Episode Summary
The Chinese forces suffer a devastating loss at Gucheng, leading to Peng Yong's heroic last stand and death. As the survivors regroup to wage guerrilla warfare, they reject an offer from the Nationalists. Liu Baisong is ordered to a military university but resists, believing it to be a punishment, while personal relationships and local power struggles become more complicated.
Spoiler Alert
The Battle of Gucheng
A Bloody Defeat
The episode kicks off right in the middle of the fight for Gucheng. It's not going well. Liu Baisong is facing an enemy with way more firepower, and his tactics are getting his soldiers killed. He's stubborn. He orders his men to hold their position no matter what. This decision leads to over half his forces being wiped out.
Just as Liu Baisong gathers the few survivors for a final, desperate charge, backup arrives. Peng Yong and his advance team break through the enemy lines. He doesn't waste time. He orders Liu Baisong to retreat immediately.
Peng Yong's Last Stand
Liu Baisong doesn't want to leave his post. Peng Yong basically has to force him to go, but Liu Baisong leaves his guard platoon behind. He and his remaining troops disappear into the night.
On the battlefield, Peng Yong and about thirty soldiers are left to hold off the Japanese army. They are massively outnumbered. A brutal, hand-to-hand fight breaks out. By the time the sun rises, Peng Yong is the only one left standing, holding a bent sword. When a Japanese sergeant charges him, Peng Yong uses his last bit of strength to swing his blade, and they both go down.
Later, the Japanese are cleaning up the battlefield. Satoshi Yamashita finds Peng Yong's body and recognizes him as the leader of the advance team.
The Aftermath
A New Strategy
With Gucheng lost, the Japanese use it as a base for their operations. Zhou Mi leads the survivors into the mountains. They talk about what went wrong in the battle. They decide their only option is to regroup and start fighting a guerrilla war.
An Offer They Can Refuse
The Nationalist government has set up a new war zone command in the area. An officer named Han Gang shows up to recruit them. He wants the advance team to officially join the Nationalist forces.
Zhuang Qifeng cuts to the chase. He asks if Han Gang brought any food or ammo. Han Gang admits he has nothing to offer but high-ranking military titles. Zhou Mi turns him down flat. He says they will only take orders from the Eighth Route Army. Before he leaves, Han Gang has a private word with Liu Baisong.
Local Drama and Shifting Loyalties
Power Plays in Town
Back in Gucheng, Li Mingjing returns and marries his third concubine. He later visits Zhang Zhiping and insists on arranging a marriage for him. Li Mingjing mentions that everyone is saying Zhang Zhiping is a commander with no soldiers left.
Elsewhere, Lü Shicai is losing sleep over his daughter's engagement. He goes to call it off, but his own daughter, Lü Ying, kicks him out of the house. In Dawang Village, Zhuang Ziqiang has returned home and is acting like a big shot. Wang Weichang begs him for help getting back property that was taken from Wang Xiangfo's family. He offers Zhuang Ziqiang 300 acres of land and a mansion as a reward.
Orders and Heartbreak
A Difficult Assignment
Zhou Mi returns with a last request from a fallen comrade, Liu Zuguang. His dying wish was for his children, Liu Baisong and Liu Zhumei, to go study at the military university in Yan'an. Liu Zhumei is happy for the opportunity. Liu Baisong is not. He thinks it's a punishment for his failure at Gucheng. Zhou Mi insists it's not, but Liu Baisong, with his German military training, believes his place is on the front lines.
Confessions and Convictions
Before she is set to leave, Liu Zhumei confesses her feelings to Zhuang Qifeng. He clearly likes her too, but he feels he isn't good enough for her now that she's heading to the prestigious university. She tells him he is talented and shouldn't think that way.
Wang Yu finds Liu Baisong and tries to cheer him up. He tells her he isn't sad about being criticized. The battle for Gucheng made him realize just how outmatched they are. He knows the war will be long and hard. He then offers to teach her how to ride a horse and later admits to his sister that he has feelings for Wang Yu.
The episode ends with Lü Ying and her father showing up to see Zhuang Qifeng. She demands that he help her find Zhang Zhiping.
