On August 2, 1912, in Yantang, Guangzhou, an empty warehouse was converted into a production workshop, in which there were only some simple tools such as vices and small radial drills, and a 26-year-old young man was concentrating on processing parts. He was born with a square face, thick black eyebrows, well-defined facial features, and looked like a northern man, but those delicate eyes betrayed him, showing that he was an authentic southerner.

Feng Ru, ancestral home in Enping, Guangdong. When he was young, he studied in a private school for a few years, and after dropping out of school, he worked as a farmer at home. After the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing court ceded land and paid compensation, the treasury was empty, and the people's livelihood withered. Feng Ru, who was only twelve years old at the time, did not understand state affairs, but also tasted the taste of family poverty. At that time, he had to say goodbye to his parents with tears and, like many fellow villagers from Enping, traveled across the ocean with his relatives to make a living in the United States.

After arriving in San Francisco, he was introduced by his fellow villagers to work as a child laborer in the Jesus Church, working during the day and attending night school at night. He was touched by the rapid development of the United States by learning English and technology, as well as witnessing the rapid development of advanced machines. The prosperity of the country must depend on the machine, so he is even more angry to study and specialize in machine manufacturing. In order to save the country, Feng Ru decided to go to New York to learn machine manufacturing skills. In the future, he plans to personally build a new warship for China to defeat the revenge of Xiao Yu in the first year. Feng Ru worked as an apprentice and worker in a shipyard, a power plant, and a machine factory for nearly seven years, suffering from racial discrimination and unemployment. Finally, I learned a variety of machine manufacturing skills, and also increased the breadth and depth of machine manufacturing knowledge.

The Wright brothers of the United States have built an airplane, fulfilling people's dream of flying into the sky for thousands of years, and this news also makes the young Feng Ru's heart flutter. It occurred to him that instead of spending huge sums of money to build a navy, it would be better to build hundreds of aircraft. So, he ran around raising money and finally rented a factory in Oakland, San Francisco, and started building airplanes. He secretly vowed that if he could not build an airplane, he would never return to China.

On the evening of September 21, 1909, the "Feng Ru No. 1" named after him officially took flight. Feng Ru piloted the plane to take off against the strong wind, rose to a height of 4.5 meters, flew around a small hill, and flew about 800 meters, showing that his plane had good surname ability, thus making the history of China's powered manned flight. Wrote the glorious first page. At that time, Chinese and Western newspapers competed to report on it. The San Francisco Explorer newspaper prominently published a large photo of Feng Ru on the front page, praising Feng Ru as "the Wright of the East" and exclaiming, "In the field of aviation, the Chinese have left the white people behind!" ”

Feng Ru finally fulfilled his oath that "if the plane cannot be built, he will not return to China". It has also won general praise in the industry.

In February 1911, Feng Ru returned to China with his assistant and two planes, and founded the "Guangdong Aircraft Company" with only three people in Yantang, Guangzhou. At this moment, he is building an improved version of the "Feng Ru II" to participate in the air show scheduled for 25 August.

"Is this the Guangdong Aircraft Company? Is Mr. Dingsan here? There was an official voice with a faint Huai voice outside.

Feng Ru heard someone outside calling his cousin, wiped the oil on his hand with a rag, and shouted outside: "I am Feng Ru, which gentleman is looking for me?" ”

I saw two young people in their twenties, one with a heroic smile but very lazy, and the other with a gloomy face.

"You're Mr. Dingsan?" The young man with a heroic face asked.

Feng Ru nodded and said, "I am Feng Ru, what advice do you have for the two gentlemen?" ”

The young man took out a sketch and handed it to Feng Ru: "We all want to ask Mr. Ding San to help our Anhui Revolutionary Army build a few planes." ”

Feng Ru took it and looked at it a few times, and suddenly his excited body trembled.

There are two huge ship-shaped pontoons under the single wing and fuselage, and two small pontoons are hung on the tips of the two wings, the boat-shaped pontoons are too big, and they look like a yacht with two wings, Feng Ru looked carefully for a long time and asked: "Is this plane used ailerons?" A ship-shaped pontoon? Who designed this? ”

The young man laughed, "I don't understand it when we all handed it over to me. ”

Feng Ru was puzzled: "Where are you from?" Assigned by whom? ”

The young man smiled and gave a military salute and said: "I am Lu Kai, the commander of the Anhui Revolutionary Army, and this is Fang Qingyu, the director of the Legal Affairs Department of the Anhui Revolutionary Army. ”

These two people are none other than Lu Kai and Fang Qingyu. Especially Lu Kai, the last time he talked to Chai Dongliang about airplanes, he has been in his heart since then, and this time he heard that he went to Guangzhou to invite a scientist who can build airplanes, so he immediately volunteered to greet him. Chai Dongliang sent the cruiser Hairong to Guangzhou to meet Feng Ru as a grand gesture.

Feng Ru took the sketch as if he had obtained a treasure, and he was reluctant to let go after reading it, but this drawing did not have specific dimensions and design instructions, and many things made him feel confused.

"With four piston engines? Is it necessary to make it so big? With such a large power, how big does the plane have to be built? Feng Ru kept asking.

