Ace Troops Episode 21 Recap
> Ace Troops Recap
Gu Yiye learned about the recognition for Regiment 720: he was named a "Combat Hero," and Gao Liang received a First-Class Merit. Jiang Nanzheng shared the news over the phone, expressing her happiness for them. However, Gu Yiye showed no excitement. Instead, he somberly inquired about the awards for their fallen comrades—his platoon leader, Zhao Hongliu, Shu Jiagui, and Sergeant Mao. Jiang Nanzheng, unsure how to respond, urged Gu Yiye to move past the past and embrace the future.
She encouraged him to continue his studies and become the powerful soldier he always aspired to be, adding that she intended to do the same. Gu Yiye abruptly hung up the phone and sat alone on the steps until nightfall. Gao Liang found him there, offering comfort and sharing his own terrifying experience of being injured and isolated on the mountain, facing death.
He described how he ran until there was nowhere left to go, taking out a death bomb and a white rabbit candy, believing it was his last moment. Gao Liang confessed he cried "like a shameless bastard" but then realized he had done what he had to do, just like his brother. He then calmed down, filled with the singular faith to eliminate any enemy in his path.
Gao Liang then sharply rebuked Gu Yiye, telling him to visit Jiang Nanzheng, who was deeply worried about him. He accused Gu Yiye of being self-absorbed in his pain and despair. Gao Liang reminded Gu Yiye that while he was a hero for saving 26 comrades, it was Jiang Nanzheng who risked her life to reconnect the artillery regiment's communication lines and intercept enemy intelligence, ensuring artillery support and ultimately saving their lives and Regiment 720.
Gu Yiye, struck by Gao Liang's words, realized his self-pity had made him inconsiderate. That night, Gu Yiye ran dozens of kilometers to the division headquarters to find Jiang Nanzheng, looking disheveled and sweaty. He immediately apologized, asking her to hit him so he could feel better. Jiang Nanzheng found his request amusing, but Gu Yiye insisted on his apology for being a "bastard" and treating her poorly.
Jiang Nanzheng accepted his apology and offered him a coat, noting it was cold. She acknowledged his deep sorrow over the lost comrades, saying that the deepest pain after battle isn't physical injury but the regret over those who couldn't be saved. Gu Yiye, recalling how comrades sacrificed their lives for others, expressed his difficulty moving on. Jiang Nanzheng emphasized that surviving intact meant they should live their lives even more fully.
Gu Yiye revealed that Jiang Nanzheng was the first person he thought of in life-or-death moments on the battlefield. She was glad he came and asked him to watch the stars with her, feeling that their fallen comrades were watching them from above, hoping they would become better people. Jiang Nanzheng added that accepting loss, imperfections, and regrets is a universal lesson.
Gu Yiye mentioned that he wished he could save more, remembering a comrade asking about an unbreakable radio, and believing that if their lines had been connected faster, more lives might have been saved. He spoke of his belief that with advancements in modern electronics, computers, and aerospace, military communication technology would enter a new era.
Gu Yiye then asked Jiang Nanzheng to ask Hu Yang, who was in America, to help him buy a book on special operations by an American colonel named Beckwith, wanting to study enemy tactics. The next morning, Gu Yiye and Gao Liang, dressed in their new uniforms, headed to the company history room, where Qin Hanyong was waiting. Qin Hanyong informed them of an impending, unprecedented large-scale disarmament.
He explained that infantry-heavy field armies like Ninth Company would be reorganized into multi-service group armies, significantly enhancing their firepower, assault capabilities, and mobility. Consequently, their combined training and combat capabilities under modern conditions also needed strengthening. Qin Hanyong detailed that army talent selection would follow standards of revolutionization, rejuvenation, specialization, and intellectualization, making talent development a top priority. He announced that outstanding combat performers would be selected for academy training and would be directly promoted to cadres upon graduation.
Qin Hanyong jokingly expressed his envy, noting he served six years as a soldier before promotion, while they, having recently donned their two-pocket uniforms, were about to earn four pockets and a salary. He advised them to remain humble and avoid any disciplinary issues that could jeopardize this rare opportunity.
Qin Hanyong then asked Gu Yiye and Gao Liang to help the Communication Company, as several utility poles in the logistics warehouse had fallen, and female soldiers would be coming to re-lay the lines. He encouraged them to "build relationships" with the other company. Gao Liang immediately saw through Qin Hanyong's thinly veiled matchmaking attempt, asking if this was a "joint construction" of a different kind.
