Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 616 Jet Fighter Concept, Hotel Spy Shadow

Chapter 616 Jet Fighter Concept, Hotel Spy Shadow
Gong Xiuneng's question, though simple, hit the nail on the head.

Fang Wen explained this to him.

"Turbojet engines can dramatically increase the speed of an aircraft, but this does bring about many problems. For example, at speeds of 900 kilometers per hour, the pilot's visual judgment error increases dramatically, making it impossible to aim and use the naked eye as a reference for flight. Precision instruments become a second pair of eyes."

"You mean, you don't need your eyes to pilot a jet plane?" Gong Xiuneng was greatly surprised.

"Yes, at speeds above 900 kilometers per hour, the reference points seen by the eye will actually have errors. On the contrary, the data from the instruments can provide more effective reference for flight control. In addition, jet aircraft need to reach their optimal efficiency at an altitude of 10000-15000 meters, where the air pressure is only 1/4 of that at sea level. Pilots need to wear pressurized flight suits and oxygen masks, and rely on the cockpit pressure gauge to monitor the cabin pressure in real time to avoid operational errors caused by hypoxia at high altitudes."

"I know that, pressurized cabin technology, right? Commander, so you've been preparing for jet aircraft all along. But I still don't understand, why build the planes so quickly? Will they be useful in war?"

Gong Xiuneng put forward his simple view: close-quarters aerial combat at speeds of 300-500 kilometers per hour is the best way to fight in his understanding. At speeds of 900 kilometers per hour or more, the eyes can't even react, so how can one fight the enemy?

However, this is the future trend of military aircraft development: jet aircraft will be equipped with more sophisticated military equipment and weapon systems, replacing mechanical transmission with electronic instruments and hydraulic control components, and weapons will also change from traditional machine gun strafing to long-range guided attacks.

"Let's go downstairs and get something to eat."

Fang Wen got up and left the guest room with Gong Xiuneng.

The two entered the elevator, which was empty. Fang Wen continued the conversation, "You're talking about the current air combat mode. Modern machine guns require pilots to manually aim, and bullet flight is also affected by wind speed. In air combat, the faster the speed, the smaller the aiming window becomes, and manual aiming gradually becomes ineffective as speed increases. Have you ever thought about what if bullets could 'find' the enemy on their own?"

The elevator doors opened with a "ding," revealing the restaurant outside, filled with the aroma of coffee and toast.

The two found a seat and sat down, and the waiter came over with the menu.

The food here is expensive and not included in the room rate, so Fang Wen has to pay for it himself. He looked at the menu and ordered two mid-priced business set meals.

The messenger then changed the tableware and left.

Gong Xiuneng asked eagerly, "Commander, please continue, how can we make the bullets find the enemy on their own?"

Fang Wen continued, "I have an idea to create a guidance device that can track the engine heat of enemy aircraft using radio waves and 'guide' rockets toward the target. This weapon would not require the pilot to stare at the enemy aircraft and pull the trigger; as long as the target is locked on the instrument panel, the missile can fly there on its own. By then, aircraft will fly faster, and weapon systems will be even faster. As long as the target is locked and launched from a distance, it can quickly disengage after firing, leaving the enemy no chance to retaliate. I call this weapon a missile."

In this day and age, this technology is practically science fiction.

Gong Xiuneng looked at him as if he were listening to gibberish. "Missile? Can that thing be more accurate than a bullet? What if it goes astray? Wouldn't that be a waste of effort?"

He recalled the scene of shooting at targets with a machine gun during training. He had to calculate the lead for each bullet and even control his breathing rhythm. It was hard to imagine that a weapon without a sight could hit the target.

Fang Wen smiled and lightly traced an arc on the tablecloth with his knife: "This requires the cooperation of electronic instruments and hydraulic systems. Look at current aircraft; aiming relies on the eyes, and firing relies on manually pulling the trigger. The reaction speed of mechanical transmission is at least 0.5 seconds. But if a jet aircraft is equipped with an electronic targeting system, it can calculate the speed, altitude, and heading of enemy aircraft in real time, and the hydraulic system controls missile launch, reducing the reaction time to 0.1 seconds. It's like playing badminton; the moment your opponent swings the racket, you don't need to think about how to raise your hand; your body has already reacted—I believe that future air combat will rely on this kind of 'instrument prediction,' rather than the eyes keeping up with the speed."

The waiter brought over two steaks, the sizzling meat juicy and coated with black peppercorns, but Gong Xiuneng had little appetite. What Fang Wen had said today had given him a revolutionary understanding.

"Commander," he looked up at Fang Wen, a hint of confusion in his eyes, "if we rely on instruments to fight in the future, what will pilots do? Will they just become people sitting in the cockpit looking at instruments?"

