Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 282 281 The Pilot's Scalpel, Fang Wen Takes Over the Shanghai Axe Gang
A unique surgical procedure was performed at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.

The surgeon was not one of the hospital's own doctors, and they even used a strange device to perform the examination.

These were all novelties for the medical staff at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.

Many doctors and nurses who had just finished their night shift handover came to the 3rd-floor intensive care unit to inquire, at the request of their colleagues.

Military police outside the intensive care unit prevented them from entering; they could only learn about the situation after the medical staff inside came out.

Inside the intensive care unit, Fang Wen had changed into surgical scrubs and was communicating with the attending physician.

"I am only responsible for removing the shrapnel. Postoperative cleaning and suturing are your responsibility. Also, that device needs to be installed and used in the operating room. Only when the device is turned on can I more accurately determine the location of the shrapnel and avoid surgical errors."

The attending physician had no objection; he was more interested in seeing how Fang Wen would solve the current problem.

There is another, more important reason: doctors have the heart of parents. Although they cannot cure Chief Wang, they still hope that he will recover and be discharged from the hospital one day.

After the negotiations were completed, the metal detector security gate was carefully moved to the adjacent operating room by two bodyguards and a group of intensive care unit medical staff.

As before, it was placed on the operating table with a wooden board underneath for easy movement.

Fang Wen then entered the operating room. He took a deep breath and recalled the surgical knowledge he had urgently learned at the Peking University Medical School.

To save Wu Yingzong, Fang Wen gritted his teeth and used the spiritual power enhanced by the Faith Treasure to achieve a high degree of concentration, enabling him to perform the surgery with great precision. This allowed him to successfully complete Wu Yingzong's operation.

Now, the surgery for Chief Wang is more precise, more complex, and takes longer; we need to be mentally prepared.

After mentally preparing himself, Fang Wen put on gloves and picked up the surgical instruments.

At the same time, the device was turned on, pushing forward little by little from Wang Bangzhu's legs.

It wasn't until the defensive midfield position that Fang Wen finally spoke up: "Stop."

He identified the first surgical site and had his assistant remove the bandage.

The yellow liquid flowing out clearly indicates an infection.

After cleaning and disinfecting, Fang Wen carefully cut open the affected area and accurately removed the remaining shrapnel hidden deep in the back flesh.

With a clang, shrapnel stained with dark red grime landed on the iron tray, signifying the successful start of Fang Wen's surgery.

What followed was a long and arduous surgical ordeal.

The shrapnel, lodged deep within the muscle tissue, was removed one by one.

The surgery lasted from morning until afternoon, a full five hours, and it still wasn't over.

There were already more than 20 pieces of shrapnel on the tray, making Fang Wen wonder if the injury was caused by a hand grenade.

Now, most of the easily removable shrapnel has been removed; what remains are the most dangerous.

While the assistant physician was tending to the sutured wound, Fang Wen spoke with the attending physician.

"The remaining shrapnel is in my spine and scapula. I suspect it has damaged my nerves. If I remove it rashly, will it cause permanent disability?"

The attending physician looked at Fang Wen with an air of apprehension and discussed with him, "If the nerves are damaged, even if the shrapnel isn't removed, it will cause physical problems. We need to be prepared for the worst. Don't hesitate to do it just because Chief Wang is a friend. Think of it this way: if the remaining shrapnel isn't removed, he'll not only be crippled, but he'll also have many more long-term consequences."

Yes, given the situation, how could the surgery possibly stop? It's like fighting in Spain; could we abandon the operation halfway through and turn back?

Immediately, Fang Wen picked up the scalpel again and, in a state of mechanical awareness and mind-body unity, cut open the wound in the spinal region.

The shrapnel was lodged in the gap between his spine and his body. Judging from the situation, it seems that the future leader of the gang will never be able to stand up again.

But it's better than dying in a hospital bed. Fang Wen carefully removed the shrapnel, moving very slowly, trying not to cause any further damage to Chief Wang.

Two more hours passed, and all the shrapnel in the spine and scapula area was completely removed. Fang Wen had his bodyguard push the equipment to do another check, and only after confirming that there was no residual shrapnel inside Wang Bang's body did he make the announcement.

"The surgery is over. The post-operative cleaning is your responsibility."

The moment he put down the scalpel and took off his gloves, enthusiastic applause erupted in the operating room.

The attending physician eagerly inquired, "You have the hands of a world-class surgeon. Would you like to stay? I can introduce you to a job at one of the best hospitals in the UK."

"Thank you," Fang Wen declined. "These hands can also be used to make airplanes and weapons, and to pilot them in aerial combat. Perhaps in the future, when peace prevails, I will choose surgery as my second career."

