A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 30 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
At a dinner party hosted by Yuqing and Zhou Zhifei, attended by guests including Commander Luo Wuqiang, Lu Junnuo, Gu Yizhong, Haimo, Wang Zemin, and Lyuzhu, featuring authentic Suzhou cuisine, Yuqing had previously mentioned to Zhou Zhifei the story of a valuable diamond ring she desired but couldn't afford, which ended up with Commander Luo, reportedly given to a teacher named Lu.
This detail prompted Zhou Zhifei's interest and was part of the reason for the dinner, which Yuqing aimed to strengthen ties between Luo, Lu, and the Gu family. During the dinner, Director Zhou Zhifei engaged Lu Junnuo in conversation about her education, learning she attended Soochow University in Shanghai.
He then specifically brought up Gu Yizhong's former acquaintance, Xiao Ruotong, who also attended Soochow University and was later identified as a female communist, causing trouble for Gu Yizhong by being noted in his files. Zhou Zhifei's line of questioning clearly aimed at probing both Gu Yizhong and Lu Junnuo, hinting at suspicion about Lu Junnuo's identity or connections.
Commander Luo Wuqiang quickly intervened, deflecting the conversation and stating that Lu Junnuo was a distinguished person not to be compared to Xiao Ruotong. Zhou Zhifei playfully denied being suspicious, saying he'd be acting like he was at No. 90 if Commander Luo wasn't present, prompting complaints from others about his interrogation habits and suggesting the dinner felt like a trap. The conversation later shifted to the ongoing World War.
Gu Yizhong, drawing on his American education, predicted Italy's eventual collapse following the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, suggesting difficulty for the Axis powers and a potential rise in the U. S. dollar. Wang Zemin agreed, advising continued investment in dollars. After the dinner, some female guests, including Yuqing and Haimo, played mahjong. Lyuzhu, observing, asked Haimo about Lyuzhu herself, and Haimo identified Lyuzhu as being associated with Mr. Li.
Lyuzhu then speculated that this meant Lyuzhu was also a female agent. Separately, in a private conversation between Haimo and Xiao Ruotong (in her guise as Lu Junnuo), Haimo commented on Lu Junnuo's demeanor and excellent performance, noting that if she hadn't known Lu Junnuo's true identity beforehand, she would have been completely convinced. Haimo also denied feeling jealous but expressed concern for Gu Yizhong.
In a private conversation between Zhou Zhifei and Yuqing, Zhou instructed Yuqing to gather all their legal tender, Japanese yen, and military tickets to be exchanged for U. S. dollars in Shanghai. He expressed a lack of confidence in the current situation and wanted to prepare for potential economic turmoil, suggesting either Wang Zemin or Yuqing's brother handle the exchange, as he didn't fully trust Wang Zemin with such a large sum.
Utilizing Haimo's scheduled performance as a ballad singer at General Officer Kobayashi's residence as a diversion, Gu Yizhong accompanied her under the pretense of being her husband and taking photos to document the event. While Haimo performed, Gu Yizhong accessed General Officer Kobayashi's office and photographed important documents related to the "Wu Plan." During his escape, he fell and was discovered by Ono. Ono confronted Gu Yizhong about the camera and its contents, which could be life-threatening.
Gu Yizhong challenged Ono by highlighting the Japanese occupation and exploitation of Chinese resources, arguing that their actions constituted the real theft and greater crime. Despite the tense encounter, Ono ultimately returned the camera and did not report Gu Yizhong. Gu Yizhong later told Haimo he had obtained the photos and needed to develop them urgently. The organization dispatched Wang Mingzhong to meet Gu Yizhong in Suzhou.
However, shortly after Wang Mingzhong arrived in Suzhou and checked into Room 203 of the Zhaowen Hotel, men from No. 90, led by Captain Zhang, apprehended him. Wang Mingzhong was taken to No. 90 for interrogation but refused to cooperate, remaining completely silent despite Captain Zhang's efforts. Captain Zhang reported to Director Zhou Zhifei that their prisoner was proving very difficult, but Director Zhou insisted he must not die during interrogation.
Xiao Ruotong (as Lu Junnuo) discussed Wang Mingzhong's arrest with Xiao Junxia (Liu Ge). Junxia noted that according to organizational rules, their group, being Wang Mingzhong's direct operatives, should immediately cease all activities and withdraw. However, Xiao Ruotong refused to abandon their mission and insisted on rescuing Wang Mingzhong. She informed Junxia that she had telegraphed Director Lin of the Ministry of Political Affairs to request approval for a rescue plan.
Following the plan, Xiao Junxia met with Commander Luo Wuqiang, accompanied by two of Luo's trusted men, including Lin Guoping. Junxia presented a note from Director Lin and introduced himself as a special agent from the New Fourth Army's Suzhou-Shanghai Liaison Office. He requested Commander Luo's assistance in rescuing Wang Mingzhong from No. 90. Initially, Commander Luo reacted hostilely, even ordering Junxia killed.
He contrasted the offers he received from the Wang regime (Zhou Fohai offering status as tax police, Mr. Li offering 30 million) and demanded to know what the New Fourth Army could offer. Junxia appealed to Commander Luo's sense of honor and his relationship with his troops, arguing that only by cooperating with the New Fourth Army could they live honorably and avoid being labeled traitors by history.
He spoke of the national united front against Japan and the success of the New Fourth Army in Southern Jiangsu. Commander Luo, visibly affected, rescinded the order to kill Junxia and released him, asking how long Wang Mingzhong had been held. Gu Yizhong had planned to meet a contact at Canglang Pavilion using a poetry book as identification, but the rendezvous failed, likely because his intended contact, Wang Mingzhong, was arrested.
After developing the intelligence photos, Gu Yizhong went to Canglang Pavilion again but still found no contact. He later learned from Gao Hu at No. 90 that Captain Zhang had captured a very tough prisoner, who was likely the contact he was waiting for. Later, while walking, Xiao Ruotong (in her guise as Lu Junnuo) encountered Gu Yizhong.
Gu Yizhong urgently informed her that he had acquired crucial intelligence regarding a Japanese plan but didn't know who to contact within his network. He revealed that the Japanese, specifically the Kobayashi Division, planned to disarm Commander Luo Wuqiang's 33rd Division in a surprise attack code-named "the Wu Plan." He added that Shanghai Deng troops had been urgently redeployed to reinforce Kobayashi's division, and the attack was scheduled for the following morning.
Gu Yizhong handed her a newspaper containing the detailed intelligence, instructing her to deliver it to Commander Luo as quickly as possible so he could prepare or leave Suzhou before the attack. As Lu Junnuo (Xiao Ruotong) took the newspaper and reached inside to retrieve the hidden message, another hand suddenly covered it, leaving the situation tense and uncertain.
