Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yan Hai rapidly advanced through fighter training while Wu Di and Liu Hao Chen helped him prepare to fly solo. Zhang Mingwu monitored his increasingly demanding overload maneuvers as part of a mission to record Jiang Yan Hai’s training data.

• Wu Di persuaded Zhang Mingwu to let Jiang Yan Hai fly solo after a week of training, with Wu Di and Red Shore accompanying him in shifts.
• Wu Di took Jiang Yan Hai to the base bar, where Liu Hao Chen was shocked to learn that Jiang Yan Hai was only nineteen and already a major.
• Jiang Yan Hai trained for eight hours a day with Wu Di and Liu Hao Chen flying alongside him, and completed a week of maneuvering drills.
• Zhang Mingwu tracked Jiang Yan Hai’s flight records for a mission assigned by the theater command and approved him increasing his overload maneuvers from the fourth day.
• Jiang Yan Hai sustained five- and six-G maneuvers with occasional bursts around eight G, leaving Liu Hao Chen so dizzy that he refused to fly alongside him again.

Jiang Yan Hai completed intensive trainer flights and received a latest-model J10 to begin flying on his own. Meanwhile, scientists discussed assigning him an upgraded fighter for extreme testing, pending his J10 flight data.

• Wu Di and Liu Hao Chen stopped accompanying Jiang Yan Hai after struggling to keep up with his flying.
• Jiang Yan Hai flew solo for two days, pushing the advanced trainer to its limits and reaching fifty flight hours in a week.
• Zhang Mingwu told Jiang Yan Hai he would take over a latest upgraded J10, and Wang Hai delivered the fighter the next morning.
• After the ground crew inspected the J10, Zhang Mingwu allowed Jiang Yan Hai to try it.
• Scientists debated whether to give Jiang Yan Hai an upgraded fighter for extreme testing and decided to review his latest J10 flight data first.

Jiang Yan Hai began official J10 flight training and connected the Electronic Warfare Support Program to the fighter’s avionics. Er Dan enhanced the aircraft’s systems, leaving Jiang Yan Hai astonished by the results.

• Pan Ye admired Jiang Yan Hai’s training plans, while Zhang Qi continued developing his own special forces approach with Qi Xiao Tian.
• After confirming that Special Forces 1st Battalion had no problems, Jiang Yan Hai focused on training at the J10 base.
• Jiang Yan Hai took off in the J10 and climbed above the clouds for his first official training flight.
• Jiang Yan Hai ordered Er Dan to connect the Electronic Warfare Support Program to the J10’s electronic systems.
• Er Dan enhanced the fighter’s avionics, including its radar, communications, safety analysis, and satellite capabilities, and Jiang Yan Hai reacted with astonishment.

Jiang Yan Hai discovered that the radar enhancement gave his fighter detection and targeting capabilities approaching those of an early warning aircraft, though Er Dan warned him not to use it in ways that would expose its power. During training, Jiang Yan Hai proved far more skilled than the pilots at the Air Force Base, leaving them eager to test themselves against him.

• Jiang Yan Hai realized the radar enhancement could detect enemies sooner and guide many missiles, but Er Dan warned him that conspicuous results could not be concealed.
• Jiang Yan Hai trained with the enhanced J10 and wondered how powerful the Electronic Warfare Support Program could make an early warning aircraft.
• Jiang Yan Hai fought Liu Hao Chen to a draw, then also drew against Wu Di while holding back.
• After Liu Hao Chen challenged him, Jiang Yan Hai stopped holding back and defeated him in a lengthy aerial confrontation.
• The pilots at the Air Force Base took turns dogfighting Jiang Yan Hai, but none could beat him, and Wu Di lasted the longest.

After completing the second flight mission, Jiang Yan Hai received a new mission to test an upgraded J10 and was dispatched to Rongcheng. He flew a trainer jet toward the military base, where Sea Blue Mountain was set to take over his communications.

• Jiang Yan Hai completed the second flight mission after defeating Wu Di and Liu Hao Chen, and the Red Star Engine activated a mission to test the latest upgraded J10.
• Zhang Mingwu ordered Jiang Yan Hai to fly a trainer jet to Rongcheng and test a new fighter jet despite the danger.
• Jiang Yan Hai accepted the assignment and departed in a trainer jet, climbing to 12,000 meters and heading for Rongcheng.
• Jiang Yan Hai looked at a photograph on his tactical tablet during the flight as he continued toward Rongcheng.
• The Control Tower transferred Jiang Yan Hai's communications to the Central Theater Command, and he contacted Sea Blue Mountain.

