Ace Troops Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
> Ace Troops Recap
Gu Yiye found Jiang Nanzheng and, feigning distress, told her to brace herself. He claimed Gao Liang was ending their ten-year relationship because he had found a new girlfriend and had sent Gu Yiye to deliver the difficult news. Gu Yiye exaggerated that Gao Liang's new girlfriend was younger and more beautiful than Jiang Nanzheng, suggesting that some relationships simply must end. Confused and hurt, Jiang Nanzheng questioned if Gao Liang truly had a new girlfriend.
Suddenly, Gu Yiye revealed his charade, calling out for everyone hidden nearby to emerge, admitting he could not keep up the act. A crowd of soldiers rushed out, enthusiastically welcoming Jiang Nanzheng as their "sister-in-law." The old barracks transformed into a lively celebration. With the appearance of Zheng Yuan and Jiang Nanzheng's mother, Jiang Yihui, Jiang Nanzheng finally realized this was a surprise orchestrated by Gao Liang.
Her mother expressed her joy, remarking that Jiang Nanzheng had found someone who truly loved and understood her. A slightly nervous Gao Liang approached Jiang Nanzheng, announcing he had learned a dance for her, despite not being good at it. His "dance" was more of a military combat routine, which amused Jiang Nanzheng. After his performance, Gao Liang knelt, presenting a ring he had crafted himself from bullet casings.
He explained that he had engraved the date of their first meeting inside and adorned it with a thousand-year-old amber he found during a field survival training on Mount Ararat. He humbly admitted the ring might not be beautiful or valuable, but it symbolized his heart and his desire to grow old with her. He then asked Jiang Nanzheng to marry him.
With tears in her eyes, Jiang Nanzheng affectionately called him "Gao Liangmi" and declared her love, prompting cheers from the crowd to speak louder. She then loudly shouted her acceptance, and the loving couple embraced amidst the heartfelt blessings of their friends and family. The narrative then fast-forwarded to 2017, depicting a thriving China.
Gu Xiaofei, now a synthetic battalion commander, reflected on his father, Gu Yiye’s, thirty-four years in the military, during which he witnessed four uniform changes, each signifying increased valor and responsibility. Gu Yiye, Gao Liang, and Jiang Nanzheng, like many others, had collectively experienced the monumental and unprecedented military reforms that began in 2015. These reforms led to a complete reshaping of the Chinese military's power and spirit, instilling a forward-looking and vibrant ethos.
Zheng Yuan had retired in 2006, missing the chance to wear the new 07-style uniform but later serving as a consultant for the Military Reform Office. Qin Hanyong had risen to become a group army commander in the N Region’s Ground Force, while Jiang Weixing and Niu Mancang had transitioned to civilian careers before the reforms. Song Jianshe sat by a lake, fishing, lost in memories of a heated argument with Gao Liang.
He recalled confronting Gao Liang for independently altering the drill's preset plan and marching route, accusing him of disrespecting superiors. Gao Liang passionately argued that exercises should prepare soldiers for real combat, not just staged performances, criticizing the drill's artificiality and numerous flaws. Song Jianshe, while acknowledging Gao Liang's sense of duty, declared his own deeper love for the army.
He asserted that his actions were to prevent Army A from falling into an "abyss," aiming to secure its place in the impending military reforms and preserve its honor. He expressed his anguish over the fate of the fifty thousand soldiers serving under him and the three hundred thousand retired veterans, declaring he would never allow the unit to be disbanded as long as he held his position, even if it meant taking off his uniform alongside the army.
Despite his dedication, Song Jianshe, who had become a group army deputy commander, eventually chose early retirement, his heart heavy with mixed emotions. Later, during an international anti-terrorism joint exercise, Gu Yiye reunited with an old friend, Suvari, the Chief of Special Forces of Country T. Suvari conveyed an urgent request for help from his government.
