Episode Summary
The KMT abandons Wuhan, forcing a mass civilian evacuation. On the road, Zhou Enlai gives Bai Chongxi a copy of Mao's "On Protracted War" to build support for a long-term resistance. Meanwhile, writers and artists, including Li Kenong, gather in Wuhan to start a resistance newspaper, but they are already being watched by spies.
Spoiler Alert
The Fall of Wuhan
A City on the Move
So, Shanghai has fallen. Everyone was hoping Wuhan would be the new stronghold. A safe place under the protection of the national army.
That hope dies fast.
The Kuomintang (KMT) leadership decides to pull out of Wuhan. They're flying to Chongqing. This is bad news for the civilians left behind. They all remember the bombings in Nanjing and Shanghai. Nobody wants to be around for a repeat of the Nanjing Massacre. The city empties out. It's a mass exodus of terrified people.
A View from Above
We get a quick, powerful scene with Chiang Kai-shek. He's on the plane heading to Chongqing. He looks down from his window. He sees the ground covered with endless streams of refugees. These are his people, and they are fleeing for their lives. The show doesn't tell you what he's thinking. It just lets you sit with the image. He's the man in charge, and this is what's happening on his watch.
An Unlikely Roadside Meeting
A Book and a Favor
The story then cuts to Zhou Enlai. He's on the road when he comes across Bai Chongxi. Bai's car has broken down. Zhou stops and has his men help with the repairs. This gives the two men a moment to talk.
Bai Chongxi seems genuinely committed to the KMT and Communist cooperation. He's seen Japan's military strength firsthand, and it worries him. Looking at all the refugees passing by on the road, he's clearly anxious about the country's future.
Zhou Enlai uses this moment. He gives Bai a copy of a book written by Mao Zedong. It's called "On Protracted War." Zhou explains that the book lays out a long-term plan for victory. It argues that China can win, but not quickly. It's a strategy designed to counter Japan's push for a fast war and give the Chinese people a reason to keep fighting. Bai accepts the book and says he'll read it carefully. All the while, his secretary is standing by, watching everyone and everything like a hawk.
Before they part ways, Zhou asks for a favor. He needs help for the Salvation Daily newspaper. If Bai can help them get official approval, the paper can communicate with Chinese people living abroad. This is crucial. It would open a channel for donations to flow into the country.
Writers on the Front Line
Building a Newspaper
Wuhan has become a hub for the country's greatest minds. The docks and train stations are filled with artists, poets, and writers. We see famous names like Ai Qing, Ba Jin, and Xu Beihong. They run into each other on the streets. They all talk about the war and the nation's fate. They believe their pens can be weapons. They want to contribute, even if their words feel like a small spark. They know that a single spark can start a fire.
Xia Yan and Li Kenong also arrive in Wuhan. Their job is to establish the base for the Salvation Daily. They immediately start recruiting talented people to build a strong team. The famous artist Feng Zikai joins their ranks. You can feel the tension among these writers. They are all gathered together, worrying about China's future.
A Dangerous Shadow
The work is dangerous from the start. Li Kenong quickly realizes he's being followed. He has a tail. He doesn't know if it's KMT agents or Japanese spies, but someone is watching him.
This leads to a heavy conversation with his son. Li Kenong tells him that if he is killed, his son must take care of his mother. And if his mother is also killed, then his son's duty is to take care of the country. It's an absolutely brutal reality check.
