Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 131, Section 130: The military security team, airport, and factory are all in good order.

"Be a bodyguard?" the old man scoffed. "We sons of soldiers are paid by the army and earn merit through battle. Without those, we might as well stay home, farm, or do business."

The old man's words revealed the values ​​of the military's children: to join the army and earn merit.

Fang Wen can't give me that.

We can't exactly say that we're asking them to join the Taishan Volunteer Army.

Fang Wen decided to go to the county government to ask.

After finding out the way, the group arrived at the county government office.

I received the same reply there.

Furthermore, the county government officials said they couldn't handle the affairs of the "pole army" (a group of people who organized and controlled the military), and that anyone who wanted to talk to them should talk to the people who organized the pole army.

Then, Fang Wen returned to the original spot and chatted with the old man who was smoking a pipe.

"Sir, I'm from out of town and don't know anything about this place. I hope you can tell me something."

The old man was satisfied with this attitude, but it wasn't enough.

Fang Wen understood: "It's not convenient to talk business here. Let's find a place to eat and talk slowly."

The old man smiled and nodded, knocking out the residue from his pipe, and slowly led the way: "Follow me."

He walked all the way to the riverside food stalls and casually ordered several local dishes.

"Blood duck, stir-fried pork with matsutake mushrooms, green peppers with cured pork, and braised chicken with soybeans"

All of them were hearty dishes.

There's also local rice wine.

This little expense is nothing at all, Fang Wen said with a smile as he poured wine for the old man.

The other person took a big gulp and said with satisfaction:

"Let me tell you. Don't underestimate this place just because it's small. It only has a few thousand households in the city, but everyone here has a noble lineage."

"What's your background?" Fang Wen asked in surprise.

“Thousands of people from our town of Gancheng went to join the army all over the country. Every family, whenever a son went out to join the army, would carve the name of the army he was in on the threshold.”

"is it?"

"You don't believe me? Boss, don't touch my food. I'll take him out to see and then come right back."

The old man took Fang Wen's hand and led him out of the tavern, where he went down the street to criticize him one by one.

"Look, this family is the 'Guizhou Governor,' meaning their family members worked in the governor's office. Of course, it's the Republic of China now, and the office no longer exists. And this one too."

Along the way, the old man showed Fang Wen many books, some from the Qing Dynasty and others from the Republic of China.

This shows that people here truly regard serving in the military as an honor.

Of course, there are also comparisons among soldiers. Those with inscriptions such as "Admiral", "Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent", "Imperial Envoy", and "Major General of the National Army" are the best, and most of them joined the army in a certain place.

After seeing all this, Fang Wen and the old man returned and continued eating and drinking.

"Old man, according to you, they're not even willing to accept troops that aren't regular soldiers?"

"Yes," the old man nodded earnestly.

"I don't believe it. Why don't I give it a try?"

"How to try?"

"Meet me at our usual spot tomorrow. I'll put up a recruitment notice. If I can't find anyone, I'll give you 10 silver dollars. If I do find someone, what will you say?"

"I'll kowtow to you if you recruit me." The old man, fueled by alcohol, blew his nose and glared.

"How can that be? If I manage to recruit someone, could you do me a favor and help me promote the company throughout the city, according to those conditions?"

"can."

"Alright then, I'll take my leave. See you at the usual place tomorrow."

After Fang Wen finished speaking, he got up to pay the bill and left the tavern with Wu Ziyue and the others.

After leaving the tavern, they found an inn in town to stay at and have dinner.

As for what to eat, Fang Wen thought the old man's order must be good, so he ordered another set of the same dishes.

These dishes are actually quite good.

Blood rice duck is a sausage made of glutinous rice and pig's blood, which is then stir-fried with duck meat, chili peppers, and ginger. The duck meat is firm and has a spicy and delicious flavor.

Stir-fried matsutake mushrooms with pork also has a unique flavor. Matsutake mushrooms are a type of fungus unique to the matsutake tree. When stir-fried with tea oil and then with pork belly, the mushrooms taste even better than the meat.

Green peppers and cured pork go without saying; cured pork is abundant in western Hunan.

Braised chicken with soybeans involves stir-frying free-range chicken with soybeans until fragrant, then adding water and braising. The aroma of the chicken and the flavor of the soybeans blend together, creating a unique taste.

These four dishes were especially good with rice, but the portions were not enough. Fang Wen also ordered some stir-fried vegetables, as well as local pickled green beans stir-fried with minced meat and hot and sour wood ear mushroom soup.

I ate a very filling meal.

After dinner, everyone sat together and discussed.

Wu Ziyue asked, "Fang Wen, are you sure you can win the bet tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure. I'm just throwing money at this opportunity. Even if it doesn't work out, people in the city will know we're recruiting, which is a form of public announcement," Fang Wen replied.

“That’s true. There are no newspapers here, and we’re unfamiliar with the area. Using unconventional methods will be more effective.” Wu Ziyue nodded, his brother-in-law was quite capable.

The next day, early in the morning.

