Episode Summary
After his rescue, Liu Zuguang officially joins the Communist resistance and becomes a public figure in the fight against Japan, while Yamashita consolidates power in Gucheng by promoting Li Mingjing and recruiting local bandits. Liu firmly rejects an offer from the Nationalists, praising the Communists' dedication. A romance begins to form between Liu's daughter and the local leader Zhuang Qifeng, and the episode ends with the Communists planning an attack on Gucheng, armed with new intelligence from an inside source.
Spoiler Alert
Our Homeland (2025) Episode 8: New Alliances, Old Grudges
Episode 8 of Our Homeland (2025) begins with the fallout from Liu Zuguang's successful rescue. The Japanese commander, Satoshi Yamashita, is absolutely furious, seeing the escape as a major humiliation. His subordinate, Ono, is eager to chase them down, but Yamashita smartly holds him back. He knows his forces are stretched thin in Gucheng county, and a reckless pursuit could leave the city defenseless. His plan is to wait for reinforcements after the main front-line battles are over and then crush Liu and the communist guerrillas in one fell swoop.
In a clever political move, Yamashita doesn't punish Li Mingjing for the security failure. Instead, he promotes him to be the new county governor of Gucheng. This "carrot and stick" approach works perfectly, and a grateful Li pledges his undying loyalty. When Yamashita hints at his troop shortage, Li immediately suggests recruiting two local bandit leaders, Erheitou and Sun Yulin, to bolster their forces.
Meanwhile, Liu Zuguang and his family, with help from Lü Shicai, have safely escaped the city and finally meet up with Zhou Mi and the communist forces. Liu is incredibly thankful and completely disillusioned with the corrupt Nationalist government. He's impressed by the Communists' determination to fight the Japanese against all odds and decides to join their cause. Thanks to an old family friendship with Wang Xiangfo, Liu's family is given a safe house in Dawang Village, with guerrilla fighters led by Peng Yong standing guard. That night, a conversation with Zhou Mi brings devastating news: Liu's old classmate, Wu Ming, has been killed. This tragedy hardens Liu's resolve to fight back.
On the advice of a senior comrade, Old Zhou, Liu agrees to use his public influence. He sends a telegram across the country, publicly declaring his anti-Japanese stance and officially joining the Communist-led "Yizhou Five-County Anti-Japanese National Salvation Association" as a vice-chairman. This move makes waves in Gucheng and puts a target on his back.
The Japanese plan to absorb local bandits starts to move forward. Erheitou accepts the Japanese uniforms and weapons from Li Mingjing, pretending to join them. Secretly, he tells his men to just play along and focus on getting what they can for themselves. At the same time, Chen Shouzheng, a former Nationalist party official, tries to win Liu Zuguang back. He visits Liu, claiming to be a messenger from the provincial Chairman Shen. He offers Liu a high-ranking position as a commissioner and security commander for the Nationalists if he'll come to Linqing.
Chen warns Liu to stay away from the Communists, but Liu isn't having it. He passionately defends the Communists as the true patriots fighting for the people, while blasting the Nationalists for their corruption and for giving up territory to the Japanese. He tells Chen to go back and tell the chairman he'll report in only after he's made real contributions to the war effort. Defeated, Chen returns to Sun Yulin's camp, and the two conspire about their next moves.
Back in Dawang Village, life is improving. Thanks to the rent-reduction policies led by Zhuang Qifeng, the village celebrates its first big wheat harvest. The grateful villagers even help harvest Zhuang's fields first. Watching this, Liu Zuguang is deeply impressed by Zhuang's leadership. That evening, Liu hosts a dinner to thank Zhuang for his help. He notices a spark between his daughter, Liu Zhumei, and Zhuang and privately encourages her to follow her heart.
The episode closes with strategy and new beginnings. Zhou Mi meets with Liu to discuss plans for attacking Gucheng, revealing a crucial piece of intelligence: they have an undercover agent, Zhang Zhiping, inside the enemy's camp. Meanwhile, Liu Zhumei, now in charge of the local Women's Salvation Association, seeks Zhuang Qifeng's help to recruit more women to the cause, setting new plans in motion.
