Episode Summary
Wu Shi must travel to Hong Kong to pass vital intelligence about Nationalist troop movements. His trip is a high-profile public relations event, making his secret mission incredibly difficult. Watched by his own escorts and a separate team of spies led by the suspicious Gu Zhengwen, his initial attempt to pass information at a pharmacy fails. Cornered, Wu Shi devises a new plan to use a press event on his warship as cover, while also cleverly instigating infighting between the rival intelligence agencies tailing him.
Spoiler Alert
The Mission That's Not a Mission
So, Wu Shi has a huge problem. He needs to get critical intel to the Communists about Chiang Kai-shek's plan to send Hu Lian's army to reinforce Hong Kong. His usual contacts in Taiwan are gone. One is dead and the other flipped. He's completely cut off.
His only option is to pass the information through the underground network in Hong Kong. But he can't just book a flight. He needs an official reason to go. He manages to get himself assigned to a high-profile trip. The cover story is a big arms deal with the Americans. Chiang Kai-shek wants a massive show of force. Wu Shi is ordered to take the Taikang, Chiang's former personal warship. He's supposed to host a fancy party and sign the deal on the open ocean. It's all about showing the world how tight the Nationalists and the Americans are.
Family Drama and Goodbyes
A Worried Wife
Back home, things get complicated. Wu Shi tries to be slick and have his aide, Nie Xi, pack his bags for him. He wants to slip out of the house without a fuss. His wife, Wang Bikui, is not an idiot. She immediately knows something is wrong and starts packing her own bags to go with him.
Wu Shi tries to talk her down, but she isn't having it. Then, a call comes in from his superior, Zhou Zhirou, with the final mission details. Wang Bikui overhears everything. She realizes how dangerous this trip is. She decides to stay behind so she won't be a liability. Instead, she goes to the kitchen to make his favorite pineapple cakes. It's a quiet, heartbreaking way of saying goodbye.
Nie Xi's Troubles
Wu Shi's loyal aide, Nie Xi, has his own problems. He's also packing for the trip when his wife, Gao Xiumei, gets home. She wants him to ask Wu Shi for a huge favor. She wants the boss to pull strings to get their kid out of Fuzhou and bring them to Taiwan. Nie Xi refuses. He doesn't want to burden Wu Shi with personal matters. Gao Xiumei is furious and storms out. It just adds another layer of stress to an already impossible situation.
The Cat-and-Mouse Game Begins
The Hunter Arrives First
You knew it was coming. The bloodhound, Gu Zhengwen, is absolutely convinced Wu Shi is a spy. He goes to his own boss, the infamous spymaster Mao Renfeng, and asks to follow Wu Shi to Hong Kong.Gu Zhengwen hops a plane and gets there before Wu Shi's ship even leaves port. He links up with the local station chief, who promises to help him set the trap.
The First Plan Goes Sideways
Wu Shi and Nie Xi are on the warship to Hong Kong. They only have two days. The clock is ticking. Wu Shi's plan is simple. He'll meet with the American, Walker, and then use a break to meet his real contact, Wan Jingguang.
Of course, the plan falls apart instantly. They were supposed to meet at a hotel. But Walker decides to be helpful and meets Wu Shi right at the pier. Wu Shi has no time to adapt. He's stuck. To make it worse, agents from the secret service's second department are glued to his side. He can't make a move.
A Desperate Attempt and a New Strategy
The Pharmacy Drop Fails
After a tour of an armory with Walker, Wu Shi sees a small opening. He tells his escort, Director Zhang, that he needs to pop into a pharmacy to buy some medicine. Zhang insists on going with him. On the way, Wu Shi spots another car tailing them. He cleverly sends Zhang to investigate. The tail is one of Gu Zhengwen's men, who panics and flees.
Wu Shi gets inside the pharmacy and finds his contact, Wan Jingguang. He tries to pass the intel hidden in a roll of cash. Just as the exchange is about to happen, Director Zhang comes back in and insists on paying for the medicine himself. Wu Shi has to snatch his money back, intel and all. The drop is a total failure.
Using the Press
Now Wu Shi is really cornered. He's being watched from all sides. He comes up with a brilliant new plan. He tells Nie Xi to invite all the local reporters to the warship. He publicly announces that the signing ceremony is happening that night. This creates a public spectacle. It's the perfect cover for a secret meeting. Wan Jingguang sees the story in the newspaper and understands the signal. He decides to go to the ship himself.
Infighting Among the Spies
Here's where it gets really interesting. Wu Shi uses the factions within the Nationalist intelligence services against each other. He complains to his official minder, Director Zhang, about the other spies who were tailing him. Zhang sends his own men to investigate. They capture Gu Zhengwen's agents.
Under interrogation, the agents admit they were sent by Gu Zhengwen, who works for Mao Renfeng. When this news travels up the chain of command, Zhou Zhirou (Wu Shi's boss) is furious. His man is being spied on by another department. He orders a full investigation. This internal chaos is the perfect distraction. It might just give Wu Shi the opening he needs.
