Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 425, 423: Farewell Wuhan, Mount Tai Sets Free

After making the arrangements, Fang Wen immediately began.

Inside the headquarters of Taishan Airlines, all departments received a notice to hold a meeting in the company's main hall.

The 372 headquarters staff members waited with trepidation.

Fang Wen and his wife, Kuang Mingzhu, went on stage.

Shao Sishen from the Aviation Management Department, Howard from the Maintenance Department, Fang Shouxin from the Administration Department, and Manager Liu from the Finance Department, who had just gotten off the plane, sat in the first row.

Fang Shouxin went up on stage and said in a low voice, "Young Master, everyone is here."

Fang Wen nodded, glanced at his wife, and said into the microphone, "Ladies and gentlemen, due to some non-operational issues, the company needs to make adjustments. The Wuhan headquarters will no longer be involved in business management. The headquarters will be relocated. Only a small number of people will remain at the headquarters and the airport. Those who are willing to be reassigned will be given four days to prepare. I understand that employees who are unwilling to be reassigned or stay will receive compensation from the company as a reward for their contributions over the years."

The sound of crying came from below; it was several female employees.

The crying infected the other employees, and someone angrily said, "General Manager, we did nothing wrong, why should we leave? Those who use underhanded tricks will be punished by God."

During this period, due to the shutdown of the domestic branches, people at headquarters had more or less guessed the situation the company was facing.

In this world, the government is nothing more than a makeshift operation, and we've all seen plenty of cases of plunder and extortion.

But when it came to Taishan Airlines, how could they not be furious?

Fang Wen raised his hand, and when everyone saw his gesture, they stopped making noise and sat down quietly.

Instead of explaining to the ordinary employees, he continued, "The compensation criteria are as follows: For each full year of service with the company, employees will receive one month's salary as compensation; those with less than one year of service will be counted as one year. In addition, all funds in employees' pension accounts with the company will be refunded. There is also a rank-based compensation payment; along with the refund of pension account funds, a one-time rank-based compensation payment will be given. Fang Shouxin from the Human Resources Department will inform the relevant personnel of the specific standards."

This is a unique severance benefit, provided entirely based on future standards.

This will ensure that employees who are preparing to leave Taishan Airlines can live comfortably for a long time without financial pressure thanks to these incomes.

Fang Wen could tell that some employees were tempted.

He stood up and left the venue with his wife, leaving behind a commotion.

Kuang Mingzhu couldn't help but worry, "Husband, people's hearts are unsettled, and I'm afraid many will want to stay."

Fang Wen held his wife's hand: "As long as I'm here, the company won't collapse."

This handshake put his wife at ease.

The news that Taishan Airlines announced its closure and relocation of its headquarters has spread to the public through word of mouth from some former employees.

Ordinary people are focused on the compensation received by departing employees, not realizing that these people can get so much money; even if they didn't work, they would be considered small millionaires.

However, on other levels, we see the same things.

The announcement of the relocation to Wuhan included an unsigned editorial.

The recent news that Taishan Airlines has ceased operations and relocated from Wuhan came as a bolt from the blue, shocking the industry and beyond. This turn of events is not only regrettable, but also exposes the ugly actions of some driven by greed who attempted to seize control of Taishan Airlines' business, a truly unfortunate event for the nation.

Taishan Airlines, once a leading aviation company, has won widespread public acclaim for its excellent service and safe flights. Furthermore, its self-developed and manufactured seaplanes have created a level of water transportation convenience unmatched anywhere else in the world.

However, things are unpredictable, and circumstances can change drastically. It is rumored that certain powerful figures have long coveted Taishan Airlines' assets and wish to seize them for themselves. These people have no regard for the greater good of the nation; they are only interested in profit and will not hesitate to use various means to force Mr. Fang Wen, the owner of Taishan Airlines, to hand over the assets in order to satisfy their own selfish desires.

However, I must ask the people of the world: why does the government turn a blind eye to such behavior, or are those petty people so powerful?
Having also ventured into the business world, I have witnessed numerous similar cases.

For example, the Shenxin Textile Factory in Shanghai was originally a model of saving the country through industry, but it fell into difficulties due to the squeeze of bureaucratic capital and was eventually forced to sell its shares, which was a tragedy for the national industry.

For example, the Yongli Alkali Plant in Tianjin, founded by Mr. Fan, devoted all his efforts to making the "Red Triangle" brand of soda ash famous overseas. However, it could not escape the clutches of the powerful and wealthy and suffered severe suppression.

