A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 4 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
Seeking to uncover Spring's true intentions and ensure his own safety, Zhou Zhifei sent his trusted subordinate, Jinhai, to meet with her instead. Jinhai, expressing concern for Zhifei, urged Spring not to meet his brother, reminding her of her past as the CBIS's top female killer and Zhifei's current status as the CBIS's top traitor. Spring insisted on a face-to-face meeting, claiming she was trying to help Zhifei.
She conveyed a message from someone referred to as Mr. Xu, offering Zhifei a chance to return without consequence, but warned that if he didn't, he would suffer the same fate as Guo Jingji. Jinhai countered that Zhifei already believed they were responsible for Guo Jingji's death and reiterated that a meeting would be highly dangerous for both of them. Spring remained resolute, demanding Jinhai arrange the meeting, but he refused.
As they parted ways, Spring discovered she was being followed. She attacked the follower, stabbing them non-fatally in the side, inflicting a wound that would leave the person bedridden for three months. She instructed the injured person to tell Zhifei that her next action would not be so restrained. Later, Jinhai reported to Zhifei that the person Spring attacked was injured and would be laid up for months.
He also reported that despite mobilizing the Investigation Department to search all hotels and lodgings, they had lost track of Spring near Pingjiang Road. Zhifei predicted she would stay somewhere unexpected. He interpreted her non-fatal attack as a sign she still wished for peaceful contact and expressed curiosity about the message Xu Enzeng had sent her to deliver. Jinhai also mentioned concerns about others, including Kondo and "Calamity Star," likely referring to Huang Xinzhai, hearing rumors.
Zhifei downplayed the threat from the Military Intelligence Bureau , including figures like Huang Xinzhai and Dai Li, considering them inferior in agent work compared to the CBIS. Meanwhile, determined to clear his name, Gu Yizhong returned to Suzhou. He sought assistance from his cousin, Lu Zheng, who provided him with a watch and a telescope for reconnaissance.
Gu Yizhong asked Lu Zheng to help him find Zhou Zhifei's location and vehicle license plate number, revealing his intention to track him despite not having a gun. Lu Zheng expressed concern, knowing Yizhong was embarking on a dangerous path involving Agent Station No. 90, and questioning if his actions were motivated by Xiao Ruotong. Gu Yizhong asserted he was acting for his reputation and everything he believed in, firmly denying he was a traitor.
He located Zhifei's car, identified by the license plate number 1507, and began following it. However, Zhifei's men detected the tail, recognizing the pursuer as inexperienced and possibly a bait. As Gu Yizhong continued the pursuit, Zhifei's group realized they had been spotted. Gu Yizhong was apprehended by Zhifei's men and brought to Agent Station No. 90.
Upon arrival, he was informed that he had considerable courage for following the Director's car and was told that hardship was unavoidable while in custody. He was offered food, which he found unappetizing, and reminded that the Japanese ultimately controlled the station. Inside, he overheard an agent complaining about being forced to 'act' rather than perform actual intelligence work, suggesting his capture was staged.
Gu Yizhong was then brought before Kondo Masao, the Japanese advisor at the station, who stated he had heard much about him. Kondo engaged Gu Yizhong in conversation about Japanese history and warfare, seemingly attempting to gauge his character. Gu Yizhong responded dismissively to the historical reference and criticized the food at the station.
Kondo then expressed great admiration for Gu Yizhong's father, Gu Xixing, recalling his esteemed reputation and past encounters during the Northern Expedition, equating his stature to notable figures like Lu Xun. Kondo explained his visit to Gu Yizhong was to persuade him to convince his father to accept the position of Magistrate of Wu County, framing it as a way to bring peace and cooperation between Japan and China and promising Gu Yizhong's immediate return home if he agreed.
Gu Yizhong vehemently rejected the proposal, condemning the invasion and declaring the Chinese people's resolve to expel the invaders and build a new China, stating that China would inflict a complete defeat on Japan, unlike the loss during the Sino-Japanese War. Despite Gu Yizhong's defiance, Kondo proceeded to release him. Zhifei, observing this from afar via subordinates' reports, recognized it as a tactic known as "Catch and Release Cao Cao," intended by Kondo to further manipulate Gu Yizhong.
Kondo Masao then had Gu Yizhong formally escorted back to Gu's Garden by car, orchestrating a public spectacle complete with journalists. The scene led onlookers and newspapers to report that Gu Yizhong had allied with the Japanese and that Gu Xixing was rumored to become the magistrate. Gu Yizhong tried to ward off the reporters, but the damage was done. Upon his return, Gu Xixing, who had deliberately isolated himself since the Japanese occupation to avoid collaboration, was furious.
