Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 366, Section 364: American Tycoon Travels to Taihang Mountains; Fang Wen Makes Air Contact with Anti-Japanese Armies in Various Parts of Taihang Mountains

The northern part of the Taihang Mountains welcomed its second snowfall at the end of November.

The No. 4 gunboat navigated through the heavy snow, a layer of frost rising from the cockpit window.

Fang Wen kept wiping the cockpit glass with a rag to keep his line of sight clear.

In fact, even if the glass was completely covered by ice and snow, blocking his view, he could still use his supernatural abilities to safely fly the plane to Fuyang.

But that would be too bizarre.

At this moment, Gong Xiuneng came over and asked curiously, "Commander, can't our planes fly higher? Higher than places without snow?"

Fang Wen replied, "This is Whitney's first time here. The snow scenery in Taihang is beautiful. Let him take some photos to take back with him."

As he spoke, he lowered the altitude again and shouted to those behind him, "You can take pictures now, but only for 10 minutes."

Inside the cabin, Kuang Anming and several crew members worked together to open the hatch used for dropping bombs. Strong winds rushed in, blowing everyone's clothes and hair wildly.

Whitney braved the cold wind, leaning forward with a safety rope around his waist to film below.

To ensure his safety, two assistants and crew members were by his side.

Fang Wen also glanced down at the ground.

Heavy snow blanketed this ancient and majestic mountain range in a pristine white veil. The snowflakes drifted gently down from the grey sky, like nature's softest brushstrokes, sketching pure and dreamlike scenes in the silent forests.

The Taihang Mountains, covered in snow, appear even more majestic and magnificent. The undulating mountains, draped in silver, resemble meticulously sculpted works of art, each peak sharp yet gentle and graceful.

Snowflakes piled up on the pine branches, adorning the emerald green needles with a crystal-clear appearance, as if inlaid with countless tiny diamonds, sparkling with dazzling light.

The once bare rocks and cliffs are now gently covered by snow, becoming pure and mysterious.

As the plane flew north, over the silvery-white mountains, it arrived in a populated area.

The mountain path was covered by the first snow, becoming white and soft, like a secret passage leading to a fairy tale world.

The distant villages and farmlands were also adorned with the first snow, creating a picturesque scene.

If you look closely, you can see wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, intertwining with the lightly falling snowflakes, creating a warm and peaceful scene.

Meanwhile, the villagers in the Taihang Mountains, dressed in thick winter clothes, came out of their rooms and looked up to see the Water Tiger No. 4 gunboat flying by.

These beautiful scenes were captured by Whitney, who was passionate about photography.

Ten minutes have passed.

Kuang Anming and Gong Xiuneng closed the bottom hatch, and the plane finally became warm.

Whitney, who had just finished filming, suddenly felt cold and her shoulders began to tremble: "My hands, I can't move them."

The others laughed uncontrollably, while Gong Xiuneng said, "You're really brave, taking pictures in the cold wind for 10 minutes. It's good that you didn't freeze into an icicle. I'll get you some hot water to soak in."

Then, Gong Xiuneng poured a basin of hot water, tested the temperature, and brought it over for Whitney to take off her gloves and soak them in the water.

Gradually, Whitney's expression softened, indicating that the treatment was effective.

During the rest of the flight, he never mentioned taking photos again.

An hour later, Water Tiger 4 arrived in Fuping County.

Below, everything was covered in white snow; the county town, the Shahe River, the groves, and the hills and ridges were all white.

Meanwhile, at the Shahe Water Airport, there was a military camp, but it had been cleared out and was easy to spot.

As for the Shahe River, thankfully, the temperature wasn't high enough to freeze the surface, so landing shouldn't be a problem.

Fang Wen turned on the Water Tiger 4 central communication system and picked up the microphone to communicate with the ground.

"Water Tiger 4 is about to land, may I proceed?"

The ground response was very fast.

"Commander, no problem."

Fang Wen adjusted the aircraft's position and landed steadily on the river.

The gunboat then docked, and the group disembarked.

The Whitneys stood on the airport dock, looking at the simple barracks with great surprise.

After Fang Wen got off the plane, he couldn't help but ask, "Fang, is this the resistance base you established in the occupied area?"

"It can't really be considered an occupied area. The terrain here is very complex, and the Japanese army hasn't attacked this area yet," Fang Wen replied.

"Then what's the point of establishing a resistance base here?"

Whitney, who knew absolutely nothing about the geography of China, asked a question that even an ordinary soldier would know.

