Fall in Love Episode 35 Recap
> Fall in Love Recap
Pei Shaojun advised his father, Pei Xun, not to worry too much about Tan Xuanlin's apparent defection. Pei Shaojun argued that since Pei Xun had only recently appointed Tan Xuanlin as the Garrison Commander of Jiangcheng, Tan Xuanlin's defection could be perceived by outsiders as an act supported, or even instigated, by Pei Xun himself, making it appear that Pei Xun also aligned with the revolution. Pei Shaojun suggested they take advantage of this public perception.
He pointed out that their family, the Pei family, predominantly resided in the north, and their direct conflicts with the Revolutionary Army had been minimal. The areas along the Yangtze River, he noted, were primarily under Xu Bojun's control, meaning the Pei family held no deep-seated animosity with the Revolutionary Army. With Xu Bojun now out of power, if the Revolutionary Army were to cross the Yangtze River, the Pei family would become their primary adversary.
Losing would mean utter ruin, and even winning would result in significant weakening. Therefore, Pei Shaojun proposed seizing this moment, using Tan Xuanlin's defection as leverage, to extend goodwill to the Revolutionary Army and initiate peace talks. If the talks succeeded, it would benefit all parties; if they failed, they could still resort to war. Meanwhile, in Jiangcheng, Tan Xuanlin grew increasingly suspicious of Liu Fu's actions.
Tan Xuanlin discovered that Liu Fu had scattered the Tan Army's barracks across wide distances, making effective communication and coordinated training nearly impossible. When Tan Xuanlin questioned Lao Fu about this, Lao Fu explained that Liu Fu had arranged their barracks in distant corners and even provided them with new uniforms, albeit in a different color.
Examining a map, Tan Xuanlin realized the alarming truth: his 2,000 men were encircled by Liu Fu’s 20,000 troops, with the different uniform colors meant to facilitate identification during a planned operation. He concluded that Liu Fu was orchestrating a mutiny. Tan Xuanlin immediately rushed to the armory, only to find the keyhole filled with lead, confirming Liu Fu’s intention to act that very night.
He ordered Lao Fu to prepare for battle but then paused, realizing he first needed to ensure Wanqing's safety by getting her out of the city. He refused to be a deserter, vowing to find a way to send Wanqing to Xu Guangyao. Later that night, Liu Fu was informed of Tan Xuanlin’s unexpected visit.
Suspecting Tan Xuanlin might have discovered his plot, Liu Fu ordered his men to kill Tan Xuanlin on the spot if he showed any unusual behavior. Tan Xuanlin, feigning nonchalance, asked Liu Fu to clear the naval mines near Jiangcheng Wharf, claiming he needed to send Wanqing out of the city the next morning.
When Liu Fu inquired about Wanqing’s destination, Tan Xuanlin skillfully spun a tale: Wanqing was going to find Xu Guangyao, Xu Bojun's son, who had secretly defected to the Revolutionary Army. Tan Xuanlin explained that Wanqing maintained contact with Xu Guangyao and was the only one who knew his current location.
He stated that he wanted Wanqing to seek information from Xu Guangyao because Xu Bojun, who saw Tan Xuanlin as a threat, had remained strangely silent after recent major events. Liu Fu, seeing an opportunity to curry favor with Xu Bojun by potentially finding his son, readily agreed to clear the mines and arrange a boat.
After Tan Xuanlin left, Liu Fu ordered his men to postpone the operation until the following night and to closely tail Wanqing, hoping to use her to locate Xu Guangyao. Tan Xuanlin, however, had already deduced that Liu Fu was indeed Xu Bojun's man, confirming Liu Fu's intention to use Wanqing for his own gain, but acknowledged that they had only bought themselves one extra day before the inevitable fierce battle. Tan Xuanlin found Wanqing still waiting for him.
He asked her to deliver a letter to Xu Guangyao the next morning, explaining that Liu Fu had postponed his attack only because he intended to follow Wanqing to find Xu Guangyao, and that the telegraph office was compromised. He stressed that her departure would both buy time and secure aid from Xu Guangyao.
Wanqing expressed deep concern about Tan Xuanlin facing 20,000 soldiers with only 2,000, but he reassured her, confident in the battle-hardened Tan Army against Liu Fu's less active troops. Despite Wanqing's worries about Xu Guangyao being two days away on the Huainan front, Tan Xuanlin insisted he would hold out. He also promised never to hide anything from her again. Wanqing agreed to help but set a condition: they must marry that very night.
Despite Tan Xuanlin’s hesitation about the haste, Wanqing insisted she had made up her mind to marry him. Playfully, she made him sign a "marriage contract," and they shared wedlock wine, vowing to stay together. Wanqing expressed her desire to remain by his side, reminding him of his promises for a family and children.
Tan Xuanlin, however, firmly reiterated the necessity of her mission to deliver the letter to Xu Guangyao for Jiangcheng's survival, assuring her that their future family would follow. Wanqing held him to his promise of a lifetime together, and he swore he would keep it. Before she left, he ensured she had the letter and the protective talisman he had given her, promising she would see him again in two days.
