Chapter 247
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Chapter 247: The P-51 Mustang
It must be said that the supplies prepared by village chief Mude Zariyev and the Pashtun people were quite complete, carrying many provisions for future developments. Nearly one-third of the convoy’s vehicles were loaded with all sorts of supplies, especially the old Soviet-made GAZ big trucks, which, despite their age, still boasted impressive power and astonishing loading capacity.
Once they entered the mountainous area, however, the trucks could no longer navigate the roads, and many supplies had to be buried nearby. If they could return with these items, the construction and development of Gem Valley would progress even faster.
Fortunately, the supplies brought into the valley were enough for Lin Mo to restore the P-51. He poured in some gasoline mixed with octane boosters. The main difference between automotive gasoline and aviation fuel isn’t just octane rating, but also volatility and allowable vapor pressure ranges.
Using automotive gasoline for the P-51’s piston engine could cause bubbles in the fuel lines, a phenomenon called "vapor lock," which would disrupt fuel supply to the engine. This aspect required special checks to avoid blockages and ensure normal fuel pressure and flow.
To solve this problem, Lin Mo added a pressure gauge.
Using automotive gasoline would affect the engine’s output power as well; originally capable of reaching a maximum speed of over 700 kilometers per hour, it could now only fly at slightly over 600 kilometers per hour.
As for the onboard cameras and the like, he removed them all to lighten the load and ensure the heavy P-51D had enough flexibility for its rebirth.
Combining existing onboard communication equipment, Lin Mo discarded the original communication electronic systems and directly adopted modern communication devices. The result was a complete transformation of the instrument panel in the cockpit.
This wasn’t just simple repairs; it was a modification. He armed a P-51 with modern equipment without altering the aerodynamic shape, even installing small LCD screens.
The driving program was entirely the work of the Gold Coin. This fellow always kept a large-capacity storage chip hidden on him, and due to his unique constitution, the electronic components he carried were naturally shielded from electromagnetic pulse effects.
Abik’s mercenaries sent young Pashtun Hark back with collected bullets and some weapons. Among the 12.7 millimeter bullets gathered from the Pashtuns, many could not be used due to incompatible specifications, leaving only enough for two belts of linked ammunition.
Fortunately, the children had saved up quite a few metal pieces for linked ammunition belts, saving Lin Mo a lot of effort.
Afghanistan had seen countless battles, dubbed the graveyard of empires; those who came to fight there were often met with misfortune. The Soviets, Germans, and Americans had all been there, leaving behind a large quantity of ammunition, which became a hidden danger for Afghanistan’s continued fighting.
Well, it seemed to be Allah’s will. How coincidental that old American planes were using new American ammunition; one might say it was old wine in new bottles.
If it weren’t for this, Lin Mo would have been in a bind over bullets.
He could manage to equip two 12.7 millimeter Browning heavy machine guns, but would have to unload the other four entirely to reduce weight.
In the emptied gun mounts on the wings, he first added two Russian PKM general-purpose machine guns, nearly new, with plenty of 7.62 millimeter ammunition on hand. The only drawback was the use of non-linked belts that could hold only 100 rounds each. To deal with the ejection ports, Lin Mo added a box for automatic collection; otherwise, a long chain would hang beneath the wings, creating both safety issues and poor aesthetics until all 100 rounds were fired.
The PKM, along with the AK series assault rifles and SVD (Dragunov) sniper rifles, formed a trio of battlefield havoc, effective up to 1000 meters. Replacing the 12.7 millimeter Browning heavy machine guns with PKMs on the P-51 Mustang was a passable solution for ground attacks.
Of course, accuracy was nearly nonexistent, and one could not expect the P-51 to achieve the kind of precision displayed by the J-10 Mighty Dragon. The original six Browning machine guns had been designed to compensate for the lack of precision by creating a dense barrage.
Since aerial combat considerations were ignored, this severely weakened firepower would manage only against ground targets.
To conserve the limited ammunition capacity, Lin Mo devised small mechanisms to install in the machine gun compartments. Each time the trigger was pulled, the original pair of Browning machine guns would be used first; only after their ammunition was depleted would the new PKM machine guns be allowed to fire.