Jiang Yan Hai flew an Advanced Trainer 10 from the Eastern Theater Command to the Western Theater Command, chatting with Owl and the base controller along the way. After landing and handing over the aircraft, he learned from an old man that the plane had been given to him, but he did not yet know who the waiting officials were or why they had arranged it.

• Jiang Yan Hai received clearance from Sea Blue Mountain and chatted with Owl, a Central Theater Command pilot who accelerated to form up beside him.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Owl he served with the 8th Airborne Army, but Owl did not believe him.
• Jiang Yan Hai entered the Western Theater Command and spoke with Giant Panda, a young woman who said Owl frequently harassed her.
• Jiang Yan Hai landed at a large air force base and reported the successful delivery of the Advanced Trainer 10 to the officials waiting there.
• A Senior Colonel signed the handover documents, and an old man in a lab coat told Jiang Yan Hai that the aircraft he had flown was the one they had given him.

Jiang Yan Hai inspected the upgraded J10S, officially called Azure Dragon, and learned about its capabilities and testing risks. He agreed to test the fighter’s limits, unaware that it was the third prototype after the first two had been sent back for rebuilding.

• Jiang Yan Hai entered the hangar and recognized that the J10 had been redesigned with blended wing-body technology.
• Jiang Yan Hai explained that studying aircraft design helped him understand how to fly and handle emergencies, and the old man praised his knowledge and rifle designs.
• The old man introduced the aircraft as the J10S, or Azure Dragon, and described its reinforced airframe, new engine, radar, speed, range, and weapons capacity.
• The old man explained that Jiang Yan Hai was chosen to test the fighter’s limits and told him to eject over the water if anything went wrong.
• Jiang Yan Hai accepted the mission, not knowing the aircraft was the third prototype and that the first two had been sent back for rebuilding.

Jiang Yan Hai inspected the J10S Azure Dragon, received its ground crew, and learned about its capabilities and operating procedures. After the handover, the aircraft was ready to be towed out, with Jiang Yan Hai scheduled to begin flying it the next day.

• Jiang Yan Hai admired the J10S Azure Dragon’s integrated design and improved performance.
• The old man had three red stars painted on the aircraft as kill markings, despite Jiang Yan Hai’s surprise.
• The old man introduced Dong Kejiang and Zheng Ling as Jiang Yan Hai’s mechanic and ordnance officer.
• The old man briefed Jiang Yan Hai on the jet’s maneuverability, engine limits, data transmission, and reporting any problems.
• Jiang Yan Hai began the handover with Dong Kejiang and Zheng Ling as the hangar doors opened and a tow vehicle waited outside.

Jiang Yan Hai tested Azure Dragon, a modified J10, and found it could fly supersonically without afterburners and maneuver far better than his previous fighter. On his return, Owl noticed the aircraft’s three kill markings and realized Jiang Yan Hai was an ace.

• Jiang Yan Hai took off in Azure Dragon and pushed it into supersonic flight without using afterburners.
• Jiang Yan Hai tested Azure Dragon’s maneuverability, performing rolls before climbing to 12,000 meters and heading back to his airfield.
• Jiang Yan Hai spoke with Giant Panda and then checked in with Sea Blue Mountain after entering the Central Theater Command’s defensive zone.
• Owl joined Jiang Yan Hai in formation and exclaimed at the three stars painted on Azure Dragon.
• Jiang Yan Hai confirmed that the stars were kill markings.

Jiang Yan Hai revealed that he had taken part in the Argentina Incident and was a former Wolf Fang special forces operative, then demonstrated the advanced Azure Dragon J10 to Owl and the other pilots. Sea Blue Mountain denied Owl’s request for an aerial combat exercise, and Jiang Yan Hai continued his transfer mission after inviting Owl to visit him later.

• Owl spotted three kill markings on Jiang Yan Hai’s fighter, and Jiang Yan Hai admitted that he had been involved in the Argentina Incident after training at Warrior School.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Owl and Sea Blue Mountain that he had served at the Wolf Fang special operations base.
• Owl noticed Jiang Yan Hai’s upgraded Azure Dragon J10, and Jiang Yan Hai demonstrated that it could reach supersonic speed without afterburners.
• Jiang Yan Hai told the pilots that the Azure Dragon could reach Mach 2.5, prompting lively reactions over the communications channel.
• Owl requested an aerial combat exercise, but Sea Blue Mountain denied the request because they were outside a training area near civilian flight routes.
• Jiang Yan Hai invited Owl to visit him for a flight later, then continued his transfer mission.

