Operation: Special Warfare Episode 9 Recap
> Operation: Special Warfare Recap
After the intense incident at Chentian Chemical Plant, a visibly shaken Tong Mengyao embraced Ning Meng, who calmly comforted her. Following the death of Ma Liang, who had detonated one bomb, the remaining seven explosives were successfully disarmed by the public security department. Investigators discovered that these bombs were originally set to detonate on October 23rd, coinciding with the Global Energy Organization President's visit to the city.
Had the explosions occurred, China’s eligibility to host the Global Energy Conference would have been jeopardized, severely damaging the nation's international image and energy security. Qin Guan observed that such a complex operation could not have been orchestrated by the Ma brothers alone, suggesting a powerful, unseen force was at play and likely plotting an even larger scheme.
In response, the local party committees, government, and public security departments convened an emergency meeting to intensify their efforts in uncovering hidden threats throughout the city. Meanwhile, Wu Jie was furious over the failed operation, reprimanding his subordinates. Li Li suggested that they had likely fallen into a carefully laid police trap, with a "bait" phone leading them astray.
After investigating, Wu Jie learned that Qin Guan's father, Qin Zhiwei, is the chairman of Qin Group and the contractor for the Yanzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center, the venue for the upcoming energy conference. Noting that Qin Zhiwei had been single since his wife's passing five years prior, Wu Jie approached Liu Yuxi, a businesswoman in the decoration industry, suggesting she bid for the lighting project at the Convention Center.
Wu Jie offered financial backing and arranged to secure some projects for himself, particularly "lamp installation and material transportation," leveraging her company's Grade A qualifications. Liu Yuxi enthusiastically agreed to the partnership. She later met Qin Zhiwei, who was impressed by her reputation as a "charity star" and her detailed project proposals. Liu Yuxi charmingly presented her plans, engaging Qin Zhiwei's interest.
Despite her success with Qin Zhiwei, Liu Yuxi questioned Wu Jie why his prominent company, Guangde Energy, wasn't bidding on its own. Wu Jie provided a convincing explanation: his company specialized in energy, not lighting, and a direct bid from a large corporation like his would attract unwanted scrutiny from rivals. In reality, Liu Yuxi was an unwitting pawn, serving as a cover for Wu Jie to secretly transport bombs into the Convention Center.
Wu Mei, Wu Jie's boss, was satisfied with this progress and instructed him to halt further investigation into James's new energy data. She revealed that the data, the only backup James had, was now in the possession of the Global Energy Conference President. Wu Mei declared that the President must be eliminated before the data could be published, and the only opportunity would be during the heavily guarded opening ceremony of the conference.
She ordered Wu Jie to focus solely on the rapid development of new bombs and ensuring secure entry points for them, entrusting the assassination to another team. Back at the military base, the detachment leader summoned Qin Guan, demanding an explanation for his persistent refusal to allow Ning Meng to join Blue Lightning, especially with the badge awarding ceremony imminent. Qin Guan, under direct order, reluctantly confessed the painful truth: Ning Meng's brother, Ning Lei, was his closest comrade-in-arms.
Two years prior, during a mission to capture a notorious criminal known as "Grass Wolf," it was a mission Qin Guan was supposed to lead, but Ning Lei was tragically killed in action, a sacrifice Qin Guan believes was made for him. Qin Guan explained that Ning Meng was the sole remaining hope for her family, and he couldn't bear to put her in harm's way, especially after Ning Lei's death had caused their mother to cry herself blind.
Unbeknownst to them, Ning Meng had been listening outside the office. She burst in, vehemently rejecting Qin Guan's reasons. She asserted that her brother died saving her from terrorists, not due to Qin Guan directly, and believed their mother would be proud of her joining Blue Lightning as a hero. Ning Meng firmly stated that if Ning Lei were alive, he would support her decision to fulfill his unfinished mission.
However, Qin Guan remained steadfast, harshly telling her she was "not as good as her brother," and enumerating Ning Lei's superior achievements in shooting, reconnaissance, armed cross-country, and endurance, questioning if Ning Meng could ever match them. Infuriated, Ning Meng stormed out to the training ground and began running laps with her full pack, determined to prove her capabilities. Her teammates, worried but understanding, watched. Tong Mengyao immediately went to Qin Guan's office, passionately advocating for Ning Meng.
She explained Ning Meng's unwavering dedication to stay, highlighting her dream of becoming a hero like her brother, and how Qin Guan's dismissal was crushing her spirit. Tong Mengyao believed Qin Guan must be touched by Ning Meng's efforts. Soon after, Li Sisi joined Ning Meng on the track, declaring her solidarity and stating that Ning Meng was her reason for perseverance.
Zhuang Qian, Tong Mengyao, Yang Shu, and the rest of the female soldiers quickly followed suit, joining Ning Meng in her grueling run. Inspired by their unity, the male soldiers also joined in, running alongside them and chanting slogans. Qin Guan, observing from a distance, remained silent but visibly moved. The detachment leader then approached Qin Guan, praising the newfound cohesion within Blue Lightning, attributing it to Qin Guan, and reminding him of his duty to cherish every soldier.
Finally, Qin Guan stood at the finish line as the exhausted soldiers completed their run. He declared, "Welcome to Blue Lightning," signaling his decision to keep Ning Meng. The entire team erupted in cheers, their spirits soaring. Ning Meng, overcome with joy, exuberantly skipped and bounced her way across the compound, accidentally bumping into the commissar.
Though initially startled by her uncontrolled enthusiasm, the commissar, upon learning of her good news, simply advised her to be more mindful of her demeanor and moved on, noting her "quite energetic" spirit. Later, Xu Dongdong was confronted by a debt collector who had tracked her down regarding her brother's unpaid high-interest loan.
Her brother had already repaid the principal and initial interest, but the collector demanded an additional 30,000, calling Xu Dongdong's brother a "cheating master" and threatening to expose her situation to the entire camp. Lin Yi, who was nearby to pick up a package, witnessed the escalating argument and saw the man physically accost Xu Dongdong. He immediately intervened, protecting her and getting into a physical altercation with the debt collector.
The incident at the camp gate quickly drew the attention of the commissar, who severely reprimanded Qin Guan and Wen Jing for the lapse in discipline. Qin Guan took primary responsibility, attempting to explain that Lin Yi acted because the other party initiated the physical contact. However, the commissar cut him off, emphasizing the negative impact such an incident would have on the troops' reputation and demanding serious disciplinary action, including punishment for Lin Yi.
Later, Qin Guan advised Lin Yi, after reviewing the surveillance, that while his impulse to defend was understandable, as a soldier in uniform, he represented more than just himself and needed to exercise better judgment regarding the time and place of his actions. He conceded that the punishment was irrevocable.
Wanting to protect Lin Yi, Xu Dongdong pleaded with Wen Jing, offering to take Lin Yi’s punishment herself, but Wen Jing sternly refused, stating that punishments were not interchangeable gifts and warned Xu Dongdong to keep her personal affairs from affecting her military service. As Xu Dongdong apologized to Lin Yi, she overheard him on a phone call, being angrily berated by his father for disgracing the family and not living up to his own military legacy.
