Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 216-215: Another showdown with Hawk-2, a different Kowloon Walled City.
"I'm leaving." Fang Wen said goodbye to his wife on the plane. This separation was very short.

The aircraft engines roared to life once more.

Kuang Mingzhu put her hands to her mouth and shouted, "Be careful. Remember to look for Master Ma."

At her call, the Shrike took off.

Fang Wen, who hadn't flown the Shrike for a long time, accelerated in the air and showed off a tactical roll.

With its improved capabilities, the Shrike, an early monoplane fighter, became far too simple for Fang Wen.

He took out the amber cross necklace; the energy inside was weakening, and he estimated that it wouldn't be long before it would need to be replaced with a bronze cauldron.

Fang Wen piloted the plane toward Hong Kong, but his thoughts were wandering.

With the V1710 engines having been purchased for so long, should we switch the Shrike's power system from Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines to V1710 engines while the aircraft manufacturing plant is being built?

In that case, the performance of the Shrike will be greatly improved.

However, as the speed increases, the Shrike's fuselage also needs to be modified to reduce drag during high-speed flight.

Although Fang Wen was pondering, his control over the flight did not diminish.

When the plane flew over Thailand, he immediately pulled himself out of his thoughts and focused his mind.

He vividly remembered the time he was chased by a Hawk-2 while piloting a seaplane.

Seaplanes can't compare to military fighter jets, so we had to swallow that bitter pill.

If they run into each other again, he wouldn't mind playing around with them.

Therefore, the Shrike deliberately veered off course and circled over the border troop encampment area where it had previously appeared.

This action immediately attracted the attention of those on the ground.

In response to the Shrike, the other side simultaneously dispatched three Hawk II fighter jets.

The three aircraft flew in, forming a three-way encirclement from the left, center, and right.

This time, Fang Wen wouldn't give them time to warn him. The plane suddenly accelerated, its nose dropped, and it broke through the encirclement at a speed far exceeding that of the Hawk II.

The speed difference between the two is too great.

The Hawk 2 has a top speed of 325 km/h and a cruising speed of 240 km/h.

Although it is one of the best biplanes, it cannot match the Shrike's top speed of 377 km/h and cruising speed of 320 km/h.

With a speed advantage of more than one-third, Fang Wen maneuvered against three Hawk 2s in the air.

With ease.

Fang Wen suddenly had a brilliant idea: why not take this opportunity to test the effectiveness of his improved air combat skills?

Of course, it wasn't about shooting down three planes with machine guns—that would be an international dispute—but rather tactical evasion training.

Piston-engine fighters primarily used machine guns in the early and middle stages of air combat, with cannons added later. These weapons were characterized by direct fire and delayed firing.

If evasive maneuvers can be performed in a non-linear manner, denying the opponent the opportunity to aim and fire, an advantage can be gained in air combat.

This was also a signature skill of ace pilots in World War II.

After having this idea, Fang Wen's driving style became elusive and unpredictable, with various non-standard flight maneuvers, repeatedly shaking off pursuers while not giving them a chance to aim and attack.

The three Hawk II pilots realized they had encountered a formidable opponent and began to close in on each other.

Fang Wen immediately noticed the situation through his mechanical senses and knew that the game was about to end. The three Hawk 2s firing in unison were not easy to dodge.

He performed a Shrew's extreme tactical maneuver: the Cobra maneuver.

The Shrike, flying at high speed, suddenly climbed at a sharp angle and plunged into the clouds, causing the three Hawk 2s to lose sight of their target.

The Shrike, soaring into the sky, completed its maneuver and circled behind the three Hawk IIs.

At that moment, Fang Wen made aiming and virtual firing motions, already mentally labeling the three Hawk 2s as doomed.

"It's a pity they're not Japanese fighter jets," Fang Wen sighed, turning around and flying over the border.

The Shrike changed course and engaged in a high-speed chase with three Hawk IIs. Its fuel capacity was also insufficient to fly to Hong Kong in one go, so it had to refuel en route.

The refueling location was the French military base where they landed during the operation to pick up Kuang Mingzhu and her father in Thailand.

Fang Wen piloted the Shrike high above the base, sending out a radio request in French, which he had learned over the past two years.

"Taishan Airlines Shrike requests landing."

The ground response was: "We have received notification that you are cleared to land."

The plane then landed at a military airfield in French Vietnam.

The officer who came to greet Fang Wen was the same one from two years ago.

He recognized Fang Wen: "It's you. I remember you came here before, with a very pretty girl."

Fang Wen shook hands with her and replied with a smile, "Yes, she later became my wife."

"Congratulations." The officer looked at the plane and exclaimed, "The plane has been changed this time, it's really beautiful. It's just a little lacking in medals."

