Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 426 Construction of the Northern Myanmar Industrial Park: Preventing the Breach of the Huayuankou Dike

The relocation of Taishan Aviation Industry was completed within one month.

All 50 seaplanes were transferred to Yangon and moored at the harbor berths.

Hundreds of staff members went to northern Myanmar to participate in the construction of the industrial park.

Everything is for efficiency; the construction of factory buildings and dormitories, prioritizing practicality, is underway at a rapid pace.

Seaplanes travel daily between Yangon and northern Myanmar, transporting supplies stored in Yangon there.

In addition, there is waterway transportation.

Starting from Yangon, the journey travels upstream along the Irrawaddy River, passing through places like Yenangyaung and Mandalay, before turning into the Shweli River at a place called Inywa.

The cargo ship will continue upstream along the Ruili River until it reaches Muse, the border region between northern Myanmar and China.

It's not far from Taishan Industrial Park, so the goods can be transported there directly after unloading.

(Transportation line to the Northern Myanmar Industrial Park)
With the combined efforts of waterways and air transport, valuable goods and personnel were transported by seaplane, while large quantities and heavy goods were transported by waterways, thus solving the problem of goods transportation.

Fangwen now possesses abundant resources and an industrial base:

Regarding oil:

The supply comes from three sources: Arab crude oil, Myanmar Yenangyaung crude oil, and Shell crude oil from Southeast Asia.

These crude oils were transported to Yangon by sea and the Irrawaddy River.

Then, various petrochemical products are produced through crude oil refineries in Yangon.

Provide gasoline resources and chemical raw materials for Taishan Airlines.

Raw materials:
Pratt & Whitney engine parts shipped from the United States, special aluminum alloys, special steel from the Soviet Union, and other material reserves.

Industrial processing infrastructure:

Through years of continuous equipment purchases and production investments, Taishan now possesses a great deal.

A lathe that can process rotating surface workpieces such as shafts, discs, and sleeves.

A drilling machine used for drilling operations, and can also be used for processes such as reaming and boring.

Boring machines used for machining the inner holes, end faces, grooves, etc. of large workpieces.

Grinding machines are used for grinding processes to improve the accuracy and smoothness of workpiece surfaces.

A universal milling machine that can process planes, grooves, gears, etc.

Bending machines, forging machines, and riveting machines used for processes such as bending, forging, and riveting of metal materials.

There are also planers that can process flat surfaces, grooves, etc.

There are also mechanical presses and hydraulic casting equipment.

Regarding manufacturing technical personnel:
The aircraft manufacturing plant has 150 engineers and 600 skilled workers.

The bullet factory had 10 engineers and 50 workers.

The bomb factory had 30 engineers and 120 workers.

The chemical plant has 25 engineers and 300 workers.

It can be said that, based on the existing foundation, Fang Wen is already able to manufacture many of the future military equipment he envisions.

But having learned from his past mistakes, he understood that he needed his own military force to protect these assets.

Large numbers of refugees arrived in northern Myanmar by plane, where some became workers and others received training to take up arms and become part of the armed forces of Taishan Airlines.

In late May of the 27th year of the Republic of China (38th year of the Gregorian calendar).

In the Xuzhou area of ​​the Fifth War Zone, fierce battles broke out between the National Revolutionary Army and the Japanese Army.

Following the victory at Taierzhuang, the Nationalist government's command ordered the Fifth War Zone to concentrate its forces near Xuzhou in preparation for another annihilation of the Japanese army.

The Japanese army then used some of its forces to hold Xuzhou at the front while its main force maneuvered westward to encircle Xuzhou from the flank and rear.

This scene seems familiar.

A fierce battle ensued between the two sides.

Multiple batches of aircraft took off from Zhoujiakou Airport, more than 200 kilometers away from Xuzhou, to provide support.

These Il-16 fighter planes carried two napalm bombs on each sortie, which they dropped during air raids against the Japanese.

Initially, these napalm incendiary bombs caused great inconvenience to the Japanese army, hindering their marching pace and greatly assisting the National Army's counterattack.

However, the Japanese army also discovered the weakness of napalm in subsequent battles.

Or rather, it was the weakness of these pilots when dropping bombs.

Napalm bombs can cover an area of ​​50-100 square meters. If they hit accurately, they can be very effective against large groups of troops on the march.

However, if a precise hit cannot be achieved, it can be compensated for by dispersing the march and using loose attack formations.

Therefore, although these Taishan-made aerial bombs were extremely powerful, they did not achieve the desired effect.

After several days of fierce fighting, the Fifth War Zone abandoned Xuzhou and retreated to the rear.

Simultaneously.

In the southern part of Yangon city, near the ferry terminal, stands a three-story European-style building.

(The Strand Hotel, located in southern Yangon, was established in the early 20th century and continues to operate after renovations on its original site.)
This building was originally a hotel in Yangon, but it has now been bought by Taishan Airlines and will serve as its new headquarters.

