THE REBEL Episode 29 Recap
> THE REBEL Recap
Japanese military police set up patrols and control zones in Shanghai, one of which encompassed Lin Nansheng's residence. As Lin Nansheng walked back, he noticed plainclothes officers following Zhu Yizhen upstairs. Inside, Zhu Yizhen was trying on a butterfly brooch Lin Nansheng had given her, her feelings shifting from sweet anticipation to sadness at the thought of their impending separation. Realizing she had been exposed, she quickly hid in her landlady's room and climbed down from the balcony window.
Lin Nansheng rushed to meet her, and they ran through the narrow alleyways. In a brief moment of respite, Zhu Yizhen urged Lin Nansheng to leave, insisting that at least one of them should survive. She implored him to complete the tasks she couldn't and to watch over their country after it was liberated. However, seeing the brooch on her clothes, Lin Nansheng pulled her into an embrace, feigning to be a loving couple to evade approaching police.
Despite their attempt to conceal themselves, a gunshot rang out, and both Zhu Yizhen and Lin Nansheng were struck, bullets piercing Zhu Yizhen’s chest from behind and Lin Nansheng’s back. Lin Nansheng fell to the ground, trying to reach for Zhu Yizhen's hand before losing consciousness, calling out her name, "Zhen Zhen."
An officer named Old Wu from the police station immediately called Gu Shenyan, informing him that Lin Nansheng, one of Gu Shenyan's men, and a Communist named Zhu Yizhen had been shot during their capture by police from East Seward Road. Both were critically wounded and were being treated at Renji Hospital, with local police chiefs eager to transfer them to the Japanese Military Police Command for credit.
Concerned for their safety, Gu Shenyan promptly called Chen Moqun, demanding an immediate private meeting. Chen Moqun initially hesitated, but Gu Shenyan threatened to expose Chen Moqun’s collaboration with the Central Executive Committee in Nanjing and Chongqing newspapers, forcing him to comply. During their meeting, Gu Shenyan disclosed Lin Nansheng and Zhu Yizhen's predicament, urging Chen Moqun to rescue them from Renji Hospital. Chen Moqun expressed surprise at the Nationalist and Communist working together.
He was particularly reluctant to save Zhu Yizhen due to her Communist affiliation, but Gu Shenyan argued it was for Chen Moqun’s own benefit; if Zhu Yizhen fell into Japanese hands, they might uncover Chen Moqun’s role in saving Lin Nansheng. Gu Shenyan emphasized the united front against Japan, stating that after Zhu Yizhen recovered, she would go where she needed to go. He advised Chen Moqun to seize this opportunity to re-establish his connection with Chongqing.
Chen Moqun agreed to help transfer Lin Nansheng and Zhu Yizhen from the hospital. Lin Nansheng regained consciousness in the Japanese Ground Army Hospital in Hong Kong. Zuo Qiuming, now a liaison officer and deputy director of the Japan South China Development Co., Ltd. in Hong Kong, visited him, posing as a family friend to avoid suspicion.
He informed Lin Nansheng that his new identity was Pang Jiajun, a major in the First Front Army’s independent brigade of Wang Jingwei's Peacebuilding National Army. His father, Pang Ran, a member of Nanjing's Central Executive Committee, had arranged his transfer. Lin Nansheng was instructed to remember that he was injured during a Taicang purging campaign a week prior. Zuo Qiuming also brought Japanese books, urging Lin Nansheng to practice the language as most patients were high-ranking Japanese officers.
Lin Nansheng asked about Zhu Yizhen, but Zuo Qiuming could only say that Gu Shenyan had arranged Lin Nansheng’s transfer and had no information about her. In the hospital, Lin Nansheng encountered Kato Koji, a Japanese captain who openly discussed his belief in using prisoners of war for assassination training, as mere dummies couldn't provide a true sense of killing. Kato Koji, suspecting Lin Nansheng, probed him with questions about his background.
