Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 219 Pilot Arrival

In November, the weather in Wutai truly lived up to the saying, "It's like a child's face, changing in an instant."

Just a few days ago, you could still feel a sliver of the warm autumn sun, which brought a touch of comfort to people.

However, a sudden cold wind arose overnight, and the temperature plummeted. The biting wind howled across the barren mountains and plains, mercilessly sweeping away the last withered leaf, leaving only a desolate scene and a bone-chilling cold.

Despite the terrible weather, construction on Jinshaling Airport shows no signs of stopping.

Thousands of able-bodied laborers recruited from nearby villages and towns, along with soldiers from the engineering battalion, are still working diligently on the dusty construction site, braving the biting cold wind.

Their faces were red from the cold, and their exposed skin was cracked with tiny fissures, their breath quickly dissipating into the frigid air. Yet, their tools never ceased; shouts, hammer blows, and the pounding of earth rose and fell, creating a symphony of construction on this desolate land, a race against time and against the elements.

According to Su Yaoyang's design blueprint, Jinshaling Airport will have five standard-length runways for fighter jets and three runways capable of handling heavy bombers, as well as supporting facilities such as fuel depots, ammunition depots, sturdy hangars, pilot dormitories, canteens, and even a club for pilots' leisure and entertainment.

This is a massive and systematic project aimed at transforming this place into the most advanced and comprehensive air force base in North China.

However, ideals are often far from reality.

To date, only four of the eight planned running tracks have been completed. The remaining supporting buildings are even less complete, with many areas still only having their foundations laid or simple scaffolding erected.

This wasn't because the engineering team was lazy, but because the runway requirements for taking off and landing heavy bombers are extremely high, taking the B-17 or B-24 bombers as examples.

A standard runway for them to take off and land would need to be 2000 meters long and 60 meters wide, and the runway would need to be paved with at least 20 centimeters of high-quality concrete, otherwise the roadside would be at risk of collapsing after a few takeoffs and landings. As for the B-29 bomber, nicknamed the Flying Fortress, it would be even more so.

As for the flatness, drainage, taxiways, aprons, and clearance areas, these are all essential.

This meant that the construction team building it for the first time had to be extremely careful, and no one dared to slack off in the slightest.

The runway requirements for fighter jet take-off and landing are much simpler; heavy fighter jets can be taken off and landed on any slightly flat grass by laying double-layered PSP steel plates.

But all of that seems less important today.

At this moment, beside the completed main runway, which is also the longest and smoothest in the entire airport, a large crowd of people had gathered. They were officers from various levels of the Shanxi militia, all wearing thick cotton military uniforms, yet still shivering in the cold wind, stamping their feet and rubbing their hands from time to time, trying to drive away the chill.

Despite feeling the cold, their faces were filled with an undisguised excitement and anticipation. Their gazes were all fixed on the gray sky at the end of the track, as if they were waiting for the arrival of some important person.

Standing at the very front of the crowd was Su Yaoyang, the commander-in-chief of the Shanxi militia.

He was wearing a thick woolen military overcoat, with the collar turned up to block some of the cold wind.

His cheeks were pale in the cold wind, but his deep eyes shone with a light brighter than ever before. He stood straight, like a javelin in the wind, his gaze fixed firmly on the distance.

Beside him stood several equally eye-catching "foreigners"—a group of American "mercenary" pilots led by Doolittle, including "One-Eyed Jack" McDonald and Tom King.

These usually unruly and fearless American soldiers, at this moment, also put away their usual joking and cursing, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Su Yaoyang with serious expressions, also casting their gazes at the distant sky.

They are waiting.

They eagerly awaited the safe return of the C-47 "Sky Train" transport plane, carrying their fervent hopes, from distant Kunming.

They awaited the safe arrival of the elite pilots from the Central Air Force, whom they had been eagerly anticipating.

Since Su Yaoyang made the decision to send transport planes to Kunming to pick up Cheng Rufeng and others, the entire Shanxi militia, especially the flight squadron and related command, has been under high attention and anticipation.

They were well aware that this operation was extremely risky. The journey from Kunming to Shanxi, spanning thousands of miles, would not only involve traversing the Japanese army's tight air blockade but also dealing with complex and unpredictable weather and terrain.

While the C-47 was reliable, it was not without its flaws. If it were intercepted by Japanese fighter planes, or if it encountered bad weather that caused it to become lost or crash, the consequences would be unimaginable.

That was not just the loss of one aircraft, but the lives of more than ten precious and experienced pilots! They were the last remaining elite force of the Chinese Air Force! They were the key to whether their Shanxi militia flight squadron could truly take off in the future!
Therefore, Su Yaoyang's heart had been hanging in suspense ever since the C-47 transport plane responsible for this pick-up mission took off from Jinshaling Airport a few days ago and disappeared into the vast sky.

He would personally go to the communications room almost every day to inquire about the latest contact status. Every little piece of news could affect him deeply.

Today, according to the scheduled return time, that C-47 should have arrived at Marina Bay Sands Airport.