Today is the day we move in.

Fang Wen and his wife, Kuang Mingzhu, arrived at the building surrounded by their employees.

There was no ribbon-cutting ceremony for the future, but there was a lion dance, a folk music band, and firecrackers.

The sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers rang out.

Two lions entered from one end of the street.

The performance is taking place around the lion fighting stage.

They first circled around the prize head, probing and observing, displaying a suspicious and cautious nature.

Then, the two lions suddenly leaped up, jumped onto the wooden bench, and began to fight for the colorful hairpin at the highest point.

The Chinese, locals, British, and staff of Taishan Airlines in Yangon were captivated by the film.

The lions' every move on the suspended wooden benches was thrilling, yet full of oriental charm, making people laugh out loud while watching the dangerous spectacle.

Fang Wen watched with great interest.

Both lion dance troupes are professional performance teams, and the performers are all local Chinese youths. They are not only competing for a lucky draw, but also for a good omen.

When one of the lions leaped onto the mast and carried the colorful ball at the top into its mouth, the people applauded.

Fang Wen then announced: "The new headquarters move-in ceremony is complete. Everyone can go in and start working now."

The employees happily entered the new headquarters building, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Fang Wen also prepared to enter the building with his wife.

But someone ran out of the building.

It was Zhao Junping, Fang Wen's assistant secretary.

He was holding a telegram in his hand.

"General Manager, a call from China."

Fang Wen took the telegram, his face grim.

Kuang Mingzhu asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"Xuzhou has fallen," Fang Wen replied coldly.

"Sigh, another piece of land lost?" Kuang Mingzhu said disappointedly.

It wasn't just a simple matter of losing territory. After the defeat at Xuzhou, in order to stop the pursuing Japanese army, would the high command of the Nationalist government order the bombing of Huayuankou, causing the dikes there to burst?

Although it stopped several thousand Japanese troops, it caused hundreds of thousands of local civilians to be displaced.

Fang Wen had thought of this matter last month and had instructed people to keep a close eye on the situation in Xuzhou.

Xuzhou has fallen now. Will history repeat itself?
He hurriedly returned to his office on the third floor of the building, took out the telegraph machine, and sent a message.

The telegram was sent to the Third Air Squadron, where Captain Gao was stationed.

Shortly after the message was sent, a reply arrived. [I'm ashamed to say that our airstrike bombing accuracy is less than half of yours, resulting in a huge waste of bombs and a less than ideal effect.]

After reading the telegram, Fang Wen replied.

I know Xuzhou has fallen. Have you received orders to bomb the Yellow River dike?

The telegram was sent and quickly replied; Fang Wen and Captain Gao communicated in this way.

[How could that be! If the Yellow River dike were breached, a massive flood would inundate low-lying areas, destroying the homes of countless people.]

The absence of such an order now does not mean it will not be in the future. With the Japanese army hot on their heels, some people believe the most effective method would be to blow up the riverbanks, submerging the entire area and solving the problem once and for all.

[Fang Wen, don't think so badly of us because of what happened last time. That would leave us with a stain on our reputation for eternity; that's impossible.]

[Let me give you a heads-up: if you receive this kind of order, do not carry it out. Notify me immediately.]

Okay, I will.

Telegram communication ended.

Fang Wen did not stop there. He sent telegrams to several friends in Chongqing and Wuhan, asking them to keep an eye on things.

This includes talents from the National Games.

Dormitory of the Kuomintang Party Headquarters in Wuhan.

Quan Yuncai opened the door and went back inside with the telegrams delivered by the Ministry of Communications.

Inside the house, the wife was complaining.

"No mahjong to play, and we're bombarded with bombs. When will this ever end?"

She noticed that Quan Yuncai hadn't replied and was reading a telegram.

He then spoke in the Nanjing dialect.

"Hey, who's looking for you?"

Quan Yuncai replied in Nanjing dialect, "Fang Wen, he asked me to ask about something."

"What's going on?"

"The higher-ups in Hegang might order the Yellow River dam to be blown up to stop the Japanese devils from catching up."

“I’m just a woman and I don’t know much about others, but you absolutely can’t do this. Fang Wen definitely wants to stop the breaching of the dam. If that’s really the case, you have to tell him right away.”

Quan Yuncai looked at his wife, biting his lip, and said, "I know. I have to go out for a bit; I won't be home for dinner tonight."

He put on his coat and hat and went out.

I met with several old acquaintances from different departments.

For someone like him, who was adept at managing relationships within the Nationalist government, interpersonal relationships were quite complex, and he was able to gather a great deal of information.

Friends of friends can sometimes bring unexpected benefits.

An official who had returned from Chongqing revealed some information.

"Once Xuzhou fell, the areas behind it were simply undefendable, and the Japanese were about to reach Kaifeng. The higher-ups were in a panic, holding meetings every day to discuss the situation."

