Republic of China: Ace Pilot

On the way back to the Taishan Aviation headquarters from the Governor's Palace, the road ahead was congested due to British checkpoints inspecting passing vehicles, with long queues of cars forming.

Fang Wen repeatedly stroked the rubber cover of the steering wheel with his fingertips, lost in thought.

The governor's request was exactly what he had expected. After France's surrender, the colonial system in Southeast Asia was crumbling. The British forces in Burma were already weak, and now they were like frightened birds, pinning their hopes on the Taishan Independent Regiment under his command.

But Fang Wen knew that this was both an opportunity and a trap.

Expanding the armed forces in Burma under the guise of British military power would better protect industries and counter future threats from Japanese forces, but it would also bind Britain to its war machine and cause it to lose some autonomy.

Suddenly, there was movement on the other side of the checkpoint.

British soldiers moved out, surrounded a car, and pointed their guns at the windows.

"Commander, something's happened up ahead," Gong Xiuneng, sitting in the passenger seat, warned.

Fang Wen immediately activated his mechanical perception ability to observe the situation in this area.

The three-dimensional perspective created by his supernatural ability allows him to see his surroundings.

As British soldiers surrounded the car, pedestrians stopped to look, and even drivers on the road opened their doors and got out to watch.

There was nothing unusual about these people.

At that moment, the car door opened, and a man dressed in a French military uniform got out.

He protested loudly, “I am a colonel stationed in French Indochina with diplomatic status. I am here on very important business, and you have no right to stop me.”

After examining his identification, the British officer replied, "I'm sorry, but according to the governor's orders, you cannot go in."

The two men argued, and the British soldiers pulled the car over to the side of the road to continue inspecting passing vehicles.

After a while, it was Fang Wen's turn to drive.

When the British soldiers saw that it was Fang Wen, they let him through: "Mr. Fang, you don't need to be checked, you can go through."

Fang Wen asked, "What happened?"

The British officer leading the group came over, leaned close to the car window, and whispered, "He wants to see the Germans in your hotel. We won't let him through without permission. Mr. Fang, please also strengthen the management of the hotel and prevent those Frenchmen from contacting the Germans."

Upon hearing the officer's words, Fang Wen immediately understood the reason.

Now that France has surrendered, its colonies in Asia are nominally under the administration of the Vichy government, but in reality, the Vichy government is nothing more than a puppet. And now, a German inspection team has arrived at the hotel of Taishan Airlines. The French officers in the French colonies naturally want to make contact with the Germans and understand Germany's attitude towards the colonies.

Fang Wen nodded, feigning difficulty: "This is really troublesome. Okay, I understand."

Then, he drove away.

Upon arriving at the headquarters building, Fang Wen went straight to the general manager's office and instructed his assistant, Zhao Junping, to immediately notify the core executives: Fang Shouxin, the director of the administration department, and Liu Zhanggui, the director of the finance department, to come over.

When the two came up, Fang Wen immediately told them the whole story.

"France surrendered yesterday. The governor summoned me, wanting our Taishan region to form a new army to jointly defend the Burma region, and I agreed to the governor's request. What do you two think of my decision?"

Manager Liu replied, "Now that France has surrendered, the Japanese will probably take advantage of the situation. They can launch a direct attack on Vietnam from the coast of southern Guangxi, or they can send their navy to attack from the Gulf of Tonkin. The French will definitely not be able to stop them."

Fang Shouxin agreed: "Yes. If France hadn't been defeated, the Japanese would have been wary. Now that they don't have to worry about France sending troops to protect its Asian colonial interests, they are very likely to attack French colonies. Once they take them, the next step will be Burma."

The two then left immediately and convened a meeting of the company's senior management.

A day later, branch managers from China arrived in Yangon by transport plane, and senior management of Taishan Airlines gathered in the headquarters conference room.

Fang Wen entered, sat in the main seat, and presided over the meeting.

"This meeting is about the major wartime transformation of Taishan Aviation. France surrendered yesterday. Without the support of the French mainland, their Southeast Asian colonies are just a piece of cake, and Japan will never let go of this piece of fat meat. The British are also unable to send more troops from the mainland to Asia. Their existing Asian troops have to be stationed in many places, making it difficult to concentrate their defense. Therefore, the governor asked me to discuss the matter, wanting me to establish a new army to defend Burma with our strength. In return, we also need to use this as an excuse to expand our forces and defend our air bases, factories, and air routes."

After a pause, Fang Wen looked at the company's senior executives, who were all there except for those from the Independent Regiment.

Fang Shouxin, Director of Administration; Liu Zhanggui, Director of Finance.