The medals the officer mentioned were for the aircraft's combat achievements. The Seiun had achieved some success, sinking the Izumo and shooting down a Japanese warplane.

That is the glory of the aircraft; its owner, the pilot, will personally paint the achievements on the fuselage.

The Shrike, however, did not, so even though it flew tens of thousands of kilometers and experienced a lot, it still had its regrets.

Fang Wen stroked the fuselage and replied with great certainty, "It will receive medals."

"Is that so? I look forward to your story continuing." After saying that, the officer ordered the fuel truck to come over and fill up the Shrike with fuel.

After refueling at a French military airfield, the Shrike continued its journey, crossing the Gulf of Tonkin and the Leizhou Peninsula, eventually arriving in Hong Kong.

Fang Wen controlled the plane as it circled high in the sky, admiring Hong Kong in this era.

Hong Kong is mostly mountainous, with rolling hills.

Only Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula have a densely built-up urban landscape.

Where is the airport where we landed?

Fang Wen glanced to the right.

Between Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island lies Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong's deep-water port, where the airport is located on the Kowloon Peninsula side.

This airport is very similar to Guangzhou Dashatou Airport; both are built within the city.

Having located the airport, Fang Wen turned on his radio and made a call.

This time, he used the name of the British Indian Navy, and the ground control tower immediately approved the landing request.

After the plane landed, Fang Wen parked it in the rented hangar and then met with the British military personnel who were there to receive him.

He handed a small leather suitcase to the British officer, saying, "This was given to you by Captain Joharn of the British Indian Navy. There's also a small gift inside. Thank you for your help."

The officer opened the suitcase, looked inside, and saw various items that his friend had brought over, as well as a stack of pounds.

Clearly, the pound sterling was the gift the pilot was referring to.

The British officer smiled and said, "Thank you. If anything happens in Hong Kong, you can come to the barracks to find me. By the way, this is your entry identification." He handed Fang Wen a document labeled "Special Pass," chatted for a while, and then left with his suitcase.

After watching the British officer leave, Fang Wen immediately prepared to get down to business.

He needed to find out whose front man the negotiators were and how much the other party was after.

These things could have been discussed and understood directly with the other party at the negotiation location.

But remembering what his wife had said, he decided to go find Master Ma first.

Stepping out of the airport, Fang Wen looked around. The transportation here was actually similar to that in Nanjing, with both buses and rickshaws, but very few taxis.

The rickshaw drivers who were being watched got up and pulled their rickshaws over to ask questions.

"Grandpa, do you need a ride?" "Take my ride, I'm fast."
The accents came from all over the country, making it quite a mixed bag.

“I’m going to Kowloon Walled City,” Fang Wen replied.

Immediately, half of the coachmen went back.

One driver didn't mind and explained, "They think the place is too remote. If they take you there, they won't get any business on the way back. I'm different. I can take you anywhere as long as I have money. Sir, you can ride in my car for only one silver dollar."

In this world, you can't see into someone's heart. The more trusting someone is, the more likely they are to have ulterior motives.

Fang Wen touched the small pistol, smiled and nodded: "Okay, take me there."

He got into the rickshaw, and the driver, who was running briskly, was very talkative.

"Kowloon Walled City was originally the residence of Qing Dynasty officials. Later, the British occupied the land and built Victoria City, setting up forts there. After Hong Kong was leased to the British, Kowloon Walled City was the only one left, still belonging to the Qing Dynasty. As a result, it was captured by the British the following year. The British didn't live in the walled city after capturing it, nor did they send anyone to guard it; it remained empty. Later, people from Guangzhou gathered there to live, numbering about a hundred households and more than 2000 people. Sir, you're from Guangdong, right? Are you looking for relatives?"

Enough with the chit-chat, let's get down to business.

Fang Wen replied, "I'm not from Guangdong. I went to Kowloon Walled City to find Master Ma."

The rickshaw driver suddenly fell silent and pulled the rickshaw forward in a muffled motion.

After a while, the rickshaw driver announced, "We've arrived at Kowloon Walled City."

The Kowloon Walled City at this time was completely different from the Kowloon Walled City that Fang Wen learned about in the future network.

It really was a government office, and fortifications and gun emplacements were built around it.

Built on a hillside, its elevated position provides a convenient control over the Victoria Harbour area.

(Kowloon Walled City in the 1930s)
Upon arrival, the rickshaw did not stop but went straight inside.

The driver said, "You said you wanted to see Master Ma, perfect, I'll take you there."

The rickshaw driver, moving with incredible speed, pulled the rickshaw into the walled city area, continuing deeper until he reached a large courtyard before stopping.

