Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 220 New Fighter Jets
As night falls, the dark blue velvet is studded with cold stars, and the biting November wind howls through the valley like a tireless beast, stinging one's cheeks.

However, on the relatively flat and open open space of Jinshaling Airport, a different scene unfolded at this moment—it was enveloped in a warm and intense orange-red light.

More than a dozen huge bonfires, like fiery flowers blooming in the snowy night, burned fiercely, illuminating the faces of hundreds of people around them in a bright red light.

The flames crackled, and sparks occasionally shot out, tracing brief but brilliant paths across the dark night sky before quickly disappearing.

The rich aroma of burning pine, mingled with the smoky scent of roasted meat, filled the cold air, dispelling the chill and igniting the passion in people's hearts.

To welcome this group of air force elites who have come from afar, Su Yaoyang specially ordered that a grand bonfire party be held at Jinshaling Airport tonight!

Despite the scarcity of resources and the rudimentary conditions of those days, Su Yaoyang still tried his best to make the welcome party as perfect as possible.

He sent people to buy more than ten fat goats and two robust yellow cattle, as well as several fat pigs that were about to be slaughtered, from the villagers nearby at a high price.

These "hard dishes," rarely seen on ordinary days, were now cleaned, skewered on thick wooden sticks, and placed next to the campfire, where they were roasted in shifts by dedicated cooks.

The golden oil sizzled under the heat of the flames, dripping onto the burning charcoal and igniting even more intense flames and an even more enticing aroma.

The cooks would sprinkle coarse salt, chili powder, and some unknown spices on the roasted meat from time to time. The strong aroma, a mixture of meat, char, and spices, wafted into people's noses, making their mouths water.

In addition to main dishes such as whole roasted lamb, whole roasted beef, and roasted suckling pig, there are also large pots of stewed meat, fragrant mixed vegetables, and plenty of white steamed buns, Spam luncheon meat, biscuits, chocolate, cola, and sorghum rice.

As for alcoholic beverages, there is a wide variety. Su Yaoyang, who possesses a substance converter, is never stingy in this regard. There are imported products such as whiskey, brandy, rum, beer, and champagne, as well as homemade earthenware pot liquor, Xifeng liquor, Fenjiu, and sauce-flavored liquor.

Hundreds of people—including the thirty-seven newly joined pilots, the U.S. flight instructors led by Doolittle, the original members of the militia flight squadron, representatives of the engineer battalion, representatives of the civilian laborers who built the airport, and officers under Su Yaoyang—were all sitting around the campfire, on the ground, in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Su Yaoyang stood up, holding a large bowl filled with beer. His booming voice rang out around the campfire: "Brothers! Friends! Today is a joyous day for our Shanxi militia! We welcome Lieutenant Colonel Cheng Rufeng and his thirty-six brothers!"

They are the elite of our Chinese Air Force! They are our warriors in the fight against Japan! Their arrival has given our Shanxi militia wings! It has strengthened our resolve to defeat the Japanese invaders!

"To welcome our heroes, and to celebrate our impending victory! I propose a toast! Cheers!"

"Dry!"

"Dry!"

Hundreds of people shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the fields! They raised their bowls, cups, and even enamel mugs used for drinking water, and drank the contents of each bowl, cup, and mug in one gulp!

The spicy liquor burned like fire from the throat all the way to the stomach, instantly igniting everyone's passion!
Cheng Rufeng, holding a wine bowl, stood up on behalf of the newly joined pilots. His face glowed red from the campfire, and his eyes were bright and resolute: "Commander Su, brothers of the militia, and allies from the United States."

On behalf of all the newly joined pilots, I, Cheng Rufeng, thank you all for your warm hospitality! Although we come from all corners of the country, from this day forward, we all share a common name—Shanxi Militia Pilots! We have only one common goal—to drive the Japanese invaders out of China!

"We brought with us our meager strength, but even more so, we brought with us a determination to fight to the death for our country! Commander Su, please rest assured, brothers! We will never let you down! As long as the skies of our motherland still need us, we will pilot our warplanes and fight the enemy to the bitter end! We will not return until we have conquered Loulan!"

"it is good!"