Quan Yuncai's palms were sweating, and he quickly asked, "Have you discussed what to do?"

"There's no result yet, but I heard some news. It's said that if human power can't stop the Japanese, then we should use the power of nature." He lowered his voice, dipped his finger in the water in his teacup, drew a line on the table, and then cut it in half. "Dig up the Yellow River and flood the seven armies."

These words infuriated even a seasoned veteran like Quan Yuncai.

He slammed a book on the table, knocking the teacup to the ground.

"This is not the flood that submerged the seven armies. How many Japanese troops could be stopped by the Yellow River breaching its banks? And how many more people would die because of this!"

"Keep your voice down. It's not decided yet. Don't go around spreading rumors and making things difficult for me."

"I understand. I have to go now, I'll find you for tea another day."

Quan Yuncai got up, grabbed his hat, and hurriedly went back.

Upon returning, he immediately sent a telegram to Fang Wen.

Upon receiving Quan Yuncai's telegram, Fang Wen's face turned ashen.

This was the last thing he wanted to see.

The dam at Huayuankou is really going to burst.

What could happen?
The overflowing river water will overflow its banks and flood low-lying areas, thus affecting the lower reaches of the Yellow River in Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces.

The affected area will be very large, and millions of people will be displaced as a result.

Not to mention, such a breach of the dike would certainly not be communicated to the civilians, and at that time, hundreds of thousands of people would probably be submerged by the flood because they were caught off guard, resulting in an incalculable death toll.

Will hundreds of thousands die?!

Fang Wen felt a chill run down his spine.

He had to stop it from happening, no matter what.

Three days later, the situation was confirmed, and Fang Wen, along with Gong Xiuneng and Zhao Junping, flew back to China.

The plane was flying in the air when Gong Xiuneng asked, puzzled.

"Commander, the new headquarters has just moved in, and you need to take charge of all sorts of affairs. Why are you going back at this crucial moment?"

“We have no choice but to go back. Some people are going to breach the Yellow River dike, saying they’re using water as a weapon,” Fang Wen replied.

Gong Xiuneng's eyes widened in disbelief.

Zhao Junping asked, puzzled, "Isn't flooding the Japanese a good thing?"

His head was hit hard by Gong Xiuneng.

"You know nothing. From ancient times to the present, the Yellow River has been a major disaster. Every time the Yellow River floods and breaks through the dikes, too many people die."

Having learned his lesson from Gong Xiuneng, Zhao Junping dared not speak recklessly again.

After a moment's thought, he uttered a line: "The Yellow River flows westward, bursting through Kunlun, roaring for ten thousand miles to touch the Dragon Gate. Its waves surge to the sky, and even Emperor Yao sighed. Yu the Great tamed the hundred rivers, and when his child cried, he did not look back at his home."

This is a poem by Li Bai. From ancient times to the present, the Yellow River has been a source of both love and hate.

But it can only be a natural disaster, not a man-made one.

Fang Wen stopped talking and focused on piloting the plane to Fuping.

After transiting through Jinghong, Kunming, Guiyang, and Xiangxi airports, the remaining journey will no longer pass through Wuhan, but will instead go through airports operated by affiliated airlines.

Those joint ventures in the small waterways were all within the sphere of local influence, and were not affected by the domestic branches and ceased operations.

The next leg of the journey involves a transfer on the Han River before flying to Xi'an and finally arriving in Fuping.

After the plane landed in Fuping, Fang Wen immediately convened a meeting.

Wu Yingzong, Pan Jiafeng, and Bai Yunfei from the Eighth Route Army Office in the county were also summoned.

With everyone present, Fang Wen explained the situation directly.

"I am here for a special reason. I have heard that the Kuomintang high command has ordered the dikes of the Yellow River in Zhengzhou to be breached, in order to prevent the Japanese army from advancing westward."

Wu Yingzong and Pan Jiafeng also looked on in disbelief.

They all knew that if the dikes broke, millions of people would be displaced.

Bai Yunfei, who was invited to the meeting, immediately asked, "Is the information reliable?"

"The source of the information is reliable. They will continue to provide me with intelligence, ensuring that I can stay informed of the latest developments," Fang Wen replied.

Bai Yunfei's expression was serious: "I must report this situation to my superiors. If it is true, I request to participate in the operation to prevent the dam from breaching."

Fang Wen nodded: "I called you here precisely to gain your support."

"Okay, I'll go back and send the message."

After Bai Yunfei finished speaking, he pushed the door open and went out.

After he left, Fang Wen continued making arrangements.

Wu Yingzong is in charge of military affairs and cannot go there.

Pan Jiafeng and Fang Wen each piloted a gunboat to Zhengzhou.

Two gunboats, each capable of carrying 50 soldiers, should be able to prevent the dikes from breaching.

(End of this chapter)