The Princess of Country T was in China to explain the situation: Kim, the grandson of a Chinese-descended expatriate named Mr. Yi, had been kidnapped by terrorists. The leader of these terrorists was Prince, a notorious figure who had previously committed crimes in China and had once escaped from Chinese military and police. Mr. Yi, who owned the largest shipping company in Country T, known as AA Shipping, was a close friend of the King.
He tearfully implored the Chinese to rescue Kim, his only grandson and heir, who was abducted by pirates in the Strait of Malacca during his first global voyage and then sold to Prince for $100,000. It was revealed that Prince frequently traveled between Central Asia and West Asia, always keeping a hostage as a human shield against drone and missile attacks, as his previous hostage had recently died.
Country T’s defense minister had concluded that their military and diplomatic capabilities were insufficient for a rescue, making the Chinese government and army their last hope. Gu Yiye confirmed the grave situation and immediately requested a specific individual for the mission. Gu Yiye contacted Gao Liang, who was now the Vice President of the Special Operation Institute, by phone, informing him of an urgent task.
Gao Liang, in a playful yet serious tone, initially resisted, joking about Gu Yiye's son, Gu Xiaofei (who was with him during a test flight). Gu Yiye quickly clarified that it was the Military Commission's highest command, and instructed Gao Liang to board the waiting helicopter immediately. At the briefing, a chief reiterated the strong historical ties with Mr. Yi, who had provided invaluable shipping and financial aid to China in the late 1990s, recognizing him as an "old friend."
Xia Lin, an intelligence officer, provided further critical details: prior to Kim's abduction, the pirates had first hijacked a Chinese fishing boat as a decoy, and the number of Chinese hostages remained unknown. He showed an island in "Region X" as the pirates' main base.
Xia Lin also revealed his personal stake, having tracked Prince for nearly twenty years, as Prince was responsible for the deaths of Chinese civilians, police, armed police, and even Xia Lin's newlywed wife, who was killed by mines planted by the terrorist. He stressed the personal vendetta he held for Prince.
Gu Yiye outlined Prince's movements: Kim had been transported to Country P and was being moved to a stronghold in Central Asia, ultimately destined for a terrorist training camp in the Hindu Kush mountains, where he would meet other dangerous extremists. This location also served as a critical transit point for terrorists attempting to infiltrate China, posing a significant national security threat.
The mission was divided into two simultaneous parts: a raid on the terrorist transportation station in China's northwestern border to rescue Kim and neutralize Prince, and an assault on the pirate base on a nameless island in the South China Sea to rescue all the hostages. Due to the terrorists' potential use of satellite phones, both operations had to commence at the exact same moment, leaving less than fourteen hours to prepare.
Jiang Nanzheng, representing the Strategic Support Army, assured the command that her unit would provide unwavering support, constantly updating intelligence and maintaining communication from the Central Command until the mission's completion. She emphasized the three objectives: rescuing Chinese citizens, aiding international friends, and exacting justice for fallen comrades.
Gao Liang, addressing the envoy and the assembled chiefs, confidently declared that after years of military reform, the People's Liberation Army and its special forces possessed the enhanced command, coordination, logistics, long-range projection, and combat capabilities to successfully execute the complex, cross-regional mission. He proudly assured them of his unit's confidence and ability.
Gu Yiye then contacted Gu Xiaofei via phone, instructing him to synchronize their watches to ensure simultaneous engagement and confirming that all enemy communications in the combat zone would be jammed. He informed Gu Xiaofei about the high-altitude, low-opening parachute jump from 4,200 meters, necessary for stealth in the high-altitude, quiet night environment. Gu Yiye then specifically told Gu Xiaofei to "take care of Gao Liang."
Gao Liang, hearing this, immediately asserted that he would be jumping too, proclaiming he would only consider himself the frontline commander if he joined the jump. Gu Xiaofei expressed concern over Gao Liang's lack of recent integrated training for such a dangerous high-altitude jump. Gao Liang brushed off the concern, stating he had experience with such operations. Gu Xiaofei reluctantly agreed, but only if Gao Liang followed his commands.