Now, the same is true for Taishan Airlines, and I can no longer ignore it.

Is there another national enterprise in this great land of China that can produce our own airplanes?

Now that the nation is in peril and invaders are wreaking havoc on our land, why can't we tolerate a company that can help fight the war?
Having said all that, my indignation is beyond words; only the judgment of the world remains to be seen.

The newspaper was forcibly withdrawn on the same day it was published, and its continued sale was strictly prohibited.

However, the newspapers that had already been sold were being circulated privately.

More and more people are paying attention to Taishan Airlines.

There are three days left before the company's relocation.

Most of the employees who were willing to leave had already said goodbye to their families and returned to the company to prepare.

At the seaplane airport, fifty seaplanes were neatly arranged, and all the company's civil aviation pilots had also assembled.

Many people also gathered outside the company headquarters.

There were students and intellectuals, as well as ordinary people from all walks of life, who came to support Taishan Airlines.

There were reporters taking pictures.

There were also local police officers, as well as some unidentified people in suits.

Inside the headquarters building, Fang Wen was on the phone with an acquaintance.

The voice of Quan Yuncai came through the microphone.

“Brother Fang, tell me the truth, did you have someone write that Shenbao editorial? Do you know that once that article was published, there was no turning back?”

"No, I'm already preparing to relocate, why would I need to publish an editorial?"

"Then do you know who it is?"

"do not know."

Fang Wen pretended not to know, but he knew in his heart that it was probably written by one of the writers from Shanghai, since they often published articles in Shenbao.

As for the room for maneuver mentioned by Quan Yuncai, he was disdainful. If there were room for maneuver, those people wouldn't have done these things.

Quan Yuncai continued into the microphone, "I really can't help with this. But you're too stubborn. Can't you take a step back? What I mean is, let's re-establish those military technologies into a joint-stock company, with the government, you, and those other people all having shares. Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

"No, this is not negotiable."

Fang Wen ended the call and hung up.

The wife came in from outside and said, "The frequency you requested to be monitored, we received radio waves."

"Which frequency?" Fang Wen asked.

When his wife told him the frequency, he realized it was from Bai Yunfei.

In Fuping, Bai Yunfei changed his communication frequency and is now the liaison for the Eighth Route Army's artillery, ship and aircraft project.

Fang Wen took the telegram from his wife.

He took out the relevant coded telegrams and began translating them.

[We have received a message that your relocation tomorrow will be obstructed. We will mobilize members of the community to restrain you, and others will assist you in your relocation; you can command them. However, the situation is expected to be quite complicated tomorrow, so please be extra careful.]

After reading it, Fang Wen put down the telegram, showing no sign of nervousness.

The company's accounts, including the operational data of its international subsidiaries, had already been moved before the employee meeting was held.

The institute's equipment and researchers have also been moved to Yangon.

The relocation three days later was just a performance; he wanted to see how those people would try to stop him from leaving.

But to ensure he could leave in three days, he still sent two telegrams.

These are Captain Gao and the Xuzhou Forward Command.

Three days later, at dawn, the gates of Taishan Airlines headquarters were already crowded with people seeing him off.

There were cultural and business people from Shanghai, as well as refugees who had benefited from Taishan Airlines.

There are also people from all walks of life in Hankou.

As the gates opened, the first shuttle bus drove out, and people watched the convoy depart.

At this moment, the road ahead was blocked by several black cars.

The person who got out of the car was wearing a black overcoat and had a cold expression.

The leader held up a piece of paper.

"By order of our superiors, a checkpoint has been set up here, and passage is prohibited."

Fang Wen got off the first shuttle bus.

He said, "Then we won't take the car; let's all get off and walk."

The man, his face dark, blocked Fang Wen's path: "The sea airport is completely closed; passage is prohibited."

These words made Fang Wen's face turn cold.

"I've seen you before, from the Fuxing Society's Special Service Department. Did your director give the order?"

Under Fang Wen's gaze, the man became somewhat guilty and lowered his voice: "We are now the Military Commission's Investigation and Statistics Bureau, no longer the Fuxing Society."

Fang Wen sneered, "Then do you want to return the money you receive each year to me?"

This made the person even more embarrassed.

“General Manager Fang, we’re not unaware of right and wrong. Thanks to the stock dividends you’ve given us these past few years, our families have been living a good life. To be honest, we didn’t want to come here either, but the higher-ups put pressure on the Director, so he had no choice. How about you give us one day? After today, you can leave, and we won’t stop you.”

