THE REBEL Episode 1 Recap
> THE REBEL Recap
In the summer of 1936, the Nationalist Party's Reconstruction Society's Secret Service in Shanghai, under the leadership of Station Chief Chen Moqun, escalated its persecution of progressive individuals. The city, outwardly prosperous, concealed a dark reality where brutal interrogations were common. During a rainy night, a captured Communist informant, subjected to severe torture, confessed details about the Huxi liaison station and a liaison named Wang Zhi.
However, the informant succumbed to the harsh treatment and died before revealing the address of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee. Deputy Station Chief Wang Shi'an reported this to Chen Moqun, who quickly dispatched agents to apprehend Wang Zhi, warning that the information must remain confidential. Unbeknownst to them, Mu, a Communist operative, had already received intelligence about the exposure. He swiftly contacted Wang Zhi, urging him to destroy documents, and immediately evacuate to Xinyang, where another comrade would assist him.
When Chen Moqun and his men arrived at Wang Zhi's residence, they found it deserted. The still-warm bed and recently extinguished charcoal indicated a narrow escape, further confirmed by a dropped raincoat. Frustrated by yet another missed capture, Chen Moqun suspected the presence of a mole within his ranks, responsible for leaking critical information. To address the internal threat and find a trustworthy aide, Chen Moqun traveled to Nanjing to select outstanding agents.
While awaiting candidate files from the principal of a special training program, he encountered Lin Nansheng. Lin Nansheng, a trainee, displayed remarkable observational skills and deduction when he correctly inferred Chen Moqun's origin from Shanghai based on his car model and newspaper preferences. The principal explained that Lin Nansheng, a Normal University graduate, had joined the program out of a desire to serve the country, showing stronger aptitude in intelligence studies than military training.
Dissatisfied with the existing assessment methods, which he deemed too basic, Chen Moqun ordered an impromptu, strenuous assessment at Xiaolingwei. During the rigorous physical test, Lin Nansheng, despite the physical exertion, meticulously observed and reported specific details about a military truck and the soldiers guarding it, including their number, a wounded soldier, and even the color of their collar badges.
Another trainee corrected one detail about an infantryman's badge, which Chen Moqun confirmed, impressed by their keen observation under difficult conditions. Chen Moqun then had a private conversation with Lin Nansheng, during which Lin Nansheng articulated his belief that while education could change a generation, the immediate foreign invasion demanded direct military service.
Chen Moqun underscored the gravity of their oath, emphasizing lifelong loyalty to the party, warning of severe punishment for defection, and instructing him that a gun must only be pointed at those who betray their party, country, or leader, with traitors deserving a fatal shot. Chen Moqun then formally welcomed Lin Nansheng to the Shanghai Secret Service. Before departing for Shanghai, Lin Nansheng bid farewell to his close friend Zuo Qiuming.
Zuo Qiuming, though not selected for Shanghai, graciously congratulated Lin Nansheng, assuring him of his superior suitability for the role. He presented Lin Nansheng with a pen as a token, and they shared a poignant salute, expressing hope for a future reunion. Upon their arrival in Shanghai, the bustling city initially overwhelmed Lin Nansheng, whose naive demeanor amused Chen Moqun, recalling his own past.
Chen Moqun took Lin Nansheng to a tailor, where he offered guidance on blending in, emphasizing the importance of appearance in their line of work, and stressing the need for unwavering, lifelong loyalty to the party, as human nature could be fickle. Soon after, word came that Wang Zhi had been apprehended by the Nanjing garrison command's inspection team at the train station.
Chen Moqun ordered Deputy Station Chief Wang Shi'an to retrieve Wang Zhi, stressing that the escort process must be kept entirely confidential, with no one else to be informed. In his office, Chen Moqun then explained Lin Nansheng’s primary mission: to root out the mole within the Secret Service. He explicitly stated that Lin Nansheng was to report only to him and that any inquiries from other personnel about his duties would indicate their suspicious intent.
He provided Lin Nansheng with identification and a service pistol. Chen Moqun recounted a significant intelligence leak in 1934 and Wang Zhi’s recent escape, which solidified his belief in an internal traitor. He presented Lin Nansheng with personnel files of those with access to sensitive information, from section heads to drivers, highlighting his efforts to narrow down the pool of suspects.
Lin Nansheng astutely suggested a phone leak, which Chen Moqun confirmed involved a suspicious call to an Italian firm that had led to a dead end. Chen Moqun concluded that the mole was cunning and the investigation must be conducted covertly. Later, Gu Shenyan, the director of the record office, returned to the station. He subtly observed Chen Moqun's car, noticing a Nanjing newspaper inside. Gu Shenyan then visited Chen Moqun's office under the pretext of needing signatures on documents.
Chen Moqun introduced Gu Shenyan, his former Huangpu classmate, to Lin Nansheng. When Gu Shenyan humorously suggested Lin Nansheng investigate him first, Chen Moqun dismissed the idea, vouching for Gu Shenyan's loyalty. However, Lin Nansheng noticed that Gu Shenyan's file was absent from the list of suspicious individuals and voiced his concern to Chen Moqun.
He argued that true loyalty should not fear suspicion, and even if Gu Shenyan typically handled outdated information, he could still be a source of leaks through alternative channels. Impressed by Lin Nansheng's reasoning, Chen Moqun approved the investigation into Gu Shenyan, reminding Lin Nansheng never to trust anyone completely. After leaving Chen Moqun's office, Gu Shenyan immediately placed a coded phone call to a bookstore, inquiring about a specific book published by Saoye Publishing House.
The person who answered, Mu, confirmed that "the book you mentioned has been picked up by another gentleman," indicating that the information had already been successfully relayed. Chen Moqun then took Lin Nansheng to tour the station's interrogation rooms and holding cells, where many Communists were detained. Lin Nansheng witnessed a young boy being subjected to torture, a sight that deeply disturbed him, causing him to avert his gaze.
Chen Moqun sternly ordered Lin Nansheng to keep his eyes open, emphasizing that he must become accustomed to such brutality. He dismissed Lin Nansheng’s plea that the captive was "just a child" who might be innocent, stating he was an "enemy first" and might be feigning ignorance. Chen Moqun warned Lin Nansheng that unlike conventional warfare, their adversaries were cunning and could appear as anyone—old people, women, children, or even friends and family.
He concluded by informing Lin Nansheng that his next visit to the interrogation room would involve him directly participating in the questioning. Later, Chen Moqun reiterated that while sensitivity could help uncover truth, soft-heartedness would harden with repeated exposure to the grim realities of their work.
