Episode Summary
Li Mingjing's attempt to seize control of the garrison backfires spectacularly. Feng Ji dies a hero trying to expose a Japanese plan, leading to his wife's death as well. Li Mingjing uses this to frame Zhang Zhiping, but Yamashita outmaneuvers him, reinstating Zhang Zhiping and demoting Li. As Zhang Zhiping mourns his fallen comrade, the Japanese launch a brutal new campaign against local villages, forcing the resistance into immediate, desperate battles.
Spoiler Alert
A Power Play Goes Sideways
So, Li Mingjing finally gets his feet under the desk at the garrison headquarters. His first move is to call in Feng Ji. He acts all friendly for a minute, then gets right to it. He wants the list of people who caused trouble at the county government. Feng Ji, ever prepared, hands over a detailed list. Li Mingjing’s mood sours instantly. He orders Feng Ji to send people to convince the protesting officers' wives to go home. If they don't, their husbands are fired.
Feng Ji agrees, but he's not just sitting there. He spots a secretary locking an action plan in a safe. As soon as Li Mingjing leaves to report to Satoshi Yamashita, Feng Ji circles back. He brings food and wine for the guards at Li Mingjing's office. A few drinks later, the guards are passed out. Feng Ji pulls out a key and moves toward the safe. At the same time, Yamashita is chewing out Li Mingjing. He warns him that if he can't handle the protesters, the Japanese army will step in and crush them.
A Hero's Final Stand
Just as Feng Ji grabs the action plan, he's discovered. A shootout starts. He gets hit and dies right there. It's a heroic, if tragic, end. His wife hears the gunfire and, through her grief, knows what she has to do. She immediately starts burning all of their documents.
But Li Mingjing is already on his way. He bursts in and shoots Feng Ji's wife dead. He salvages what's left of the burned papers. Even in pieces, the documents tell a story. They show Feng Ji was behind several intelligence leaks. They also show he was planning to turn another officer, Zhang Zhiping, to their side. The plan just never happened because he was exposed.
The Tables Turn on Li Mingjing
Yamashita is now seriously questioning Li Mingjing's ability to run the garrison. He figures getting rid of Zhang Zhiping is the only way for Li Mingjing to gain full control. So, Yamashita sends his man, Kuroki, to handle Zhang Zhiping. He also orders Li Mingjing to go to the county government and clear out the military families.
Li Mingjing arrives and makes a grand, terrible announcement. He tells the crowd that Zhang Zhiping has been confirmed as a Communist by the Japanese. He claims he tried to save him but failed. He says Zhang Zhiping has probably already been executed. Zhang's wife, Lü Ying, completely loses it. She lunges at Li Mingjing and, in the chaos, grabs a guard's gun.
Over at the execution grounds, Kuroki has a gun to Zhang Zhiping's head. He demands to know if he's a Communist. Zhang Zhiping, staring down death, insists he's loyal to the Japanese. Back at the county government, the chaos is still raging when Yamashita shows up. And with him is a very much alive Zhang Zhiping. Lü Ying sees her husband and runs to him, holding him tight. Yamashita announces to everyone that Zhang Zhiping has passed the investigation. He will remain the commander of the garrison. The incompetent Li Mingjing is demoted back to his old job.
New Battles Begin
Back at the garrison, Zhang Zhiping learns how Feng Ji sacrificed himself to save him. He knows he wouldn't be alive without him. He goes to the place where Feng Ji died and bows deeply. He gives a strict order to his men. They must find the body of Feng Ji's wife so the heroic couple can be buried together.
Meanwhile, Yamashita is already planning his next move. He's launching a new sweep targeting Liu Village, Cui Village, and Dawang Village. The Japanese army has shifted its strategy. They are now focusing their main forces on the Communist base areas, implementing the brutal "Three Alls Policy."
Japanese troops launch a surprise attack on Liu Village with heavy artillery, turning it to rubble. The villagers, despite heavy casualties, fight back with simple weapons. Just in time, Zhuang Qifeng arrives with reinforcements, and the Japanese are forced to retreat for now. Another Japanese unit, led by Zhuang Ziqiang, heads straight for Dawang Village. The villagers there were prepared. Led by Wang Yu and Wang Mantun, they had already evacuated into the mountains. Only the puppet village head, Wang Weichang, and his family are left. Finding the village empty, Zhuang Ziqiang immediately gives chase. On the trail, Wang Mantun and Wang Yu realize a woman named Fu Hua is missing. They make the risky choice to turn back for her and run straight into the pursuing Japanese soldiers. Wang Mantun thinks fast and orders his self-defense forces to set up an ambush.