Jiang Yan Hai arrived at his air base and was placed on its combat readiness duty roster. The pilots learned about his three kills and his unusual way of learning to fly fighters, then persuaded Liu Hao Chen to treat them to a feast.

• Jiang Yan Hai entered the Eastern Theater Command’s airspace, checked in with Eagle’s Nest, and was assigned to combat readiness duty at his base.
• Jiang Yan Hai landed, had his fighter towed into its hangar, and went to his quarters, where all twelve pilots were waiting for him.
• Liu Hao Chen and the other pilots confronted Jiang Yan Hai about his three kills and asked him to explain his background.
• Jiang Yan Hai told the pilots that he had only flown helicopters before and had learned to fly a fighter by studying and mentally modeling it.
• A pilot convinced Liu Hao Chen that training Jiang Yan Hai was something to boast about, then got him to promise the group a feast.

Jiang Yan Hai flew his first solo night combat patrol and detected an unidentified stealth aircraft far beyond his fighter’s normal radar range. After alerting Eagle's Nest that he was investigating a possible radar issue, he accelerated toward the target, and Er Dan confirmed it was a stealth fighter.

• Jiang Yan Hai began combat readiness duty under Wu Di’s guidance, then took over the remaining shifts on his own at night.
• Jiang Yan Hai trained in daytime dogfights with the other pilots and found his new Azure Dragon fighter gave him a major advantage.
• While patrolling over the sea, Jiang Yan Hai received Er Dan’s warning of an unknown fast-moving target with a radar signature suggesting a stealth aircraft.
• Jiang Yan Hai changed course to approach the target from behind and told Eagle's Nest he was investigating a possible radar issue near the border.
• Jiang Yan Hai accelerated to Mach 1.5, and Er Dan confirmed the target was a stealth fighter.

Jiang Yan Hai refueled and returned safely to base while commanders staged the crash of an early J20 to disguise the wreckage of an advanced enemy unmanned fighter. The wreckage was being prepared for recovery as optical satellites watched the area.

• The theater commander ordered an early experimental J20 to be stripped of markings and sent over the battlefield.
• Jiang Yan Hai refueled from an H-6 Tanker, then returned to base after taking on about forty percent fuel.
• A J20 pilot ejected after steering his fighter toward the bombed area, and the aircraft crashed into the blaze.
• Commanders ordered troops and reconnaissance crews to remove distinctive components and compare images so the wreckage would appear to be a J20.
• Jiang Yan Hai learned that the staged crash was meant to conceal the nearly intact advanced unmanned fighter and preserve its research value.

Jiang Yan Hai devised a plan to conceal the crashed fighter from enemy surveillance by displaying debris, jamming Synthetic Aperture Radar, and covering the site with a camouflage net. Enemy analysts examined satellite images and concluded that the fighter had burned beyond research value, but they focused on debris scattered from the crash.

• Zhang Mingwu asked Jiang Yan Hai to assess the camouflage, and Jiang Yan Hai proposed arranging unidentified wreckage in the open, jamming radar, and covering the site with a large net.
• Zhang Mingwu reported the plan, and officials approved it and sent orders to the scene.
• An electronic countermeasures regiment began jamming radar while cranes raised a camouflage net over the covered area and firefighters continued dousing the flames with freshwater.
• Enemy Synthetic Aperture Radar images were ruined by interference, so optical satellites photographed the crash site after dawn.
• Enemy analysts concluded that the fighter had burned for hours and lost its research value, but they identified scattered components as a concern.

Jiang Yan Hai returned to Wolf Fang after Fan Tian Lei asked him to help deal with arrogant new recruits. He arrived by fighter jet and learned that several recruits from reconnaissance units were so skilled that Wolf Fang’s usual training could not challenge them.

• Fan Tian Lei told Jiang Yan Hai that the space program had considered him as an astronaut, but they had already accepted his refusal.
• Fan Tian Lei invited Jiang Yan Hai back to Wolf Fang to help handle capable, arrogant recruits during the annual recruitment.
• Jiang Yan Hai agreed to return, and Zhang Mingwu let him fly a fighter jet to Wolf Fang.
• Fan Tian Lei picked Jiang Yan Hai up at the airport and explained that several recruits from reconnaissance units had exceptional combat skills.
• Fan Tian Lei said Wolf Fang’s usual training did little for the recruits, leaving Jiang Yan Hai to face the challenge.

