Episode Summary
Zhang Zhiping initiates a city-wide uprising, coordinating with the Eighth Route Army's attack. While his men successfully sabotage Japanese artillery, his cover is blown, leading to a fatal showdown in his command post. His deputy sacrifices himself to allow Zhang to send a final signal before he is killed. Lü Ying, after finding him dead, leads a revenge attack. In the end, Zhang Zhiping is mourned as a hero, and his secret allies within the regiment reveal themselves to the main army command.
Spoiler Alert
The Uprising Begins
A Final Goodbye
The episode kicks off with Zhang Zhiping setting his final plan in motion. He gives his wife, Lü Ying, a critical job. She needs to gather all the wives and children of the security regiment officers. The cover story is a simple party with drinks and cards. The real reason is to get them to a safe house for protection. He even assigns a whole squadron to guard the house.
Their goodbye is heavy. You can feel it. Lü Ying hugs him and makes him promise to come back safely. They agree to reunite after the fighting stops. It’s one of those classic "we'll be together soon" moments that just spells doom.
The Signal
Once the Eighth Route Army starts its attack on Gucheng, the plan is a go. Zhuang Qifeng creates a diversion, making a lot of noise to help Zhang Zhiping. The main Japanese commander, Satoshi Yamashita, is no fool, though. He pulls his main forces back into the city barracks. He also sends a man named Kuroki with a small squad to "supervise" Zhang Zhiping's men at their posts.
Zhang Zhiping confirms the locations of three crucial Japanese artillery guns. Then he goes back to his command post for a face-to-face with Kuroki. He stays impossibly calm, even with Kuroki breathing down his neck. He secretly gets on the phone and gives the order for his security regiment to revolt.
Squad leader Li Deming gets the call. He and his men immediately tear off their hats, which marked them as collaborators. Then they turn and fight the Japanese soldiers stationed with them. At the same time, another squad leader, Zhao Xing, leads a team on a sneak attack. They successfully destroy the last of the Japanese heavy artillery. Just like that, the enemy's biggest advantage is gone.
Chaos in Gucheng
The Command Post Stand
Back in the command post, Zhang Zhiping’s cover is completely blown. Kuroki and the remaining Japanese soldiers charge at him. A nasty, close-quarters fight breaks out. It’s all knives and bayonets in a tiny room.
His deputy, Zhang Dali, makes a heroic last stand. He uses his own body to barricade the door against Japanese reinforcements trying to storm in. He holds them off just long enough before they throw a grenade. He dies in the explosion, buying Zhang Zhiping a few precious seconds. Zhang Zhiping uses that time to send out the final, critical signal. The main Eighth Route Army force outside the city gets it and launches their final assault, breaking through the gates.
The Tables Turn
When Yamashita hears his security regiment has rebelled, he orders his backup plan. He tells Li Mingjing and Director Jiang to capture Zhang Zhiping’s family immediately. But Li Mingjing can see which way the wind is blowing. He realizes the Japanese are finished. He quietly packs his things and escapes in the chaos.
Zhuang Ziqiang and Director Jiang are not so smart. They try to ambush Lü Ying at the safe house. They find out the hard way that she was ready for them. Lü Ying leads an ambush of her own, and the two men barely escape with their lives. They end up as casualties of Yamashita's failed plan.
The Aftermath
A Hero's Fall
Li Deming and his squad rush to the command post to help, but they are too late. They find Zhang Zhiping bleeding out. In his last moments, he tells Li Deming how much he cares for Lü Ying. He laments that he won't get to spend the rest of his life with her.
By the time Lü Ying arrives, Zhang Zhiping is already gone. She has to swallow her grief. She immediately takes command of the remaining soldiers and leads them on a counter-attack for revenge. She even manages to capture a Japanese officer named Ono herself.
The Truth Comes Out
After the Eighth Route Army takes the city, Zhuang Qifeng notices something is wrong. The number of Japanese casualties is much lower than it should be. He instantly suspects Yamashita has another trick up his sleeve. Just then, Li Deming and Zhao Xing arrive to report to him. We learn they were his secret contacts inside the regiment all along.
Zhuang Qifeng is heartbroken when he hears that Zhang Zhiping died.At the funeral, the whole town finally understands the truth. Liu Pengju cries and kneels, knowing Zhang Zhiping is the reason he switched sides. The villagers, like Lü Shicai, realize Zhang Zhiping was never a traitor. He was a hero who endured humiliation for the greater good.They all mourn him and swear to finish the fight he started.
