Episode Summary
In this episode, Ren Suning reunites briefly with a promoted Han Dayong before he returns to the front. Now in Guilin, she acquires paper to rewrite her account of the Nanjing Massacre. The city suffers a devastating bombing, during which a composer named Zhang Shu is killed while finishing his work, prompting Zhou Enlai to arrange for the protection of his family.
Spoiler Alert
A Bittersweet Reunion
The episode kicks off with a reunion that’s both welcome and heartbreaking. Ren Suning finally sees Han Dayong again. I noticed right away that he’s been promoted. The insignia on his shoulder is new. He’s a battalion commander now, which is exactly what she hoped for him.
But the good news comes with a heavy price. He tells her his unit is shipping out to the front again. This could very well be the last time they see each other. There’s no big, dramatic embrace. They don’t kiss. They just stand there and look at each other. You can feel the weight of everything they want to say in that silence.
A New Mission in a City Under Siege
The Search for Paper
Ren Suning is now in Guilin. The city is in a terrible state. Japanese planes bomb it all the time. Meanwhile, Japanese propaganda about "East Asian Co-prosperity" is plastered everywhere. It's a total lie, and everyone knows it.
The war has also created severe shortages. Basic goods are hard to find. Ren Suning just wants to buy some paper and a pen. She runs all over the city, from one shop to another. No one is selling paper.
An Unexpected Ally
Just when she’s about to give up, she spots a familiar face in the crowd. It’s a man named Ai Wu. She’s only met him once before. He happens to be carrying a thick stack of paper. She works up her courage, walks over, and asks if she can have some.
He needs the paper, too. But his attitude changes when Ren Suning explains her plan. She tells him she needs to write down the true story of the Nanjing Massacre. She has to counter the Japanese lies. Hearing this, Ai Wu gives her the entire stack. He tells her to write something worthy of the paper she holds.
Putting Pen to Paper, Again
With a pen and a fresh stack of paper, Ren Suning gets back to work. She begins to write about the nightmare she lived through in Nanjing. Her first manuscript was destroyed during her escape from the city. Now, she’s starting over. She is determined to record the crimes she witnessed with her own eyes.
Tragedy Strikes Guilin
The Bombing
The air raid sirens start screaming again. Japanese bombs rain down on the city. Buildings crumble into dust. People scatter, running for their lives. Parents grab their children and sprint toward the safety of nearby caves. Some parents use their own bodies to shield their kids from the explosions. Many don't make it.
The violence is horrific. What makes it worse is the feeling that the Nationalist government doesn't care. You can see the disappointment and anger on people’s faces. They feel abandoned. A local official tries to give a speech with a megaphone, but his words feel empty. Then, a man named Tao Xingzhi shows up. He has a better idea. He suggests having the local children put on performances in the streets to raise morale. Later, in the caves, the mood is grim. But then a teacher starts a lesson. The children take out their books and start learning. Seeing them focus on their future brings a small bit of light back into the darkness.
A Composer's Final Act
We meet a composer named Zhang Shu. He’s been working tirelessly on a new piece of music. The sirens go off. His wife grabs two of their three children and yells for him to take the last one and run.
But Zhang Shu is obsessed. He has to finish the last few lines of his song. He stays behind for just a few moments to get the words right. He finally finishes the manuscript. He pushes the door open to escape, but it’s too late. A bomb hits his house directly. He dies in the rubble, holding his young daughter.
A Hero's Legacy
The community is devastated by Zhang Shu's death. People gather to mourn him. The news eventually reaches Zhou Enlai in Chongqing. He is deeply saddened by the loss of such a talent. He immediately gives an order to protect what's left of Zhang Shu's family. He tasks Li Kenong with a secret mission. He must find Zhang Shu's wife and surviving children and escort them safely to Chongqing.
