Episode Summary
Zhou Enlai ensures the family of a fallen comrade is cared for. In Guilin, a conference to condemn Japanese atrocities goes forward, where Ren Suning gives a powerful speech. The main plot shifts to a political battle over a new research association. The Nationalists try to install their preferred candidate, Yang Dongchun, as deputy, not realizing he is a secret Communist agent being guided by Zhou Enlai. The episode ends as the cautious head of the association requests a personal meeting with Yang before approving his appointment.
Spoiler Alert
A Promise to a Fallen Comrade
The episode opens in Chongqing. It's a heavy scene. Zhou Enlai is meeting with the family of Zhang Shu, who was recently killed. You can see the pain on his face when he looks at Zhang Shu's two little kids. He tells the family not to worry. He says Zhang Shu wasn't just a good husband. He was a good Party member and a great writer. The loss is felt by everyone.
Zhou Enlai arranges for the family to go to Yan'an. He promises the entire Party will help raise the children. Even in these dark, terrifying times, the Party is looking after the families of its fallen members. It’s a small moment of warmth in a very cold world.
A Voice Against Atrocity
The Conference
A month passes. We're now in Guilin. Guo Moruo is putting together an international anti-terrorism conference. He needs a powerful speaker. Li Kenong has the perfect person in mind. He suggests Ren Suning. She's the one who wrote a firsthand account of the Nanjing Massacre.
The newspaper sends Ren Suning an invitation. She is absolutely thrilled. This is her chance. She can tell the whole country about the brutality of the Japanese. She wants the world to know about their resolve to kick the invaders out.
A Failed Disruption
Over on the other side, Dai Li's spy agency hears about the conference. They are not happy about this anti-Japanese event. One of them suggests they should go disrupt the meeting. But they hesitate. If they get caught, they'll lose a lot of face. So, they back off.
For once, a plan gets to unfold without a hitch. The conference goes on safely.
The Speech
Ren Suning takes the stage. She tells her story. She is full of emotion and fights back tears. She talks about what she saw. The crowd listens, completely gripped. When she finishes, the room is filled with rage. The thought of 300,000 Chinese people being slaughtered is just horrifying. People jump to their feet. They start chanting slogans to bring down the Japanese Empire.
The Political Chess Game in Guilin
A New Organization, A New Fight
There's a lot of political maneuvering happening in Guilin. A new group is being formed. It's called the Guangxi Construction Research Association. Both the Communists and the Nationalists want to control it. The Nationalists move first. They want to stack the association with their own people. Their plan is to make a local Guilin official the head. For the deputy position, they have their eye on a writer named Yang Dongchun.
The Undercover Candidate
Here's the twist you knew was coming. The Nationalists think they are being very clever. But Yang Dongchun is secretly a Communist. Publicly, he's known as a non-partisan intellectual. He has experience as a school principal. He even tried to join the fight on the front lines. He has solid patriotic credentials.
Zhou Enlai hears about this. He thinks it over very carefully. He decides this is a golden opportunity. He will help Yang Dongchun get the position. Zhou Enlai even meets with Yang personally to have a long talk.
The Secret Meeting
Yang Dongchun follows Zhou Enlai's advice. He travels from Changsha to Guilin. Li Kenong is there to meet him at the station. Li tells him who his protection detail will be. He also gives him a crucial piece of information. If he ever needs to make contact in an emergency, he should go to 138 Guibei Road.
A Cautious Target
The local official, Huang Xuchu, gets the appointment. He is now the head of the Guangxi Construction Research Association. Huang is a very careful man. He wants to fill the other positions with people his superiors will trust. He asks Secretary Xie, an aide to the powerful general Bai Chongxi, for a list of good candidates.
Secretary Xie recommends Yang Dongchun. He tells Huang that Bai Chongxi thinks very highly of Yang. He praises Yang's intelligence and his experience in education. But Huang Xuchu is a sly fox. He doesn't know Yang personally. He wants to meet the man for himself before making any decisions. Secretary Xie agrees to set it up.