"well said!"

Another thunderous applause and cheers erupted!
The young pilots were even more unrestrained. Some danced impromptu around the campfire, while others sang loudly, singing stirring air force battle songs that carried far and wide in the quiet snowy night.

"Zhihang Team, Flying General, eyes blazing with fury, blood boiling, arms raised and wings flapping, wings flapping, heroes rise like shooting stars, shaking the heavens and earth, startling gods and demons, how mighty I am, one against ten, how timid I am, six to zero..."

The next morning, before dawn, a faint ray of sunlight pierced through the window, barely dispelling the darkness in the room. Su Yaoyang awoke slowly amidst an indescribable warmth and tenderness, an atmosphere of intense intimacy.

He felt as if he were floating on the softest clouds, or soaking in the warmest spring water. The slight headache from the hangover had long since been dispelled by the comforting gentleness beside him.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Song Mei's sleeping face, which still looked radiant and beautiful in the morning light. She was curled up on his left side like a docile kitten, the collar of her silk nightgown slightly open, revealing a dazzling expanse of snow-white skin.

Even through the thin silk, he could clearly feel its amazing elasticity and softness, as well as the alluring curves that rose and fell slightly with her steady breathing.

To his right, however, lay another breathtaking scene. The young and charming Xiao Lu clung to him like an octopus.

"Mingxi, you're awake?"

As soon as Su Yaoyang moved, the two women woke up as well. Song Mei yawned lazily and asked in a languid manner.

Xiao Lu also woke up slowly, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she complained, "Young Master, you slept so soundly last night. It took Mei Jie and me a lot of effort to get you into your room."

"Really? This was my fault. I'll never drink excessively again." Su Yaoyang quickly apologized to his two wives.

"Hmph... Sister Mei said that if you drink too much again later, we'll make you sleep in the study." Xiao Lu sat up, finding him clothes while angrily uttering these harsh words.

"Okay, okay... I'll be more careful next time." Su Yaoyang quickly raised his hand to promise.

With the help of Song Mei and Xiao Lu, Su Yaoyang quickly finished washing up and changed into a crisp military uniform. His eyes in the mirror were still sharp and bright.

After a quick breakfast, Su Yaoyang, escorted by his security captain Xu Dapeng and dozens of armed guards, left his residence by car and headed straight for Jinshaling Airport.

As dawn broke and the thin mist that shrouded the mountains dissipated, thirty-seven pilots, including Cheng Rufeng, Feng Mingqian, and Ye Qiyuan, gathered early on the somewhat empty tarmac at Jinshaling Airport.

They were all in high spirits, with impeccable military bearing, showing no signs of fatigue from last night's drinking.

At this moment, they had only one thought in their minds, which made them restless like cat claws scratching at their hearts—that was to see with their own eyes what kind of "warhorses" Commander Su Yaoyang would equip them, these "new recruits"!
For a pilot, a fighter jet is his second life, his only reliance in the life-and-death struggle against the enemy at 10,000 meters altitude.

A high-performance fighter jet not only gives them an advantage in air combat but also greatly increases their chances of survival. Therefore, before the official "distribution" of their mounts, these proud young men of the skies were naturally filled with all sorts of speculation and anticipation.

They gathered in twos and threes, stamping their feet to ward off the morning chill, and discussing animatedly in hushed tones.

"Hey, what kind of planes do you think Commander Su will assign us?"

A young-looking second lieutenant pilot, with a somewhat boyish face, rubbed his hands together, unable to contain his curiosity, and asked. His eyes sparkled with curiosity about the advanced fighter jet.

"Needless to say? It's definitely top-notch stuff!" A slightly more experienced captain chimed in immediately, his tone brimming with certainty. "Didn't you see those American planes? They're so impressive! I heard they're called... P-47 'Thunderbolt' fighters! Powerful firepower, fast speed, and good protection! If we could get those things too, shooting down those Japanese planes would be a piece of cake!"

His words immediately drew a chorus of agreement from those around him.

For these pilots who had long served in the outdated Chinese Air Force, the P-47 "Thunder" fighter jet was nothing short of a legendary "divine weapon."

