Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 76, Section 75: South Subtropical Monsoon Climate, Biplane's Flight in Torrential Rain
With Shao Sishen's assistance, the second voyage was much more efficient.

Fang Wen no longer determined the first half of the route by following the coastline. Instead, Shao Sishen used a positioning method that combined compass magnetic field and map to point out a nearly straight course.

Guangzhou – Zhaoqing – Yunfu – Yulin – Qinzhou.

It then landed smoothly at the French military airport, reducing the travel time by 40 minutes.

After resting at the airport overnight, we took off again early the next morning.

This time, however, the flight encountered problems.

The Qingyun is flying at high altitude and is already in the Lao highlands region.

A strong wind suddenly picked up in the sky, and large cumulonimbus clouds began to gather.

As Fang Wen adjusted the aircraft, he shouted behind him, "Shao Sichen, be careful, there's a heavy downpour coming."

Shao Sishen, who was behind him, quickly put down the compass in his left hand, took out a rope and tied himself and the seat together, securing them tightly.

Both pilots knew that this was a subtropical monsoon climate in South Asia, and that the rainy season, from June to October, was the period when rainfall accounted for 80% of the annual total.

Last time we were lucky, the weather was fine all the way, but this time we were unlucky and ran into the rainy season with torrential rain.

Heavy rain poses the greatest threat to biplanes. Unlike the upcoming monoplanes, biplanes mean a larger contact area with heavy rain, and the upper and lower wings will be hit by rainwater multiple times.

Furthermore, at this time, biplanes did not have streamlined fuselages, and rainwater was likely to accumulate on the wings, causing additional strain.

There are also engine problems; water entering the cylinders of a piston engine can have a serious impact on the engine.

Water is an incompressible liquid. If water enters the engine cylinder and the engine continues to run, the water will prevent the piston from moving normally, causing the connecting rod to bend or even break under stress, which may lead to engine block rupture.

In addition, water will also...

When mixed with engine oil, it deteriorates the oil, preventing it from properly lubricating the engine, thus accelerating engine wear and even causing engine failure.

Therefore, every biplane pilot prays for good luck when flying in heavy rain.

Sure enough, Shao Sishen, in the back seat, was already giving his closing prayer.

Fang Wen, however, entered a state of mechanical perception, preparing to fight against the storm.

In mechanical perception mode, Fang Wen's mental energy was highly concentrated, and he once again became one with the Qingyun machine.

At this moment, he transformed into an iron bird, spreading his wings and soaring through the dark sky.

A strong wind whipped at his body, and then a torrential downpour swept in.

Raindrops the size of soybeans pounded on the wings, and water trickled down the edges, dripping onto the body.

It seems that after coming into contact with the four-faced Buddha statue, my mechanical perception has been slightly enhanced.

He shook off the thought and faced the monsoon storm with seriousness.

Under his control, the plane flew in the direction of the monsoon, and its speed increased accordingly.

With the help of the monsoon, the Qingyun took twenty minutes to fly away from the rain zone, and the sky became bright again.

Fang Wen immediately called out to those behind him, "Shao Sishen, confirm our current location."

"Yes, sir."

Shao Sichen seemed to have returned to his training days in the air force. He took out a map and compass from his waterproof bag and began to confirm.

Because of the lack of flight routes in the rain-affected area, he needed to first estimate the distance and course that deviated from the original route before re-determining the location.

This is a very complex calculation process, and...
It is a test for aviation navigators. Those planes that cannot find the right direction often get lost in the complex forest airspace and eventually run out of fuel and crash.

A few minutes later, Shao Sichen replied, "We are probably in central Laos now, close to the western region of Thailand. We need to change course to reach our destination."

The flight path has changed!

Changing course on short notice during flight is extremely dangerous, but it's the only option left now.

Fang Wen and Shao Sishen communicated loudly high in the air.

Shao Sichen even drew the new flight path on a map and showed it to Fang Wen.

We have now deviated from the original route by more than 200 kilometers, forming a 30-degree angle. To reach our destination, we will have to turn about 90 degrees and fly northwest.

While checking the map, Fang Wen used mechanical sensing to confirm the results a second time, and the results were similar to Shao Sishen's judgment.

He immediately agreed to the plan, and the plane changed course and flew northwest.

After flying for an hour and a half, the terrain below changed.

The area is characterized by a mix of mountains and valleys, but is covered by a large number of trees due to abundant rainfall.

This is the northern region of Thailand, where the originally planned airport was located.

In order to make it easier to find the temporary airport hidden in the woods below, Fang Wen specifically instructed that some special markers be made here before the trip.

For example, easily recognizable patterns and words are acceptable; they don't need to be exquisite or beautiful, as long as they can be seen from the sky.

He and Shao Sichen circled the area, searching carefully.

According to the plan, if the target is not found after more than half of the fuel has been consumed, the mission will return to base.

