Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 201 Preparation
In October 1938, Hong Kong, a bustling metropolis where Eastern and Western cultures converged, maintained a facade of tranquility and extravagance amidst the tides of time. But in the shadows, various forces intertwined, and intelligence and conspiracies were as pervasive as the fog over Victoria Harbour.

In a medium-sized hotel in Kowloon, all the rooms on one floor were booked by a special group of guests.

This group of people, mostly white and of various skin colors, spoke with heavy American accents. They were the three core recruiters entrusted by John: Hoddle, Flander, and Fuller, along with pilots, ground technicians, and a few experienced tank crewmen whom they had painstakingly recruited from all over the United States.

With over 120 people, their target was undeniably conspicuous, so they tried to keep a low profile. However, the competence and arrogance unique to soldiers or technicians between their brows were difficult to completely conceal.

At this moment, a large suite in the hotel is filled with smoke.

Hoddle, Flanders, Fore, and several other prominent figures among the pilots were sitting around a round table, solemnly discussing their next move.

A simple map of China was spread out on the table, with Hong Kong marked in red, while the distant Wutai County in Shanxi was a tiny dot that looked almost like it could be poked through with their fingers.

"Gentlemen, we are now facing a serious problem."

The burly, resolute-faced Fell, John's former superior during his service in the U.S. Army, frowned and said in a low voice, "We have successfully arrived in Hong Kong, but our test has only just begun. How to safely reach Shanxi from here and join General Su's troops is the biggest problem we face now."

Flanders, a lieutenant in the logistics department of the armored forces during World War I, who looked more like a scholar and technical expert, pushed up his glasses and added: "I've inquired, and currently the land routes from Hong Kong to the North China inland are almost completely cut off or controlled by the Japanese."

Although the sea route could reach some coastal ports, the journey after that was still long and dangerous.

Moreover, a large group of white people like us walking thousands of kilometers by land would be too conspicuous. The Japanese aren't stupid; they won't let us just swagger past like that.

Hoddle's lung condition had worsened, and his coughing filled the room. He scratched his head in frustration: "Shit! Are we going to be stuck here in this mess? I didn't come to Hong Kong for a vacation!"

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive and anxious.

They were not good-tempered people. The reason they gathered here was for money. They hoped to come to China to join General Su's army and earn high commissions, but their current predicament left them feeling helpless.

Just then, a man in the crowd, who was somewhat silent but had exceptionally sharp eyes and exuded a unique aura, spoke up.

He was in his early thirties, of medium build, but stood ramrod straight, with a sharply defined jawline. His name was Jimmy Doolittle.

If Su Yaoyang, a transmigrator, were here, he would probably jump up in shock upon hearing this name.

Jimmy Doolittle was a renowned U.S. Air Force general in real history, famous for his outstanding contributions to aviation technology and for leading the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo during World War II.

He was a true legendary pilot, holding a doctorate in aeronautical engineering, breaking flight speed records multiple times, and a pioneer in the aviation industry.

The fact that this bigwig was among the recruited personnel was undoubtedly a huge "surprise" or "variable".

Doolittle's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable sense of authority: "Gentlemen, perhaps we don't need to go by land or sea."

His words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, a hotel waiter knocked on the door and brought in a telegram that had just been delivered through secret channels.

Fell took the telegram and quickly opened it to read.

His expression changed constantly as he read, from initial confusion to shock, and then to disbelief.

“Oh my God…” Forl put down the telegram, rubbed his temples, and said in an incredulous tone, “This is a telegram from General Su from Shanxi… He… he suggested that we…”

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, then took a deep breath and said, "He suggested that we try to charter or buy two or three large transport planes in Hong Kong, and then... fly directly to Wutai County! They will prepare a makeshift airport for us there!"

"boom!"

This news was like a bombshell, causing an uproar in the room.

"What?! Fly there directly?!"

"Is he crazy? From Hong Kong to Shanxi, how far is that? We don't even know anything about the flight routes there!"

"Wutai County? What kind of place is that? A makeshift airfield? What are they built with? Can they even guarantee safety?" "This is practically suicide! We're pilots, not army suicide squads!"