This made Lin Mo resort to short bursts; otherwise, the ammunition would run out quickly, leaving the Mustang as little more than decoration.
The P-51’s wings were mainly set up to carry bombs. Though it could be modified to carry RPG-7 rockets, it wouldn’t have much practical significance. One of the Mustang’s highlights was its ability for dive bombing.
Making bombs was no problem for Lin Mo; as long as he calculated the center of gravity correctly, he could drop them on contact with the fuse. Sacrificing mortar shells for the best idea was ideal.
While Lin Mo was busy restoring and modifying the P-51 Mustang in the natural hangar of the cave, tension filled the Pashtun camp in the valley as they prepared for battle.
The migrants collectively stoned the identified traitors to death, wasting not a single bullet on these betrayers. Men, women, and children alike shared a deep hatred for those trying to take away their last refuge.
Such a collective execution not only unified the group’s resolve but also sent a warning to any potential dissenters who had not been exposed.
As the mercenary leader Abik, responsible for military operations, quickly organized the young men from the migrating families in several villages, he gathered all able-bodied individuals, including everyone who could hold a gun, into two teams. This was their no-retreat battle—survive or face collective death; there was no room for failure.
Lin Mo’s communication equipment sent by Hark astounded mercenary leader Abik. It did more than just repair the original devices; it adapted to the local terrain, combining handheld radios and relay devices for custom development, greatly expanding communication range and capability.
“What a top-notch electronic and mechanical engineer! If I could get him on my side, he would truly be a genius born for war,” Abik thought, feeling a surge of excitement as he looked at the equipment.
In war, information often held the upper hand; combat-ready personnel who could manage technology were far more valuable than mere weapons, and any discerning individual would recognize their worth; such a person was like a walking treasure.
If only he could recruit him, his mercenary army would likely control a significant territory in the future, potentially dominating all of Afghanistan, just like the former Taliban.
However, the abilities displayed by “Knight” reminded him from another angle that the forces behind “Knight” were formidable. A group capable of nurturing such talent could easily wipe out all armed factions in Afghanistan.
Abik had no doubt that there were even more gems within that organization. Just a few such talents, when nurtured, could spread like seeds in Afghanistan’s landscape, flourishing in any area.
Certainly, the current conditions were subpar, but as long as there were talented individuals, everything could change.
It was likely that the coalition of the Taliban, Jamaat al-Tableeg, the Holy War Army, and the World Uyghur Congress suffered from the Electromagnetic Pulse Bomb attacks. Even if they restocked their communication equipment afterward, it would merely be a drop in the bucket since resources were always scarce in Afghanistan, let alone sourcing communication devices in bulk.
“Bak, go set up the relay stations. I’ve marked them on the map. Remember, you’ll need to teach them how to start it, how to adjust the height—it’s simple. Just connect the solar panels and batteries, then press the red switch to turn it on. If there’s a fault, press the green switch to restart it. Each relay station must have two people for protection, ready with signal flares. If you find any issues that can’t be solved with a restart, notify me immediately. Handle everything gently; if you break it, it’s your life on the line.”
“Omar, take your team, split into four groups, and scout the enemy movements. Inform me of their positions immediately.”
“Sadin, take a few people on motorcycles to scout the terrain around, checking for vulnerabilities, then come back to help me make a physical sand table.”
“Qadiya, prepare all the weapons and ammunition for village chief Mude to set up the defenses. I want three layers of defenses: one outside the mountain pass, preferably with landmines; machine gun positions on both sides of the mountains; mortars at the pass; and the prepared barbed wire can only let two vehicles pass side by side, plus plenty of grenades.”
“Xido, train the young people, and those women and children. Tell them that if we lose, they won’t survive either.”
One by one, the mercenary soldiers were dispatched by Abik’s orders, and the entire camp in Gem Valley brimmed with a tense atmosphere of preparation for battle.
Having previously been part of the Afghan government forces, mercenary leader Abik poured in all his military knowledge, directing his men and the migrants in a whirlwind of activity, ensuring that everyone had a task.
Those who were unable to contribute due to disabilities or old age were tasked with preparing ammunition belts and gathering supplies, as well as training for first aid on the wounded while assigning explosive work and packing explosives.