The next morning, Tan Xuanlin and Wanqing bid their farewells, with Tan Xuanlin checking if she had the letter and the talisman. A soldier expressed concern about how Wanqing would react once she read the letter. Tan Xuanlin then ordered his troops to return to camp and prepare for war. Meanwhile, Xu Bojun, the Military Governor, received a telegram from Jiangcheng reporting that Mu Wanqing had left the city to find his son, Xu Guangyao.
The message detailed that Liu Fu had postponed his operation by a day, knowing Xu Bojun's concern for Xu Guangyao, and had sent men to follow Wanqing, expecting news of the Marshal soon. Enraged that Xu Guangyao, whom he wished to empower, had chosen to align with others, Xu Bojun immediately ordered Liu Fu to proceed with the attack that very night to kill Tan Xuanlin, promising Jiangcheng to Liu Fu as a reward.
Immediately after, Xu Bojun was seized by a severe coughing fit, a recurrence of an old lung ailment, and his condition worsened. He discovered blood on his handkerchief, and panicked, he desperately ordered Xu Yuan, his adjutant, to find Xu Guangyao and bring him back, even by force. Xu Yuan promised to retrieve the Marshal. Knowing his Tan Army was vastly outnumbered by Liu Fu’s forces, Tan Xuanlin devised a strategy involving Chen Shaowu's former troops.
Lao Fu informed Tan Xuanlin that Chen Shaowu had died, and his over 10,000 soldiers had been absorbed by Liu Fu, leaving them in a precarious position. Tan Xuanlin decided they must win over these former Chen Shaowu soldiers. Lao Fu then led his men to apprehend some of Chen Shaowu's alleged accomplices. When these men protested their innocence, Lao Fu falsely claimed they were acting under Liu Fu's direct orders to investigate Chen Shaowu's co-conspirators.
He added that Liu Fu possessed a list found among Chen Shaowu's belongings, and arrests would be made according to it that night. He advised anyone involved to confess before dark for a chance at leniency. The arrested men, fearing their names might be on such a list, were visibly shaken and debated whether to trust Liu Fu's unilateral claims.
This calculated deception was designed to sow discord and turn Liu Fu's newly acquired troops against him, forcing them to align with Tan Xuanlin. Upon receiving the letter from Wanqing, Xu Guangyao initially explained that he could not move his troops immediately. He elaborated that his forces were currently engaged in a standoff with two divisions of the Wuhu Garrison Commander, and redeploying them to Jiangcheng would risk losing Huainan to the enemy.
He assured Wanqing that he had notified headquarters, and two regiments would be dispatched to Jiangcheng. Wanqing, distressed, argued that two regiments would be insufficient against Liu Fu's 20,000 soldiers. She recalled Tan Xuanlin specifically telling her to seek help from Xu Guangyao. Xu Guangyao expressed surprise, implying Tan Xuanlin should have known about his troop limitations, as a frontline briefing from Liao Xi had recently been sent to Commander Tan. Distraught, Wanqing snatched the letter from Xu Guangyao's hand.
As she read it, the true, heartbreaking content was revealed: Tan Xuanlin stated that Jiangcheng was in dire straits, his 2,000 Tan Army soldiers trapped by Liu Fu’s 20,000. He wrote that he was gravely outnumbered and would fight to the bitter end, prepared to die for the righteous cause. He expressed his deepest concern for Wanqing, asking Xu Guangyao, as her only remaining family, to care for her, help her forget him, and live a happy life.
He even asked Xu Guangyao to take her to Shanghai's old street for pan-fried buns and to Sheshan Mountain for night views if they returned after the revolution, as he could not repay his promise of a lifetime together. He concluded with a poignant farewell. Realizing Tan Xuanlin’s plan of self-sacrifice and his deception, Wanqing was heartbroken and insisted on returning to Jiangcheng immediately.
Xu Guangyao tried to calm her, while one of his officers reminded him of the severe consequences of losing Huainan. Just then, a report came in that Xu Bojun's adjutant, Xu Yuan, had been apprehended and demanded to see Xu Guangyao. Xu Guangyao met Xu Yuan, who confirmed he was sent by Xu Bojun. Xu Yuan revealed that Xu Bojun was gravely ill, confined to bed due to his old lung condition, and desperately wanted Xu Guangyao to return.
He conveyed Xu Bojun’s willingness to engage in peace talks for the sake of Yuecheng’s people and his only son, finally realizing that losing Xu Guangyao would be his greatest failure. Hearing this, Xu Guangyao agreed to return. Immediately afterward, a report arrived stating Jiangcheng was in danger and required urgent support. Xu Guangyao swiftly ordered his troops, from the Guangzhou Revolutionary Army Headquarters, to pack their supplies within ten minutes and march towards Jiangcheng at once.