Fang Wen could only explain: "This is the Taihang Mountains, which are equivalent to the Rocky Mountains in the United States. To the east is the North China Plain, to the north are the Yanshan Mountains and the grasslands, to the south are the Qinling Mountains, and to the west are the Loess Plateau. Since ancient times, it has been a strategic location fought over by military strategists in the Central Plains. Moreover, the terrain here is treacherous, so the large Japanese troops cannot enter. They can only fight in small groups in the mountains, and they cannot be equipped with heavy weapons and tanks."

At this point, Fang Wen paused and pointed back to the gunboats on the river.

"By establishing a base here, I can take off at any time, radiating across the North China Plain, supporting the anti-Japanese forces in the north, south, east, and Taihang Mountains. My plan is for my unit to conduct aerial reconnaissance and harassment, contact all parties, stabilize the situation in the Taihang Mountains, and then gradually expand outwards."

Whitney nodded as if he understood, though he wasn't very good at military strategy, he did have common sense. The rugged mountainous terrain was indeed a good place to maneuver against the enemy.

Not to mention Fang Wen's unit, which has a strong air superiority, making it a truly impressive sight to behold.

He said, "I see. Well, even I think you have the advantage. I wish you success. What should we do next?"

"The barracks are not suitable for you to live in. Let's go to the county town to settle down first."

After speaking, Fang Wen talked to William, who was waiting nearby.

Are there any suitable places to stay in the county town?

"Yes, they are usually used by traveling merchants. The accommodation and food are quite good. However, security cannot be guaranteed. I will arrange for someone to guard the area."

Fuping is already in the rear of the enemy-occupied area. Although no Japanese troops have been found entering the mountains, it is still necessary to be wary of Japanese spies and traitors. Fang Wen thought William's arrangement was good.

However, because the place is remote and there are no cars available, the group decided to walk there, leaving all their luggage, except for personal items, at the airport.

Fang Wen, Whitney and her husband, Gong Xiuneng, William, and a group of guards headed towards the county town.

During their walk, Fang Wen talked with William.

"How has the situation been lately?"

"The camp construction is basically complete, and the soldiers of the Independent Regiment and the Provisional 7th Division have begun training. Now it's a system of experienced soldiers mentoring new recruits, and with the help of the Independent Regiment, those new recruits from the Sichuan Army are making rapid progress."

What about the food and other supplies?

"We have a three-month supply of military rations, and all kinds of supplies are also well provided."

"Have you spotted any Japanese troops or anti-Japanese forces nearby?"

“Yes. The day before yesterday, someone told me that there was a military unit in Wutai Mountain to the west, but I don’t know what its unit number is.” Fang Wen thought to himself that it seemed he needed to find out the distribution of anti-Japanese forces in the Taihang Mountains as soon as possible.

He estimated that many troops have now entered the mountains, but they do not know each other's situation, and some troops may even have conflicts due to past disputes.

Being able to pilot an aircraft and cruise over the Taihang Mountains makes him the most suitable contact person.

This needs to be done as soon as possible. Let's start tomorrow and take Whitney to experience the beauty of the northern mountains.

Therefore, he explained the itinerary to Whitney: "We will stay here for about a week, and we will visit various places in the Taihang Mountains. After that, we will go to Nanjing, where there are very important things waiting for me."

Whitney smiled and replied, "Okay. This is your new identity, General Fang's war career, which I will record. Or shall we start now, and I'll take your picture?"

He then remembered that he couldn't move his hands, so he asked his wife to take a picture of him and Fang Wen together.

After the photos were taken, people from the county town also arrived.

William sent someone to inform the largest inn in town, and the people of town came to greet them.

The visitors were the innkeeper, accompanied by his staff and a unique mode of transportation.

The innkeeper, beaming, said, "It is an honor for our humble abode to have such a distinguished guest. We have come to welcome you."

"You're too kind, boss," Fang Wen replied politely.

"Who is this?" the innkeeper asked, puzzled.

“Our commander,” William replied.

Now everyone in the county town knows that the highest-ranking officer in the garrison outside the city is not the division commander, but the commander of the independent regiment.

His surname is Fang, and I heard he's the owner of an airline.

This boss is much more capable than my own.

The innkeeper quickly lowered his tone: "Commander Fang, please."

Whitney, standing nearby, asked in English, "What is this?"

Fang Wen also didn't know much about that strange mode of transportation.

This thing is supported by two mules, one in front and one behind, with a sedan chair-like structure in the middle.

Fang Wen had ridden in a sedan chair before, specifically a sedan chair carried by people in western Hunan, and knew that those unaccustomed to it would feel extremely jolted inside.

He replied, “It’s our mode of transportation here; people sit inside. You would call it a Palanquin over there.”

