Episode Summary
In this episode, Wu Shi tries to free Lin Yiliang by manipulating a rivalry between two officials. This backfires when Gu Zhengwen stages a fake rescue of Lin to use him as bait. Mao Renfeng and Duan Tuizhi then set their own trap, using the missing prisoner to identify a spy. Zhu Feng uncovers the plot at a mahjong game and sends a last-minute warning, but Wu Shi decides he must walk into the trap anyway to avoid suspicion.
Spoiler Alert
Wu Shi's Desperate Plan
So, Wu Shi needs to get Lin Yiliang out of the Secrecy Bureau's clutches. He knows the bureau's chief, Gu Zhengwen, is a real piece of work. A direct rescue is impossible.
Wu Shi decides to play mind games instead. He knows Gu Zhengwen and another official, Duan Tuizhi, can't stand each other. Wu Shi goes to Duan and stirs the pot. He makes it seem like Gu is trying to hog all the glory. It works perfectly.
Duan marches straight to his boss, Mao Renfeng, and complains. He demands they move Lin Yiliang to a public prison. He wants joint custody of the prisoner, basically. Mao caves and agrees to the transfer.
A Friend Ignored
Wu Shi now has an opening. But he and his guy Nie Xi can't pull off a prison break alone. He needs help.
He reaches out to an old contact, Chen Baocang. They fought together against the Japanese back in the day. Wu Shi sends five urgent telegrams asking for help. Chen ignores every single one. We learn Chen thinks Wu Shi is a traitor. He can't get over the fact that Wu Shi once worked as a translator for the Japanese.
The Fake Rescue
Gu Zhengwen is not happy about losing his prisoner. He has one last night with Lin Yiliang. He tortures him for information, but Lin won't break. Gu decides to use him as bait for a bigger fish.
The next morning, the transfer begins. A group of armed men suddenly ambushes the convoy. They snatch Lin Yiliang and disappear. It looks like a classic Communist rescue mission.
Nie Xi reports the news to Wu Shi. He says the Communists got Lin. But Wu Shi isn't buying it. He immediately figures Gu Zhengwen staged the whole thing. Gu didn't want Duan getting credit, so he created a fake rescue.
And he's right. Gu goes straight to Mao Renfeng and confesses. He explains he had his own men pretend to be Communists. He was worried the real guys might try something, so he beat them to it. He also tells Mao he thinks someone is manipulating Duan. Mao seems to buy it.
The Mahjong Game and a Phone Call
The spies on our side are just as confused. Nie Xi asks Zhu Feng if their people rescued Lin. She says no. The main forces are all in the mountains. No one is available for a mission like that.
Zhu Feng decides to do some digging. She gets herself invited to a mahjong game with the wives of high-ranking officials. It's a smart move. Mrs. Duan, the wife of Duan Tuizhi, is there.
At the same time, Mao Renfeng has his own plan. He goes to Duan and accuses him of staging the rescue. Duan is completely shocked. He has no idea what's going on. Mao even calls the big boss, Chiang Ching-kuo, to put pressure on Duan.
Mao then tells Duan the truth. Gu Zhengwen has Lin Yiliang hidden. Now, they're going to wait. Anyone who asks Duan about Lin Yiliang's location is the spy. To make the trap perfect, they decide to tap Duan's office phone.
Back at the mahjong game, Duan calls his wife. He says he has to work late. Mrs. Duan gets mad. Duan actually puts Mao Renfeng on the phone to calm her down.
Zhu Feng overhears everything. She realizes a major operation is happening tonight.
The Trap is Sprung
Zhu Feng bolts from the party. She rushes to warn her contacts. She needs to get a message to Wu Shi. She calls his office.
Wu Shi just left. He's on his way to see Duan Tuizhi. He's walking right into the trap.
Luckily, Nie Xi answers the phone. He gets the warning from Zhu Feng and sprints out of the office to catch Wu Shi. He gets him just in time and tells him to go back and take the call.
Wu Shi now understands. It's a setup. He even remembers seeing someone watching him in the hallway earlier. But he knows he can't back out now. That would look even more suspicious. He has to go through with the meeting.
The episode ends with Wu Shi walking into Duan's office. He pretends he's just there to trade some fancy tea. Duan plays along, but you can feel the tension. He starts asking some very pointed questions.