Xia Lin volunteered to join the jump as well, but Gu Xiaofei firmly rejected him, citing the need to avoid any unforeseen complications. Xia Lin accepted the decision gracefully, urging them to return safely. He then solemnly handed Han Chunyu's necklace to Gao Liang, asking him to wear it for one day.
Gu Xiaofei, still on the phone with Gu Yiye, also expressed concern for his father, who was heading to the island by helicopter, and urged him to prioritize safety and not let emotions cloud his judgment. Before the operations commenced, Gu Yiye briefed his team on the target, Prince, reminding them of his past atrocities, including the murder of Chinese citizens, police, armed police, and notably, Xia Lin's wife, by mines he planted.
Gu Yiye emphasized the importance of protecting themselves and reiterated the mission's objective: to capture or kill Prince. As the combat began, Gao Liang took command of his teams for the northwestern border operation, directing Team One and Team Two to outflank the enemy, snipers to clear external threats, Team Three to breach the entrance, and Team Four to detonate a section of the southwest wall. He specifically ordered Gu Xiaofei to quickly reach the hostage.
Concurrently, on the nameless island, Gu Yiye's team received intel that no living targets were found by the helicopter group. An elderly man led them to the Chinese hostages. Gu Yiye's team quickly breached the building, assuring the frightened civilians that they were the People's Liberation Army, there to rescue them, and swiftly organized their evacuation. However, a police dog's bark alerted Gu Yiye to a hidden terrorist among the evacuees, who immediately detonated an explosive.
Gu Yiye narrowly escaped serious injury by diving for cover, sustaining only minor wounds. On the northwestern front, Gao Liang engaged Prince in a brutal hand-to-hand combat, ultimately ending Prince's life with a dagger. With their missions accomplished, the teams transported Kim back. During the journey, a high-spirited Gao Liang began singing. Gu Xiaofei secretly activated the walkie-talkie, broadcasting Gao Liang's singing to everyone. Amused, Gu Xiaofei praised Gao Liang's singing, prompting Gao Liang to realize the prank.
At Gu Xiaofei's suggestion, everyone joined in a powerful chorus, singing patriotic songs that honored their great nation, celebrated their ideals, and commemorated their sacrifices. Once the immediate aftermath of the mission settled, Gao Liang, accompanied by his daughter Jingjing and others, journeyed to Xiangsi Village to visit the tomb of Grandpa Zhu.
Grandpa Zhu was the dedicated forest keeper who, many years prior, had heroically resisted Prince's terrorist infiltration and was brutally murdered for his efforts, his last breath spent in unwavering belief in the People's Liberation Army. Gao Liang expressed his enduring guilt and shame over Grandpa Zhu's fate, stating that he had not slept well for years thinking of it, but now, justice had finally been served.
Deeply moved by her father's words and the sacrifice of Grandpa Zhu, Jingjing announced her decision to forgo her master's degree studies in the United States and instead join the army to serve the people. Jiang Weixing, who had successfully launched his own video app business and amassed considerable wealth, was shown watching a National Day military parade. As the familiar slogans echoed, he instinctively moved to salute, tears welling up as he reminisced about his past military life.
Gao Liang, Gu Yiye, and Jiang Nanzheng also participated in the grand parade. Gao Liang reflected on the profound words of President Xi during the event: "To enjoy peace is the blessing of the people; to safeguard peace is the duty of the People's Army." The President’s speech emphasized the nation’s unprecedented proximity to achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the corresponding need for a powerful People's Army.
He called for unwavering commitment to building a strong army with Chinese characteristics, transforming their heroic forces into a world-class military. The speech underscored the army's confidence and capability to defeat all adversaries, protect national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and forge a new chapter in the journey toward a strong military, contributing significantly to the Chinese dream and global peace.
Gao Liang then looked at a watch he wore, stating that seeing the army's journey through combat and history helped him understand its true meaning. He proudly affirmed that the Chinese army would always advance, always be on its path, and would continue its transformation from backwardness to strength.