Fang Wen cut off a piece of steak, put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, and swallowed before speaking slowly: "Instruments are tools, but it is people who decide how to use them. With current mechanical transmission devices, when to pull up and when to dive depends on the pilot's judgment. Future jet aircraft will also need pilots to operate them, but they will be freed from 'physical labor' so that they can focus more on tactics—such as how to flank enemy aircraft and how to avoid enemy missiles. These all require experience and brains, which instruments cannot replace."

At this point, Fang Wen pointed with his knife and fork at the food in front of Gong Xiuneng: "Eat up. These things can't be made in a short time, so you don't need to worry about them."

"Oh." Gong Xiuneng immediately put aside all his thoughts and began to devour the food in front of him.

The two of them finished off a sumptuous dinner, and then Fang Wen took out his wallet to pay and head back.

"Hello, 32 pounds." The waiter came over with the bill.

Fang Wen paid for the meal and gave a 3-pound tip before getting up and leaving.

Suddenly, the small bronze cauldron in the inner pocket of his body began to vibrate.

This is a danger warning!

Having escaped danger multiple times thanks to the bronze tripod, Fang Wen immediately became alert.

He focused his mind and quickly surveyed his surroundings.

There were five tables of diners in the restaurant, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Suddenly, he felt someone watching him.

It's on the east side of the restaurant.

A diner dining alone.

He was secretly observing me just now.

Although it was done very discreetly, Fang Wen's eyesight, under his highly concentrated mental power, still detected it.

Immediately, Fang Wen's mind was filled with thoughts.

Why is this person looking at me?
Sitting so far away, they're probably watching me.

If someone is monitoring you, then there must be other accomplices.

What are his accomplices doing now?
Fang Wen immediately realized that there was probably something wrong with his guest room on the third floor.

He pretended not to have noticed anything and left the restaurant with Gong Xiuneng.

Instead of taking the elevator, he waited at the elevator entrance.

Sure enough, the monitor also followed.

As soon as he peeked out, he noticed Fang Wen watching him and instinctively retreated.

This retreat confirmed Fang Wen's suspicions.

He quickly told Gong Xiuneng, "Someone is plotting against me in the hotel. Be careful."

Gong Xiuneng immediately became alert, reaching behind his back to pull out a concealed pistol and dagger, which he then hid in his sleeves.

"Commander, what should we do next?" he asked.

Worried that the other party might be waiting upstairs, Fang Wen replied, "Don't take the elevator."

Then, the two walked towards the stairwell next door.

But instead of going up, he waited behind the stairwell.

A sound of running footsteps could be heard as the monitor rushed into the stairwell.

Gong Xiuneng immediately cut him off and subdued him on the ground.

Fang Wen took off the other person's hat and looked him up and down.

He doesn't have an Asian face.

The high, straight nose is a typical Anglo-Saxon feature, with a slight protrusion at the root of the nose, making the outline more rugged compared to other ethnic groups on the European continent; the deep-set eyes have light gray irises, a light eye color that is quite common among the English.

His slightly messy light brown curly hair, with coarse strands and a natural fluffy feel, was not the result of artificial perming or dyeing—Fang Wen had heard Lin Shuiwang say that this type of hair was a typical characteristic of residents in northern England, different from the thicker, darker hair of Scots, and also different from the finer, softer hair of Welsh people.

"An Englishman?" Fang Wen released his grip on the man's chin, his gaze sweeping over the man's wrist, where there was a faint white scar, shaped like a rope binding him. "The scar on your wrist, is it from when you were in the army?"

The monitor stiffened for a moment, his eyes flickering, clearly not expecting Fang Wen to notice this detail.

Seeing this, Gong Xiuneng pushed the dagger forward a little more and lowered his voice: "The commander is asking you a question, so tell the truth!"

The tip of the dagger had already pierced the flesh of his lower back; with just a little more force, it could have pierced through his back and into his kidney.

The man, wincing in pain, mumbled, "Yes... I served in the army before, and I got injured accidentally during training."

“The Army?” Fang Wen raised an eyebrow, making a preliminary judgment. Englishmen comprised over 70% of the British Army, especially from Yorkshire and Lancashire in the north, historically a major source of recruits. He then looked at the man's shoes—a pair of black leather boots with deep treads and worn edges, but still in relatively good condition. A small “B” was embroidered on the inside of the tongue. “These Burberry boots, aren’t they standard issue for army officers? Ordinary soldiers don’t wear these.”

The monitor's face changed completely; his lips trembled, and he couldn't speak. Fang Wen stood up and said to Gong Xiuneng, "It seems they're not ordinary mercenaries; they're likely retired English officers recruited by intelligence agencies."

Gong Xiuneng suddenly realized: "When he was struggling just now, some of the methods he used were unusual. It turns out he was a soldier!"