The plane circled once, twice, making large circles at high altitudes, trying to find something different in this vast and complex forest environment.

From the perspective of integrated mechanical perception, Fang Wen was the one who finally found it.

"Shao Sishen is looking northwest; it's right below the plane."

"Oh, yes, just the character '王' (king). It's so simple. If we weren't looking at it from this angle, we might not even be able to see it."

Where the two could see, the felled trees in the woods below revealed a rough '王' (king) character.

Next to the character '王' (king), there is a long, narrow running track.

There were people there waving flags, seemingly trying to attract the attention of the planes in the air.

The trees on both sides of the runway have been cut down as required, and the total width is 10 meters, which is suitable for landing.

But the key is accuracy; there can't be too much deviation.

Fang Wen turned on the radio.

"Qingyun calling the ground airport, please respond."

"I hear you, I hear you, you can land now," came the unprofessional reply over the radio.

Fang Wen could only instruct, "Please check the runway and let me know once you're sure it's in order. Also, have your people leave the runway when the plane lands."

"OK, just a second."

After a while, a ground call came through on the radio.

"Qingyun, please respond."

"receive."

"You may land now."

Immediately, Fang Wen adjusted the aircraft, circled slightly to find the entry point, and decisively pressed down.

The plane swooped down and landed on the hard dirt road.

Because it had just rained, the ground was muddy, causing the aircraft to shake.

Fortunately, the crater wasn't deep, and after being filled in, the landing process was finally completed.

After the plane landed, Fang Wen did not get off. Instead, he shouted to the people running over, "Level the ground immediately, dig away the mud and water, and cover it with another layer of soil."

Those people were bewildered and at a loss.

Until a short, elderly man in a long robe came over.

Although the old man was short, he was very authoritative, and when others saw him coming, they would all step back behind him.

He said, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go."

With his words, the others got busy. He, on the other hand, walked up to the plane, frowning as he examined it.

How do I get up there?

"Isn't there a boarding ladder?" Fang Wen thought helplessly. This flight was too rushed, and it was clear that they were completely unprepared.

The runway was newly paved, and judging from the radio response, there were no professionals at the airport.

They didn't even prepare a boarding ladder.

"Isn't there a ladder?" he asked.

The old man turned his head, and a man who looked like a manager ran over: "Sir, we have a ladder. I'll have someone go and get it right away."

Then, a wooden ladder was brought over and placed directly on the side of the plane, and the old man carefully climbed up the ladder.

He stood in front of Shao Sishen, and was only slightly taller than Shao Sishen who was sitting.

How should I sit?

Fang Wen took out the hanging seat and hung it on the crossbar in the back of the driver's seat. "Boss Kuang, sit here."

The old man's beard twitched, but he didn't say anything. He simply sat down and looked at Shao Sichen.

Feeling a little embarrassed by being stared at like that, Shao Sichen turned his head away to look to the side.

The scene seemed a bit awkward.

Fang Wen spoke up to ease the tension: "Once the road is cleared, we can take off. It will take about three and a half hours to reach the French military airport. After a half-hour rest, we will take off again and arrive in Guangzhou in four hours."

“Alright.” The old man’s tone was gentle. “Mr. Fang, I have another deal to make. I wonder if you’d be willing to accept it?”

"You said."

“The Liu family broke the rules and actually went against my family. I will teach them a lesson. I know you are the best pilot in China, especially skilled in bombing. Could you help me drop a bomb and blow up the Liu family? I can give you a large reward.”

Fang Wen remained silent, lost in thought.

He was unwilling to make this deal.

That's using a bomb against ordinary people. No matter if those people are good or bad, if the bomb explodes at the Liu family's house, there will definitely be elderly, weak, women and children among the dead and injured. He can't accept doing such a thing for money.

Seeing that Fang Wen did not answer, the old man spoke again: "How about 1000 taels of gold? If you think it's not enough, we can add more."

Shao Sichen nervously watched Fang Wen's back, fearing he might agree, and quickly spoke up to stop him.

"No, Fang Wen, you can't agree to this. If you do it, it will be a stain on your reputation for life."

"Yes, no amount of money is worth it, Mr. Kuang. I won't take on this grudge. Our deal will end when we get back to Guangzhou."

The old man was not angry at all. Instead, he laughed heartily, saying, "He is truly a hero, broad-minded and unmoved by personal gain. I was right about him."

Whether he was covering up his previous words or was genuinely testing them, Fang Wen and Shao Sichen pretended not to know and gave polite responses.

After a brief and unproductive conversation, the steward reported, "Sir, the ground is now leveled."

The old man nodded and said to Fang Wen in front of him, "Yes, Mr. Fang, we can take off now."

"Don't you have anything else to take back?" Fang Wen asked in surprise.

“Bringing too much stuff will only affect the flight. I’ll be fine going back,” the old man replied arrogantly.

