Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 523 Negotiations on the trade of Katyusha rocket master stock, excavation of underground treasure
As the MBR-2 landed on the lake, Fang Wen could roughly discern the performance of this seaplane simply by observing the stress exhibited by the aircraft on the water.

This seaplane is somewhat similar to the clipper boat-type seaplane in the United States.

Both adopted a lower hull structure.

This structure allows for greater aircraft capacity and buoyancy, but reduces maneuverability significantly compared to a floating seaplane.

In other words, floating seaplanes are easier to take off from the water, while hull-type seaplanes land more stably.

However, if performance is not a requirement, aircraft made with wooden hulls are much cheaper and easier to manufacture.

It was precisely because of its low cost and relatively simple manufacturing process, coupled with the Soviet Union's need for a vehicle that could adapt to their vast territory with its sparse population and numerous lakes and rivers, that more than 1000 of these seaplanes were manufactured over the years, making them a commonly used vehicle for domestic aviation in the Soviet Union.

It can be said that the Soviet Union's method of using the MBR-2 to expand civil aviation was also an important reason for Fang Wen's vigorous development of seaplane civil aviation business.

After all, China also has a large number of lakes and rivers, and low-cost seaplanes are more suitable for the national conditions at this time.

Shaking off his thoughts, Fang Wen walked over to greet the guests on the MBR-2 aircraft.

Three men disembarked from the plane; one was wearing some kind of Soviet uniform, and the other two were soldiers, armed and guarding.

The uniformed man looked at Fang Wen and his group and asked.

Who is Fang Wen of Taishan Airlines?

“Yes, that’s me,” Fang Wen replied.

The uniformed man took out his identification and introduced himself.

"Hello, I am Sergei from the People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade. I have been ordered to conduct this investigation."

The People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade was the only department in the Soviet Union with authority over foreign trade. Fang Wen obtained the Soviet military supplies he purchased through this department.

He managed to contact this department through a Soviet pilot in Chongqing and then through the Soviet military representative office in Lanzhou.

The reason it was so complicated was that the Soviet personnel he had previously traded with were not of a high enough caliber, which is why he had to go through so many detours.

Sergei, the uniformed man, shook hands with Fang Wen and asked directly, "You said in the telegram that you wanted to sign a larger trade agreement, but I don't understand why we're negotiating here?"

"Here's the thing: I was just accompanying a friend on a trip to the Soviet Union, but during the trip, my friend and I unexpectedly discovered a major secret. Have you heard of Napoleon's treasure?"

"Napoleon's treasure, I know, you mean you've discovered it?"

Sergei smiled, disbelieving.

The search for Napoleon's treasure has been ongoing for over 100 years without success, yet these foreign tourists seem to be able to find it so easily.

Seeing his disbelief, Fang Wen replied, "I can guarantee that I have found the treasure."

Seeing Fang Wen's certainty, Sergei couldn't help but become serious.

"If you have indeed discovered that treasure, I thank you on behalf of the nation. However, another department will need to take over the matter. My role is merely to negotiate foreign trade. Now, let's talk about your military trade."

It seems that Sergei has no desire to have anything to do with Napoleon's treasure.

In that case, Fang Wen's idea of ​​using the treasure as a bargaining chip will probably fall through.

Fang Wen had been through this kind of negotiation many times and knew that a breakthrough was needed first.

His thoughts raced.

As far as he knew, in 37, the Soviet Union's foreign trade balance mainly came from Spain. The Soviet Ministry of Finance had stored 510 tons of Spanish gold, which was intended to offset the Soviet government's previous military aid expenditures to the Spanish republic government during the Spanish Civil War, as well as the costs of various purchases made by the Spanish government in the Soviet Union.

Last year (38), the Soviet Union's foreign trade balance mainly consisted of providing the Chinese Nationalist government with a military loan of $50 million and approximately 5000 tons of gold.

It can be said that in the past two years, although the Soviet Union made money in foreign military trade, its business has declined year by year.

He simply couldn't believe that a department with such a sharp decline in foreign military exports wouldn't have any business pressure.
Immediately, Fang Wen spoke up: "There are 80 tons of gold in Napoleon's treasure. I think this gold should be given to you for production and construction, rather than being displayed in a museum. That's why I came to you. If you retrieve the 80 tons of gold according to the information I provided, can I have some trade privileges?"

Sergei was stunned. No matter what, 80 tons of gold was just too tempting.

But he couldn't make that decision, so he returned to the seaplane and sent a telegram to Moscow.