"I understand. Grace, take the picture."

After taking photos, the couple took turns riding in the unique sedan chair into the city.

I spent the night in the county town, enjoying the local specialty "Eight Bowls" and sleeping on a heated kang bed—everything felt so new and exciting.

The Whitneys were filled with anticipation for their trip to China.

The next day, after breakfast, Fang Wen took the couple back to the airport to prepare for their trip.

Before setting off, we needed to prepare some things to use for communication with other anti-Japanese forces in the Taihang Mountains.

Fang Wen began, "These next few days we'll be searching for allied forces in the Taihang Mountains who are fighting in the mountains. To establish contact, we'll airdrop a supply package containing the frequency of a radio for future communications. Of course, it can't just be a piece of paper; we'll need to put something else inside. What do you suggest we put in it?"

Gong Xiuneng suggested first, "How about we pack some guns and ammunition?"

Kuang Anming shook his head: "Who gives this as a gift from the very beginning? No way."

William thought for a moment: "The two things that are most lacking in the mountains during the winter are food and clothing. Clothing is hard to pack, so why not pack some compressed military rations for them? They can be a gift, and the rations can also show them that we can provide supplies."

This is a good idea, affordable and effective. Fang Wen immediately had it prepared.

They made 30-kilogram airdrop bags, each containing 30 kilograms of compressed military rations and a letter of communication.

After doing all this, Fang Wen led the Whitneys, along with the crew, onto the plane for takeoff.

After the plane took off, Fang Wen thought about where to go first.

He decided to go to Wutai Mountain first.

The plane then flew westward.

During the flight, Whitney took out her notebook and began writing her travelogue of China.

"A kang is a rectangular platform for sleeping, built of adobe and bricks, covered with a mat, and heated by a flue underneath. The flue connects to the chimney on the roof. There is usually a small stove next to the kang, which can be used to boil water and cook. The kang works by using the heat generated by burning sorghum, corn stalks, branches, and firewood to heat the entire kang for warmth, so sleeping on a kang in winter is very comfortable. This is a characteristic of life in northern China, where people rely on this method to stay warm in the cold winter."

"The mule-drawn sedan chair was a disgusting thing. I bumped my head in it, and my wife felt dizzy and vomited after riding in it. Its construction seemed completely unconventional to me. Two heavy and rough long poles, plus a few crossbars that provided some stability, constituted the basic structure of the mule-drawn sedan chair. It was only stable when stationary; otherwise, it was uncomfortable. You had to rely on the mule to find balance while moving, but it had no idea how important balance was. The sedan chair swayed from side to side because it was top-heavy. You couldn't sit upright or lie down inside. If the sedan chair tipped over, the unfortunate passengers would be thrown out. And the mule itself was a hybrid of a horse and a donkey, a breed that couldn't reproduce."

"Next, I will be following Fang on a cruise over this massive mountain range. I've heard we need to establish contact with several anti-Japanese forces hidden in the mountains. Although I haven't witnessed their battles firsthand, I can sense how brutal they are. I hope I can persevere through the rest of the journey."

At this time.

Fang Wen's voice came from inside the cabin: "Attention everyone, we have arrived at the Wutai Mountain area. Immediately enter observation mode."

After hearing the translator's explanation, Whitney quickly put away her diary and leaned over the observation window to look down.

The same applies to other crew members.

Fang Wen's act of having everyone observe was merely a cover-up.

Having activated his mechanical perception, he could see the situation below more clearly.

Mount Wutai, covered in snow, is a blanket of white.

This is within Xinzhou. After the northern defense of Taiyuan fell, the basin area had been occupied by the Japanese army. The only place available for the anti-Japanese army to operate was the Wutai Mountain area.

On the mountain ridge, temples stand tall, shrouded in clouds and mist below, making them difficult for ordinary people to spot from the sky.

Even Fang Wen had to concentrate and observe carefully.

He glanced around the temples, and apart from the monks, there seemed to be nothing special about them.

Could it be that the anti-Japanese forces in the Wutai Mountains were elsewhere?

Just as Fang Wen was preparing to fly to other areas of Wutai Mountain to search, he saw several figures.

These people, dressed in military uniforms and carrying long guns, ran swiftly along the mountain ridge path.

However, as Fang Wen piloted the plane closer, he alertly sought cover.

Fang Wen tried to see more clearly, and a surge of energy flowed into his body from the bronze cauldron, magnifying the figures in his field of vision.

Their uniforms had the words "Eighth Route Army" sewn on them.

It seemed to be the friendly force he was looking for. Fang Wen said, "I've found them. The plane is approaching and preparing to airdrop."

(End of this chapter)