Arsenal Military Academy Episode 1 Recap
> Arsenal Military Academy Recap
In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution broke out, and the Qing government quickly collapsed. The Beiyang forces, led by Yuan Shikai, took charge of China. The domestic political situation was turbulent, the people were anxious, foreign powers were oppressive, and bandits were rampant. New schools were being established across the country. Driven by this major trend, the Feng'an government, with joint funding from many patriotic individuals, relaunched the Arsenal Military Academy, aiming to cultivate patriotic officers and soldiers.
News of the reopening of the Arsenal Military Academy spread quickly, and many patriotic young people came to sign up, including Shen Junshan and Xie Xiang. Xie Xiang was determined to cross-dress as a man to enroll in the Arsenal Military Academy in place of her deceased brother, Xie Liangchen. Her good friend, Tan Xiaojun, met her at the train station. Xie Xiang ignored Tan Xiaojun's persuasion and resolutely cut off her long braid.
Xie Xiang held the medical examination form nervously. A nurse came out and called her in for the examination. Worried about being exposed, Xie Xiang pleaded with the doctor for leniency. In the end, she passed successfully. Tan Xiaojun took Xie Xiang to the Palimo Dance Hall to see the big star Qu Manting. They had been good friends since childhood.
Reporters crowded the backstage dressing room, vying to get in and interview Qu Manting, but the dance hall's Manager Huang blocked them at the door. Xie Xiang saw Qu Manting in the women's restroom. Qu Manting insisted that she had followed her there, spoke rudely to her, and demanded she take out her camera. Xie Xiang then remembered that she was disguised as a man. She argued with Qu Manting, and they started fighting as soon as they disagreed.
The dance hall staff kept calling for Qu Manting outside. Xie Xiang didn't want to get more entangled and quickly found an opportunity to run out and find Tan Xiaojun. Qu Manting came out to perform amidst everyone's calls. Her graceful singing deeply captivated everyone present. Only Xie Xiong and Gu Yanzhen were not interested in her. When the song ended, the audience offered flowers to Qu Manting. Gu Yanzhen publicly questioned Qu Manting's performance.
Fueled by alcohol, he went on stage, mocked Qu Manting sarcastically, and wanted to invite her down for drinks. The dance hall's Manager Huang learned that Gu Yanzhen was the son of Gu Zongtang, the newly appointed Feng'an Inspector, so he had to send someone to call the young master. Gu Yanzhen forcibly carried Qu Manting away. Xie Xiang couldn't stand it and quickly stopped Gu Yanzhen. Qu Manting suspected that she and Gu Yanzhen were together.
Captain Hao led the police to arrive, and only then did Gu Yanzhen put Qu Manting down. Shen Tingbai arrived shortly after and asked Captain He to handle the matter properly. Gu Yanzhen repeatedly claimed that he and Xie Xiang were together. With a command from Captain He, the police immediately surrounded Gu Yanzhen, punched and kicked him, and took him back to the police station.
Gu Zongtang heard the news and immediately sent his butler to bring Gu Yanzhen back. Captain He learned Gu Yanzhen's identity and, frightened, quickly offered apologetic smiles. Gu Yanzhen, however, was relentless and asked him to deliver a message to Shen Tingbai. Captain He looked troubled but agreed with a stiff upper lip. Captain He deliberately let the policemen play mahjong and lose money to Gu Yanzhen.
Xie Xiang exposed Gu Yanzhen to his face as a hooligan who harassed innocent women. Gu Yanzhen wanted to use the money for Xie Xiang's medical expenses, but Xie Xiang didn't appreciate it at all and walked away. Gu's butler came to pick up Gu Yanzhen. Gu Yanzhen repeatedly reminded Captain He to be sure to deliver the message to Shen Tingbai. Gu Yanzhen went to see his father, Gu Zongtang.
Gu Zongtang gave him a harsh lecture, but Gu Yanzhen didn't care. Gu Zongtang was so angry that he gnashed his teeth and shouted at him. The butler quickly stopped Gu Zongtang. Gu Zongtang didn't want to see Gu Yanzhen continue to be so decadent and wanted him to go to the Arsenal Military Academy for a test. Captain He quickly went to see Shen Tingbai and relayed all of Gu Yanzhen's words.
Gu Yanzhen had heard that Shen Tingbai was a hero and wanted to meet him. He also praised Qu Manting for having a very soft waist. Today was the opening day of the Arsenal Military Academy. Xie Xiang arrived on time to report. She saw Huang Song, dressed in rags, arriving there pushing pots and pans on a wheelbarrow. She couldn't help but laugh.
Huang Song took the initiative to greet Xie Xiang and said he had fled famine from Shandong. He happened to encounter a military battle, and by a twist of fate, he performed a meritorious service and was arranged to study at the military academy. Li Wenzhong came over in a car, driving recklessly, and accidentally hit Huang Song's wheelbarrow. Li Wenzhong was so angry that he cursed him.
Xie Xiang was indignant and wanted to go settle accounts with Li Wenzhong, but Huang Song didn't want to make a fuss. Li Wenzhong boasted to the students about his extensive knowledge and promised to treat everyone to a meal at Deyue Building later. Huang Song saw the armed soldiers standing guard at the entrance and introduced the performance of the guns to Xie Xiang like a connoisseur.
Li Wenzhong came over again to provoke Huang Song, repeatedly claiming that Huang Song's wheelbarrow had scratched his car. Xie Xiang argued with him, but Li Wenzhong was relentless, forcing Huang Song to kneel down and beg for mercy and call him 'Dad'. Seeing the Japanese Chamber of Commerce emblem on his chest, Xie Xiang cursed him as a Japanese stooge. Li Wenzhong was enraged and fought with Xie Xiang.
He casually threw Huang Song's washbasin, which happened to hit Shen Junshan's waist. Shen Junshan and Ji Jin stood aside. They had long been annoyed by Li Wenzhong's arrogant and overbearing behavior. Shen Junshan immediately stepped forward to hold him accountable. Li Wenzhong repeatedly apologized. Shen Junshan forced him to kneel and apologize, but he refused. Shen Junshan subdued him on the spot.
Just then, the instructor suddenly arrived to stop them and asked those who were involved in the fight to step forward. Ji Jin did not step out. The instructor called him out. The instructor made them run 50 laps with their luggage and also made the remaining cadets run 30 laps. Huang Song groaned in complaint. Instructor Guo Shuting saw everything clearly from the side.
Immediately after, Gu Yanzhen arrived drunk to report and also brought a note from Commander Liu. The instructor punished Gu Yanzhen by hanging him in the training ground and publicly announced that they were all reservists and should put away their spoiled young master temper, otherwise he would show no mercy.