Sun Debiao of Southwest Logistics Company, Li Youning of Civil Aviation Operations Department, Li Tiezhu of International Business Department, Zhang Yunfei of Aircraft Manufacturing Plant No. 1, Liu Yinfeng of Aviation Flying Club, Liu Jinrui of Jinghong Penicillin Pharmaceutical Factory, Lin Yifei of Aircraft Manufacturing Plant No. 2, Zhao Wanping of Taishan Aviation Hospital, Principal Wang of Aviation School, Shen Weitao, Director of Northern Myanmar Base, Jiang Wenjin, Chief Scientist of Taishan Research Institute, Lu Zexuan, Director of Taishan Research Institute, Bai Zeshan of Semiconductor Plant, Howard, Director of Maintenance Department, Huo Duanyang of Chemical and Ammunition Department, Fang Shun of Xiangxi Airport
These people have grown up with the company, and some have even fought alongside him in battles. They are both literate and skilled in martial arts.

He continued, "Considering the current situation, the company will further reduce its civil aviation business and focus more on military operations. I need you to apply the same enthusiasm you have for your regular work to this new area. Does anyone have any objections?"

“General Manager, I’ve been waiting for this day!” Zhao Shanhu from the Security Department was the first to speak up.

Sun Debiao from Southwest Logistics Company spoke second: "If the company needs it, our logistics company can also streamline its civilian business."

Fang Wen shook his head: "We don't need the logistics company for now, but you can set up a security team first."

After he finished speaking, he looked at the others.

Everyone expressed no objection.

Fang Wen then shared his thoughts.

"I plan to establish the Taishan Mercenary Management Company. The positions and responsibilities of the people at the northern Myanmar base will remain unchanged, but some of the others will be reassigned. Zhang Yunfei and Li Tiezhu will be transferred to the Mercenary Management Company, and Liu Yinfeng and Zhao Wanping will be transferred to the Military Warfare Coordination Committee. Your current work will be taken over by personnel selected by the Administration Department. Other departments, although not to be adjusted for the time being, must be fully supported."

Upon hearing this arrangement, Zhang Yunfei, Li Tiezhu, Liu Yinfeng, and Zhao Wanping stood up, and Zhang Yunfei announced loudly, "Zhang Yunfei, a member of the Taishan Special Operations Team, is back in the team." The other three also shouted the same words.

It was as if time had turned back to a few years ago, when Fang Wen was setting up the company's first secret armed force, the "Special Operations Group," and these four people were its members at that time.

Although they have taken on clerical jobs in recent years, their passion has not cooled.

Fang Wen nodded, gesturing for them to sit down, and then continued to chair the next topic.

“Under the current circumstances, recruiting new soldiers is not advisable; we don’t have that much time to train them. Therefore, the new army needs veteran soldiers who can fight. I will transfer a group of officers from the Taishan Independent Regiment to form the framework of the new army. The newly established Special Operations Brigade of the Independent Regiment will also be temporarily incorporated into the new army.”

"How do we recruit? Where do we recruit?" Fang Shouxin asked.

Fang Wen smiled and said, "I plan to recruit from within China. But I need to go to Chongqing first. They owe me a favor, and this will come in handy."

This requirement was Fang Wen's condition for agreeing to the Nationalist government's purchase of gunboats and the training of pilots.

Manager Liu worriedly said, "General Manager, why don't we send Sun Debiao to Chongqing? He's been in Sichuan for a long time, knows many people, and it'll be easier for him to get things done. Don't forget, we have a grudge there."

The others nodded in agreement. Back in China, they wouldn't have moved to the northern Myanmar base and Yangon if it weren't for the fact that Taishan Airlines' assets were being targeted. Although it now seems that moving here would allow for better development without constraints, the greed within the Nationalist government makes everyone very wary.

In response, Fang Wen stated his thoughts: "The internal environment of the Nationalist government is complex. There are my enemies there, as well as people willing to cooperate with me. Moreover, things are different now. The Soviet air support has begun to withdraw, and they need new air force support. I can help them do that, not only with gunboats and aircraft, but also with American planes and hired pilots. All of this needs to be discussed in Chongqing. Sun Debiao cannot represent me; I have to go there myself."

At this point in the meeting, Fang Wen had already expressed all his thoughts, and it was time for everyone to focus on the discussion.

The participants discussed various aspects of the new army, including its garrison locations, equipment, training, supplies, and uniforms.

These challenges are not difficult for them. After all, the company has been responsible for the establishment, improvement, and continuous logistical support of the Taishan Independent Regiment. Now, they are simply copying the entire system and making it more standardized.