Qin Hanyong, realizing he couldn't hide his intentions, admitted he was getting old and needed to settle down. Gao Liang promised to handle it. Later that afternoon, when the female soldiers from the Communication Company arrived, Gao Liang discreetly excused himself, creating an opportunity for Gu Yiye and Jiang Nanzheng to be alone. Jiang Nanzheng, having ranked first in her Communication Company's democratic appraisal and earned a Second-Class Merit, secured a spot for advanced study.
She decided to enroll in the Communication Academy, inspired by Gu Yiye's earlier discussions about modern military communication technology, abandoning her aspiration to become a singer. Meanwhile, Gao Liang told Chunyu that he planned to attend the Engineering Academy. He preferred it because it had more students from humble backgrounds, unlike other academies filled with "children from army compound" who he felt were too arrogant. He also noted the Engineering Academy offered a generous 24.
5 kg of food ration per month. Chunyu, having only earned a Third-Class Merit, expressed no hope for advanced study. Later, Qin Hanyong received word that the regiment had informed Xiu about Zhang Fei's death and approved her request to take his ashes back to eastern Guangdong, with Gu Yiye assigned to escort her.
The following day, as Xiu departed with Zhang Fei's urn amidst pouring rain, all soldiers of Ninth Company stood in solemn salute, bidding farewell to their fallen hero. Back in the office, Qin Hanyong had a private conversation with Gao Liang about the academy enrollment. He revealed that Ninth Company was initially allotted four spots, but other companies protested, arguing that Ninth Company, with fewer soldiers, had an disproportionately high ratio of academy admissions.
Consequently, the battalion reduced Ninth Company's quota by one, leaving three spots. With two other soldiers already confirmed, the final spot would be contested between Gu Yiye and Gao Liang. Qin Hanyong's preference was clear: he believed Gu Yiye was an excellent candidate, worthy of the opportunity. Gao Liang, upon hearing this news, was furious, demanding why he always had to make sacrifices for Gu Yiye, lamenting that he couldn't escort Sergeant Mao's ashes or attend military academy.
He questioned why he, who was less educated, was being denied the opportunity to study, while the already educated Gu Yiye was favored. Gao Liang declared that he would fight for his spot, even if he had to beg, warning no one could stop him. That night, Qin Hanyong visited Gao Liang in the barracks.
Gao Liang poured out his heart, explaining his lifelong desire for education, how he dropped out of middle school to survive, and how he seized every opportunity in the army to read and learn, even getting punished by the Division Commander for tearing pages from his books. He spoke of his ambition to be educated, to not disappoint his superiors, or embarrass Jiang Nanzheng, and to finally stand on a podium with a red flower.
Most importantly, he expressed his deep love for the army, viewing it as his home and his comrades as family, and his belief that only by attending military academy and becoming a cadre could he stay in the army for life. Otherwise, upon retirement, he wouldn't know where to go. Qin Hanyong was deeply moved, realizing he had not understood Gao Liang's aspirations.
He apologized for his oversight and vowed to fight with the Regimental Commander or even the Division Commander to secure Gao Liang's spot. Gao Liang, however, calmly informed Qin Hanyong that he had considered it and decided to give up his place to Gu Yiye. He reasoned that his own education was his personal affair, but Gu Yiye's education was a matter involving two people, likely referring to Gu Yiye and Jiang Nanzheng's shared intellectual aspirations. Qin Hanyong was stunned.
After Qin Hanyong left, Niu Mancang, who had overheard the entire conversation from his bunk, lamented why Gao Liang always put himself at a disadvantage. As Gu Yiye escorted Xiu home, they passed a cinema. Xiu stopped, staring at a poster for "Liu Sanjie," remembering her first movie date with Zhang Fei, which was cut short by a power outage, leaving them to wonder about the ending. Gu Yiye bought tickets for them.
Inside, an argument erupted when a man in front noticed Xiu crying while holding the urn and loudly complained about its "inauspicious" presence. Gu Yiye defended Xiu, punching the man, which caused a commotion. In the scuffle, Zhang Fei’s urn nearly fell, but Gu Yiye quickly caught it. Holding the urn, Gu Yiye addressed the agitated crowd, revealing Zhang Fei’s identity as a local hero who sacrificed his life on the battlefield so they could enjoy peace.
He explained that Zhang Fei had promised his wife this movie and could only attend in this silent, symbolic way. The crowd was profoundly moved. The man who started the argument tearfully apologized, admitting he had forgotten the sacrifices made during wartime. An elderly man asked for Zhang Fei’s name and had his granddaughter salute the hero, followed by everyone in the cinema bowing in solemn respect.
