Chapter 61: 61, Safely Leaving Shanghai, Integrated Vehicle And Personnel
Dodging the pursuit of two cars doesn’t mean the danger is over.
The car is now located in the old Shanghai county town, also called Old City, which is the old city area constructed during the Qing Dynasty period. There used to be a city wall here, which was later demolished, and then some renovations were made.
It’s precisely because of its long history, with a mix of new and old buildings, narrow streets, and many alleyways.
The car enters here and has to slow down.
Fang Wen’s mind brings up the entire Shanghai map, comparing it with his current location.
To the east of the old city is Sixteen Wharf and the Huangpu River, which is where he came from just now.
To the north, and the large area to the west, are the concessions.
In sequence: French Concession, British Concession, and International Concession.
The Japanese have no concessions in Shanghai; they occupy the International Concession area.
If they enter the French Concession from here, it would be very dangerous, after all, the Japanese army is stationed nearby in the French Concession.
Going south, on the other hand, is the area controlled by the National Government, the safest route to leave the Shanghai city area.
The current problem is, how many people did the Japanese send, and where are they hiding?
Brushing aside his thoughts, Fang Wen pulls a small Browning pistol from his pocket.
This was given to him by Yue Jinping, replacing that Broomhandle Mauser. It’s indeed convenient to carry usually, but when it really comes time to fire, it lacks power.
“Uncle Fang, see if there’s anything usable in the back seat.”
“Mm.”
Fang Shouxin turns around and stands up, directly stepping to the back seat.
After a bit of rummaging, he replies: “Nothing.”
“Lift up the seat; there’s another layer of space behind it. I heard Sun Debiao say he likes to hide things there.”
Uncle Fang does as instructed, and indeed finds something.
A leather suitcase.
Inside is a Broomhandle Mauser with a wooden stock, bullet chambered, probably for use in emergencies.
“Young Master, I know how to use this gun. When the Japanese come later, I’ll shoot from the back.”
Fang Wen agrees.
The current problem is how to get out from here.
He slows down, preparing to ask a passerby for directions.
But he doesn’t know that a storm is brewing in the city.
What happened at Sixteen Wharf spreads quickly.
Because Taishan Airlines’ opening features a large airplane exhibition tour, many reporters are at Sixteen Wharf taking photos and conducting interviews.
That gunfight, carjacking, and car chase were all captured by the reporters.
They soon learned the truth of the matter.
The reporters rush to report the situation back to the newspaper agency, and at the same time, the radio station with the most timely news feedback reacts promptly.
Among them,
The announcer from the Merlington radio station who once interviewed Fang Wen, after some internal struggle, makes a decision.
“Merlington radio station broadcasting emergency breaking news.”
“Today, unidentified individuals attacked my air pilot Fang Wen at Sixteen Wharf.”
“It is reported that Fang Wen is the meritorious pilot who bombed Japanese warships during wartime. He successfully dealt heavy damage to two warships, including that Izumo which is half-sunk nearshore.”
“As for who sent these unidentified individuals, I think it’s a problem everyone knows in their heart.”
“According to the latest news I received, Fang Wen drove a car and successfully escaped the pursuit. He is now in Old City. On the land of my China, how can we let these Japanese chase and kill our air hero wantonly?”
“I hope the National Police Department will quickly send people to capture the killers and protect Fang Wen’s safety.”
“Sorry everyone, because of this broadcast, I will end my work at Merlington radio station. But I still hope everyone won’t be cold-blooded. The great China will surely revive; we must unite.”
Radio waves send the announcer’s passionate emotions out, heard by SH citizens who have radios one by one.
Some people remain unmoved, while others feel a tremor in their hearts.
Fang Wen stops on a roadside in Old City.
There are no road signs here; continuing forward, he doesn’t know where it leads.
He stops the car and calls out to ask a soap seller by the roadside.
Stacks of soap bars piled into a tower shape, the man in a small suit holding a loudspeaker shouts: “Huamei soap, washes clean.”
Uncle Fang leans out, “Friend, ask for directions.”
“Where to?”
“The fastest way to leave here to the Southern Train Station.”
“I know, buy a bar of soap.” The man smiles back.
Uncle Fang is about to pull copper coins from his pocket to buy.
A man rushes over hurriedly and says urgently.
“My boss asked me to tell you, leave quickly, definitely don’t go to the northern concession. Japanese army has broken through the concession patrol police blockade and is about to arrive.”
After speaking, the other party is about to leave; Uncle Fang hurriedly grabs his hand.
“Brother, do you know the way to the Southern Train Station?”
“I don’t know, let me go. Reporting the news is already the limit of what my family can do.” The man responds with a choked voice.
“Let him go, Uncle Fang.” Fang Wen speaks up.
Uncle Fang releases his hand, letting the messenger run off, then takes out five silver dollars and shouts to the soap seller.
“I’ll buy all your soap.”
“Five silver dollars?” The man sweeps the soap into the basket and runs over hugging it.
Uncle Fang opens the door, letting the man in.
“Quick, say how to go?”
“I won’t say; you have to start driving first, then I’ll know how.”
Fine, he doesn’t know the danger in the car.
Fang Wen starts the car and drives to an intersection.
The man speaks up: “Turn left, keep going straight; I’ll tell you when to turn.”
The car follows his directions. When passing the intersection, Fang Wen’s muscles tense up.
In mechanical perception state, he clearly sees.
Two cars charging rapidly: one from the opposite lane, one from behind.
“Hold on tight.”
The car’s speed rises rapidly, rushing into the left intersection.
At this moment, Fang Wen feels like he’s piloting a fighter jet.
But it’s not entirely the same.
The car travels on the ground; due to friction between the wheels and the ground, the travel is controllable.
Airplanes are different; in the sky, you have to consider wind direction, lift, etc., but it can achieve free flight, which is relatively much harder.
If this car were equipped with a controllable rear-facing machine gun, he could control the machine gun to turn the two pursuing cars behind into scrap iron full of holes.
Unfortunately, there isn’t one.
He can only have Uncle Fang do it.
When the car turns into the left lane and straightens, he calls out.
“Uncle Fang, shoot.”
Uncle Fang does so without hesitation, gun stock against his left shoulder, body tilted sideways, machine gun sideways toward the rear seat glass, strafing.
The Barrel Mauser’s continuous fire causes the muzzle to rise constantly, offset by this shooting posture; a rain of bullets shoots sideways, shattering all the rear seat glass.
Some of the fired bullets hit the car that just turned the corner; the front one loses control and crashes into the roadside wall.
The one behind also subconsciously brakes due to this sudden situation.
Taking this opportunity, Fang Wen once again shakes off the Japanese pursuit.
The soap salesperson in the back seat hugs his small basket of soap, frozen stiff.
“B-Big brother, I don’t want the money anymore; let me off.”
“Don’t be afraid; we’re good people. Those behind are Japanese.” Uncle Fang explains, but the deterrence from the Broomhandle Mauser in his hand is greater.
“Will you really let me go when we reach the train station?” The man confirms again.
“Definitely will let you go.”
Uncle Fang’s words, plus that gun, make the man stop hesitating.
After the car drives a bit, he points to the intersection ahead.
“Still turn left, then keep going straight; that’s Lujabang, cross the bridge and it’s the train station.”
This time, he suddenly speaks clearly, explaining the route in one breath.
“Let him go.” Fang Wen says.
The car slows and stops; the man jumps off in panic, and five silver dollars fly out with him.
The car accelerates in the direction the man indicated.
After turning left at the first intersection, it heads south all the way, encountering no more Japanese pursuers, and arrives directly at the train station.