The two shop assistants went out and bought a large sheet of white paper and the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper).

Wu Ziyue personally took charge and wrote the recruitment notice on a blank sheet of paper.

Once the ink had dried, the group went outside and arrived at the place where they were to meet the old man.

There, the old man was already waiting, looking like he was looking forward to a good show.

Fang Wen smiled and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Morning."

"I couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking about getting those 10 silver dollars, so I came to wait for you first thing this morning," the old man said cheerfully.

"Okay, let's get started."

Then, Fang Wen followed the old man to the notice wall, brushed the white paper with paste, and pasted it on the notice wall.

It was written in black and white on white paper.

Taishan Airlines Recruitment Announcement

Taishan Airlines, a leading airline in China, enjoys a renowned reputation worldwide with routes spanning across the globe. Due to the company's booming business and staff shortages, we are now recruiting airport security personnel to ensure the safety and security of our flights.

The recruited guards must meet the following requirements:
First, be of good character, loyal and reliable, courageous and determined, and able to remain calm and composed in the face of adversity.

Second, obey management, follow instructions, perform duties diligently, and take it as your responsibility to safeguard the company's interests.

Once hired, the company will provide the following benefits:

1. A monthly salary of twenty silver dollars, never delayed, paid on time every month, and can be sent directly home to relieve the family's worries.

Second, meals and accommodation will be arranged by the company to ensure the convenience of employees' lives.

3. Clothing and equipment are provided by the company; employees do not need to provide their own.

Fourth, the company will arrange military training to enhance employees' skills and improve their ability to respond to emergencies.

Taishan Airlines prioritizes its employees' well-being and values ​​their success. We encourage ambitious individuals to apply and join us in building a brilliant future together!
Registration address: [Sihai Inn] Contact person: [Sun Debiao]
We sincerely invite all ambitious individuals to pay attention and look forward to your joining us!

The old man was speechless.

I feel like we're doomed to lose this game.

His bet was only 10 dollars.

They're hiring, and they only pay 20 yuan a month.

There were other attractive conditions, which made the old man himself want to participate.

The old man wasn't the only one with this idea; a large crowd quickly gathered around the notice board.

Those who can read read aloud, while those who cannot read listen to the explanations given by those who can.

There was much discussion. "What does Taishan Airlines even do? They claim to be famous all over the world and spread throughout the land. That's incredibly arrogant."

"I don't care what he does, I just care whether the 20 silver dollars is real or not."

"Yes, 20 silver dollars a month. After a year, I'll have enough money to buy land and get married."

"Hey, are you really that short-sighted? With such good conditions, why come back to farm? You could find any wife you want!"

"They even provide food and lodging, everything is included. It seems fake. Could they be tricking us into boarding a ship and selling us as indentured laborers in Southeast Asia? I've heard that many people from the south are tricked out like this."

The discussions were filled with skepticism.

This gave the old man another chance to win, and he smiled.

But the chances are slim.

A man wearing glasses came to the notice board, read it, and then asked:

“I know about Taishan Airlines, but whether you are employees of Taishan Airlines is hard to say.”

"Who are you?" Fang Wen asked.

"I am Zhang, the principal of Zhengan County Central Primary School."

The bespectacled man's reply drew cheers from the onlookers:

“The principal is a learned man, knowledgeable and worldly. If what he says is true, I’ll go back and call my child over right away.”

"Me too."

It seems that Principal Zhang is very prestigious. Fang Wen smiled and said, "My surname is Wen, and I just came from Yongshun County. Our Taishan Airlines plans to build an airport in Wanping, Yongshun, to connect the four provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and Guizhou and open up the civil aviation market in Southwest China. However, considering the rampant banditry in western Hunan, we have come to Zhengancheng to recruit a group of security personnel."

Fang Wen's explanation was so logical and reasonable that Principal Zhang couldn't help but start to believe him.

"If it's really going to be an airport, that would be a great thing. Our Xiangxi region desperately needs a convenient route to connect with the outside world. Do you have any other evidence?"

Fang Wen looked at Sun Debiao: "Bring out the receipt for the donation to Yongshun."

Sun Debiao took out the receipt, which was stamped with the county government's official seal.

Looking at the receipt, Principal Zhang was somewhat moved.

"It seems to be true."

The old man grew anxious: "Principal Zhang, you can't make a hasty judgment."

Just as the old man finished speaking, Fang Wen smiled and said, "Oh, right, there's something I forgot to mention when I visited your county government yesterday. Taishan Airlines is considering the local poverty situation and is preparing to donate 2000 silver dollars to help impoverished elderly and children. However, there must be a ceremony to appoint a local notable to oversee the use of this donation and ensure it's used where it's needed. I think Principal Zhang is a good candidate. Would you be willing to take on this oversight responsibility?"

Fang Wen used the same method again, only slightly modifying the original words.

But this is indeed the most effective method.

No one would use 2000 yuan as a prelude to a scam; it's simply not worth it.

Principal Zhang was stunned and asked incredulously, "Really?"

