THE REBEL Episode 23 Recap
> THE REBEL Recap
The assassination of Uemura Net caused severe security measures at the Military Police Command, yet the assailant managed to escape. General Takahashi Senbei was furious, suspecting Chen Moqun's loyalty, given his past as a veteran Military Intelligence Bureau agent. Zhu Yizhen was deeply saddened by the loss of Wang Yunwei, who was only twenty years old, and shared her grief with Ji Zhongyuan, recalling how powerless she felt witnessing his death.
Ji Zhongyuan consoled her, confirming Wang Yunwei would be recognized as a martyr and her own commendation would follow. He emphasized that the Japanese were becoming increasingly aggressive, urging her to move past her sorrow and continue the fight, especially since the Japanese were getting "out of control." A command from the China Expeditionary Army officially stripped Takahashi Senbei of his commander position at the Japanese Military Police Command, replacing him with Imai Yosuke.
Imai Yosuke, upon assuming his role, pointedly suggested Takahashi Senbei should perform seppuku to uphold the dignity of an imperial soldier. Chen Moqun met with the new commander, who proved to be even more formidable than Takahashi. Imai Yosuke informed Chen Moqun that much of the intelligence he had provided was already known to the Special Higher Police. He explicitly pressured Chen Moqun to quickly apprehend "the Fisherman" to demonstrate his loyalty to Japan, demanding results, not just analysis.
Chen Moqun requested permission to enter the French Concession with a camouflaged radio direction-finding lorry to continue monitoring, suggesting the "Fisherman's" radio had moved there. Imai Yosuke reminded Chen Moqun that many important figures in the Shanghai Military Intelligence Bureau were his former subordinates, including Lin Nansheng, who was involved in General Uemura's assassination and whom Chen Moqun himself brought to Shanghai.
Chen Moqun insisted the assassination was likely the Communist Party's doing and reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Sino-Japanese cooperation and the new order, asking Imai to trust his loyalty. However, Imai Yosuke declared that all anti-Japanese forces were targets and chastised Chen Moqun for wasting too much time, reiterating his demand for immediate action to prove his loyalty. Privately, Lin Nansheng thanked Gu Shenyan for his help.
Gu Shenyan emphasized the importance of identifying the traitor who betrayed colleagues for personal gain, stating that more would suffer otherwise. He believed the most effective approach was to uncover the information source within the Japanese Military Police Command. Later, Gu Shenyan met with Ji Zhongyuan, handing him the Loyal Salvation Army's latest operational plans against the New Fourth Army, to be sent to their headquarters.
Gu Shenyan expressed dismay that Chinese factions were fighting each other instead of uniting against the Japanese. He warned that Imai Yosuke, who had previously dismantled many Party contact points in Beiping and Tianjin, would intensify pressure on Jessfield 76, making the situation in Shanghai and the French Concession significantly worse. Wang Shi'an, growing impatient with Lan Xinjie's lack of action, intercepted her on her way home.
He gave her a colorless and odorless poison, instructing her to find an opportunity to be alone with Chen Moqun and administer it. Wang Shi'an assured her that she would have ample time to escape before the poison took effect. He dismissed Lan Xinjie's reluctance, portraying it as a service to the country and people by eliminating a traitor.
He reminded her of her upcoming birthday in three days, suggesting it as the perfect opportunity, and promised to arrange her safe passage to Chongqing to reunite with her son once the mission was completed. Lan Xinjie questioned why a "commoner" like her was being tasked with an assassination that even the Military Intelligence Bureau couldn't accomplish. The next morning, Ji Zhongyuan was transmitting a message to his superiors in the French Concession when a Japanese detection vehicle passed by.
Fortunately, Ji Zhongyuan quickly concealed himself, and the pre-set timer on his radio stopped the transmission, preventing the Japanese from pinpointing his location and allowing him to escape detection. Lin Nansheng reviewed photos from Zhao Jinglong, who had been shadowing Chen Moqun. He noted Chen Moqun's extreme caution, even using a bulletproof car and avoiding unnecessary events.