Many of them only had a vague understanding of this advanced fighter jet from magazines or from American pilots boasting about it.

"P-47? Dream on!"

Another pilot, a major who appeared more composed and held a slightly higher rank, shook his head upon hearing this, pouring cold water on everyone's hopes. "Those top-of-the-line aircraft are definitely not numerous. They're mostly prioritized for the American instructors so they can familiarize themselves with their performance and, incidentally, mentor us. We'll be lucky to get a few; don't expect everyone to have one."

“That’s right,” Feng Mingqian nodded, agreeing with the major’s view. As a former bomber squadron leader, he had a clearer understanding of the limitations of logistics and equipment.

"I estimate that it would be quite good if Commander-in-Chief Su could equip us with P-26 'toy guns'."

That thing was a bit old, but it was still a proper fighter jet, much better than the Hawks and I-15s we used to fly.

The P-26 "Toy Gun" was a monoplane fighter aircraft in service with the U.S. Army Air Corps before World War II. Its performance was acceptable at the time, but by 1938, it was already showing signs of being somewhat inadequate in the face of the Japanese Army's new Type 96 carrier-based fighter and the soon-to-be-released Zero fighter.

However, for these Chinese pilots who lacked guns, cannons, clothing, and food, having a plane to fly was already a luxury.

"P-26? Major Feng, you're seriously underestimating Commander Su's ambition!"

Ye Qiyuan retorted dismissively, "What's the difference between that P-26 and a fire poker? If it really went up in the air and ran into the Japanese Type 96 carrier-based fighter, wouldn't it just be sending them to their deaths?"
In my opinion, since Commander Su went to so much trouble to bring us here, he certainly wouldn't try to fool us with some junk! At the very least, it should be the F4F 'Wildcats'!

The F4F Wildcat was a carrier-based fighter widely used by the U.S. Navy in the early stages of World War II. Although it may have been slightly inferior to the Japanese Zero in performance, its robust airframe and impressive firepower earned it the nickname "air tank" in the Pacific theater.

For Chinese pilots, being able to fly the F4F is already considered a very good privilege.

Ye Qiyuan's words immediately sparked a new round of discussion.

"F4F 'Wildcat'? That's not bad! Durable and reliable, and its firepower is decent too!"

"Well, if we could fly a 'Wildcat' and have a fight with the Japanese, it wouldn't be a bad deal!" "However, there probably aren't many 'Wildcats', right? After all, they're naval aircraft, and it wasn't easy for Commander-in-Chief Su to get his hands on them."

Immediately, the tarmac was abuzz with discussion, a mix of speculation and anticipation. Some were optimistic, believing that Su Yaoyang, with his vast wealth, would surely provide them with the best equipment.

Some are more realistic, feeling that it's good enough to have a plane to fly and not daring to ask for too much; others repeatedly compare various known models of American-made fighter jets, trying to deduce the most likely "answer".

When Su Yaoyang's convoy arrived at Jinshaling Airport, the sun was already high in the sky.

Upon seeing Su Yaoyang's arrival, Cheng Rufeng immediately stepped forward and gave a crisp military salute: "Reporting, Commander Su! The entire flight squadron of thirty-seven men is present! Please give instructions!"

He cleared his throat, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. He slowly walked to the front of the group, his gaze sweeping over every young or mature face. He deliberately drew out his words, "Gentlemen, did you rest well last night? You all look so energetic, you must be satisfied with the food and lodging provided by our militia, right?"

These words immediately eased the tense and solemn atmosphere considerably. The pilots exchanged glances, their faces showing somewhat embarrassed smiles. They could naturally understand the teasing tone in Su Yaoyang's words.

Cheng Rufeng, as the team leader, stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Reporting to Commander Su, thanks to you, the brothers all slept very well last night! We are extremely grateful for your and the militia's hospitality!"

"Okay, that's good." Su Yaoyang nodded, his smile unchanged, and continued, "I heard that some of our brothers were so excited last night that they couldn't sleep a wink. They came to this helipad early this morning, staring eagerly, I wonder what precious thing they're waiting for?"

"Hahaha..." A burst of good-natured laughter erupted from the crowd. Hearing Su Yaoyang's words, the pilots who had been enthusiastically discussing the aircraft model blushed and lowered their heads in embarrassment.