Time ticked by, and the cold wind continued to howl. A slight commotion began to stir among the crowd beside the track. Some people kept glancing at their watches, while others stood on tiptoe, straining to see into the distance, trying to catch a glimpse of that familiar yet anticipated figure on the gray horizon.

"Commander-in-Chief, do you think... they'll arrive on time?" A young staff officer couldn't help but lean closer to Su Yaoyang and ask in a low voice. There was a hint of tension in his voice.

Su Yaoyang didn't turn around, his gaze still fixed firmly on the distance, and said in a deep voice, "They will. I believe in our pilots, and I believe in our planes. They will definitely overcome all difficulties and bring our heroes back safely!"

His words, though brief, were filled with undeniable confidence, and like a shot in the arm, they calmed the somewhat anxious officers around him.

Doolittle, speaking with his thick California accent, said to the American pilots around him, "Hey guys, cheer up! We'll be seeing our 'colleagues' from the Central Air Force soon!"

I bet there are some really good guys among them! We'll have to have a good spar with them then!

"One-Eyed Jack" touched his signature eyepatch and chuckled: "That's right! I can't wait to see just how amazing those legendary Chinese ace pilots really are! I hope they won't disappoint us!"

Just as everyone was either nervous, expectant, or discussing, suddenly, from the distant horizon, a familiar engine roar could be faintly heard!
The sound was initially faint, like the buzzing of a mosquito. But soon, it became clearer and louder, like rolling thunder, rapidly approaching from afar!
"Listen! There's a sound!" Someone in the crowd shouted first.

Everyone's heart was in their throat! They held their breath in unison, their eyes fixed on the direction from which the sound came!

Finally, amidst the eager gazes of everyone, a blurry little black dot appeared on the distant, hazy horizon!

The black dot, which was initially only the size of a pinhead, was rapidly growing larger and clearer at a speed visible to the naked eye!
Gradually, people were able to recognize its familiar outline—it was a twin-engine transport plane! It was the C-47 "Sky Train" they had been waiting for day and night!
"It's it! It's the C-47! They're back!"

Suddenly, someone in the crowd let out a joyful shout!

Immediately afterwards, a thunderous cheer erupted from the entire side of the track!

"They're back! They're really back!"

"Great! Great!"

People on the ground cheered as they watched the transport plane become clearer and clearer.

Su Yaoyang's previously tense face finally broke into a relieved smile the moment he saw the C-47 appear. His clenched fists quietly relaxed.

Doolittle and other American pilots also whistled loudly, expressing their excitement and joy in a way uniquely American.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the silver-gray C-47 transport plane smoothly descended, aligned itself with the runway, and slowly landed. The massive tires screeched against the hard runway, kicking up a cloud of dust. After taxiing steadily for a distance, the plane finally came to a stop in the middle of the runway. The powerful airflow from the propellers caused the withered grass beside the runway to sway wildly.

The hatch slowly opened.

All eyes were focused on the dark hatch.

Amidst the grating sound of metal scraping against metal, the heavy hatch of the C-47 transport plane was slowly pushed open from the inside, revealing a dark opening.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of everyone, a figure appeared at the cabin door.

He was a tall and upright officer, wearing a slightly worn but still neat yellow-green flight jacket, with a shiny lieutenant colonel rank insignia on his collar.

Despite the fatigue of the long flight, he remained energetic, with a sharp glint in his eyes.

He stood at the cabin door, facing the biting wind, squinting slightly as he surveyed the unfamiliar yet hopeful new airport and the enthusiastic faces beside the runway.

He was none other than Cheng Rufeng, the former squadron leader of the 4th Squadron of the Central Air Force!

Behind Cheng Rufeng, figures dressed in yellow-green flight suits began to file out.

Some of them wore different rank insignia such as major and captain, while others looked younger and had a touch of naivety on their faces. But without exception, their eyes all shone with longing and a hint of barely perceptible trepidation.

Feng Mingqian followed closely behind Cheng Rufeng, a calm smile on his face.

Ye Qiyuan, on the other hand, seemed even more excited and curious. As he walked down the gangway, he looked around with great interest, his eyes filled with anticipation.

As they disembarked from the plane one by one and stepped onto the solid ground of Jinshaling, some people in the crowd beside the runway could no longer contain their excitement and began to quietly count the number of people getting off.

"One, two, three..."

Initially, everything was as expected. Ten, eleven, twelve... the number quickly exceeded the vague figure of "more than ten" that Su Yaoyang had learned through secret channels.

However, the flow of people coming out of the cabin showed no signs of stopping!
Fifteen...twenty...twenty-five...

The person counting began to tremble, and the expression on their face gradually changed from initial excitement to surprise, and even disbelief!
As the thirtieth pilot stepped off the gangway, a collective gasp of astonishment rose from the side of the runway!
"My God! How... how can there be so many people?"

"This...this isn't just a dozen or so! This is practically...an entire flight squadron!"

