Episode Summary
Kaji Wataru, a Japanese anti-war activist, survives an assassination attempt with Li Kenong's help. On the same day, his wife gives birth to their child in China. Ren Suning finally gets her wish and is transferred to Yan'an, where she immediately volunteers for a dangerous assignment on the front lines.
Spoiler Alert
A Fresh Start and a Bad Name
The newspaper office is finally getting back on its feet. After the last bombing destroyed their equipment, they managed to get a new printing press. It’s a relief to see them up and running again.
Sun Ling is also starting a new magazine. He finds a wooden board and writes the name on it himself. He calls it the "Pen Troop." After he hangs the sign, a man walks into the office. His name is Kaji Wataru. He sees the sign and immediately tells Sun Ling to change it.
It turns out "Pen Troop" is a Japanese propaganda term. It's a lie they use to make their invasion sound noble. Kaji advises him not to use such a dirty name for his magazine. Sun Ling guesses the man is Japanese. But since he's against the name, he must be part of the anti-war movement.
A Misunderstanding and a New Assignment
Things get complicated fast. A cleaning lady in the office hears them speaking Japanese. Her father, mother, and brother were all killed by the Japanese. She has a deep, personal hatred for them. She starts shouting to catch the Japanese soldier.
Sun Ling has to grab her and calm her down. He tries to explain the situation. Luckily, Ren Suning walks by just then. Sun Ling asks her to help explain things to the distraught woman.
Speaking of Ren Suning, she's been pushing to get to the front lines. She wants to be a war correspondent. Everyone respects her for being so brave. Her boss, the editor-in-chief, finally agrees. He’s sending her to Yan'an, where they need patriotic people. When Ren Suning hears the news, her eyes fill with tears. She is so excited she doesn't even think about the danger. Another writer, Xia Yan, is moved by her spirit. He says that with people like her, China will have a better future.
A Target in Guilin
The Japanese military has its own plans. An officer named Nakano Ippei learns that Kaji Wataru is in Guilin. He> Outlining the Structure
\n
Alright, I've got the main points for each section mapped out. Intro, conflict, assassination, and Ren Suning's new gig. The characters and plot beats are all in the right order. Now I need to add some grit! I'm leaning into the action, and am thinking how to best use the short and punchy style. This will be fun!
immediately sends a squad to assassinate him.
This is serious. Li Kenong, a Communist Party agent, risks his life to meet with Kaji. The anti-war alliance is gaining momentum. They want to hold a big conference. The goal is to expose the Japanese army's inhumane actions to the world.
Kaji gets very emotional during their meeting. He tells Li Kenong that Japanese agents have been trying to kill him and his wife for days. The only reason they are alive is because the Communist Party keeps moving them. He also says some comrades died while protecting them. Li Kenong promises to do everything he can to keep Kaji safe during the conference.
Birth and Bullets
The day of the conference arrives. Just as expected, Nakano Ippei's assassins attack. Li Kenong is ready for them. He has a lot of experience with counter-assassination tactics. He manages to protect Kaji and get him out safely.
At the same time, Kaji's wife, Ikeda Kyoko, goes into labor. The birth is very difficult. She is in terrible pain. The Chinese Communist Party sends for a doctor right away. Thanks to their help, Ikeda Kyoko successfully gives birth to a healthy baby.
Kaji survives the assassination attempt and rushes home. He sees his wife and newborn child, both safe. He picks up the baby and just cries. He says his child was born in China. It makes him love this country even more. He is certain Japan's invasion will fail.
Arrival in Yan'an
Ren Suning makes it to Yan'an. The place is not what she imagined. The soil is poor and the conditions are tough. But the people are all cheerful and full of life. They sing and laugh every day. A comrade explains it to her. He says the people here live with hope. Their revolutionary spirit is strong.
Ren Suning then learns they need a correspondent to report from the front lines. She volunteers without a second's hesitation. She wants to be there. She wants to see the Japanese army defeated with her own eyes. It's the only way she feels she can get revenge for her parents.