Fang Wen nodded, his gaze returning to the monitor: "Whom do you serve?"

"I do not know."

The watcher had barely uttered half a sentence when the dagger behind him plunged even deeper.

Cold sweat trickled down the monitor's face, and the sharp pain in his lower back made him tremble all over; he could no longer endure it.
“I really don’t know the employer’s specific identity! I only know that he calls himself ‘Mr. Black’ and that every time we contact each other, it’s at a bar in East London. He pays me to keep an eye on you and record your travel times and the people you come into contact with. If you leave the hotel, I will follow you, but if you go upstairs, I don’t have to worry about you.”

Fang Wen's eyes narrowed. "Mr. Black" was clearly an alias. With this kind of employment method, it would be very difficult to find out the other party's identity.

He gave Gong Xiuneng a wink, and Gong Xiuneng immediately raised his hand, his palm strike precisely slashing the back of the monitor's neck. The man's eyes rolled back, and he instantly lost consciousness.

Gong Xiuneng then pulled out a cowhide rope and tied it to the stair railing.

"We need to go upstairs. There might be enemies waiting for us. Be careful." Fang Wen lowered his voice, took out his pistol from his waist, and checked the bullets in the magazine.

Gong Xiuneng nodded, gripped the dagger in his hand, and the two of them crouched low and moved silently up the stairs.

The corridor on the third floor was so quiet that you could hear your own footsteps. Fang Wen's room door was tightly closed, and it looked exactly the same as when he left.

The bronze tripod trembled more intensely as Fang Wen approached the room.

Clearly, the real danger lies inside the room.

However, the thin wire that Fang Wen had deliberately hooked onto the door lock had broken.

These fine threads are difficult to see in the air, and the other party obviously did not notice them.

Realizing that someone had broken into the room, Fang Wen whispered to Gong Xiuneng beside him.

"There are people inside, waiting for us."

Gong Xiuneng's eyes widened: "I'll rush in."

"No need, this is London, let the British handle it themselves."

Immediately, Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng returned to the restaurant the way they came.

With Gong Xiuneng watching the unconscious monitor, Fang Wen entered the restaurant.

The staff member who had previously served him approached with a smile: "Sir, what do you need?"

"Tell the hotel manager to contact the Air Force," Fang Wen said seriously.

"Sir, what do you mean by this?" the waiter asked, puzzled.

Fang Wen did not explain this, but instead looked at the restaurant's layout. There was a telephone at the bar.

He walked over, picked up the phone, and dialed the number the Strategic Research Office had left for him.

Once the call connected, Fang Wen immediately explained the situation.

"I am Fang Wen from Taishan Military Industry. I discovered that someone was watching me in the hotel and that there were people in the room."

In just one sentence, the other party understood Fang Wen's situation.

Immediately afterwards, the person who answered the phone was changed to a lieutenant general.

"Tell me your location, and we'll send someone over immediately."

"You'd better come to the restaurant on the second floor in plain clothes so as not to alert their spies outside the hotel," Fang Wen replied.

"it is good."

Twenty minutes later, several cars pulled up outside the hotel.

A group of plainclothes Army officers and soldiers arrived at the canteen.

There, Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng were sitting and waiting, with a person bound and unconscious at their feet. The restaurant staff and customers were all watching from the sidelines.

"Is it him?" the plainclothes lieutenant general asked.

“He’s the one spying on me; there are others in the rooms upstairs.”

"Come on, let's go up."

The officers drew their pistols and prepared to go upstairs.

Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng also went up together.

The group went up the stairs. During the climb, Gong Xiuneng took off his belt, removed the buckle, and handed it to Fang Wen.

The lieutenant general didn't quite understand this.

Fang Wen explained, "This is a suffocating smoke grenade from our Taishan Military Industry. It is especially suitable for use in confined spaces and can cause temporary suffocation, fainting, and incapacitation."

The lieutenant general exclaimed in surprise, "You brought this with you to England?"

"For self-defense," Fang Wen said with a smile.

As they spoke, the group had reached the third floor. Two officers cautiously peeked out and returned to report.

"There's no one in the corridor."

Then, the group carefully approached the guest room where Fang Wen was staying.

Fang Wen leaned against the door, inserting the key into the lock with his right hand and holding the belt buckle in his left.

Press the trigger of the asphyxiating smoke grenade, and white smoke billows out from the belt buckle.

In an instant, he turned the key, pushed open the door, threw in the smoking asphyxiating smoke bomb, and then closed the door.

A muffled thud came from the room, along with low gasps.

Then a burst of gunfire rang out.

The bullet pierced the door, leaving several bullet holes in it.

However, everyone was on guard and no one was injured by stray bullets.