Jiang Yan Hai returned to the training camp to deal with the new trainees who were challenging their instructors. He asserted his authority over Yu Fei, but several trainees questioned whether they had to obey unreasonable orders.

• Fan Tian Lei told Jiang Yan Hai that the new trainees were difficult to control and that Red Cell was training them at the isolated mountain camp.
• Jiang Yan Hai changed into his Training Uniform, drove to the camp, and found the trainees undergoing physical training.
• Yu Fei challenged the instructors and demanded that they prove themselves before he would approve of them.
• Jiang Yan Hai ordered Yu Fei to do one thousand push-ups, and Yu Fei obeyed after Jiang Yan Hai reminded him of a soldier's duty to follow orders.
• A Second Lieutenant and several other trainees said they could complain about unreasonable orders, so Jiang Yan Hai took a notebook and demanded their names.

Jiang Yan Hai eliminated four soldiers he judged unfit for Wolf Fang and confronted Wang Hong when he rejected the dismissal. After Wang Hong defied his order to stop, Jiang Yan Hai fired a live round that knocked off his helmet and left the training ground stunned.

• Jiang Yan Hai crossed Wang Hong, Qi Yuan, Zhao Pengfei, and Qian Baifu off the list and declared them eliminated.
• Jiang Yan Hai explained that the four had poor assessment results, formed a clique, and were trying to exploit the dispute to enter Wolf Fang.
• Wang Hong challenged Jiang Yan Hai’s decision, but fell silent when Jiang Yan Hai threatened to strip him of his uniform.
• Wang Hong slammed his gun down and tried to leave, ignoring Jiang Yan Hai’s order to pick it up and stand at attention.
• Jiang Yan Hai checked Wang Yan Bing’s rifle, fired at Wang Hong’s helmet, and warned him not to take another step.

Jiang Yan Hai disciplined Wang Hong and proved his strength by completing fifteen hundred push-ups before fighting and defeating Yu Fei. Shi San Ba began his own push-ups while the recruits watched.

• Jiang Yan Hai ordered Wang Hong to stand at attention with his weapon in his teeth for an hour, then sent three soldiers away with the Wolf Fang soldiers.
• Shi San Ba challenged Jiang Yan Hai's order and promised to match however many push-ups Jiang Yan Hai could do.
• Jiang Yan Hai completed fifteen hundred push-ups without stopping, and Wang Hong silently resumed his punishment after dropping his weapon.
• Shi San Ba began doing push-ups, while Jiang Yan Hai challenged Yu Fei to fight after Yu Fei finished his own set.
• Jiang Yan Hai threw Yu Fei to the ground and pinned him until he surrendered, then told the recruits to sit and watch Shi San Ba.

Jiang Yan Hai discovered that Yu Fei, Shi San Ba, and Tian Tao were Wolf Warriors soldiers who had come to assess Wolf Fang after hearing their unit might be merged under a new commander. He left the remaining recruits in Chen Shan Ming’s hands and challenged anyone still dissatisfied to compete with him.

• Jiang Yan Hai recognized that Yu Fei, Shi San Ba, and Tian Tao had come from another Special Forces unit and confronted them about their motives.
• Yu Fei revealed that the three were from Wolf Warriors and explained they had come to check out Wolf Fang after hearing it would take over and merge their brigade.
• Yu Fei said their former squad leader, whose name he used on his military ID, had died in the line of duty, while their former commander was away on a special mission.
• Jiang Yan Hai told the recruits that Wolf Fang would not keep troublemakers who lacked ability, then handed training back to Chen Shan Ming.
• Jiang Yan Hai challenged any unconvinced recruits to compete against him.

Jiang Yan Hai returned to Wolf Fang after stopping the recruits’ challenge and explained his actions to Fan Tian Lei. He then asked about Fire Phoenix’s training and proposed that Red Cell help train the unit.

• Jiang Yan Hai ordered the soldiers to resume training and left the recruits to speak with Chen Shan Ming and the others.
• Fan Tian Lei criticized Jiang Yan Hai for firing at a comrade, and Jiang Yan Hai said he had only been testing the soldier’s courage.
• Fan Tian Lei explained that he did not know why the three War Wolf members had been sent and praised Jiang Yan Hai for preventing Wolf Fang from losing face.
• Jiang Yan Hai asked about Fire Phoenix, and Fan Tian Lei said the unit’s second phase was nearly complete and newly trained members were close to finishing.
• Jiang Yan Hai suggested using Red Cell to train Fire Phoenix and help solve the bachelor problem within their ranks.