending the war as soon as possible.

The barbecue meal is over.

With several hours to go before nightfall, everyone found a place to rest in the hangar or on the plane.

The sounds of snoring rose and fell, and although it was noisy, the fatigue from a night's work brought Fang Wen into a deep sleep.

Lin Shuiwang, however, did not sleep. He sat next to Fang Wen, raised his right leg, and pressed his hand on his thigh to cover the Browning pistol in his pocket.

Among the officers, there was one who sat against the wall, doing the same thing as keeping watch.

Indiana sat alone on the other side, head bowed and curled up, her hat covering her face so it was impossible to tell if she was asleep or awake.

Time passed little by little, and finally it got dark.

At 7 p.m., everyone got up, boarded the plane, and prepared to depart.

Fang Wen piloted the plane out of the hangar, and Lin Shuiwang locked the hangar door and ran to board the plane.

Meanwhile, Indiana was negotiating with airport staff, and the runway lights came on.

After the takeoff was arranged, Indiana boarded the plane.

Ford's three engines accelerated, and it soared into the sky.

Fang Wenfei had flown the route from Istanbul to Lake Van before, so flying it again was a breeze for him.

The flight covered 1200 kilometers and took 8 hours, arriving at its destination at 5 a.m.

At 5 a.m., Lake Van was still completely dark.

But on the dock road on the southeast bank, torches were lit to guide the way.

Guided by the torch, Fang Wen landed the plane on the dock road.

Finally, we arrived at the treasure hunting location.

A young man wearing a baseball cap came to the outside of the plane and introduced himself after Fang Wen got off.

"Hello, my name is Roberto Kerr, the telegraph operator and also the ground contact for this operation. I'll get a share if the treasure is found."

Fang Wen shook hands with him: "Yes, but you need to find Indiana; he'll divide your share."

The young man glanced at Indiana, who nodded, and then happily pointed behind him: "The plane has landed at the dock, and I've already rented this place. No one will bother us for a while."

Fang Wen returned to the plane, started the engine, and slowly drove along the road leading to the dock. When they arrived at the dock, everyone began to get busy.

They took out a black tarpaulin and covered the plane with it.

Then, various supplies were transported from the plane to the wooden houses on the dock.

Next came the inventory of supplies and the calculation of costs.

For this treasure hunt.

Many tools were prepared.

Shovels, stone hammers, explosives, diving equipment, etc.

The costs of purchasing these supplies, as well as various flight expenses and the rental fees for the Lake Van pier, all need to be tallied.

These costs will be incurred as expenses for the treasure hunt and will be deducted from the total cost once the treasure is discovered.

After the expenses were tallied, everyone took out some supplies, boarded a small boat, and transported them to a small island in the lake.

After several shipments, the supplies were delivered to the island.

Only telegraph operator Roberto Kerr remained at the dock, while everyone else embarked on a treasure hunt on the island.

(End of this chapter)