Although it was a pity, the attending physician understood that Fang Wen's choice was right. Just like a literary master in China, studying medicine cannot save the country. In the end, he still had to go to different fronts and give his light and heat.

The attending physician and medical staff, who had given up, watched Fang Wen leave the operating room.

On the third day after Wang's surgery, with high doses of penicillin and careful nursing, his condition began to improve.

The infection is subsiding and the wound is beginning to heal.

More importantly, he woke up.

The hospital immediately notified Fang Wen, who was staying at a hotel near the hospital.

Fang Wen immediately left the hotel and rushed to the intensive care unit.

There, he saw Chief Wang, who, though very weak, had already opened his eyes.

The attending physician next to him whispered, "He can speak now, but it's best not to talk for too long; he needs to rest."

Fang Wen nodded and walked to the bedside.

Chief Wang looked at Fang Wen and said weakly, "I didn't expect you to be the one who performed the surgery on my injury. You actually had this trick up your sleeve."

Fang Wen smiled and replied, "It's nothing, just that you're meticulous and bold. That day, we took 32 shrapnel pieces out of your back, and with the ones we took out before, that's nearly a hundred. You're lucky to still be alive."

"I was lucky. It had just rained that day, and it was a bit cold, so I put on a leather coat. But then someone threw a grenade in from outside. My first reaction was to dive down."

Chief Wang recounted what happened that day: the one who ambushed him was a master from the Fuxing Society. When throwing the fragmentation grenade, the timing was clearly precise, causing the grenade to explode in mid-air, resulting in a wider area of ​​damage.

Moreover, both grenades were thrown at the same time. Chief Wang fell to the ground beside the stone table, his back riddled with shrapnel. Later, members of the Axe Gang rushed out of the house, fought off the Fuxing Society members, and left with the seriously wounded Chief Wang.

After listening to Chief Wang's explanation, Fang Wencai understood why he had survived despite having so much shrapnel; the key was that leather coat that saved his life.

He sat by the hospital bed and comforted her, saying, "Take good care of yourself and get better. Don't go back to China. You've offended too many people. Going back will only mean death."

That's the truth. Wang was arguably the most daring person of that period. He had assassinated Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, and he had also assassinated Wang Jingwei. The top leadership of the Kuomintang hated him to the bone, and different factions were all in agreement to get rid of him.

Wang sighed, "The doctor said I'll never be able to stand up again, and I can feel my legs are unresponsive. My life is over."

To cheer him up, Fang Wen took out a newspaper, pointed to the headline about stopping the civil war and jointly resisting Japan, and read the news to him.

"Upon hearing of the sudden change in the Xi'an incident, which has drawn nationwide attention, this special report is issued to comfort those who are concerned."

On the morning of December 12th, news spread that Generals Zhang and Yang were launching a coup, detaining important figures, and the situation was quite tense. It is understood that this incident was actually caused by patriotic indignation and a strong desire to save the country, and was the result of the accumulation of many factors, not a decision made overnight.

Since the September 18th Incident, the entire nation had suffered from foreign aggression, endless civil war, and widespread poverty. Friction between the Northeast Army and the Red Army was constant due to various complex reasons. Generals Zhang and Yang, burdened with the weight of their nation and its people, struggled internally, yearning for revenge for their country and families but unable to do so, ultimately leading to their actions.

Following the incident, the situation within Xi'an remained relatively stable, but reactions from the outside world were mixed. Some called it a drastic measure, while others worried it would trigger even greater chaos. Regardless of the assessment, the incident has become an unavoidable reality.

Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of many parties, the matter has been resolved satisfactorily.

Recently, the Nationalist government issued a nationwide telegram: Stop the civil war, unite sincerely, always be open to foreign aggression, and severely punish all acts that are inclined to support the Japanese aggressors.

Although this move was unconventional, the result was beneficial to the country and its people.

May our nation learn from this incident, truly prioritize national interests, cease all internal strife, unite against external threats, and face this national crisis together.

This special report is requested to be widely disseminated to set the record straight, and it is hoped that all sectors of society will work together to safeguard national unity and ethnic solidarity.

After listening to Fang Wen read the newspaper, Chief Wang was very pleased: "I didn't expect that the Zhang family kid would pull it off. I underestimated him. Well, now that the country is united, a villain like me is really not suitable to disrupt the stability, so I won't go back to the country."

Seeing that Chief Wang had agreed, Fang Wen suggested, "Go to America. Zhao Jiu will make arrangements for you there. If your men are willing to go, they can come along too. Las Vegas needs manpower."

Chief Wang sighed dejectedly, "Thanks. I've wasted half my life and accomplished nothing. My health is ruined, so I'll just have to go to America to live out my old age. But I have one more thing. The Axe Gang isn't just my gang. How about you take over as the leader? After all, my gang has some connections in Shanghai. It will be helpful to hand it over to you to manage in the future."

