Episode Summary
In this episode, the party uses patriotism and art to rally support during the war. Li Kenong masterminds a brilliant deception, using a decoy truck full of grain to sneak a valuable printing press past enemy checkpoints. Meanwhile, artists and writers find new, more realistic ways to contribute to the cause.
Spoiler Alert
Patriotism and Problems
Songs, Books, and a Jealous Businessman
The episode kicks off with a really powerful moment. Chinese music is getting popular abroad. Tian Han is overwhelmed with emotion. He leads everyone in singing the "March of the Volunteers." It’s a wartime anthem. You can feel the passion as they sing. It’s a cry of defiance.
This energy is spreading everywhere. While soldiers fight on the front lines, artists are creating work to inspire people. More and more folks are joining the resistance. Even overseas Chinese are pitching in. They send money, medicine, and supplies. It shows everyone is united, no matter where they are.
The city of Guilin is buzzing with this energy. Progressive books and newspapers are everywhere. New bookstores are popping up all over the place. Of course, someone had to get greedy. One bookstore owner goes to a local warlord. He wants the warlord to shut down all his competitors. He wants to be the only game in town.
The warlord basically tells him to get lost. The political situation is complicated right now. The Nationalists and Communists have a fragile truce. The warlord isn't about to rock the boat for one guy's business. The bookstore owner leaves with nothing.
A Storm is Coming
Things are getting tense for our guys. The Communist Party's printing press in Guangzhou gets shut down by the authorities. Li Kenong has a bad feeling about this. He knows the political winds are shifting.
Xia Yan comes to him with some news. Overseas supporters have raised money for brand new printing equipment. Xia Yan wants to know if they should go big and print more newspapers. Li Kenong tells him to slow down. He’s always thinking three steps ahead.
He gives Xia Yan two priorities. First, get the new equipment back safely. Second, protect the newspaper staff at all costs. They need an emergency plan ready to go. People are more important than machines.
At the same time, enemy spies in Guilin check in with their bosses. They want to know what to do next. The order they get back is simple. "Do not act." This is a huge break for our side. It gives them the time they need to prepare for what's coming.
The Great Printing Press Heist
A Close Call in Changsha
Now we get to the main event. The situation in Changsha is critical. The authorities just raided a newspaper office. Our side acts fast. They get trusted allies to help move their printing equipment before it can be seized.
Li Kenong goes to Guo Moruo for help. Guo Moruo has an official government position. He cleverly filed the right paperwork ahead of time. So when the warlord’s soldiers show up to confiscate the equipment, they are stopped in their tracks. They see the official documents giving permission for the move. They can't do anything but back off. That was a close one.
The Checkpoint Deception
But they aren't safe yet. A truck, supposedly carrying the equipment, heads out with its new travel permit. It reaches a military checkpoint. The guards here have very specific orders. They were told to stop any truck carrying a printing press.
The driver plays his part perfectly. He acts annoyed and reluctantly gets out of the truck. He orders his men to open the back. The soldiers at the checkpoint raise their guns. They rush forward, ready to seize the press.
They throw open the doors and find... grain. Just a truck full of food and other basic supplies. There is no printing equipment anywhere. The enemy soldiers are completely baffled and frustrated. Our guys on the truck just shrug, playing dumb. The truck gets waved through the checkpoint.
The Real Handoff
So where was the press? After clearing the checkpoint, the truck meets up with a simple horse-drawn cart. The cart is loaded with hay. Hidden deep inside that hay is the real printing equipment. They quickly transfer the press from the cart to the truck. Then the truck speeds away.
It was a brilliant shell game. The soldiers are in awe of the plan. And who came up with it? Li Kenong, of course.
The Power of Art
A Writer's Breakthrough
The episode also checks in with the artists. Wang Luyan the writer has been struggling. Ba Jin once told him that good literature has to be connected to the real world. It needs soil to grow.
After spending time observing everyday life, Wang Luyan finally understands. He writes a new piece. It’s raw, real, and moving. The newspaper's editors love it. They approve it unanimously and ask him to send them more of his work. He found his voice by looking at the world around him.
New Projects, New Methods
A man named Sun Ling shows up in Guilin. He used to work for Guo Moruo. He wants to start a new magazine. Xia Yan checks with Guo Moruo first. Sun Ling explains that he already did. He originally wanted to be a war correspondent in Yan'an. But Guo Moruo gave him some advice. He said Yan'an already had a strong voice. The real work was needed in the Nationalist-controlled areas like Guilin. A magazine there could make a real difference. With Guo Moruo's approval, Xia Yan gives the project a green light.
The episode ends with a play rehearsal. The director, Jiao Juyin, is teaching the actors a new style. He wants them to be more grounded and realistic. He helps them connect with their characters on a deeper level. The actors are excited. They've never tried anything like this before. They are determined to make the play a success.