"Hey, you son of a bitch, what did the Army Commandos do to you?"

Immediately, voices of doubt, exclamations, and even angry shouts rose and fell.

Most people thought Su Yaoyang's plan was utterly outlandish and insane. In their view, it was tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

However, after listening to the telegram relayed by Fore, Doolittle's eyes suddenly lit up, and a keen interest appeared on his face. He stood up, walked to the map, and carefully studied the approximate location and distance from Hong Kong to Wutai County in Shanxi.

"No, gentlemen, I don't think this plan is entirely unfeasible."

Doolittle's voice rang out again, drowning out the murmurs. He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with the calm and confidence characteristic of a flight expert.

"First, regarding the flight path."

Doolittle pointed to the map and said, "The straight-line distance from Hong Kong to Wutai County in Shanxi is about 1,000 to 1,100 miles."

If we could acquire an aircraft like the Douglas DC-3, its standard range would easily cover this distance, and even have some margin. The key lies in accurate navigation and a good grasp of weather conditions.

"Secondly, regarding the simple airstrip."

He continued, "Given a relatively flat and open surface, it is technically not impossible to build an earthen runway that can accommodate the take-off and landing of transport aircraft."

There were countless examples of this during World War I. Since General Su dared to say that, I believe he must have had his reasons and preparations.”

“But… Jimmy, what about the airspace there? Are the Japanese blind?” someone immediately retorted.

Doolittle smiled slightly: "That is indeed the biggest risk. But we can choose to fly at night, or use complex weather conditions as cover."

Moreover, China is so vast that it's impossible for the Japanese air reconnaissance capabilities to cover all areas. As long as our plan is meticulous and we launch a surprise attack, the chances of success are still quite high.

Fell frowned and said, "Even so, we know nothing about the terrain or radio communication conditions there. It's too risky!"

Doolittle looked at For, his eyes sharp: "For, we are all soldiers... or rather, we used to be soldiers. Adventure is part of our profession. If we can't even face this kind of challenge, then why did we come all this way here?"

His words resonated deeply, causing even some of his initially vehement opponents to reflect. Doolittle's reputation and technical expertise in the aviation world were undeniable, and his analysis added a degree of plausibility to this seemingly audacious plan.

At this point, Fell spoke up, holding up another document in his hand, a bank draft receipt sent along with the telegram: "Gentlemen, there's one more thing. General Su... has already wired us a $100,000 advance payment through a Swiss bank to support our purchase or lease of aircraft and to pay our upfront costs. This is real money, not a blank check."

"One hundred thousand dollars!"

This number sent a chill down everyone's spine.

In 1938, $100,000 was an enormous sum, enough to buy a brand-new DC-3 transport plane. This fully demonstrated Su Yaoyang's sincerity and determination.

The lure of money, coupled with Doolittle's highly persuasive technical analysis and his desire for unknown adventures, began to sway those who had initially opposed him.

Doolittle pressed his advantage: "Gentlemen, since General Su dared to propose such a plan and pay such a high price, I believe he is not joking."

This may be our only chance to reach Shanxi safely and quickly. Moreover, if this plan succeeds, it will be a feat worthy of being recorded in aviation history!
Imagine piloting a transport plane, traversing thousands of kilometers of enemy-occupied territory, and successfully landing in a base area behind enemy lines! What an honor and what an exhilarating experience that would be!

His words were highly persuasive, igniting a fire in the hearts of many present. Those pilots who were already eager for adventure and to make a name for themselves began to gleam with excitement in their eyes.

After a heated debate and Doolittle's persistent persuasion, coupled with the "catalyst" of $100,000, the group of unruly pilots and technicians were finally convinced by Doolittle.

In the end, they decided to accept Su Yaoyang's "crazy" plan and attempt an unprecedented large-scale aerial smuggling operation!
Next, with Doolittle, Hoddle, Flanders, and Fell at the core, this group of "cross-border dragons" began to actively operate in Hong Kong. Using their white identities, they frequently contacted the British government and various relationships and channels to secretly seek and negotiate the purchase or lease of large transport aircraft. At the same time, they began to study flight routes and collect meteorological data, preparing for this thrilling air journey.

(End of this chapter)