World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"Okay." Chen Feng stood up. "Preserve the evidence. Also, send a telegram to Minister Wang, instructing him to seek compensation from Blériot Company on the grounds of 'selling substandard products resulting in death.' We don't want money, we want technology—either they send real experts to provide guidance, or they provide complete production process drawings for the engine."

Will they agree?

"Yes." Chen Feng sneered. "The French are in a hurry to sell planes to the militaries of various countries. If it is revealed that their products have fatal defects, the business will be ruined. They would rather use technology to silence us."

Uncle Wang nodded and was about to leave when Chen Feng called him back.

"Also, prepare for the memorial service. Everyone will attend tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes."

The memorial service was held the following afternoon. There was no body—Lim Kok Tung's body had been cremated, and his ashes would be sent back to Penang. There was only a simple mourning hall with his photograph hanging on it.

Chen Feng stood at the front, looking at the smiling young man in the photo. He had so much to say: the greatness of the aviation industry, the significance of sacrifice, and his vision for the future.

But in the end, he only said three sentences:

"Lin Guodong, our brother, is gone today."

"He was flying when he left."

"Those of us who remain on the ground must ensure that his flight is worthwhile."

After the memorial service, Zhou Afu found Chen Feng.

"President, I want to resign."

Chen Feng looked at him: "Scared?"

"It's not fear," Zhou Afu shook his head, his eyes red, "It's that I feel... I'm not worthy of flying. Lin Guodong is smarter than me, more educated than me, he should have flown better. I should be the one who dies..."

"Nonsense." Chen Feng interrupted him sharply. "If the plane malfunctions, whoever is on board will die. It has nothing to do with being smart or not. If you really feel sorry for him, then fly well and make a name for yourself. Fly all the altitudes and distances he didn't finish."

Zhou Afu stared at him blankly.

"Now, answer me: are you quitting, or are you staying?"

The young soldier straightened his back: "Stay!"

"Okay." Chen Feng patted his shoulder. "Remember how you felt today. Remember what it feels like to die. Then carry that weight with you and keep flying."

In June 1912, the desert entered its harshest season, but the enthusiasm for work at the "Oasis" base remained undiminished.

The shadow cast by the accident was gradually washed away by the busyness. It wasn't forgotten, but transformed—transformed into a more rigorous attitude, more meticulous inspections, and more diligent training.

The two Blélio XIs were put back into service after a comprehensive overhaul. Under Chen Feng's guidance, Master Ma's technical team began the system's reverse engineering.

Inside the hangar, the first aircraft was completely dismantled.

"Number all parts, photograph them, measure them, and draw diagrams," Chen Feng personally directed. "Every bolt and every cable must be clearly recorded. We don't just want to build a flying replica; we want to understand why it's designed this way and whether there's room for improvement."

Beside the workbench, the engineers worked with the utmost care, as if performing surgery. The wings were laid flat on the supports, and the skin was carefully peeled away to reveal the underlying skeletal structure.

"Look here," Master Ma pointed to a joint. "The French use mortise and tenon joints with glue, but last time we used pure mortise and tenon joints, and the strength wasn't enough. I guess they have a special technique for using glue."

Chen Feng bent down to examine it closely: "It's fish glue, mixed with some kind of resin. We can try to imitate it using shellac and rosin, but we need to experiment with the proportions."

Another group was measuring the engine. Although Chen Feng had explicitly forbidden disassembling the engine—it was too delicate, and if it was disassembled, it might not be able to be reassembled—external measurements and operational tests continued.

"Cylinder temperatures can reach up to 200 degrees Celsius, so the design of the heat sink is crucial..."

"Carburetors have a very narrow air-fuel mixture range, no wonder they're so sensitive to altitude and temperature..."

"The ignition system uses a magneto, which is much more stable than the battery ignition we use..."

Data accumulated day by day, and drawings were perfected one by one. By the end of June, Lanfang's version of the "Blériot XI" drawings was 80% complete.

But this is not enough.

"Imitation is only the first step," Chen Feng said at the technical conference. "We need to improve and innovate based on understanding. The 'Swift-I' project is now officially launched."

He unfolded the new design drawings. It was a simplified version based on the F4F "Wildcat," but incorporated some mature designs from the Blélio XI.

"We can't do an all-metal fuselage, but we can try a hybrid structure: the main load-bearing components are welded from steel pipes, the secondary structure is made of wood, and the skin is made of linen—but the key parts, such as the leading edge of the wing and the engine nacelle, are made of thin aluminum sheets."

"Aluminum sheet?" Master Ma frowned. "That stuff is both soft and expensive..."

"So we need to use it sparingly." Chen Feng circled something on the blueprint. "Only use it where it's most needed. Also, I've designed a new airfoil, thicker than Blériot's, with a higher lift coefficient. But it's also more difficult to manufacture. See if you can make it."

The engineers gathered around to examine it. The new airfoil curve was smoother, and the maximum thickness was positioned further forward; this was a design optimized by Chen Feng based on knowledge from later generations.

"This needs to be pressed out using a mold..."

"We can make a wooden mold first, then carve it out layer by layer from the wood, and then cover it with cloth."

"How can the strength be guaranteed?"

The discussion grew increasingly heated. Chen Feng stepped aside, watching as the engineers went from initial confusion to being able to ask professional questions, and finally felt a sense of relief.

At the same time, flight training is also progressing steadily under the new rules.

While the two-person system reduced training efficiency, it significantly improved safety. Zhao Tianxiang's arm had basically healed, and he began to lead flights again. Zhou Afu and several other students who made rapid progress also began serving as rear-seat instructors, leading new students to experience flying.

"Watch your altitude! The altitude is dropping!"

"Coordinate your movements when turning! Apply pressure to the rudder, pull back on the pole, and keep your eyes on the horizon!"

"Don't pull the stick sharply when landing! Be gentle! Be gentle!"

On the control platform beside the runway, Zhao Tianxiang's roars echoed every day. The trainees were verbally abused mercilessly, but no one complained—they all remembered Lin Guodong.

In early July, an unexpected piece of good news arrived.

Wang Wenwu called from Dubai, his voice excited: "President, the Germans have agreed!"

"Promise what?"

"Technology exchange," Wang Wenwu said. "We provided some design consultation for submarines, and they sent a team of aviation experts to provide guidance for three months. The team leader was Otto Kohler, who I heard is very famous in the German aviation industry."

Chen Feng's spirits lifted: "When will you arrive?"

"Early next month. There will be six people in total, including those specializing in engines, aerodynamics, and structures."

"Great! Excellent!" Chen Feng rarely smiled. "Minister Wang, this was handled beautifully. Give them the best treatment, give them whatever they want, as long as they can learn something real."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Feng immediately convened a meeting with key personnel.