He called out loudly from outside the courtyard, "Fifth Master, I got a job in another region today, hoping to alleviate my famine, but I didn't expect him to say he came to see you. I just want to ask if it's true."

As he spoke, several men who had come with the rickshaw surrounded him; they were clearly the rickshaw driver's accomplices.

Fang Wen pulled out his pistol, holding it in his right hand and covering it with his left, ready to fire if anyone dared to come near.

Just as they were about to start, an old man carrying a pipe walked out of the courtyard.

His appearance caused those people to disperse again.

The old man walked up to the rickshaw and asked, "Who's looking for me?"

“Kwong Shan-ming’s son-in-law, my father-in-law said that when he comes to Hong Kong, he must visit Master Ma, who is your best brother,” Fang Wen replied.

The old man immediately smiled and waved his hand, saying, "You can all leave now. They are guests from my old friend's house. Don't embarrass me."

The rickshaw driver and the others didn't say much and left one by one.

Fang Wen then put away his pistol and got out of the car.

They clasped their hands in a fist salute and then presented a gift bag.

"Master Ma, I am Fang Wen. I came to visit in a hurry this time and only prepared some small gifts."

The old man shook his head, refused the gift bag, and turned to walk towards the courtyard: "Come with me."

Fang Wen followed him into the courtyard and sat down at the stone table.

Then, a maid set out teaware and brewed hot tea.

The old man then spoke up: "You brought a gift, you must not know the relationship between me and your father-in-law. He sent someone to inform me this morning that I will definitely help you with your matter. Tell me, what do you want?"

Fang Wen nodded: "The people they sent are waiting at the Swire Building for me to go and negotiate. I want to find out what they're up to first."

Master Ma was stunned: "The Taikoo Building, my people can't get in there. Who are you messing with that allows them to live on Taikoo Building's territory?"

"They are all very capable people," Fang Wen exclaimed.

Swire Group was no ordinary foreign commercial institution during the Republic of China era. It built tall buildings in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Wuhan and other places, which became landmark buildings in their respective locations.

This is just the office space of Swire Group. Its businesses cover trade, shipping, industry, and banking, which is enough to prove how vast their business empire in China is.

Therefore, Master Ma deduced that the person Fang Wen had offended must be of a very high level, otherwise he would not have been treated so well by the Swire Group.

It seemed that he couldn't get any information about the other party through Master Ma, so Fang Wen had to settle for second best: "Then get me a few people tomorrow to accompany me to the Taikoo Building for negotiations. Don't make a weak impression."

Master Ma nodded, "Then we'll have to bring a few good fighters." He called out, "Guan Dezhen, bring your men."

When the man arrived, Guan Dehuan turned out to be the rickshaw driver. He was quite embarrassed and clasped his hands in apology: "Young Master Fang, please don't mind. It's the rule of the martial arts world. I didn't mean to make things difficult for you."

Fang Wen smiled and nodded, handing the gift bag to Guan Dehuan: "You can't be short-sighted when you come with me tomorrow. Take the money in here and buy each of you a suit at the tailor shop."

Those people immediately beamed with joy.

My first night in Hong Kong was spent sleeping in the abandoned Kowloon Walled City, a former Qing Dynasty government building.

Nestled between mountains and the sea, unlike later times when it was surrounded by towering illegal buildings, this place is quite comfortable to live in.

The next day, Fang Wen was woken up. When he got up, he saw Guan Dezhan and four others dressed in suits, standing straight outside the door waiting.

His appearance was acceptable. After washing up, Fang Wen went out with the five people.

Since they hadn't had breakfast yet, Guan Dehuan suggested they find a food stall on the way.

Fang Wen laughed and said, "All expenses today have been covered. When you go to the Taikoo Building later, eat, drink, and have fun as much as you like. Don't try to save them any money."

Upon hearing that they could enjoy themselves in the most luxurious place in Hong Kong, Guan Dehuan and his four companions were overjoyed.

They then took a ferry from Kowloon Pier to Hong Kong Island.

Once you disembark from the ship and enter Connaught Road, which runs along the waterfront, you'll see the Swire Building.

"Let's go, I'll handle the negotiations, you guys enjoy yourselves, relax!" Fang Wen said with a smile as he led the team through the spacious Gannuo Road.

They arrived at the main entrance on the first floor of the Swire Building.

Two Indian men with red hats stood guard at the main gate, speaking in Chinese to stop him.
"Sorry, non-Chinese citizens of our company are not allowed to enter without an invitation."

These words angered Guan Dehuan and his four companions, who were about to start arguing and cursing.

Fang Wen raised his hand to stop him and sneered, "Go and report that Fang Wen, the general manager of Taishan Airlines, has come to participate in the negotiations."

(End of this chapter)