"It's absolutely true. Why don't we go to the county government and discuss this in detail?"

“Okay, 2000 silver dollars can do a lot of good deeds. I am willing to supervise it, but I am afraid it is not enough for me alone. Please postpone the donation date so that I can find a few kind-hearted people to do it together.”

"That would be even better. Let's go to the county government then."

Fang Wen and Principal Zhang left chatting and laughing, while the old man stared blankly, thinking that his ten silver dollars had completely gone down the drain.

At this moment, Wu Ziyue walked over, took out a small stack of silver dollars, and whispered, "Here are ten silver dollars. If you spread the word about the notice, they are all yours."

The old man was immediately overjoyed.

The publicity for Zhengan City has been done well.

The whole city knew that Taishan Airlines had donated 2000 silver dollars.

Meanwhile, the notice about Taishan Airlines' recruitment was known throughout the city.

Such benefits attracted many city families to bring their children to register.

Sun Debiao was in charge of the registration. After a period of selection, one hundred sons of the Gan Army were chosen.

These 100 people will become official employees of Wanping Airport. After training, they will be issued weapons to guard the airport's security.

Therefore, Fang Wen handed over the last thousand silver dollars to Sun Debiao.

"I have to go back and take care of other company matters. You lead the team to Wanping first. Fang Shouxin and Shunzi will come to take over your work soon. Can you do that?"

Leading 100 young soldiers alone was a challenge for Sun Debiao.

He agreed without hesitation: "Don't worry, General Manager, I will definitely do this well. You can go with peace of mind."

After saying goodbye to Sun Debiao, Fang Wen and Wu Ziyue prepared to return to Mayang.

On the way back, they hired guards from the Gan army for protection.

Along the way, perhaps due to the reputation of the Gan Army, or perhaps due to good luck, they did not encounter any more bandits blocking their path.

Upon arriving in Mayang, we boarded a small steamer and returned via the same route.

This time, we drove straight to Changde without stopping along the way.

From Changde to Wuhan, it's not a journey that a small steamship can make.

Fang Wen left the boat with his brother-in-law Wu Ziyue and set off on a long-distance passenger ship.

Two days later, Fang Wen returned to Wuhan and piloted the Qingyun back to Shanghai.

This journey took 9 days, starting on March 21st.

After returning to Shanghai, without resting, Fang Wen immediately summoned Fang Shouxin, Shunzi, and Huo Duanyang.

He inquired about the situation.

"Uncle Fang, how are the 60 explosives loading workers doing now?"

"They're all doing well. They keep asking when we'll start work; they get anxious if they're idle all the time," Fang Shouxin said with a smile.

Fang Wen nodded and continued asking.

"Shunzi, how are things on your end?"

“I’ve brought all the people back, along with their tools of the trade. They live right next to the packers’ dormitory, and they keep asking me when we’re going to start work,” Shunzi replied confidently. He was now the manager of the tinware factory, no longer the unemployed youth who was constantly being scolded by his father.

The issues between the two individuals themselves are not significant; Fang Wen is more concerned about Huo Duanyang's chemistry team.

"Duan Yang, how are things on your end?"

"We've gathered 10 already. I've calculated the process, and it should be enough to complete 4000 kilograms of chemical blending work per month."

Huo Duanyang's reply brought Fang Wen a sigh of relief.

Now that everything was in place, he laid out the entire plan.

The map unfolds, and Fang Wen points to that point.

"The new airport is right here. I've already inspected it, and it's a perfect fit. Because of the local security situation, we've even hired 100 security personnel. Now you can take your people over there first to help complete the airport construction."

At this point, Fang Wen paused deliberately and looked at Fang Shouxin.

“Uncle Fang, you participated in the airport construction and management work of our Taishan Airlines, so this time you will be in full charge. What you need to do is to complete the airport construction as soon as possible. Only when the airport can be used for landing can I pilot the Taishan No. 1 to transport various supplies there.”

Fang Shouxin nodded seriously: "Young Master, don't worry. As you said, with 100 security guards, plus 100 people on my side, and another batch of people hired locally, based on my experience, the construction progress will be very fast."

Fang Wen continued to instruct, "The people there are known for their fierce nature, so you must keep a close eye on your own people and make sure they don't break the rules. Also, take 20,000 silver dollars with you when you go to acquire the local land and purchase supplies."

"Twenty thousand silver dollars?" Fang Shouxin asked in surprise.

It's not that I think it's too much, but rather that I feel like I'm not getting enough.

But then I thought about it again, and in the past, airports were all built in big cities, so it was normal for the various costs to be high.

Prices in western Hunan are naturally incomparable to those in Wuhan and Jinan.

The conversation lasted until late at night before the group left Fang Wen's house.

The next day, they boarded an F.220 plane and were sent to Wuhan.

After dropping everyone off, Fang Wen slept comfortably at home for a whole day until Kuang Mingzhu woke him up the next day.

"Sir, your old classmate has arrived. His name is Min Bangren."

(End of this chapter)