Lin Nansheng carefully maintained his fabricated identity as Pang Jiajun from the Peacebuilding National Army's First Front Army independent brigade. When Kato Koji tried to trick him by asking about "Brigadier Feng," Lin Nansheng corrected him, stating their brigadier's surname was Yang, and his name was Yang Feng, causing Kato Koji to feign confusion about Chinese surnames. Meanwhile, Zhu Yizhen awoke in Schneider's Clinic in Jiaxing.
Shen Xi, from the Jiatong Working Committee, informed her that she was now Shen Yujing, Shen Xi's niece, and was to recover there. Shen Xi provided a cover story: Zhu Yizhen was accidentally shot during an anti-Japanese resistance battle at Fengqiaozhen. She assured Zhu Yizhen that no one in Jiaxing would recognize her and that the German clinic was safe from Japanese inspection. Shen Xi, however, had no information regarding Lin Nansheng's whereabouts or condition.
Worried, Zhu Yizhen later asked Dr. Schneider about the survival rate for someone with bullet wounds to the chest. The doctor explained it was very dangerous if the lungs were punctured, requiring an exceptionally skilled doctor, but maintained that there was still a chance for survival, and a miracle might happen. Back in Shanghai, Wang Shi'an initiated an investigation into Gu Shenyan.
His men uncovered records of missing printing machines from 1937 and a high-power radio from 1939 that Gu Shenyan had claimed was confiscated by the Special Higher Police. Wang Shi'an reported his findings to Chongqing Headquarters, emphasizing the secrecy of the mission. Zhou Yaoting convened a meeting to discuss Gu Shenyan’s conduct. Initially, the attendees viewed the missing items as minor corruption.
However, when an intel officer revealed that while printing factories were indeed destroyed, the Special Higher Police had never confiscated any American-made radios, Zhou Yaoting grew suspicious, fearing Gu Shenyan might be involved with Communists, recalling "Traitor Chen" (Chen Moqun)'s past, unproven investigation of a Communist spy codenamed Mailman. The consensus shifted, and everyone agreed that Gu Shenyan should be brought back to Chongqing for a thorough investigation to prevent him from tampering with evidence or witnesses in Shanghai.
Gu Shenyan received an urgent telegram from Director Li of Chongqing Headquarters, warning him that Wang Shi'an was investigating him and that he was in danger. Old Pan, his contact, urged him to evacuate immediately. However, Gu Shenyan refused, arguing that if he fled, the investigation would escalate from mere corruption to uncovering his true identity as a Communist, which would expose over a dozen people connected to him.
He assured Old Pan that he had a plan and requested twenty Hanyang 88 firearms, with consecutive serial numbers, from the batch Old Ji had sent to the New Fourth Army. In Hong Kong, Lin Nansheng continued to struggle with the Japanese soldiers' casual conversations about torturing and mutilating Chinese prisoners. He confessed to Zuo Qiuming that he couldn't bear it anymore and wished to die or leave.
Zuo Qiuming, drawing on his own years as a spy within Japanese ranks, urged Lin Nansheng to endure, emphasizing that suffering in silence was often the only way to survive and continue their fight. He reminded Lin Nansheng that at least they were still alive. Lin Nansheng conceded, but expressed despair about their future actions and the increasingly brazen Japanese forces, lamenting his situation and the unknown fate of Chongqing Headquarters.
Zuo Qiuming offered some solace, confirming that Gu Shenyan was safe and alive after rescuing them. Lin Nansheng's lung injury was severe, causing him difficulty breathing and pain. Later, Lin Nansheng noticed Kato Koji trying to access his medical records, but a nurse intervened, reminding Kato Koji that patient information was confidential. Kato Koji, still suspicious, merely claimed there was "something odd" about the Chinese man. Eventually, Old Pan met Gu Shenyan at a discreet location.
Gu Shenyan explained that he was there to discuss a business deal and offered a batch of Hanyang 88 rifles. Old Pan expressed his distrust, recalling Gu Shenyan’s previous refusals to sell him goods. Gu Shenyan reiterated his offer of Hanyang 88, hinting at the urgency of the matter.
