THE REBEL Episode 26 Recap
> THE REBEL Recap
Wang Shi'an was furious about the failed assassination attempt on Chen Moqun, accusing Lin Nansheng of intentionally allowing Chen to escape and taking action without permission. When Gu Shenyan tried to defend Lin Nansheng, Wang Shi'an cut him off, then turned his anger on Gu for not reporting such a critical operation to him beforehand, stressing the importance of unity.
Gu Shenyan accepted the criticism and then proposed a new assassination opportunity, revealing that Chen Moqun regularly attended Japanese news bulletin screenings at the Shanghai Press Office on the 18th of each month. Meanwhile, Zhu Yizhen, using the alias Mrs. Lin, reluctantly accepted an invitation from her landlady, Mrs. Fukiishi, to share some snacks. During their conversation, Mrs. Fukiishi subtly probed Zhu Yizhen's background.
Zhu Yizhen skillfully deflected the questions, mentioning her husband was away on business and she hadn't been going out much. She then redirected the conversation to Mrs. Fukiishi's embroidery. Mrs. Fukiishi, who admired Suzhou embroidery, asked if Zhu Yizhen, being from Suzhou, also embroidered. Zhu Yizhen replied that her mother had taught her as a child but she rarely practiced now, adding that her mother had passed away when she was young, making her unable to recall specific embroidery patterns.
Mrs. Fukiishi then offered to teach Zhu Yizhen embroidery. Following Imai Yosuke's orders, Chen Moqun initiated a swift operation to dismantle MIL Intelligence Bureau stations. His men first secured all fixed sentry posts around the main office and then surrounded the building, capturing MIL Intelligence Bureau personnel on patrol. Inside the MIL Intelligence Bureau, Wang Shi'an was informed that their sentries had been attacked and Japanese troops were closing in from all directions.
Attempts to contact the central police station by phone failed, confirming their isolation. Wang Shi'an rallied his staff, declaring it a critical moment of life and death for the Shanghai division, and ordered them to frantically burn sensitive files and codebooks. As the Japanese assault intensified with heavy gunfire and bombing, Lin Nansheng organized a counterattack while simultaneously creating an emergency escape route by breaking through a wall.
He directed everyone to evacuate through this passage, taking responsibility for covering their retreat. Wang Shi'an, after being helped by Gu Shenyan from under a fallen table, made his escape. However, in an act of callous self-preservation, he ordered the escape passage sealed, abandoning the remaining personnel. After neutralizing Japanese soldiers on the rooftop, Lin Nansheng learned of Wang Shi'an's actions. He angrily confronted Wang Shi'an about destroying the passage, questioning the fate of their colleagues who stayed behind.
Wang Shi'an coldly justified his decision, stating that those who stayed behind were meant to buy time and he had to "cut off the tail" to protect key personnel. Lin Nansheng then informed Wang Shi'an that Japanese forces were advancing on their current escape route. Wang Shi'an immediately announced "Plan Gecko," ordering everyone to abandon their current residences, disperse, take refuge with the Loyal Salvation Army in the city, and await instructions for evacuation from Shanghai.
Gu Shenyan then insisted that Wang Shi'an, as the station chief, must go to an emergency backup station at No. 24, Rue Hennequin, which Gu had prepared, to report the attack to headquarters immediately, while he and Lin Nansheng would stay to hold off the enemy. Wang Shi'an agreed and departed with his core team. Lin Nansheng and Gu Shenyan fought their way out, with Lin telling Gu to find an exit while he covered them.
Gu Shenyan, injured in the process, and Lin Nansheng narrowly escaped Japanese pursuit by taking refuge in a civilian home. The homeowner, realizing their plight, helped them disguise themselves and guided them through a hidden path to evade the Japanese. Meanwhile, Imai Yosuke, arriving at the devastated MIL Intelligence Bureau office, was furious that Chen Moqun had failed to capture any key figures, especially Lin Nansheng.
