Tang Dao is now sitting in the small hot pot restaurant where he met Wang Zhu a few days ago. The Jialing River is at his feet. The sun has set and the river breeze is caressing, but it is still hot. Even though Tang Dao is not wearing a military uniform, he is already wearing a short coat like the local residents.
, and still sweating profusely.
No matter how prosperous the hotel is, there is no air conditioning in this era, but the rich will never have the fear of the weather that the poor have.
The hotel provides ice cubes for cooling, which is enough to lower the temperature of the room to below 30 degrees, which is quite cool for a mountain city where the daytime temperature is close to 40 degrees.
It's just that Tang Dao doesn't want to stay in a splendid room like this group of well-dressed rich people, but prefers to sit in a crowded riverside shop and enjoy the river breeze. This makes the plainclothes detective team very upset.
trouble.
After Tang Dao went to the Ministry of Military Affairs to report on his duties a week ago, it didn't take half a day for the highest level of the military command to issue an order. Tang Dao's protection level was upgraded, but the surveillance was significantly downgraded. He only needed to report those people Tang Dao had met. As for the content,
, it is not necessary for the detective team to know.
So these days Tang Dao could clearly feel that although there were still plainclothes people around when he went out, there was no such thing as a plainclothes guy within ten meters of him wherever he went.
It seems that the suggestion he made to Minister He last time has been approved by that minister. In return, his actions in the mountain city are obviously much freer.
However, this obviously did not alleviate Tang Dao's inner anxiety.
After sitting there for less than half an hour, Tang Dao, who usually didn't smoke much, had already smoked five or six cigarettes in a row, and talked to Wang Zhu at random.
"Commander Tang, do you think Minister He and the others will agree to your suggestion? It's been a week, why haven't you received a letter yet?"
Wang Zhu, who had been drinking sour plum soup for a long time, was also very anxious. Tang Dao's suggestion of introducing foreign investment and American technology and equipment made him so happy that he couldn't sleep well for several nights. However, despite being happy, he never received any information from the top. This kind of excitement
Turns into extreme anxiety.
It's not that he and his research and technical staff will have sufficient financial security after introducing foreign investment, but that he may finally be able to realize the ambition of the passionate and idealistic young man who resolutely gave up his high salary and returned to China 23 years ago.
Wang Zhu’s biggest dream is for China to have the ability to manufacture advanced aircraft, rather than just staying at the purchase and assembly stage.
It's a pity that the young man who returned has turned into a middle-aged man with gray hair on his temples. After 23 long years, China's aviation manufacturing industry has still not changed much.
Seeing that their former ideals are so close yet seem so far away, even middle-aged people who are approaching the age of knowing their destiny can't help but feel anxious.
At this moment, when I saw Tang Dao smoking a cigarette without saying a word and looking at the roaring river with tragic eyes, how could I still hold back?
"Oh! I'm sorry, Director Wang. I just remembered some old things and I'm a little rude. You don't have to worry about the joint venture aircraft manufacturing plant. When I went to see General Stilwell who was about to leave China two days ago, he had already told me
I promised that as long as our Chinese government agrees to the joint venture plan, he will definitely convince the top brass of the U.S. military.
He believes that once the United States is involved in a war, the Far East battlefield will be inevitable, and China will become their most solid and reliable ally. He even believes that not only aircraft manufacturing plants must be invested, but also airports that can accommodate large bombers taking off and landing.
General Stilwell is an old man with enough wisdom. He has been in China for so many years, and he knows well that people who do not have long-term concerns must have short-term concerns.
I believe that as long as those big shots are not out of their minds, they will not refuse the good intentions of the United States." Tang Dao gave this man a reassurance apologetically.
"Then I'll be relieved!" Wang Zhu's worried heart finally relaxed.
Wang Zhu and Tang Dao had only met a few times, but this experienced aviation master was also surprised that he had an extraordinary trust in the young man in front of him, no matter what Tang Dao said, even if
He actually had contact with American generals like Stilwell, who only the top brass of the Chinese government had access to, and even discussed such unbelievable topics as the war situation around the world with others, and he actually believed it.