The discussion lasted for more than an hour.

After outlining a set of rules and assigning responsibilities, Fang Wen adjourned the meeting.

"Alright, that concludes the meeting. It's been a long time since we've all gotten together, so let's take this opportunity to catch up and have a hearty chat over drinks. Come on, let's head to the restaurant on the second floor; the food and drinks are all ready."

Everyone happily got up and followed Fang Wen, chatting and laughing as they headed towards the elevator.

They took the elevator down in batches and sat around a large dining table in the restaurant.

Plates of steaming dishes were served, along with prepared wine.

Everyone chatted and reminisced about the past, creating a very pleasant atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Taishan Aviation Hotel.

A French guest returned from outside.

Although the hotel no longer has any guests, these French people, as former residents of the hotel, can still rent rooms in the hotel.

The British plainclothes agent in the lobby glanced at him but didn't pay much attention, as he was aware of the frequent disputes between the French and Germans in the hotel.

The French guest went straight to the elevator.

The hotel has two elevators. The right elevator is guarded and only goes to the 3rd floor, where the Germans live. The left elevator goes to all floors except the 3rd floor.

He naturally entered the elevator on the left, but after the elevator door closed, he immediately pushed open the elevator cover above his head, climbed up, and then threw a bag onto the elevator opposite.

After doing all that, he returned the way he came, restored the roof as if nothing had happened, and then left the elevator.

A few minutes later, on the third floor of the hotel, a guest room door opened, the German man came out, and pressed the elevator button.

When the elevator reached the third floor, he went inside, then went down to the lobby on the first floor, bought two packs of cigarettes at the hotel's sales counter, and then took the elevator back up.

After the elevator doors closed, he immediately opened the elevator roof, climbed up, and took out the items on it.

They then left the elevator and returned to their room.

"Major, we've got the goods."

Major Hans Krupp took the small package wrapped in brown paper, opened it, and found several sheets of paper with writing on them.

He looked at the contents and explained to the other Germans: "Yesterday, France surrendered, and we won."

After he finished speaking, he and the other Germans stood up, raised their right hands, gave the Nazi salute, and shouted words of praise for the American leader and Germany.

He then discussed it with his partner.

"We are now given new tasks, in addition to purchasing gunboats and walkie-talkies, we also need to establish contact with the French troops stationed here."

"But we're trapped here now, and we can't leave at all."

"The results will be available soon; the Führer is preparing to negotiate with Britain."

"That's great, Major, please continue."

"The secret telegram from Berlin said that the French and Dutch colonies in Asia were very valuable, but the British were an obstacle, and we were currently unable to send troops to take over these areas. According to intelligence, Japan was also eyeing them. We were ordered to establish contact with the French and Dutch garrisons in the region before the Japanese could."

They were having a lively private conversation in the room, unaware that a listening device made by Taishan Military Industry had been installed in the shadows.

In the room above them, after the security personnel finished their conversation below, they took down a cassette tape and handed it to a colleague to take back to the company headquarters building.

Fang Wen was in high spirits at the restaurant on the second floor of the headquarters building and drank two glasses.

A security guard came in and handed a document to Zhao Shanhu, the head of security.

Zhao Shanhu immediately sobered up and walked behind Fang Wen.

"General Manager, we overheard the Germans' conversation, and this is the translated content."

Fang Wen took the translation paper and carefully read through its contents.

The Germans actually wanted the French and Dutch colonies in Asia.

This is understandable, given that Germany defeated and occupied most of the Netherlands and France, and as the victor, it was only natural to want to acquire overseas colonies as a subsequent spoil of victory.

Unfortunately, historically, Germany was too far away to intervene effectively, allowing Japan to reap the benefits.

Fang Wen's heart skipped a beat.

If that's the case, should we give it a push and allow the German representative to make contact with the officers stationed in the French and Dutch colonies? This might damage relations between Germany and Japan.

The idea was good. He whispered in Zhao Shanhu's ear, "Have your men create an opportunity for the German and French garrison officers to meet, but the meeting place must be within our surveillance range."

"Yes, I'll arrange it." Zhao Shanhu got up and left.

The banquet continued.

Half an hour later, someone else entered the private room, still looking for Fang Wen.

"General Manager, we have found the antique appraisal expert you were looking for. He is a professor in the History Department of Peking University. He has arrived in Yangon on our company's plane and is waiting downstairs now."

The experts could confirm the authenticity of the fourteen crates of artifacts Fang Wen brought back from France. Fang Wen immediately stood up: "You all continue, I have something to do." (End of Chapter)