Episode Summary
The Japanese implement a "pacification" strategy in Liu Village, led by Kuroki and the collaborator Zhuang Ziqiang. They release a prisoner, Liu Zengxiang, as a gesture of goodwill, only to have him assassinated by men disguised as bandits, a plot orchestrated by Zhuang Ziqiang. Zhuang Qifeng's forces capture the assassins and expose the Japanese conspiracy to the villagers, sparking their anger. After the Japanese imprison the villagers for refusing forced labor, Zhuang Qifeng's troops attack the stronghold and free them, reinforcing the message that resistance is the only option.
Spoiler Alert
A Fake Peace and a Real Assassination
The Japanese are trying a new tactic in Liu Village. It’s less about brute force and more about manipulation. But as you know, it’s always a trap. This episode lays it all out.
The Japanese Try to Play Nice
The show opens with the Japanese forcing the people of Liu Village to rebuild a watchtower. It’s brutal. The supervisors use whips and fists for any delay. The village is filled with new graves, a constant reminder of their loss.
At night, Zhuang Qifeng and his squad sneak in to see the situation. He gathers the villagers and swears he'll get revenge for them. He promises to kill every Japanese soldier occupying their homes.
But the villagers don't cheer. They fall to their knees and beg him to stop. They're terrified. If he attacks, the Japanese will surely slaughter all the young men left in the village. Wang Suozhu and Wang Yu are with Zhuang Qifeng. They can't hide their disappointment at the villagers' fear. Zhuang Qifeng, however, understands. He helps the villagers up and promises he won't take action in the village that night. Later, he explains to a confused Wang Yu that their work has to be based on the people's reality. Every action must prioritize the safety and interests of the locals.
Soon after, the Japanese roll out their new strategy. A "pacification team" led by a man named Kuroki enters the village. The collaborator Zhuang Ziqiang guides them. The traitor Liu Fuli is put back in charge as the village chief. He immediately forces everyone to line up and welcome the Japanese soldiers.
Kuroki gives a completely phony speech. He talks about building a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere." He claims they want to farm and do business with the villagers. He even hands out candy and "good citizen" certificates. It’s all a show.
A Trap Is Set
The villagers, feeling a bit bolder, ask for the release of Liu Zengxiang, who was arrested earlier. At first, Kuroki flatly refuses. But then Zhuang Ziqiang whispers something in his ear. Kuroki’s attitude does a complete 180. He not only agrees to release Liu Zengxiang but says the villagers can come to the city in three days to pick him up.
Liu Guangfu reports all of this to Zhuang Qifeng. Zhuang Qifeng isn't buying it for a second. He sees right through the Japanese plan to make the villagers complacent. He decides to stick with his original plan to rescue Liu Zengxiang.
Three days later, the Japanese release Liu Zengxiang as promised. They even act like they've treated his wounds. Kuroki puts on a big show of being generous. But when Liu Zengxiang is leaving, Zhuang Ziqiang immediately goes to Kuroki to take credit. He boasts that he knew all along Liu Zengxiang was a communist. Kuroki just gives a sinister smile, hinting that the real plan is just getting started. Zhuang Ziqiang eagerly volunteers to handle the next step.
The Ambush
Liu Guangfu escorts the freed Liu Zengxiang by carriage. He tells him that Zhuang Qifeng has arranged for his entire family to be moved to a safe base. Zhuang Qifeng and his squad are hiding nearby, waiting for the right moment. They confirm there are no Japanese soldiers following the carriage.
Just as Zhuang Qifeng is about to reveal himself, three masked horsemen burst onto the road. They claim to be bandits. They pull out guns and shoot Liu Zengxiang several times. It happens fast. Qiu Jiasheng, one of Zhuang Qifeng's men, reacts quickly. He fires back and shoots the leader off his horse.
They interrogate the captured men. The "bandits" confess everything. Zhuang Ziqiang hired them to stage a robbery. The whole thing was a Japanese plot to assassinate Liu Zengxiang.
The Truth and the Aftermath
Zhuang Qifeng takes the captured assassins and parades them through Liu Village. He walks alongside them, explaining the entire Japanese conspiracy to the villagers. As people hear the truth, their fear turns to rage.
A Moment of Peace
There's a quick side story in Dawang Village. Wang Mantun has been doing a great job as the village chief. Wang Yu visits, hears the good reports, and is very satisfied. She then brings up his marriage to Fu Hua. Wang Mantun is thrilled to hear that Fu Hua is interested in him. He agrees to the marriage but worries his five children will be a burden on her. Fu Hua, however, is completely fine with it. She is ready to face any hardship with him.
The Fight for Liu Village
The peace doesn't last. The villagers from Liu Village come to Zhuang Qifeng for help. After murdering Liu Zengxiang, the Japanese, working through the traitor Liu Fuli, tried to trick the villagers. They wanted to send them to the Northeast as forced labor. The villagers saw through the lie and refused to go. As punishment, they were all locked up in the Japanese stronghold.
Zhuang Qifeng immediately sends Qiu Jiasheng to contact the advance team. The team, now commanded by Liu Baisong, mobilizes quickly. They attack the watchtower and successfully rescue all the imprisoned villagers.
This event is a harsh lesson for the people of Liu Village. Zhuang Qifeng uses the moment to drive the point home. He tells them they can never have any illusions about the Japanese. The only path to getting their homes back is to unite and fight.