He ordered Gu Yizhong to kneel, expressing deep distress that his son's return in a Japanese vehicle amidst publicity made the family appear traitorous, shaming their ancestors. Gu Yizhong insisted he had been framed, asserting his clear conscience and asking for his father's trust. Gu Xixing, however, was overwhelmed by the public perception and the potential threat to the family from the Japanese machinations.
When Gu Yizhong attempted to leave to deal with the situation himself, Gu Xixing ordered his trusted butler, Company Commander Fu, to lock him inside the house for his protection and to contain the scandal. Meanwhile, the New Fourth Army received news of the developments in Suzhou, including the newspaper report about Gu Yizhong.
Lu Zheng visited Gu Xixing, showing him the paper and warning him that Gu Yizhong's situation was a Japanese trap aimed at forcing Gu Xixing to take the magistrate position, which would damage the standing of the respected Suzhou families like theirs. He expressed particular suspicion given that he and Gu Yizhong were arrested around the same time, but only Yizhong had been released and publicly returned by the Japanese while Lu Zheng remained in custody.
Inside the New Fourth Army, Section Chief Wang confirmed the report through an informant, stating that Gu Yizhong was indeed sent back by Kondo Masao. The Party resolved that Gu Yizhong, now considered a traitor based on the public reports, could not be allowed to go free and decided to send a squad to Suzhou to apprehend him. Xiao Ruotong volunteered for the mission.
Section Chief Wang selected Zhou Zhenwu to lead the operation and assigned Xiao Ruotong to pose as his wife, noting her potential usefulness in the mission. To facilitate their infiltration and bypass enemy checkpoints, Wang devised a cover story: they would arrive by boat from Wuyuan, Jiangxi, posing as a young business owner (Zhou Zhenwu) and his wife (Xiao Ruotong) visiting Suzhou to inspect the accounts at the Harmony Rickshaw Shop and enjoy a tour.
They arrived at the Harmony Rickshaw Shop, where He Shunjiang, the head of the underground recruitment station, informed Zhou Zhenwu that the rickshaw pullers serving as cover were actually new recruits and intellectuals ready to assist. Zhou Zhenwu confirmed the strength of his squad, combining his own men and weapons with the nine recruits and their five guns provided by He Shunjiang.
Confined to Gu's Garden, Gu Yizhong attempted to escape, seeking help from Haimo's cousin to retrieve a toolbox to pick his lock, leveraging his prearranged marriage to Haimo. However, Gu Yizhong's escape plan, which potentially involved Haimo, was foiled by Spring's intervention, though the details of her actions were not shown in the subtitles.
Days later, the New Fourth Army squad observing Gu's Garden reported that Gu Yizhong remained inside under house arrest, noting the presence of agents from No. 90 disguised as a newspaper vendor and other unidentified individuals on a boat nearby, concluding a direct assault was too risky given the Gu family's history and potentially armed staff.
Frustrated by Gu Xixing's continued refusal to accept the magistrate position despite the public pressure orchestrated through planted newspaper stories and incidents like manure being thrown at his garden, Kondo Masao devised a new strategy. Despite having previously told his agent he had increased surveillance, Kondo ordered his agents around Gu's Garden to withdraw.
His objective was to allow the New Fourth Army, who were targeting Gu Yizhong as a traitor, to enter the garden, thereby instigating a conflict between the Communists and the heavily guarded Gu family. Kondo calculated that this internal struggle would leave Gu Xixing no alternative but to accept the magistrate position to restore order. As part of Kondo Masao's multifaceted plan, arrangements were made for Zhou Zhifei's son, Youfei, to study in Japan.
While not explicitly stated to Youfei or Yuqing, the Chinese plot indicated Kondo intended to use Youfei as a hostage to control Zhifei. Zhifei seemingly agreed to the arrangement, especially as children from other prominent Suzhou families were also going. Before Youfei's departure the following week, Zhifei and Yuqing prepared clothes for him. Yuqing suggested a warm mink coat for the cold Japanese winter, but Zhifei preferred a tweed coat, noting that Japanese elementary students didn't wear heavy layers.
Zhifei also arranged for a family photo to be taken by Mr. Lin from Fuwen Photo Studio. In a significant moment before the photo, Zhifei had Youfei recite the detailed family pedigree, ensuring his son knew his ancestral roots in Yixing Guo Mountain before going abroad. This departure and the underlying pressure on Zhifei were calculated moves within Kondo's larger scheme to manipulate the key figures in Suzhou.
