Resumo do episódio 37 de THE REBEL
> Resumos de THE REBEL
After the Military Intelligence Bureau issued orders, an anti-traitor operation swiftly commenced in Shanghai. Confronted by the overwhelming force, Chen Moqun, who had been hiding in his study overnight attempting to devise an escape, had no choice but to leap from a window and flee. At the same time, Meng Annan led Old Xu, the person in charge of the Communists' Zhongming Rice Trading stronghold, to a remote area outside the city.
Meng Annan fabricated a story about organizing Old Xu's escape, detailing a route involving a stone bridge and a small boat, and even giving a secret phrase: "it's 10 o'clock, but you don't have a watch." After killing Old Xu, Meng Annan reported Zhongming Rice Trading, located on Shengjia Street in the southern city, to the inspection department, identifying it as a Communist labor movement group stronghold. With five traitors, including Chen Moqun, having escaped, the capture operation was stalled.
Wang Shi'an called an urgent meeting, announcing that the Central Executive Committee was enraged by the escapes and demanded their swift capture. He instructed everyone to report any information about Chen Moqun directly to him, warning against independent actions. Lin Nansheng suggested searching the slums, noting the large number of moving refugees, many of whom were uneducated and illiterate, making them ideal hiding spots.
During the meeting, Wang Shi'an received a mysterious call, which he answered privately, confirming his location and then abruptly dismissed the meeting to leave. Lin Nansheng, suspicious of Wang Shi'an's clandestine behavior, secretly followed him. Chen Moqun, desperate for self-preservation, initiated a meeting with Wang Shi'an at a hotel. There, he revealed that the supposed Communist contact station that exploded in Chengjiaqiao Town was actually a deceptive setup by the Communists.
He explained that the body found was not a Communist but a dead beggar, "Number 19," from a quarantine center. Chen Moqun further disclosed that he had planted a spy within the Communist ranks back in 1939, before returning to Shanghai. This spy was responsible for creating the fake stronghold. He offered this intel as leverage, implying it would help Wang Shi'an understand the Communists' true intentions.
Wang Shi'an initially remained skeptical, but Chen Moqun's assertion that there was a Communist spy within the Military Intelligence Bureau made him reconsider. Lin Nansheng discreetly observed from across the street. As Chen Moqun exited the hotel, Lin Nansheng immediately pursued him. However, Meng Annan, acting as Chen Moqun's secret agent, was already lying in wait. He created a diversion by causing a vegetable cart to spill, blocking Lin Nansheng's path and allowing Chen Moqun to escape.
Meanwhile, back at the office, Wang Shi'an, analyzing the situation and suspecting a leak, accidentally learned that Lin Nansheng had interrogated Old Xiao alone early in the morning. This detail, combined with the news that the body in Chengjiaqiao was a beggar, solidified Wang Shi'an's suspicions about Lin Nansheng, prompting him to immediately report his findings to Chongqing Headquarters.
Ji Zhongyuan received urgent news that the Zhongming Rice Trading contact station had been destroyed, its person in charge sacrificed, and Peng Dai Sen, who worked at the rice mill, had gone missing. Witnesses claimed Peng Dai Sen was seen leaving in a Nationalist army uniform. Lin Nansheng, under the guise of renewing old acquaintances, visited Chief Tang of the inspection department.
On his way to Tang's house, Lin Nansheng saw a brooch being repaired at a jewelry shop and inquired about the young lady who brought it in. He gifted Tang's wife a pure gold pixiu, then pressed Chief Tang about the Zhongming Rice Trading raid, learning that the tip came from an informant. The emergence of traitors in both the Nationalist and Communist parties caused widespread alarm.
Meng Annan, pretending to be unaffected in front of Zhu Yizhen, skillfully avoided raising suspicion. Zhu Yizhen noted the destruction of their stronghold and Peng Dai Sen's disappearance, acknowledging the presence of a traitor. Meng Annan subtly suggested that Peng Dai Sen might have betrayed them and faked his disappearance, proposing his immediate elimination if true. Simultaneously, the anti-spy department from Nanjing Headquarters, led by Pei Hao Chuan, arrived in Shanghai.
They first interrogated Liao Tong about the Old Xiao case, particularly regarding his journey to Baoying County to retrieve Old Xiao's wife and his claim of encountering the New Fourth Army. Liao Tong vehemently denied being a spy. Subsequently, Lin Nansheng was questioned. He feigned anger, leveraging his long-standing service and Director Dai Li's trust, demanding concrete evidence for their suspicions. After the investigation, Lin Nansheng met with Ji Zhongyuan to discuss the situation.
Lin Nansheng connected Wang Shi'an's secret meeting with Chen Moqun and the person who obstructed his pursuit of Chen Moqun. Based on Ji Zhongyuan's description of Peng Dai Sen as having an average, slim figure, Lin Nansheng deduced that Peng Dai Sen was likely Chen Moqun's man, covering his escape. Recognizing that he was now under suspicion from the Military Intelligence Bureau, Lin Nansheng decided to find a scapegoat.
He then planted explosives in Liao Tong's office, intending to frame Liao Tong as the Communist spy. Lin Nansheng's plan proceeded smoothly. Explosives were discovered in Liao Tong's office during a search by the anti-spy department. Liao Tong went missing and was unreachable. The anti-spy unit concluded that Liao Tong was indeed the Communist infiltrator and closed the case. Wang Shi'an, upon hearing the news, suspected Lin Nansheng's involvement in framing Liao Tong but lacked any concrete evidence.
When a subordinate defended Liao Tong, Wang Shi'an angrily dismissed him. Later, Chen Moqun called Wang Shi'an, and they met privately again. Wang Shi'an confirmed that Liao Tong was missing and the anti-spy department had closed the case, believing Liao Tong to be the spy. Chen Moqun expressed his disbelief, suggesting Lin Nansheng was not as straightforward as he seemed.
He then disclosed that Gu Shen Yan had previously instructed him to ensure Lin Nansheng's safety and arrange his escape to Hong Kong, mentioning that Zhu Yizhen was the Communist contact. While Wang Shi'an admitted sending Lin Nansheng to contact the Communists, he stated that Lin Nansheng reported meeting a man, not a woman. Chen Moqun warned Wang Shi'an that Lin Nansheng's ability to provide "perfect excuses" made him a dangerous individual who could betray Wang Shi'an.
He then revealed the existence of his secret agent, Meng Annan, whose original name was Kuang Hui Dong. Kuang Hui Dong, a graduate of the Chinese Military Academy, had his death faked so he could infiltrate the Communist ranks. As leverage, Chen Moqun offered to let Wang Shi'an control Kuang Hui Dong in exchange for a ship ticket to Nanyang. Wang Shi'an, considering Chen Moqun's departure from Shanghai beneficial, agreed.
Chen Moqun explained that once his ship passed Wusongkou Wharf, he would use its transmitter to telegram Kuang Hui Dong, who would then report everything to Wang Shi'an. He also provided the token for future contact: a watch. In an emergency, Wang Shi'an could publish a missing person notice in the newspaper with the message "little brother, safe."
With the deal struck, Chen Moqun approached You Zongzhi, the deputy director of the Civil Affairs Bureau, to arrange fake identification documents for his escape. You Zongzhi attempted to extort ten gold bars from Chen Moqun, citing his own financial struggles. However, Chen Moqun countered by threatening to expose You Zongzhi if he were apprehended due to a lack of funds for his escape. Faced with this threat, You Zongzhi reluctantly agreed to eight gold bars and promised to deliver the documents in two days.