Lu Kai just smiled and said: "You said this, I don't understand it, so please go to Wuhu and talk to our governors." ”

Feng Ru was pleasantly surprised: "Oh, you are all mechanical engineers? He designed the plane in this sketch? ”

Fang Qingyu said expressionlessly: "We don't know about this, anyway, the governor will hand it over to me like this, and we will hand it over to you like this??? Please also ask Mr. Dingsan to pack up and go with us, the governor specially sent a warship to meet him. ”

Feng Ru pondered for a moment, and said regretfully: "I can't obey my fate, I have an air show this month, and I have already booked a date, so I have to wait for my performance to end, and then go to Wuhu to ask your governors for advice." ”

Fang Qingyu said resolutely: "It's better to ask Mr. to come with us now." ”

Feng Ru refused again and again, but Fang Qingyu pressed forward step by step, insisting that he go to Wuhu with him now. Feng Ru's temper also came up, and he said angrily: "You guys are too rude, I just don't want to do what you can do to me!" ”

Fang Qingyu didn't say a word, took out a six-sub revolver and slapped it on the table. Feng Ru had a soft temper and sneered: "If you have the ability, you will kill me and let me go to Wuhu, impossible!" ”

Lu Kai picked up the pistol and put it on his temple: "When I came, I issued a military order to the governor, if I can't invite Mr. to Wuhu, I won't go back." ”

Fang Qingyu also took out a pistol and put it on his forehead: "I'll count to ten, if you don't go with us, I'll die in front of you." Feng Ru's two assistants were frightened, and hurriedly said, "You can't do this, don't be impulsive." ”

Feng Ru smiled coldly and said, "Pretend, if you want to die, no one will stop you." ”

Fang Qingyu counted down: "Ten ??? Nine??? Eight??? Seven ????"

The assistant stomped his feet and said, "Two of you, don't be impulsive!" Let's go and persuade Mr. Ding San. ”

Feng Ruyi waved his hand and said: "Ignore them, there must be no bullets in the gun, who to scare, this set of hooligans on the streets of the United States will make it." ”

Fang Qingyu sneered: "No bullets? ”

Before he could finish speaking, he fired a shot at the ceiling. The sound of "bang" was particularly loud in the empty factory.

Feng Ru was also a little dumbfounded, there are really bullets!

Lu Kai didn't seem to hear it, and continued to count with his eyes closed: "Five??? Four??? Three??? Two! ”

The voice grew slower and slower, dragging on a long note, but the expression was resolute.

Feng Ru smiled bitterly and stomped his feet: "That's it, can't I go with you?" Two officers of the revolutionary army died in my place, is that a sin? ”

Lu Kai smiled slyly: "Sir, decided? ”

"It's decided!"

"No remorse?"

Feng Ru said categorically: "A manly husband, a spit and a pit, never regret it??? You can put your guns away, right? ”

Lu Kai smiled and said, "You pack up and go with us, the warship is waiting for you at the dock!" The two cruisers of the Yangtze River Naval Division, the Haichen sent Mr. Sun Yat-sen to Tianjin, and the Hairong escorted you to Wuhu, and we all treated you the same as Mr. Sun??? I hope you can make great achievements in Anhui and achieve a good story in the history of Chinese aviation! ”

Feng Ru was a little curious: "Why are you all so interested in airplanes?" I'll tell you the truth, I've never built a seaplane before! ”

Lu Kai picked up the pistol and said: "We all say that the future mode of war will be the world of the air force, and the side with air supremacy will gain a huge advantage, and instead of wasting limited funds on large ships, it is better to build planes." ”

Feng Ru suddenly had the idea of a confidant, slapped his hands and said: "What you all said is that the world powers have not yet seen the potential of the aircraft, and they will definitely suffer a big loss in the future!" If we in China fight hard with foreigners on giant ships and cannons, we will certainly not be opponents, but airplanes are a new thing, and foreigners may not understand the advantages of the air force.

Fang Qingyu made a gesture of invitation and said: "We have built an aircraft R&D base for you in Wuhu, and allocated you another 500,000 R&D funds, of which 100,000 yuan will be used as a R&D base for you when you arrive in Anhui." Feng Ru was overjoyed and said, "500,000, so much?" ”

Fang Qingyu said with a smile: "This is only the fund for the second half of this year, and one million will be allocated to you every year in the future, and the governor hopes that within three years, the Chinese Air Force will become the world's first air force." Others divide the sea and the continent, and the sky must be Chinese! ”

Feng Ru said excitedly: "This day will definitely come!" ”

Fang Qingyu and Lu Kai walked out of the gate, and there was already a pair of sailors waiting outside for a long time, and they were arranged to go into the factory to help Feng Ru pack up his things.

Fang Qingyu handed Lu Kai a cigarette and said: "I usually don't see it, your kid is quite a friend, and he is really kind of at a critical time!" ”

Lu Kai laughed, bent down and took out the pistol and threw it to Fang Qingyu.

Fang Qingyu opened the wheel and saw that his face turned white, and there was not even a single bullet in it!

(To be continued)