Seeing their embarrassed appearance, Su Yaoyang couldn't help but chuckle. Just as he was about to tease them a bit more, he heard a slightly timid but clear voice come from the crowd:
"Commander Su...we...we just want to see as soon as possible...to see what kind of aircraft we can get...If...if it's not too advanced...even if...even if it's a Hawk III...or a P-26...we can still fly it! We're not afraid!"

The speaker was a second lieutenant pilot who appeared to be the youngest and lowest-ranking officer. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, clearly indicating that he had mustered immense courage.

His words, though simple and even tinged with a humble plea, struck Su Yaoyang's heart like a heavy hammer.

Hawk III...P-26...

These old fighter jets, which Su Yaoyang considered almost nothing more than "scrap metal," were actually acceptable "rides" in the eyes of these patriotic pilots! Their requirements for equipment were so low!

Su Yaoyang's smile froze instantly. An indescribable bitterness and guilt surged into his heart like a tide.

He recalled the various injustices these pilots had suffered, the tragic scenes of them fighting bloody battles against the well-equipped Japanese invaders in their outdated aircraft, and their patriotic fervor that never faded even in the face of dire circumstances…

His initial intention to joke vanished at that moment.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and his gaze became extremely solemn and gentle.

He looked at the second lieutenant pilot who had spoken and said in a deep voice, "Good lad, you have ambition! However, since I, Su Yaoyang, have invited you here, I won't let you go out and fight the Japanese devils in those 'firewood sticks' again!"

After saying that, he waved his hand sharply and commanded in a loud voice, "Get in the car! I'll take you to see the real 'treasure'!"

At his command, a row of military jeeps that had been waiting nearby quickly drove up and stopped in front of the pilots.

Although the pilots were somewhat confused, hearing Su Yaoyang's confident words and the undeniable promise in his tone ignited an even stronger sense of anticipation in them! They quickly and orderly boarded the jeeps.

Led by Su Yaoyang, the convoy did not stop at the main tarmac, but instead drove straight towards the rear of the airport. There, the terrain was more concealed, and the security was significantly tighter than in other areas, with a heavily armed sentry vigilantly watching the surroundings every few steps.

Finally, the convoy stopped in front of a secluded helipad surrounded by high earthen walls and barbed wire. It resembled a heavily guarded fortress.

The pilots got out of their vehicles, looking at this mysterious place with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness.

They noticed that dozens of aircraft, completely covered by thick tarpaulins, were neatly parked on the tarpaulin. Judging from the bulging outlines beneath the tarpaulins, these aircraft seemed to be larger and more imposing than any fighter jet they had ever seen before!
Su Yaoyang walked to the front of the group, a mysterious smile on his face, and said to the crowd, "Brothers, I know what you're all thinking. Now, I'll show you what the 'new warhorse' I've prepared for you really looks like!"

With that, he suddenly waved his hand and gave the order: "Unroll the canvas!"

The soldiers who had been waiting nearby immediately responded! They quickly stepped forward, grabbed the edges of the canvas covering the plane, and pulled it open to both sides!

"Splash—Sizzle—"

The heavy canvas scraped against the ground, mingling with the sound of the securing ropes being untied. Sunlight, like a golden dragon breaking free from its millennia-old shackles, roared and writhed, instantly illuminating the previously shrouded area!

Row upon row! Neatly arranged, at a glance, there were at least two squadrons, perhaps even close to three, of brand-new fighter jets, standing silently in the morning light like a line of steel behemoths, exuding a suffocating pressure and a cold metallic luster!
At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

On the tarmac, you could hear a pin drop.

All the pilots, whether seasoned veterans or fledglings, froze on the spot as if struck by lightning! Their pupils dilated to their maximum size in an instant, their mouths opened involuntarily, their jaws almost dislocated, yet they could not utter a sound.

