A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 1 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
In 1941, occupied Suzhou was a battleground where Japanese invaders, the Wang puppet regime, Chongqing spies, and the CPC underground forces contended for control. Amidst this turmoil, Gu Yizhong, an architect from a prominent family, found himself unexpectedly drawn into the struggle. Gu Yizhong met with Xiao Ruotong, a member of the CPC underground. She presented him with a fountain pen engraved with "Gift for Yizhong," a gesture that held deeper meaning for him.
Yizhong eagerly asked if this gift signaled acceptance of the request he made in a letter, but Ruotong responded only with a subtle smile and silence. Ruotong revealed that Zhongxi Tailang, a senior intelligence officer associated with the Japanese Communist Party and Comintern working undercover, had been arrested by No. 90 and was held at Yiyuan (Garden of Pleasance). The mission of the Iron Blood Action Group was to rescue him at all costs.
Yizhong's detailed map of Yiyuan, drawn from memory, was crucial. Although initially assigned an outside role, Yizhong insisted on guiding the action group, led by Liu Ge (also known as Junxia), inside the garden, arguing his commitment to the resistance. Liu Ge agreed, instructing Yizhong to lead them to the library and then return.
He also gave Yizhong crucial instructions: if he heard gunshots after they entered, he was to count down sixty seconds; if they didn't emerge, he was to go to the Sitong Rice Store and inform Lao Chang to retreat immediately. Gu Yizhong guided Liu Ge and the team into Yiyuan. However, they soon realized they had walked into an ambush meticulously planned by Zhou Zhifei, the Director of the Suzhou agent station, No. 90. A fierce gun battle erupted.
Tragically, all six members of the action team, except for Gu Yizhong, were killed. In his final moments, a gravely wounded Liu Ge urged Gu Yizhong to go to Good Friends Cafe at 8 p. m. the next day to meet their contact, code-named Eagle. Gu Yizhong was captured and taken to No. 90. Zhou Zhifei subjected him to brutal interrogation, demanding the identity of Eagle and any traitors within the resistance.
Despite torture, Gu Yizhong refused to yield, suspecting a traitor had betrayed their mission. During the interrogation, Zhou Zhifei noticed the engraved pen Yizhong carried. Recognizing it as an expensive Parker pen with the inscription "Gift for Yizhong," Zhou Zhifei speculated it was from a girlfriend. He threatened to find her, suggesting she might be the person who escaped the scene, attempting to leverage her safety to force Yizhong's cooperation.
Gu Yizhong met his gaze but remained silent, his resolve hardening to protect his comrades. Meanwhile, following the failed Yiyuan operation, Xiao Ruotong hurried to the Sitong Rice Store, a known liaison point, but was urgently warned by the underground network to retreat. At the same location, Gu Huizhong, Yizhong's sister and an underground liaison operating the radio, was with comrade Hu Zhiping.
Alerted to approaching agents, Hu Zhiping quickly directed Gu Huizhong to take cover and then detonated a device to cover their escape and impede pursuit. Hu Zhiping and Gu Huizhong had planned to connect with Eagle, but the exposure of their liaison post at the Sitong Rice Store made it unsafe. Given that Gu Huizhong was pregnant, Hu Zhiping advised that the safest place for her would be Gu's Garden, under the protection of her father, Gu Xixing.
Gu Xixing was a highly respected figure, a graduate of Baoding Military Academy, a former Major General commanding the 21st Division during the Northern Expedition, and held in high regard even by Chiang Kai-shek. Japanese Major Kondo Masao had repeatedly attempted to recruit him for the "peace movement" but had been refused. At No. 90, Huang Xinzhai, the Vice Director, informed Kondo Masao that Gu Yizhong had been arrested.
Kondo went to Gu Garden, bringing Gu Yizhong's pen as a tool of leverage. He attempted to pressure Gu Xixing into accepting the position of magistrate of Wu County, appealing to the safety of his son and the continuation of the family lineage, which spanned over twenty generations. Gu Xixing remained firm in his refusal, declaring himself retired and unwilling to collaborate.
Kondo threatened to execute Gu Yizhong, but Gu Xixing defiantly stated that for a good man to die for his country was a commendable thing. Gu Xixing then instructed his steward, Fu Gui, to see Kondo out and retrieve the pen, adding that Kondo should be familiar with the way to No. 90, as it was formerly Mr. Chiang's villa. Gu Huizhong arrived at Gu Garden shortly after Kondo's departure, confirming that Hu Zhiping had been killed.
She learned of Yizhong's dangerous situation. Fu Gui was sent to gather more information. Gu Xixing, Gu Huizhong, and Fu Gui discussed Yizhong's predicament. Gu Xixing lamented sending Yizhong abroad to study architecture specifically to keep him out of politics, acknowledging that in times of national crisis, no one could truly escape entanglement.
Fu Gui suggested seeking help from Gao Guanwu, a high-ranking official in the Wang puppet regime (and also mentioned Chen Qun), but Gu Xixing vehemently refused to seek help from traitors and ethnic betrayers. Realizing that Yizhong's life was being used to coerce him into collaboration, Gu Xixing grappled with the painful conflict between his son's safety and his national loyalty.
When Fu Gui and A Qi prepared to rally about a squad's worth of men for a prison break, Gu Xixing stopped them, recognizing the futility of such a small force attempting to storm No. 90. He ordered the gates closed and forbade anyone from the Gu family from leaving the premises. Meanwhile, at No. 90, Section Chief Lian Jinhai ordered several prisoners taken out for execution, deeming them useless if they would not confess or join the peace movement.
Huang Xinzhai attempted to intervene regarding Gu Yizhong, reminding Lian Jinhai that Kondo had plans for him related to Gu Xixing and killing him would disrupt the Major's efforts. Lian Jinhai dismissed Huang Xinzhai's concerns, questioning his loyalty and accusing him of coveting the Director's position. The prisoners, identified as being from the New Fourth Army, were led out, singing defiant revolutionary songs. Zhou Zhifei ordered Gu Yizhong sent to Wangshudun, an execution ground outside the city.
Duan Wentao, Chief of the Intelligence Department, subsequently reported the supposed execution to Kondo. Later, Zhou Zhifei explained his actions to Kondo, defending his authority to handle Chinese matters and stating Secretary-General Li had approved the execution.
He then revealed his actual plan: he had "borrowed" Gu Yizhong, sending him to Wangshudun not for final execution related to Kondo's plan, but to use him to extract information about the New Fourth Army's base at Taihu Lake, promising to return him afterward. Ignorant of Zhou Zhifei's deception, Xiao Ruotong rushed to Gu's Garden to inform Gu Xixing and Gu Huizhong that Yizhong was being taken to Wangshudun for execution.
Hearing this, Gu Xixing immediately prepared to go to Wangshudun with Fu Gui, ordering the car to be prepared. At Wangshudun, the prisoners were ordered off the trucks and told to kneel. One prisoner, Liu Qiangbao from the New Fourth Army's 16th Brigade, 1st Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 8th Company, quietly instructed Gu Yizhong not to look back, telling him he had someone waiting and couldn't die yet.
Liu Qiangbao planned to create a distraction, telling Yizhong to seize the opportunity to run and escape to the base if possible and report that Liu Qiangbao had remained loyal. When Yizhong asked about the base's location, Liu Qiangbao replied that he didn't know or couldn't provide the information. As the prisoners were ordered to kneel, Liu Qiangbao began shouting "Down with Fascists!" his voice cut short as the scene unfolded.
