THE REBEL Episode 4 Recap
> THE REBEL Recap
Chen Moqun, finding constant surveillance at Le Cancoll Cafe ineffective due to the high volume of people, decided to apply pressure to "Mailman" by exposing Wang Zhi. He brought Wang Zhi to the Secret Service headquarters, asking him to identify any familiar faces among the staff. Wang Zhi quickly grasped he was being used as bait to provoke an assassination attempt by "Mailman" or an accomplice.
Chen Moqun confirmed his intention, stating that Wang Zhi's face was now a valuable asset to force "Mailman" into action, and reaffirmed his commitment to their agreement once "Mailman" was caught. Lin Nansheng then summoned Gu Shenyan to Chen Moqun's office. While discussing administrative matters, Gu Shenyan observed Wang Zhi. After Gu Shenyan departed, Wang Zhi confronted Chen Moqun, acknowledging that he was a pawn meant to be seen by Gu Shenyan, whom Chen Moqun suspected as "Mailman."
Wang Zhi remarked that even if Gu Shenyan were a Communist, his long tenure had made him indistinguishable. Chen Moqun, emphasizing the elusive nature of "Mailman," urged Wang Zhi to meticulously recall all details about him, subtly highlighting the critical danger Wang Zhi faced. Following this, Lin Nansheng reported to Chen Moqun, noting that Gu Shenyan, despite his outward indifference, seemed to be deliberately avoiding something, which intensified their suspicions.
Chen Moqun immediately ordered heightened security around the Ta Tung Hotel, where Wang Zhi was being held. Xu Bin and his elite team were deployed, strategically placing agents on the ground floor and in four rooms on the fourth floor to ensure Wang Zhi's absolute safety. Lin Nansheng was assigned to Le Cancoll Cafe during the day and the Ta Tung Hotel at night. Meanwhile, Ji Zhongyuan began efforts to re-establish communication with "Mailman."
He entrusted Zhu Yizhen from Shenjiang University with an urgent mission: to meet an important contact at 3 p. m. the following day at Le Cancoll Cafe on Xiafei Road. She was to carry the book "Lucien Leuwen" and respond to the query "Have you read The Red and the Black?" with "Yes, but I prefer Lucien Leuwen."
Gu Shenyan, acutely aware of the heightened scrutiny on him, spent the night wrestling with the decision of whether to attend the meeting. The next morning, Lin Nansheng set up surveillance across from Le Cancoll Cafe, meticulously photographing every person entering and exiting. He soon recognized Zhu Yizhen among the patrons. Gu Shenyan arrived at the cafe, but, discerning the presence of surveillance agents, he decided against entering directly.
Instead, he hired a rickshaw to pass by, observing Zhu Yizhen from a safe distance. As the afternoon wore on, Zhu Yizhen waited in vain for her contact. As she prepared to leave, a young beggar approached her, delivering a message from Gu Shenyan: the meeting location was changed to under the Zhejiang Road Bridge at 3 p. m. the next day.
Zhu Yizhen immediately informed Ji Zhongyuan, concluding that Gu Shenyan’s indirect message indicated he had sensed danger or encountered trouble near the cafe. Ji Zhongyuan instructed her to avoid Le Cancoll and to lie low for a while, promising to send a new signal for any future tasks. Later, Ji Zhongyuan and Gu Shenyan met covertly under the Zhejiang Road Bridge at 3 p. m.
After verifying their identities using a newspaper message about "Missing Person - Manager Li Mu Qing," Ji Zhongyuan introduced himself as "Fisherman," the new liaison, succeeding A Mu. He recounted A Mu’s sacrifice to protect him and informed Gu Shenyan of Wang Zhi’s defection, the arrest of his network, and his failure to reach Xinyang, which confirmed the organization's belief in his betrayal.
Gu Shenyan affirmed that Wang Zhi was the man Chen Moqun had displayed at the headquarters, corroborating their assessment. He explained Chen Moqun’s maneuver was a direct test of his loyalty, noting that while suspicion was inevitable, concrete evidence was still lacking. They resolved that Wang Zhi, having worked for them for years and now a traitor, must be eliminated swiftly.
Gu Shenyan then provided critical intelligence: Wang Zhi was confined to the innermost room on the fourth floor of the heavily guarded Ta Tung Hotel. Sniper assassination was deemed impractical due to the distance and the numerous, well-armed guards, some believed to carry submachine guns. Ji Zhongyuan immediately began planning the assassination.
He called the Ta Tung Hotel, initially requesting a high-floor room for observation, and eventually reserved room 315 on the third floor, which would become available at 5 p. m. He then dispatched Fu An, disguised as a food delivery person for room 315. Fu An deliberately ascended to the fourth floor, ostensibly by pressing the wrong elevator button, to observe the security setup.
When questioned, he maintained his cover, and his identity was verified by a phone call to the restaurant, securing his release. Fu An reported back, detailing four or five guards positioned at the lobby, the fourth-floor stairwell, the elevator, and the hallway, all armed with handguns, indicating strict but surmountable security. Later that night, Lin Nansheng began his shift at the Ta Tung Hotel. He noted the elevator area was unguarded.
Xu Bin, confident in his deployment, assured Lin Nansheng that their men, including the bellboys, were strategically placed, some hidden in rooms, to allow attackers to enter before trapping them. Lin Nansheng, however, remained wary, believing that merely reacting to gunshots would be too late. Close to midnight, a police car arrived.
A frantic middle-aged man, identifying himself as an assistant manager from Huanya Bank, entered the hotel accompanied by two Chinese detectives, Li Ah Shui (serial number 372) and Ding Fu Sheng (serial number 258). The man loudly demanded to search for his wife, Chen Dan Lu, accusing her of infidelity. The hotel manager hesitated, caught between hotel policy and the demands of the police in the French Concession.
Lin Nansheng, sensing a deeper game, intervened, inspecting the detectives' IDs and discreetly recording their names and serial numbers. As the police and the agitated man proceeded upstairs, Lin Nansheng used his phone to call the Garrison Command. He was informed that Li Ah Shui and Ding Fu Sheng were indeed legitimate police officers, but both had been reported missing for the night.
Simultaneously, as they reached the second floor in the elevator, "Ding Fu Sheng" feigned a sudden stomach ailment and excused himself to the restroom, while the "bank manager" created a loud diversion by aggressively banging on guest room doors, providing cover for his team to tamper with a window for an inside operation.