After a while, Sergei came out and said seriously, "I need to confirm one thing: are you the only one who knows about the treasure?"

"Yes, only I know."

"Very well, according to our country's laws, all underground resources, including treasures, belong to the state, and you are not allowed to excavate or move treasures privately. So, I also want to ask, have you ever tried to open the treasure?"

"No. I am well aware of your laws."

"That's great. Now, tell me your requirements."

What transaction requirements should be made?

At that time, the Soviet Union had the T-26 tanks, Il-15 and Il-16 fighter jets in service, as well as the T-34 tank and 82mm and 132mm tailed rockets still under development.

For Fang Wen, what he wanted most were 82mm and 132mm tailed fin rockets. When used on a truck launcher, they are Katyusha rockets; when used on an aircraft, they are airborne rockets.

Taishan Aviation is also conducting research in this area, but its foundation is somewhat weak. After the rocket's size increased, the materials and propellant were not ideal, resulting in multiple failed test launches.

According to Fang Wen, the Soviet Union's "Gas Dynamics Laboratory" in Leningrad had completed the design of 82mm and 132mm tailed rockets five years ago, and conducted a vehicle-mounted launch test last year using a truck-mounted launcher.

He then said, “I will lead you to the treasure. If you obtain the gold and artifacts that Napoleon looted from Moscow, you will receive honors and promotions. What I want is the 82mm and 132mm tailed rocket technology that you are currently developing.”

Sergei was quite surprised by Fang Wen's request. "We haven't even fully mastered this kind of rocket yet, so it's completely unusable in actual combat. What do you need it for?"

"My Taishan Aviation is also researching rocket technology," Fang Wen told him the reason.

Sergei then returned to the seaplane to report back to Moscow.

As Sergei boarded the plane, Gong Xiuneng, who was guarding Fang Wen from behind, couldn't help but ask, "Commander, will they sell it to us?"

"I don't know either," Fang Wen said uncertainly.

Military technology trade in this era was not governed by many rules. Japan could buy Junkers aircraft technology from Germany, the Soviet Union could buy the American DC-3, and even the GST seaplane currently produced by the Soviet Union is based on the technology of the American "Katarina" seaplane.

Perhaps the Soviet Union would sell off this immature rocket technology.

Time passed slowly, and this time Sergei spent a relatively long time in the seaplane, more than an hour.

He eventually came out: "I have received a reply from above, the rocket technology cannot be sold."

Fang Wen was disappointed, but then he thought, if he can't sell them, he can buy live ammunition and modify it into rockets that meet his own requirements.

After all, his superpower allows him to deconstruct mechanical structures. Once he gets his hands on live ammunition and studies it further, he should be able to figure out the technology inside.

He then made new demands.

Upon hearing from Fang Wen that all that was needed was to purchase live ammunition, Sergei agreed without hesitation this time.

After all, this rocket project has been a long time-consuming one and has not yet yielded any profits. If it is sold to Taishan Military Industry for live ammunition, it can not only recover some of the research and development costs, but also obtain some combat data.

Therefore, he emphasized the need to assign a military observer to understand the actual combat situation of the rockets.

Fang Wen accepted this.

Sergei immediately reported the situation to Moscow. Six archaeological experts from the Archaeological Institute of the Moscow Academy of Sciences left with the soldiers, boarded a seaplane in the waters of Moscow, and flew southwest.

Another seaplane also flew in, carrying staff members who were signing foreign military sales contracts.

Meanwhile, the Smolensk Oblast garrison also dispatched a group of soldiers to the area.

Another day passed.

Four aircraft were anchored on Lake Samlyobo: one belonging to Fang Wen and three to the Soviet Union.

In addition, there were 100 soldiers carrying earth and wood tools.

They were all waiting for the order to depart.

The decision to depart was made by Sergei, who was temporarily assigned the mission.

He was on a seaplane in Taishan, negotiating the details of an arms sales contract with Fang Wen.

it is necessary.

Fang Wen told the expert from Moscow his requirements and asked him to include them in the contract.

The expert said with difficulty, "If we follow your requirements, the parameters of the rockets will be changed. However, rockets of this specification can only be exported. The equipment used to produce them cannot be used to manufacture our own rockets. In that case, the price should be even higher."

Fang Wen retorted without hesitation: "It's not expensive. I traded 80 tons of gold and your national dignity for it."

The experts were speechless.