Finally, when the last pilot emerged from the cockpit and stood at the end of the line, a staggering number was revealed after a careful count—

Thirty-seven people!

A total of thirty-seven pilots!
This number far exceeded Su Yaoyang's initial expectations! It also far exceeded the imagination of everyone present!
This is no longer just "sending charcoal in snowy weather," it's practically a mountain of gold delivered to us!

After a brief moment of shock, a buzz of discussion erupted beside the track, followed by another round of applause!
"welcome!"

"Welcome...welcome...a warm welcome!"

At this moment, Su Yaoyang no longer cared about the dignity of the commander-in-chief. His smile was as bright as a blooming sunflower, and his excitement was overflowing.

He strode forward to meet them, and before everyone could fully recover from the overwhelming surprise of the large number of people, he grabbed the hand of Cheng Rufeng, who was at the head of the group, and shook it vigorously.

"Lieutenant Colonel Cheng! Welcome! Welcome to our office! You've worked hard!"

Su Yaoyang's voice was slightly hoarse with excitement, but his heartfelt joy and gratitude were clearly conveyed to Cheng Rufeng and every pilot behind him.

Cheng Rufeng was clearly moved by the grand and enthusiastic welcome before him. He tightly grasped Su Yaoyang's hand and smiled sincerely: "Commander Su, you are too kind! It is our honor to be able to come to your esteemed unit and fight against the Japanese alongside you all! Although the journey was long, it was all worthwhile to arrive safely and meet Commander Su and all my colleagues!"

His gaze swept over the enthusiastic faces lining the runway, over the simple yet vibrant airport facilities, and a warm feeling welled up inside him. He knew that their choice this time was right! This would be the new starting point for them to spread their wings again and strike the Japanese invaders hard!
"Commander Su, let me introduce you."

Cheng Rufeng turned to the side and began to introduce his companions to Su Yaoyang, "This is Major Feng Mingqian, and this is Captain Ye Qiyuan..."

As Cheng Rufeng introduced them, Su Yaoyang warmly shook hands with each pilot who disembarked from the plane, exchanging greetings. He diligently memorized each person's name and appearance, his heart overflowing with joy, almost overwhelming him like a surging tide.

Thirty-seven pilots!

Among them are not only experienced and distinguished ace pilots and senior officers like Cheng Rufeng, Feng Mingqian, and Ye Qiyuan, but also a large number of young talents who, although young, have all undergone formal flight school training and possess certain flying experience!

The addition of this force was like a shot in the arm for his fledgling Shanxi militia flight squadron!

With these people joining, he could immediately expand two flight squadrons, and even select outstanding instructors from them to train more new pilots!

Su Yaoyang could almost foresee that in the near future, a powerful air force composed of these elite pilots would pose a deadly threat to the Japanese invaders in the skies over North China!

"Lieutenant Colonel Cheng, forgive my bluntness," Su Yaoyang said to Cheng Rufeng with a hint of curiosity and surprise after shaking hands with everyone, "The information we received earlier seemed... seemed to indicate that there weren't this many people?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Rufeng revealed a meaningful smile. He glanced at his companions beside him, who also wore expressions of anticipation and excitement, and then said to Su Yaoyang:
"Commander Su, this is a long story. Initially, only a dozen or so of us were interested. However, after the news of our departure spread within a small circle, many brothers who shared our ideals expressed their willingness to come with us and face the national crisis together!"

Some were motivated by dissatisfaction with the central government's passive avoidance of war, others by a yearning to return to the skies and fight the enemy, and still others by admiration for Commander Su's heroic anti-Japanese deeds in Shanxi... In short, their call was met with overwhelming response, and the ranks unknowingly grew to their current size.

After a pause, Cheng Rufeng's tone became even more earnest: "Commander Su, we are all here voluntarily, driven by a burning desire to serve our country."

We seek neither fame nor fortune, nor official rank; we only desire the opportunity to pilot fighter jets and fight the Japanese invaders to the death! We hope Commander Su will take us in and give us this chance!

As he spoke, Cheng Rufeng actually took a step back and bowed deeply to Su Yaoyang!
The thirty-six pilots behind him also bowed to Su Yaoyang in unison, just like Cheng Rufeng!
"Please take us in, Commander Su!" the thirty-seven men said in unison, their voices strong and resolute, full of determination and sincerity!
This unexpected scene deeply moved Su Yaoyang and all the militia officers present!

Su Yaoyang quickly stepped forward, helped Cheng Rufeng up with both hands, and his eyes were also a little moist: "Lieutenant Colonel Cheng... brothers! Please get up! It is my honor that you can come!"

This is an honor for our Shanxi militia! It is also a blessing for China's War of Resistance! From now on, Jinsha Airport will be your home!

These fighter jets are your warhorses! I, Su Yaoyang, assure you, as long as I have a breath left, I will make sure you have planes to fly and Japanese devils to fight!

"it is good!"

"Commander Su is wise!"

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted again beside the track!

(End of this chapter)