Episode Summary
Wang Yu sells family property to arm the resistance, while Zhuang Qifeng agrees to a painful surgery after Liu Zhumei's heartfelt plea. A book by Mao Zedong, "On Protracted War," renews the leaders' confidence. Sun Yulin betrays Liu Zuguang, tricking him into a Japanese trap in Mengshui County. Realizing he is the target, Liu Zuguang stays behind to buy time for his forces to escape, sacrificing himself in a final stand against the Japanese soldiers. In the end, Sun Yulin is rewarded by the Japanese for his treachery.
Spoiler Alert
Gearing Up
Wang Yu's Big Move
This episode kicks off with Wang Yu making a serious play. She sells off family assets to buy weapons. You can probably guess her family isn't thrilled. They argue a woman has no right to sell ancestral property. But then Fu Hua steps up. She’s carrying the last heir of the Wang family, so her voice carries weight. She gives Wang Yu her full support.
The plan works. Liu Baisong takes the money and buys a huge cache of weapons and gear. The resistance team gets a major upgrade. Wang Yu is feeling good about this. She tells them she wants to join the fight herself. Liu Zuguang shuts that down immediately. He doesn't want the Wang family's bloodline to end with her. Liu Baisong takes a softer approach. He tells her to first learn how to ride a horse and shoot. Then he gives her a small, well-made pistol.
A Change of Heart for Zhuang Qifeng
Next, Wang Yu rushes off to find Zhuang Qifeng. She tells him she already cleared his leave with Liu Zuguang and Zhou Mi. She drags him straight to a medical clinic. It turns out Liu Zhumei wants a doctor to look at his leg.
Zhuang Qifeng hears the plan. The doctor needs to break his leg again to set it properly. He's not having it. He doesn't want to go through that pain again. He also doesn't have the money for the treatment. He turns to leave.
Just then, Liu Zhumei walks in. The old doctor at the clinic speaks up. He says Zhuang Qifeng was injured fighting for his country. The treatment will be free. Zhuang Qifeng still tries to refuse. But he sees how much Liu Zhumei cares for him. After thinking it over, he gets on the operating table. Wang Yu watches this and hides a smile. She's surprised by the power of love.
A New Playbook and an Old Betrayal
Words to Win a War
That night, Zhou Mi returns from a central committee meeting. He has new orders from the top. They are going to expand the anti-Japanese bases in the Shandong region. Experienced officers and Red Army veterans are on their way to help.
Everyone is encouraged by this news. But Zhou Mi brought something even better. He has three copies of Mao Zedong's book, "On Protracted War." Zhuang Qifeng and Liu Zuguang each take a copy and stay up all night reading. The book is like a guiding light for them. It clears up their confusion and doubts. It strengthens their belief that China will win the war.
Sun Yulin's Trap
While our heroes are finding inspiration, Sun Yulin and Chen Shouzheng are plotting. Sun Yulin says his goodbyes to Chen and heads for Mengshui County. Soon after, an officer from the Mengshui County brigade comes to Liu Zuguang with a report. He says Sun Yulin arrived and claimed he had orders from Liu Zuguang to take over the county. To avoid a conflict, the county brigade pulled out.
Liu Zuguang is stunned. He never gave an order like that. He says he's going to confront Sun Yulin right away. Zhou Mi worries for his safety. He arranges for Liu Baisong's cavalry to go with him.
Sun Yulin is delighted when he hears Liu Zuguang is coming. He knows his trap has been sprung. He avoids answering Liu Zuguang's direct questions. He gives some vague excuses and then leaves with his men.
The Fall of Mengshui
Liu Zuguang's Last Stand
At the same time, the Japanese army launches a sudden attack on North China and the Shandong area. Satoshi Yamashita and Murata lead their troops into Mengshui County. Liu Baisong tries to escort Liu Zuguang out of the city. But Liu Zuguang knows the enemy's target is him. He decides to stay behind to pin them down.
He writes two letters and gives them to Liu Baisong. He orders him to ride to the county brigade and get reinforcements. Liu Baisong hesitates. Liu Zuguang makes it a direct military order.
Liu Baisong rides as fast as he can. He finds the county brigade and their captain reads the letters. Liu Zuguang's real orders are inside. He forbids anyone from coming to rescue him. They are to preserve their strength, retreat, and scatter into the mountains to fight as guerrillas. He was already prepared to die.
The Japanese army closes in. Satoshi Yamashita and his soldiers burst into Liu Zuguang's room. They find him sitting calmly at a desk. Liu Zuguang tells them this is Chinese land. He says they will defend it with their blood. He then pulls out his pistol and aims it at the soldiers. The Japanese soldiers open fire and kill him.
Zhang Zhiping watches it happen and breaks down in tears. Satoshi Yamashita orders him to send Liu Zuguang's body back to Gucheng. He specifically says not to put it in a coffin. But Zhang Zhiping finds a few men he thinks still have a conscience. He has them put the body in a proper coffin on the way back. He tells them to join the local resistance once they deliver the body. A funeral is later held for Liu Zuguang.
The Aftermath
With Mengshui County lost, the Japanese plan their next move. They intend to wipe out the guerrilla forces. They make a deal with Sun Yulin and leave Gucheng for him to control. Chen Shouzheng gets a promotion to commissioner of three counties. Sun Yulin, however, is made the security commander of five counties. The episode ends with Zhang Zhiping visiting Li Mingjing. He brings gifts and asks when he might be able to return to Gucheng.