Sergei mediated, saying, "How about this, we'll rewrite the contract according to Mr. Fang's request, but this contract will only be valid after the Napoleonic treasure is actually retrieved."

“Sure,” Fang Wen replied confidently.

Therefore, the experts added an additional clause to the contract as he requested, stipulating that the production specifications must meet the specific requirements of Taishan Military Industry.

Once the contract was drafted, the team set off immediately.

However, since the pond outside the Holy Trinity Church could only accommodate one seaplane, Fang Wen marked the route on the map while he flew the plane over to wait.

The ground troops arrived after half a day, and then the group headed to the unmarked cemetery.

The treasure-hunting team set up camp at the foot of the hill.

Six Soviet archaeological experts first went up the mountain with Fang Wen and his group.

Looking at the ruins of the tomb, the archaeological experts immediately began to examine the remaining remains.

When they saw the inscription turned upside down, they immediately confirmed that it was the cemetery of a branch of the Tukhachevsky family.

But could Napoleon's treasure be hidden beneath his tomb?
They expressed doubts.

In response, Fang Wen offered his own deduction.

“We had previously scouted the area by plane. After the scouting, I found that most of the area was swamp and pine forest. Assuming that Napoleon’s army would have had the best way to transport 80 tons of gold in such an environment, the best way would have been by boat. But I didn’t find any suspicious treasure sites along the riverbank. Then, I flew the plane to this tributary and saw the church below. The pastor told us that the French army had massacred the locals here. So I scouted the area and that’s when I discovered this cemetery.”

"Then how can you be so sure that the treasure is buried down there?" an archaeology expert asked.

Pierre offered to explain to Fang Wen: "It's his talent. If you've heard his adventure stories, you'll know why he was able to find treasure here."

Instead of continuing the debate, the archaeologists began excavating.

They split into three groups, with two archaeological experts in each group and 30 soldiers in each group, to dig separately.

The small cemetery was excavated, and three large pits were dug out after a day of digging.

The coffin fragments and remains, unearthed during the excavation, were scattered haphazardly outside.

The next day, the digging continued, and the pit reached a depth of 2 meters, but they still found nothing.

Sergei couldn't help but question, "Fang, are you sure there really is treasure? Why hasn't it been discovered yet?"

"Be patient," Fang Wen replied. He was certain that the entrance to the buried treasure was located beneath Pit 2, and that they were about to dig it out.

Another half hour passed.

They exclaimed in surprise as they emerged from Pit 2.

"There is a leaking sand, and there is space below."

People gathered around and saw a small, leaky hole at the southwest corner of Pit 2.

The subsequent excavation was carried out by archaeological experts themselves.

They carefully dug the small hole, and then a soldier wearing a gas mask went down.

After the soldiers went down, they used flashlights to explore and were then pulled back up.

He removed his mask and described what he had seen below: "There is a passage below, with many corpses inside. The path ahead is buried in sand and needs to be dug out."

After hearing what he said, the archaeological experts went down and dug out the remains from the soil.

These remains look completely different from those in the cemetery.

Experts carefully brushed away the dirt from the corpse's clothing.

Subsequently, it was announced:
"The dark blue woolen officer's coat was the uniform of a high-ranking French officer at the time. The use of silk lining to enhance the texture was also a popular fashion feature at the time. In addition, we also found gold thread and silk to add luster to the clothing of one of the corpses. All of these are consistent with our records of the French army."

Upon hearing the archaeological experts' assessment, everyone cheered, proving that Napoleon's treasure might indeed be hidden below.

The soldiers then crawled into the hole and dug out the buried passage below.

As they dug the passage, the archaeologists also discovered more information from the bodies.

These bodies did not die at the same time.

Two of the bodies were buried in mud and sand and suffocated.

The skeletons and clothing of the other three bodies showed signs of gunshot wounds and sword stabs.

This shows what happened down there that ultimately caused the entrance to collapse, killing everyone inside.

Pierre made detailed records of this. More than the treasure, he was interested in fulfilling his ancestor's regret and figuring out the mystery of his ancestor's colleague's disappearance.

The underground excavation continued into the night, and even then, the soldiers below used carbide lamps for lighting as they took turns digging out the soil.

Buckets of soil were piled up outside, forming a small mound.

Finally, at 2 a.m., the tunnel below was dug through.

Hearing the soldiers cheer, Fang Wen, who hadn't slept, quickly followed the experts over.

He knew very well that once the buried passage was dug up, there would be no more problems. So, his next step was to find a way to secretly take the treasure from the hoard.

(End of this chapter)