Episode Summary
In this episode, several characters prepare to fight the Japanese. Tian Xiaogui trains a small force and leaves home to join the resistance. Hua'er convinces Xiao Baima's men to fight. Gao Yunhu struggles with his feelings for Da Kuo Zhi but remains focused on his mission. Disconnected members of the old army, including Wan Fuqing and Tang Deyuan, find signs of each other at a rendezvous point. The episode concludes with Tang Deyuan sacrificing himself to save a stranger, getting cornered by enemy police.
Spoiler Alert
The Lines Are Being Drawn
This episode felt like everyone was finally getting their act together. People are picking sides. Plans are being set in motion. It’s the deep breath before things really kick off.
Tian Xiaogui's Secret Army
Over at Master Tian’s place, he’s busy recruiting men. He puts his son, Tian Xiaogui, in charge of training them. The old man probably thinks this is all for show. He has no idea what Xiaogui is really up to.
Xiaogui is dead serious about this. He drills the new guys hard. They actually start to look like a real fighting unit. His plan is simple. He's going to take these men to fight the Japanese. He even prepares a bunch of salted duck eggs for the road. You can't fight on an empty stomach.
A Complicated Goodbye
Da Kuo Zhi sets up Gao Yunhu with a new shop for selling mountain goods. It's a nice gesture. She later shows up with a jug of good wine, ready for a real heart-to-heart. But Gao Yunhu is all business. He gives her a few quick excuses and sends her away.
He feels bad about it, though. He goes to see her later. She lays her cards on the table and tells him how she feels. He admits he likes her too. But his duty to find the army and fight is more important. She begs him to stay. He gives in, but you can tell his heart isn't in it. She knows she can't hold him. She bites his shoulder and just cries. It's a raw moment.
The Resistance Grows
Hua'er tries to talk some sense into Xiao Baima. She knows he used to be a volunteer fighter. She wants him to get that fire back. He admits he wants to fight. He just doesn't want to get his men or Hua'er killed. She tells him she'll fight right beside him. He still can't bring himself to agree.
So, Hua'er takes a different approach. She has dinner with his second and third-in-command. She finds out their mothers were also killed by the Japanese. She uses that shared pain. She tells them this is their chance for revenge. They are immediately on board. Their only worry is getting Xiao Baima to agree.
The Team Starts Coming Together
A Sign on the Tree
The old rendezvous spot finally pays off. First, Tang Deyuan finds Wan Fuqing's number carved into the tree. He is incredibly relieved. He was certain Fuqing had died in that failed escape plan.
Later, Wan Fuqing returns to the tree. He sees a new number. It's Tang Deyuan's. He bolts back to Songlin Town to tell Gao Yunhu the good news. They agree to split up to cover more ground and find him. Right after they leave, Lao Shandong shows up and also sees Tang Deyuan's mark. The whole crew is slowly finding its way back to each other.
Xiaogui Makes His Move
With his men trained, Tian Xiaogui is ready. He takes the new recruits, the guns, and all those salted duck eggs and leaves. He leaves a letter for his father. Master Tian reads it and is completely stunned.
His timing is perfect. The local official, the Baozhang, comes around asking for Xiaogui. Master Tian has to think fast. He lies and says the new guards robbed him and ran off. He claims Xiaogui got angry and left for Harbin to see a classmate. The Baozhang doesn't buy it at first. But another servant, Changshun, backs up the story with more details. He convinces the official that Master Tian and his son had a huge fight, which is why Xiaogui left. It's a flimsy story, but it works.
A Hero's Gamble
The episode ends with Tang Deyuan. He stumbles upon a man being chased by Japanese puppet police. The man is shot and wounded. Tang Deyuan doesn't hesitate. He gives the stranger his own coat and food. He tells him where to hide.
Then, Tang Deyuan deliberately draws the police away. He leads them on a chase. But they eventually surround him. He's trapped.