What did they see?
That iconic inverted gull-wing design, resembling the wings of a seagull about to take flight! That incredibly robust fuselage, brimming with explosive power!
Below the nose is the enormous Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Twin Wasps" eighteen-cylinder radial piston engine, seemingly containing the power of thunder! And those four wide and heavy propeller blades, enough to tear the sky apart!
On either side of the wings, the muzzles of the six dark, deathly 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns gleamed with a deadly cold light, like the fangs of a ravenous beast from hell!
The deep blue paint gleamed in the sunlight, and the striking blue sky and white sun emblem on the wings and tail, as well as the clear "NAVY" lettering on the fuselage, all proclaimed their illustrious and powerful identity!

The model of this fighter jet is none other than the famous F4U Corsair fighter jet from another timeline.

Everyone was stunned by these fighter jets that appeared ahead of schedule.

Although it was the first time Cheng Rufeng and his team had seen this fighter jet, their pilot's intuition immediately made them realize its extraordinary nature.

Su Yaoyang's voice rang out at the same time, "Brothers, this is a brand new model of fighter jet, the F4U Corsair fighter jet."

In other words, all these new fighter jets are for you. Do you like them?

"Uh……"

Someone let out a difficult groan, like that of a drowning person.

Immediately afterwards, the frozen lake surface suddenly burst open, like a volcano that had been suppressed to the extreme erupting violently!
"My God..." A young pilot suddenly clutched his head, letting out a heart-wrenching scream that was a mixture of ecstasy and disbelief. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face like a burst dam!

"This is a new type of fighter jet...it really is a new type of fighter jet...ahhhhh..."

Even Ye Qiyuan, a man who fears nothing, completely lost his composure at this moment! Like a child, he roared incoherently as he recklessly charged toward the nearest "pirate" aircraft.

His hands trembled as he repeatedly stroked the cold, hard metal skin, as if caressing a rare treasure, feeling the unparalleled sense of power and security.

His eyes were frighteningly red, and large tears rolled down uncontrollably, hitting the wing and instantly staining the cold metal.

"Impossible...this is impossible..."

Major Feng Mingqian, who was usually calm and composed, was now as if under a spell, muttering to himself. His body trembled slightly from extreme excitement, and he moved forward unsteadily, as if each step was on clouds.

He reached out, wanting to touch the steel eagle so close at hand, but then abruptly pulled back just before he could touch it, as if afraid that it was just a beautiful illusion that would shatter at the slightest touch.

Cheng Rufeng stood still, his body as if nailed to the spot, completely motionless.

His gaze was fixed on the rows of imposing "Corsair" fighter jets before him, his chest heaving violently, each breath carrying a scorching heat.

His weathered eyes were bloodshot, tears welling up but held back. He recalled the years when they fought fiercely against heavily armed Japanese invaders in their outdated, malfunctioning, all-in-one aircraft; he remembered his comrades who sacrificed themselves to cover his death, their dying eyes filled with a mixture of resentment and hope…

If... if they had had such a fighter jet back then...

An indescribable mix of sorrow and ecstasy surged and burned within him like the strongest liquor!
"Commander Su... Commander Su..."

Cheng Rufeng's voice was hoarse beyond recognition. He turned his head with difficulty to look at Su Yaoyang, who stood to the side with a faint smile on his face. His lips moved a few times, but he found himself unable to find any suitable words to express his feelings. A thousand words, in the end, were reduced to just two, choked with endless sobs and trembling: "You..."

Looking at the pilots in front of him who were completely out of control due to the great surprise, some knelt down and wept, some roared to the sky, some stroked the fighter jet like madmen, and some were so excited that they danced and spoke incoherently... Su Yaoyang's smile became more and more radiant and gratified.

He knew that these "pirate" warplanes were not just cold war machines; they were the sharpest swords these pilots longed for, their hope for revenge, and their wings to defend the dignity of their country!

"brothers!"

Su Yaoyang's voice rang out at the opportune moment. Though not loud, it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a reassuring power: "These are the 'new partners' I've prepared for you! From today onward, they belong to you! I hope you can quickly familiarize yourselves with them, master them, and make them 'pirates' soaring over North China, letting those little devils taste the bitterness of being 'shaved'!"

"Ow..."

As soon as Su Yaoyang finished speaking, an even more intense and enthusiastic cheer and howling roar erupted on the tarmac!

(End of this chapter)