Chapter 22

As the carriage continued on its way, Yang Qian, who had been ignored by Yang Yuanzhao and the other person, leaned out of the window. A colorful bird flapped past, and she almost shouted in excitement, "What a beautiful bird!"

It seemed that girls were always attracted to beautiful things; it was a common trait. Yang Yuanzhao glanced over and saw that it was a pheasant. He said, "Qian'er, do you want me to catch it for you?"

Yang Qian's face changed dramatically. "Absolutely not! It's much better for them to be free!"

At this age, when girls were still playful, such a statement left Yang Yuanzhao speechless. At this moment, Yang Qian turned back and asked, "Yuanzhao, do you think we can fly like birds in the sky?"

"Of course, we can! There's a machine that can carry people and fly in the sky!"

"Really? Is there really a machine that can fly in the sky?" Yang Qian's eyes lit up with interest.

"Of course there is!" Before Yang Yuanzhao could speak, Yang Yue said, "Since the Wright brothers invented the airplane in 1903, hundreds of aircraft have already flown high in the sky. They are not just hot air balloons; they are real, heavier-than-air airplanes."

"That's right, Xiao Qian. If there's a chance, I'll let you experience flying in an airplane. That day won't be far off!"

"Really? Let's make a promise, and we'll pinky swear!" She raised her little finger, her eyes filled with anticipation. Yang Yuanzhao laughed and pinky swore with her. At this time, airplanes were merely toys for aviation enthusiasts. Even the world's most advanced airplanes were only used for flight demonstrations. In the future, airplanes would become the third major military force after the army and navy, the air force. In the early 20th century, the application of airplanes in various countries was almost non-existent. It was only during World War I that airplanes were used in the military, but only for reconnaissance. The first air combat also took place during this time, with pilots using their sidearms to shoot at other planes. However, the long distance and the short range of pistols made such attacks a joke. It wasn't until World War II that airplanes truly developed.

In real history, airplanes were always a weak point for China, even in the 21st century. In this era, the early 20th century, no country had recognized the powerful role of airplanes. This cognitive gap was a key factor for China to catch up with the world powers. As a 21st-century engine engineer, airplanes were somewhat unfamiliar to Yang Yuanzhao, but in this early stage of airplane development, many airplane engines were simply modified gasoline engines. Concepts like thrust-to-weight ratio and vectoring were not important. With a slight modification, the BMW 999 engine could become a qualified airplane engine. If a more reasonable layout, such as a radial engine, was used, the thrust of the airplane engine could be further increased. The engine is the core of a power system, whether it's for a car, train, or airplane.

The road from Taiping to Taiyuan, the capital of the Shanxi merchants, was beautifully constructed. The carriage moved quickly, and by around 10:30 in the morning, they had already arrived in Taiyuan. As a bustling metropolis, Taiyuan was much more prosperous and developed than Baotou. The streets were lined with shops, and the number of people was noticeably greater. The sounds of street vendors could be heard everywhere.

Yang Yuanzhao leaned against the side of the carriage, looking out the window. His eyes were inevitably drawn to the signs around him. In early 20th-century Taiyuan, some shops had English names, clearly indicating that the owners were foreigners. Since 1840, when China opened its doors, the influence of foreign powers had gradually extended from the coast to the interior, deepening China's semi-colonial status.

Cities like Baotou had not seen much foreign influence, with foreign firms mainly involved in trade. However, in Taiyuan, a city connected by rail, foreign powers would pay close attention. Taiyuan and Xi'an were stepping stones for foreign powers to control the northwest and the entire western region of China. While Britain and France had a presence, Japan and Russia considered these areas crucial. These two hungry wolves had long viewed the northwest as their territory, especially Japan.

As he counted the foreign signs, he found about seven English signs, two German signs, and around twenty Russian signs. The Japanese signs were densely packed, with at least fifty or more.

Japan, a country with a fraction of China's land and population, and even in the early 20th century, with a weaker economy than late Qing China, had seized key opportunities with British support. In 1895, Japan defeated China, gaining Taiwan and the Treaty of Shimonoseki's indemnity. In 1905, Japan defeated Russia, a major power, which made other countries recognize Japan's existence. During World War I, Japan profited from the European war, completing its industrialization and embarking on a rapid expansion. Finally, during the invasion of China and World War II, Japan reached its peak, capable of challenging the United States in the vast Pacific Ocean.

Yang Yuanzhao felt a chill. Japan was an obstacle that China's rise could not avoid. He understood Japan's ambitions well. As a resource-poor island nation, Japan's continental aspirations had never faded. Every piece of land and resource would spark a bloodthirsty gaze, especially from a poor, backward, and defenseless China. Japan's influence had already extended to China decades before the invasion.

They were highly interested in everything about China, from politics and economics to social life. As a major commercial center in the northwest, Taiyuan was a natural place for the Japanese to have many shops. On the surface, these Japanese appeared to be ordinary merchants, but those who could do business in China were all trained by Japan's intelligence agencies. They meticulously investigated every aspect of China, gathering intelligence that formed the basis of Japan's national policies.

No wonder during the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese military advanced like a storm. Military strength was just one aspect; China had no secrets from Japan. Even the personalities of officers, down to the smallest company and battalion commanders, were meticulously recorded. Japanese maps were even more detailed and accurate than those of the Nationalist army, including small paths known only to local villagers that most Chinese armies were unaware of.

A nation's rise inevitably involves war. For Yang Yuanzhao, the obstacles were not only domestic forces but also Russia and Japan, two powers with imperial ambitions. The Russo-Japanese War saw foreign armies fighting on Chinese soil, enslaving the Chinese people, and competing for Chinese interests. This was a profound tragedy. Yet, the masses, including some revolutionaries and leaders, did not see Japan's imperial ambitions. They were even influenced by Japan's rhetoric of Sino-Japanese friendship and East Asian co-prosperity, believing Japan to be benevolent.

The carriage turned a corner, and the last Japanese shop was left behind. Yang Yuanzhao collected his thoughts. Even in the early 20th century, the power of a nation like Japan was not something he could face alone. Personal strength, even with the help of a machine, required time and a group of people around him, working together, to achieve success. The road ahead was long and arduous, but the future was bright. The journey had just begun.