Since that's the case, there's no need to say anything more.

The plane accelerated on the smooth, hard dirt runway and took off.

The return flight encountered no further problems. After transiting through a French military airport, the plane arrived at Guangzhou Dashatou Airport at 5 p.m.

After the plane landed, the Kwong family surrounded the elderly man with delight, showering him with concern and care.

The old man didn't negotiate with Fang Wen any further and left directly.

Only Kuang Mingzhu remained, saying apologetically, "Please stay in Guangzhou for one more night, Mr. Fang. I will settle your payment first thing tomorrow morning."

Fang Wen nodded: "Okay, Shao Sichen should also go home for a visit."

After Kuang Mingzhu left, Fang Wen parked the plane in the hangar and then took Shao Sishen back to their home in Guangzhou.

Shao Sichen's family was very happy that he was able to get a new job in Shanghai.

However, considering Shao Sishen's health condition, he was required to hire a maid to help with his living arrangements there.

In response, Fang Wen explained the benefits offered by Taishan Airlines, which basically include all meals and accommodations and are arranged to a high standard, so the two elderly people don't need to worry.

With Fang Wen's promise, Shao Sichen's parents smiled with relief and said nothing more. Instead, they prepared Shao Sichen's luggage and tidied up the room where Fang Wen was staying.

The next day, Fang Wen, Shao Sichen, and his parents and friends returned to Dashatou Airport.

Kuang Mingzhu, who said yesterday that she would come to settle her payment, was waiting at the airport early in the morning.

She handed Fang Wen a round wooden box. "Your payment is inside."

Fang Wen took the round wooden box, opened it, and inside was the four-faced golden Buddha.

Then, Kuang Mingzhu took out another receipt and explained:
"This is a Citibank draft, issued by the Guangzhou branch. You can take it to Shanghai to exchange it for US dollars."

Fang Wen glanced at the amount written on it; it was $2000. At the current silver dollar exchange rate, settling the reward in US dollars would actually make him a small profit.

He accepted the draft and extended his hand. "Alright, the transaction is now settled. I'm heading back to Shanghai. See you again someday."

This is a normal handshake farewell etiquette.

Kuang Mingzhu, however, was a little hesitant. After extending her hand to shake his, she quickly withdrew it.

After shaking hands, which was supposed to be goodbye, she didn't leave. Instead, she stood silently by the plane, watching Fang Wen cheer it on.

After refueling, Shao Sicheng's family brought his luggage; it was time to return to Shanghai.

As Fang Wen boarded the plane and prepared to take off, Kuang Mingzhu, who had been standing beside the plane, said loudly, "Thank you for what you have done for the Kuang family. I will remember your kindness."

"No need to thank me, this is just a transaction, you don't owe me anything," Fang Wen replied, then started the plane and looked up at the sky.

Once the plane reached an altitude of 3000 meters, Shao Sichen shouted, "I think Kuang Mingzhu likes you."

"No way, I've only known her for two days," Fang Wen shouted back.

"It's true. I've known Kwong Ming-chu since I was a child. Don't let her competence fool you; she doesn't hide her feelings at all."

"Doesn't she have a child? Don't talk nonsense about married women."

"You mean Xiaoyun? That's her adopted child. Let me tell you, Kuang Mingzhu looks mature, but she's actually not that old. How could she possibly have a six-year-old child? Never mind, it takes two to tango, just pretend I didn't say anything."

It's not a good time to talk at high altitudes, so let's end the conversation here.

Fang Wen, however, recalled the day he escorted Kuang Mingzhu back.

That can't be right. They didn't seem to exchange more than a few words. This must be Shao Sichen's wild guess.

After several hours of flight, the plane landed at Shanghai Airport.

Fang Wen got off the plane and then carefully helped Shao Sichen down the boarding stairs.

Upon hearing the news, Fang Shouxin and Shunzi rushed over from outside the airport.

Fang Wen introduced, "This is my comrade-in-arms, Shao Sishen. We bombed the Izumo together. He is now the flight training director of Taishan Aviation. Shunzi, you accompany Mr. Shao home. He is staying with me for the time being."

After Shunzi and Shao Sishen left, Fang Wen said to Fang Shouxin, "Uncle Fang, go to Citibank and exchange this draft for cash."

"Young Master, I'm afraid I might mess this up." Fang Shouxin had been a rice shop manager for a long time and had seen bank drafts before, but this was the first time he had encountered bank drafts from foreign banks.

Fang Wen didn't know how bank drafts were cashed in that era, but Manager Liu of Taishan Airlines certainly did.

He took Fang Shouxin to the Taishan Airlines office outside the airport, and after Liu, the manager, went back to the city to check the accounts at the ticket company, he and Fang Shouxin went to exchange the draft.

Only after doing all that did he focus his attention on his biggest gain this time.

Four-faced golden Buddha.

(End of this chapter)