Fang Wen hesitated. He was already busy with many things, and if he took over the Axe Gang, he would have to worry about even more.

Seeing this, Chief Wang continued to persuade them: "My Axe Gang members are not just reckless assassins. They are capable of intelligence gathering, organization, planning, operations, and medical care. We don't need the Axe Gang name anymore. Just have them obey your orders, and they will have a reliable place to belong. As for my trusted men, take them all to America. They won't interfere with your plans."

Upon hearing this, Fang Wen had an idea. Li Tiezhu, Zhang Yunfei, and Zhao Wanping, who were members of the former Special Operations Group, were all from the Axe Gang. Fang Wen had even met Zhao Wanping's parents, who were skilled in both medicine and poison.

If Chief Wang were to completely relinquish control, it would be worth taking him in. He could be useful whether he joined the volunteer mercenary group in Yangon or stayed in Shanghai to support his secret intelligence station.

Therefore, Fang Wen agreed to Chief Wang's request.

Next, the two discussed the handover.

Wang Gang Leader's confidant will accompany Fang Wen to Shanghai, after which Wang Gang Leader will take a ship to the United States.

As for Taishan Airlines' Asia-America route, the distance is too long, and the transit airport needs to be precisely reached. Fang Wen has not yet found a pilot who can fly it, so it is impossible for him to fly it. Pan Jiafeng cannot go either. Other aspects require manpower. Therefore, this ultra-long-haul flight has remained on paper. As an honor for Taishan Airlines' first flight, it has not actually been opened.

1937 1 Month 1 Day.

Hong Kong Island is bustling with activity during the Western New Year.

Fang Wen left, took a boat back to the Kowloon Peninsula, and then flew to Shanghai with Wang Gangzhu's confidants.

Returning to Shanghai after several months, the city itself remained unchanged, but the airport outside the city was deserted.

With the relocation of Taishan Airlines' headquarters, the once bustling airport street is no longer prosperous. Passengers come and go from the airport, and no one lingers here.

Fang Wen parked the plane and disguised himself in the hangar, transforming into a square-faced, burly man.

He and Wang Gangzhu's confidants walked out of the airport, looking at the deserted streets and the empty former Taishan Airlines headquarters, and couldn't help but sigh.

Afterwards, we boarded a shuttle bus and headed to downtown Shanghai.

After getting out of the car, Wang Gang's confidant whispered, "The Axe Gang's secret base is in the French Concession. Since Mr. Fang has accepted it all, it's no longer a secret. Please follow me."

He and Fang Wen took a rickshaw to the French Concession, and then drove through the streets and alleys of the concession until they arrived at the Russian enclave on Huanlong Road.

The majority of people in the French Concession were not French, but Russians who had fled from the Soviet Union. These stateless refugees numbered over 2 in Shanghai, with more than 8000 residing in the French Concession. Many shops and theaters within the concession were run by Russians.

Therefore, Russian settlements and churches were established.

No one expected that the Axe Gang's secret hideout was actually hidden in the Russians' residential area. No wonder the Fuxing Society and the Japanese in Shanghai could never find any trace of the Axe Gang before.

Led by Wang Gangzhu's confidant, Fang Wen entered a bakery. Inside, Russian women wearing headscarves were queuing to buy large loaves of bread. Fang Wen and his companion walked past the queue and went directly into the bakery's baking room.

The Russians in the bakery glanced at it but said nothing, continuing with their own work. Wang Bangzhu's confidant simply walked through the bakery and left through the back door.

Behind it is a dark alley that is inaccessible from the outside. This is the Russians' own residential area, with a completely exotic style.

After walking a short distance down the dark alley, Wang Gangzhu's confidant knocked on a door.

The door opened, and a burly Russian man cautiously looked outside. Upon recognizing Wang Gangzhu's confidant, he immediately asked in Chinese, "How is Gangzhu?"

"Let's go in first."

Fang Wen was then taken to the Axe Gang's secret stronghold.

This building looks small from the outside, but it's very spacious inside. The whole building is full of Axe Gang members, each with different roles and responsibilities. There are even children helping out. It's quite a small society.

After everyone learned that Chief Wang's confidant had arrived, they all stopped what they were doing, told each other, and then a large group of people gathered in the lobby on the first floor.

Once everyone was present, Chief Wang's trusted aide said, "The Chief was seriously injured and only survived thanks to Mr. Fang's help. He's alive, but he'll never be able to stand again. He's decided to step down as Chief and retire to the countryside. The position will be handed over to Mr. Fang. Does anyone have any objections?"

(End of this chapter)