Perhaps, this is the legendary fate between people! The aviation master can only use this reason to explain that strange and extremely trusting feeling.
The sense of trust is actually mutual. Wang Zhu may not realize it, but when Tang Dao knew his true identity, he believed in him without reservation.
Not only did he put forward reasonable suggestions to save the marginalized aviation research institute, but he also invested 30 million US dollars on behalf of an overseas company in an aviation manufacturing company that had not yet been established. That was not just empty talk. The money had been transferred to Rockefeller through Citibank.
company.
At that time, the Chinese government will hold 30% of the shares, the overseas Chinese company will hold 30%, and the Rockefeller Company will hold 40%.
Although Rockefeller is the largest shareholder, as long as the overseas Chinese company favors one side, that side will have the right to speak. This is the best structure Tang Dao has made for the shareholding structure, which is enough to ensure that the other two parties will not do anything that goes against China.
Matters of national interest.
It was this kind of trust that went beyond ordinary friendship that won the heart of this aviation expert who had never truly realized his ideal in his life.
"Commander Tang, why do I see you looking so worried?" Wang Zhu asked worriedly.
Tang Dao showed a hint of bitterness on his face.
In the 22 days since Tang Dao arrived at the mountain city, Japanese aircraft had already carried out two small-scale bombings. Perhaps because of the mist over the mountain city in early summer, the Japanese did not launch too large-scale bombings.
But the little butterfly from the future knew very clearly that the mountain city was about to face a catastrophe in more than a month.
On August 19, the Japanese Navy deployed more than 140 bombers. More than 2,000 homes in the mountain city were destroyed, and thousands of people died in the bombing.
And this is just a loss of people's livelihood. A bigger blow to the Chinese Air Force, which has just recovered some of its vitality, will be in early autumn two months later.
In the famous Bishan air battle, 13 Chinese fighter planes were shot down and 11 fighter planes made an emergency landing. A total of 24 fighter planes were damaged, and one Japanese plane was damaged!
This was not the biggest loss suffered by the Chinese Air Force since the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War, but it was a battle that humiliated the Chinese Air Force.
The biggest reason for its defeat was not that the Chinese Air Force was not brave enough.
"Director Wang, I have a question for you. What do you think of the performance of the fighters currently equipped by the Chinese Air Force?" Tang Dao asked.
"What are the capabilities of the fighters currently equipped by our air force?" Wang Zhu frowned slightly and answered after a while.
"The Chinese Air Force is currently mainly equipped with the Yi-15, Yi-16 and Hawker III fighters aided by the Bear Country. These three fighters were considered advanced fighters a few years ago.
In particular, the I-16 fighter is the world's first low-wing, monocoque fighter aircraft, and the first to use retractable landing gear and variable-pitch propellers, which combines the characteristics of both old and new aircraft.
It can be equipped with four 62mm machine guns or two 20mm machine guns and can even be equipped with rockets to make it powerful. It is also equipped with a 9-cylinder air-cooled engine with 700 horsepower and a top speed of 400 kilometers per hour.
, this made this fighter plane achieve excellent results in the Matador Empire Civil War and the Battle of Nomenkan 4 years ago!
The characteristics of its single wing make it smaller in flight resistance when traveling at high speed. For example, during the Civil War of the Matador Empire, when the I-16 was bitten by the He 51 biplane fighter, the pilot of the I-16 only had to open the throttle and dive downwards.
It can leave the He 51's machine gun attack range in time and leave the He 51 pilot helpless.
At least for now, the I-16 can be regarded as an advanced aircraft on this battlefield, comparable to the 96 Land Combat currently equipped by the Japanese army, while the I-15 and Hawker III are somewhat different due to the characteristics of their wings."
Wang Zhu is worthy of being an expert in aviation engineering. In just a few words, he clearly explained the characteristics of China's current fighter jets.
But Tang Dao could still hear this man's concerns about the performance of the currently equipped fighters.