Imai ordered for a working radio to be assembled from broken ones and a plain code telegram sent to Chongqing, inviting Dai Li to Nanjing to join the "Peace Movement." He then instructed Chen Moqun to continue his raids and capture key personnel. Chen Moqun, disappointed by the lack of useful intelligence despite searching through partially burned files, reported that he had busted several more liaison stations, but still had no leads on Lin Nansheng, Gu Shenyan, or Wang Shi'an.
Upon arriving at the backup station, Wang Shi'an was greatly annoyed but promptly sent a telegram to headquarters in Chongqing, updating them on the critical situation in Shanghai. Chongqing replied with instructions for the division to first evacuate and then rebuild. Wang Shi'an then outlined their "Plan Gecko": personnel would be evacuated in batches by ship to Anhui, then escorted to Chongqing. Concerned that arrested personnel might have compromised their plans, he mandated a rigorous one-by-one verification of all evacuees.
He also tasked Lin Nansheng with urgently determining the status of all remaining stations in the city as soon as possible, to report to headquarters within two days. Wang Shi'an acknowledged Gu Shenyan's foresight in preparing the backup contact point, crediting him with preserving the "last spark" of the Shanghai division. A Japanese newspaper published a fabricated list of casualties from the MIL Intelligence Bureau raid, including Wang Shi'an and Lin Nansheng, aiming to sow panic among remaining agents.
Hearing civilian discussions about the increasing chaos, Japanese killings in the French Concession, and bodies being found, Zhu Yizhen, unaware of the deception, discovered the newspaper report claiming Lin Nansheng had died in the bombing. Believing him to be dead, she was overcome with grief and cried. Confined to her home due to strict patrols and unable to gather information, Zhu Yizhen grew anxious.
Meanwhile, Gu Shenyan placed a "seeking family" advertisement in a newspaper, hoping to establish contact with Zhu Yizhen. Zhu Yizhen later heard a radio broadcast from Mrs. Fukiishi's room. Feigning interest in embroidery, she visited Mrs. Fukiishi to secretly listen to the news. The broadcast from "Central Broadcasting System Nanjing Station" boasted of an "unprecedented victory" by Japanese forces against various anti-Japanese organizations, claiming many members had "repented."
Mrs. Fukiishi, still unaware of Zhu Yizhen's true identity, continued to inquire about "Mr. Lin's" return from his business trip, expressing worry about the dangers outside. Lin Nansheng diligently searched for surviving MIL Intelligence Bureau personnel in Shanghai. He soon encountered Zhao Jinglong, who was relieved to see Lin Nansheng alive.
Zhao explained that after the previous day's events, he tried to assist at Hua Hsing Cie but was overwhelmed by the Japanese presence, returning to his station to await contact. Zhao reported that only two other men from his station had survived, while the rest were killed, and one captured agent had defected. Lin Nansheng was relieved to learn that Zhao had safely sent his wife and child back to the countryside.
Lin Nansheng then instructed Zhao that their immediate task was to ascertain the true status of each station in the city and locate as many surviving members as possible. Before they parted ways, Lin Nansheng cautioned Zhao about the ongoing Japanese hunt and the threat posed by defectors, urging them both to stay safe. After notifying various MIL Intelligence Bureau stations about the evacuation plan, Lin Nansheng discretely visited Lan Xinjie.
He informed her that a ship to Chongqing had been arranged and someone would pick her up within the next two days, urging her to pack her belongings in advance to avoid missing the departure. He advised her to be mentally prepared for the long journey with her child, despite the presence of escorts, and provided her with money for the trip.
Lan Xinjie was deeply grateful and emotional about their imminent separation, wondering when they would see each other again. They bid each other farewell, with Lin Nansheng wishing her a safe journey. Disguised, Lin Nansheng then traveled to the Japanese-occupied area to meet with Zhu Yizhen, only to discover a heavy Japanese security presence in the vicinity.