However, he was surprised to see Lan Xinjie in one of the photos, dancing with Chen Moqun at a ballroom in the Japanese-occupied area. Concerned, Lin Nansheng decided to visit Lan Xinjie. He expressed concern about her associating with Chen Moqun, emphasizing the danger. Lan Xinjie, however, was dismissive, stating she needed money and was preparing to have a meal with Chen Moqun, urging Lin Nansheng to leave.
Just as Lin Nansheng was about to leave, Hu Daoyi arrived to pick up Lan Xinjie for her birthday dinner with Chen Moqun. Lan Xinjie quickly hid Lin Nansheng behind a wardrobe. She then calmly opened the door to greet Hu Daoyi, who briefly looked around the room. After a moment, Hu Daoyi stepped outside to wait for her. As they left, Hu Daoyi noticed Lin Nansheng's car parked nearby and asked if she knew whose it was.
Lan Xinjie casually lied, claiming it had been there since the previous night and she had no knowledge of it, deflecting his suspicion. At the restaurant, Hu Daoyi escorted Lan Xinjie to a private room, then left to greet Chen Moqun. Lan Xinjie seized the opportunity to surreptitiously sprinkle the poison onto Chen Moqun's hand towel at the table, recalling Wang Shi'an's assurance about the poison's nature and her escape time.
When Chen Moqun arrived, he complimented Lan Xinjie's charm and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. He then made a toast to her youth and beauty. Throughout the meal, Lan Xinjie grew increasingly nervous, especially when Chen Moqun used the poisoned towel to wipe his face and hands. She confessed her loneliness to Chen Moqun on her birthday. Chen Moqun, ever cautious, had his men supervise the meal preparation, assuring Lan Xinjie the food was safe.
After Chen Moqun peeled a prawn for her, Lan Xinjie feigned spilling wine on her dress and excused herself to the restroom. There, she quickly disposed of the poison bottle. Unbeknownst to Lan Xinjie, Lin Nansheng, worried for her safety, had followed her to the restaurant and noticed other individuals also keeping watch outside. As Lan Xinjie was about to return to the dining room, she overheard someone shout that Chen Moqun had been poisoned and to catch her.
Panicked, she tried to flee but was nearly apprehended by Chen Moqun's guards. Lin Nansheng, who had been waiting, swiftly intervened and helped her escape from the restaurant and into his car. He chastised her for accepting such a dangerous mission, revealing that the poison was fast-acting, taking effect within thirty seconds, meaning Wang Shi'an had lied to her. Lan Xinjie, distraught, worried about her son.
Lin Nansheng, moved by her desperation, instructed her to go to a safe house at 25 Hualong Road in the French Concession, assuring her he would rescue her son, Zi Lu. Lin Nansheng went to Lan Xinjie's apartment to retrieve Zi Lu. He confronted the couple who were babysitting, who tried to stop him from taking the child. Lin Nansheng, at gunpoint, forced them to confess.
They revealed they were paid by the Military Intelligence Bureau, under Wang Shi'an's orders, to monitor Lan Xinjie and Zi Lu. Lin Nansheng warned them that Jessfield 76 agents would soon arrive and told them to keep quiet if they wanted to live, then took Zi Lu to his mother. Meanwhile, Chen Moqun, though severely poisoned, was rushed to the hospital and survived the attempt on his life.
Lin Nansheng brought Zi Lu to Lan Xinjie at the safe house in the French Concession. He revealed that the couple watching Zi Lu were spies for Wang Shi'an. Lan Xinjie then explained her desperate situation: Wang Shi'an had promised her safe passage to Chongqing, a route only the Military Intelligence Bureau could secure through the blockades, if she killed Chen Moqun.
Her family had been anti-Japanese, and she hoped to reach Chongqing to claim a pension, enabling her and Zi Lu to live a stable life. Lin Nansheng understood her plight and sympathized with her. He warned her that Jessfield 76 would relentlessly pursue her. He instructed her and Zi Lu to remain hidden in the French Concession, promising to arrange their departure to Chongqing when the time was right.