Just because they were advanced a few years ago does not mean they are still advanced now. The Japanese are constantly making progress.
"If the Japanese develop a newer monoplane, using super aluminum alloy that is harder than steel as the body, it can greatly reduce the weight of the aircraft while ensuring the strength of the fighter aircraft, and use a 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
It explodes with a traction force of up to 950 horsepower, allowing its top speed to reach 500 kilometers per hour, and it uses a closed cockpit to give the pilot a better field of vision. Due to the relationship between the body structure, it has a smaller turning radius and good
At a rate of climb, do you think the aircraft models currently equipped by our country’s air force are capable of matching them?" Tang Dao said quietly.
"This is a completely different generation. There is no way to fight!" Wang Zhu's eyes suddenly widened and he made a quick judgment. "But do the Japanese have it?"
"They really have it. If I'm not wrong, they have already arrived at Jianghan Airport, and this new type of fighter plane will appear on the next battlefield." Tang Dao sighed.
"This" Wang Zhu was speechless, wanting to refute Tang Dao.
Based on his understanding of the aviation industry, the Western aviation industry is now the best in the world. Even the German Empire, which has already entered the war, has not invested in such high-performance fighters in the Western world. Japan is still imitating the Western world.
How could it be the first to put such an epoch-making fighter aircraft into the battlefield?
But with Wang Zhu's understanding of Tang Dao, he knew that this general was not an alarmist, but if this were true, what would be the consequences? Cold sweat dripped down his forehead for a while.
"What should we do? Even if we report this news to the Air Force, we still don't have any higher-performance fighters!" Wang Zhu stood up anxiously and paced back and forth on the small terrace.
"There is no need to rush the replacement of fighter jets. The important thing is to know that the little devils have secretly brought new fighter jets. We should be prepared in advance and not be caught off guard. No matter how good the fighter jets are, they have shortcomings. Let's use our advantages to attack
The opponent has shortcomings, so we might as well fight." Tang Dao looked at Jiang Mian with bright eyes.
In the time and space of the past, 24 fighter planes were either shot down or forced to land and damaged in the Battle of Bishan. Only one Japanese plane was damaged. The air combat record promoted by the Japanese invaders as '27 to 0' seriously damaged the morale of the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians.
In the following months of air combat, the Chinese were shot down a total of 99 fighter jets, all due to unfamiliarity with the performance characteristics of the Zero fighter.
Not to mention that the Chinese intelligence agencies are not familiar with it, even the United States and the Mao Xiong Country are also looking at it with a black eye.
At that time, Western countries generally did not believe that the performance of a fighter jet made by an Eastern country could reach a very high level. Flying Tiger General Chennault, a retired officer of the U.S. Army Air Force, noticed the new Japanese fighter jets on the battlefield in China and immediately reported it to the United States.
, but this report did not attract the attention of the authorities.
And when the United States was severely stabbed by Japan and Pearl Harbor was bombed to a pulp, it finally began to pay attention to this new type of fighter aircraft equipped by the Japanese Navy. However, because the Zero fighter aircraft was first put into the main battlefield in Asia about a year ago, it could not
A Zero was obtained from the battlefield as a wreckage, so its characteristics cannot be understood.
In battles such as the Battle of the Philippines, the Zero fighter, which is quite mysterious to the West, was superior in maneuverability and endurance to the F2A fighter, F4F fighter, CW-21B, Hawker 75A, P-40 fighter, etc. at that time.
Coupled with the insufficient preparation of the allies, the lack of correct analysis of the characteristics of the Zero, and the adoption of wrong air combat tactics based on the World War I system, the fighter force in the Pacific region lost about two-thirds in the months after the war began.
Arrogance has to pay a price after all. Americans never accept the lessons given by history, so they will also be beaten in ten years.
"Yes! Yes! Captain Tang, you must know the weaknesses of Japanese aircraft. You said, I remember, I will rush back to Rongcheng tomorrow. Our Aviation Research Institute has a maintenance station at Shuangguisi Airport, and Zhengda
The captain is also familiar." Wang Zhu nodded repeatedly.