"Is that so? You're leaving tomorrow and then being transferred to another department. Are you just going to keep us stuck in Hankou like this?" Shao Sishen, standing behind Fang Wen, said disdainfully.

The other party had no response.

A group of people from the former Fuxing Society Special Service Department, now the Military Intelligence Bureau, blocked Fang Wen and his group's path.

Although they still wouldn't let us through, their attitude had improved a lot.

Those who came to see him off gathered around, and reporters from newspapers and magazines took out their cameras to take pictures.

A reporter asked loudly, "Are you trying to stop Taishan Airlines from relocating?"

The Kuomintang secret agents remained silent and ignored this completely.

Someone from the crowd quietly approached and spoke to Gong Xiuneng in a low voice.

Then Gong Xiuneng walked to Fang Wen's side and whispered, "Commander, someone asked me to deliver a message, saying that they will obey your command."

Fang Wen shook his head: "There's no need to take action for now; I have other plans."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and announced, "Wait where you are."

After waiting for half an hour, two military vehicles arrived.

The two people who got off the car were both high-ranking military officers.

They took the initiative to walk up to Fang Wen and introduce themselves.

One was a major in the Air Force Armaments Department, and the other was an officer in the Military Affairs Department of the Military Commission.

"General Manager Fang, we're here just to confirm one thing: when will that batch of aerial bombs arrive?"

"The Japanese army is attacking Xuzhou and needs powerful bombs to assist in the battle. Your actions will affect the entire war situation."

Fang Wen smiled and nodded: "But now, I can't go anywhere, let alone organize production."

The two officers exchanged glances and walked toward the Kuomintang secret agents.

The officer from the Military Affairs Department of the Military Commission said sternly, "I order you to release them immediately, or you will be punished for delaying military operations."

The Kuomintang agents coldly replied, "We only listen to the Director; the military has no jurisdiction over us."

"Is that so?" The officer from the Military Affairs Department of the Military Commission turned to his deputy and said, "Go and call the military police over."

Not long after, the military police arrived by car and immediately surrounded and disarmed the officers of the General Staff.

An officer from the Military Affairs Department of the Military Commission walked up to Fang Wen and said, "Now no one is stopping you. But I have to say something: you are taking a risk, and it won't end well."

Fang Wen sneered, "Is that so? Then we'll see."

The convoy then set off again, heading towards the sea airport.

No one was causing trouble at the airport.

Inside the airport, Gong Xiuneng couldn't help but ask, "Commander, what are you up to? Why are they fighting amongst themselves?"

Fang Wen looked at the two officers and military police in the distance and explained, "They still want my stuff, but the front lines don't support them doing so. As long as I don't deliver the goods, the front lines won't have any new aerial bombs. They understand what's more important. Therefore, I just informed the Xuzhou forward command and the air force about the current situation, and they will naturally help me out. But this is only a temporary measure. What they're really thinking is that once things calm down, they'll come after me again."

"Were they accurate with those bombs?" Gong Xiuneng asked a very important question.

Yes, bombs are indeed very powerful, but accurately dropping them is not an easy task.

Especially since the Japanese army was in a state of offensive in the field, rather than fixed in a certain city, Fang Wen did not know how effective the bombing would be.

After all, only he could use his superpowers to throw bombs so accurately.

Shaking off his thoughts, Fang Wen boarded the plane and led the way into takeoff.

Fifty seaplanes took to the sky, creating a spectacular sight, before gracefully departing.

The people on the ground waved goodbye.

Taishan Airlines, once a glorious civil aviation company, is no more.

In its place was Taishan Military Industry, which was reborn from the ashes during the war.

After the gunboats arrived at Xiangxi Airport, some of the planes made a brief stop before flying south along the waterway to Yangon.

Some supplies remained at Xiangxi Airport, ready for transfer.

Located in a remote area with few military units, Taishan Airlines' security force is considered one of the strongest military forces in the region.

There's no need to worry about danger anymore.

Fang Wen then led the first batch of seaplanes to Yangon.

He is going to start new plans in Yangon.

To produce aerial bombs and fulfill the commitment to support the front lines.

They converted seaplanes into gunboats, delivered the first batch of gunboats to the Eighth Route Army, and trained their pilots on their behalf.

The construction and deployment of personnel to the industrial park in northern Myanmar are intended to expand the production of various military equipment.

Furthermore, they acquired European aircraft engine production lines to produce military aircraft powered by their own engines.

Now, no one can stop him from doing what he's going to do.

(End of this chapter)