"Huh? Director Wang still has this kind of relationship with the Air Force?" Tang Dao was stunned.
"Isn't this forced by life?" Wang Zhu looked bitter.
It turns out that because the Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has allocated too little funding, not to mention the research and development of aircraft, even the engineers, technicians and workers in the institute are deprived of food. As the saying goes, poverty leads to change, and Director Wang Da can only give up.
Figure, running around doing work.
What aviation can do is just airplanes! If you can’t build airplanes, you can’t maintain them! Several airports in Sichuan Province have to become customers of his aviation institute. With such skills, the flying brigade, which is not short of funds, will naturally also
We are happy to subcontract some of the tasks of maintaining and repairing fighter aircraft to them.
Without this source of funds, I am afraid that the down-and-out aviation research institute of Director Wang Da would have been laid off by the officials long ago, and it would not be his turn to travel to the military and political bureaus in mountainous cities to beg his grandfather and grandma for funds.
"Then Director Wang, do you know Shen Chonghai?" Tang Dao didn't know many people in the Air Force, and he still had a good impression of Shen Chonghai and several other young pilots. However, the Air Force switched to combat at any time, so he had lost contact with him for more than a year.
If I hadn't thought of the Bishan air battle just now, the name Shen Chonghai would not have appeared deep in my memory.
"Captain Shen! Of course I know him. That young man is very powerful and fights bravely. Not only has he completed bombing missions on Japanese bases several times, but now he still has 4 stars on the tail of his plane." Wang Assistant nodded.
.
"Okay, then please ask Director Wang to send a message to him for me. I will find time to meet with him in the near future." Tang Dao nodded.
"This new type of fighter aircraft, named Zero by the Japanese army, has weak armor. If armor-piercing incendiary bombs are used, the strike effect will be better. The Zero fighter's diving ability is not strong. The Zero fighter should be used to escort the bombers and avoid them.
The tactics of being intercepted by it, or taking advantage of this weakness to escape from the battlefield by diving at high speed to avoid being shot down." Wang Zhu carefully recorded Tang Dao's analysis of the shortcomings of the Zero fighter and its tactical application.
However, Tang Dao once again turned his attention to the gradually darkening mountain city. The 19th was approaching, and the Bishan air battle was imminent. This alone was not enough. He had to do something for his hometown and this heroic Chinese Air Force.
Even if the shortcomings of the Zero fighter are known, the Yin-16 is still unable to compete. Those young air force pilots can sacrifice, but they cannot just sacrifice in vain.
Major Chen Qiguang, who had shot down Sunset's "King of Destroyers" in 1937, fought against the Kato Ace Fighter Squadron of the Japanese Army Air Force with only 5 aircraft in the battlefield of Shanxi Province in 1937. He did not show weakness. In the Bishan air battle, he couldn't help crying after landing.
Liu Manmian said: "The plane is so different that there is no chance to fight back!"
At that time, Major Zheng Shaoyu, captain of the Fourth Battalion, who was the supreme commander of the Air Force above the mountain city, not only had to face the pain of the sacrifice of his comrades, but also faced the censure from the man who felt ashamed. He told the truth with passion: "I
I am your student in the third phase of the aviation school. Today, in order to save the country and save my compatriots, I will die without hesitation, and I will move forward bravely and willingly.
But we have to make the Japanese pay a certain price. Our aircraft were originally inferior to theirs in terms of quantity and quality, but now they are using their new aircraft this year to beat our old products from ten years ago.
We don't even have a chance to fight back, so what's the point of such a sacrifice? After I report to you, in order to obey the order, I will definitely die in front of you!"
Death is not terrible! For this group of heroic Chinese air force, what they fear most is the deep powerlessness!
Even if he was willing to sacrifice, he was unable to aim at the Japanese invaders and shoot the bullets in the barrel.
The Japanese have severely tricked the Chinese Air Force, but in this time and space, Tang Dao cannot sit back and watch this happen. He not only wants the Chinese Air Force to know the opponent's situation in advance, but also has the power to fight.
