THE REBEL Episode 42 Recap
> THE REBEL Recap
Cong Zhi Yuan used himself as bait to create an opportunity for Lin Nansheng to meet with General Rong. He informed Wang Shi'an that he would meet "Fisherman," the top leader of the East China Bureau's Urban Work Bureau in Shanghai, at 4 p. m. that day, in front of Ciro's Night Club.
Cong Zhi Yuan explained to Wang Shi'an that Fisherman would remain hidden in the crowd until he made a specific signal, resting his hands on his hips, and would disappear if any unusual movements occurred. When Wang Shi'an questioned why he waited until the last minute, Cong Zhi Yuan asserted that an earlier disclosure would have allowed a mole to warn Fisherman, but now it was too late.
He also apologized for being rough with one of Wang Shi'an's men, claiming it was a necessary act to prove his trustworthiness. To make his deception more convincing, Cong Zhi Yuan demanded a steep price: 100,000 US dollars and fifty gold bars, each weighing 377 grams, in addition to safe passage to Argentina, presenting himself as a greedy and cowardly defector.
Wang Shi'an, believing the opportunity to capture Fisherman was invaluable, immediately contacted his superior, Commissioner Mao, to secure the funds. He explained to Commissioner Mao that Cong Zhi Yuan's information about a major intelligence network adjustment suggested Fisherman was planning to leave, and this was their best chance to dismantle the entire underground network in Shanghai.
Wang Shi'an then met Cong Zhi Yuan, providing a partial payment from his division's reserve fund and a special withdrawal request form signed by him for the Ministry of Finance, promising the remaining funds within two days. He warned Cong Zhi Yuan that he would wait only until 4:05 p. m. , and if Fisherman didn't appear, Cong Zhi Yuan would be held accountable.
Cong Zhi Yuan, urging haste, insisted they depart immediately to make it on time, reiterating that even under duress, he would not make the signal at gunpoint. Meanwhile, Lan Xinjie made her own preparations. She called numerous Shanghai newspapers, fabricating a sensational story about an influential boss taking his mistress to Ciro's Night Club at 4 p. m. , where his enraged wife, possibly armed, would confront them. This ruse successfully drew many reporters to the scene.
Lan Xinjie then positioned herself on a rooftop across the street from the nightclub, equipped with a sniper rifle. Following the plan, she attached a grenade to a side door as an escape mechanism and detection alert. As 4 p. m. approached, Wang Shi'an's agents formed a heavy perimeter around Ciro's Night Club. Cong Zhi Yuan, now uncuffed, walked towards the entrance under close surveillance. Reporters began to gather, confirming the effectiveness of Lan Xinjie's tip-off.
With a tense focus, Lan Xinjie took aim and fired, striking a street lamp near Cong Zhi Yuan. The light cover shattered and fell, plunging the immediate area into chaos and sending pedestrians scattering in panic. In the confusion, as Lan Xinjie was disassembling her rifle, she accidentally dislodged a loose stone, which fell and exposed her position.
Seeing this, Cong Zhi Yuan quickly seized a gun from one of the agents guarding him, sacrificing himself to buy time for Lan Xinjie's escape. The agents, reacting instantly, opened fire, killing Cong Zhi Yuan on the spot. Lan Xinjie attempted to flee down a staircase but was spotted by police officers. Remembering Lin Nansheng's urgent instruction not to let anyone see her face, she was forced back upstairs.
Trapped on the rooftop with no escape, Lan Xinjie chose to sacrifice herself, pulling the pin on her grenade, and was instantly killed in the explosion. Lin Nansheng and his team, rushing to her aid, arrived moments too late, witnessing the tragic outcome. Despite the profound grief of losing two comrades, Lin Nansheng maintained his composure and left the scene without drawing suspicion.
Wang Shi'an was furious at the mission's failure, not only having lost Cong Zhi Yuan but also failing to capture Fisherman. During an urgent meeting, a subordinate reported that while fragments confirmed a female shooter, the destroyed weapon and common clothing made identification impossible. Only two injured officers had briefly seen her, describing her as a woman of medium height, around 30 years old, but without any distinct features.
Wang Shi'an voiced his frustration, demanding an explanation for the disastrous outcome. Lin Nansheng intervened, suggesting the Communists might have detected their presence and altered their plan, turning the meeting into an assassination. He theorized that Cong Zhi Yuan's suspicion of their agents led him to make a desperate move by grabbing a gun.
Lin Nansheng then subtly implied that those who had spoken to Cong Zhi Yuan alone after he revealed the meeting, particularly Wang Shi'an himself, should be thoroughly investigated for potential leaks. Wang Shi'an, realizing the implication, was momentarily silenced, though his subordinate assured him that Lin Nansheng had been closely monitored at the scene and exhibited no unusual behavior. Wang Shi'an also learned that the numerous reporters were drawn by the fabricated "social scandal" tip-off, which the shootout evidently disrupted.
Later that evening, Lin Nansheng returned to his empty home, consumed by grief. Wang Jie, his housekeeper, informed him that "Madam" (Lan Xinjie) had prepared his favorite dishes that morning but would not be returning, as she was staying at a friend's house. Lin Nansheng, alone, wept as he ate the meal, realizing Lan Xinjie had likely foreseen her fate.
The next day, Commissioner Mao, enraged by the failure, reprimanded Wang Shi'an over the phone, demanding a plausible explanation for the operation's catastrophic results and threatening his position if he couldn't deliver. Wang Shi'an, facing immense pressure and suspecting an internal leak, ordered an investigation into Lin Nansheng, particularly focusing on their private conversation in the infirmary. Meanwhile, Zhu Yizhen read a newspaper headline detailing the shootout at Ciro's, the deaths of two men, and a woman on a rooftop.
Shocked and saddened by Cong Zhi Yuan's death, she promptly sent a telegram to her organization, requesting an investigation into the cause and further instructions. Unbeknownst to Wang Shi'an, Lin Nansheng, disguised as a colonel from the Ministry of Defense, bypassed security and gained entry into the Tianchan Theatre, which was exclusively reserved by the Beijing-Shanghai Garrison Command and where General Rong was present.
Posing as a theater worker, Lin Nansheng approached General Rong, feigning a request for him to choose an additional scene for the performance. Once alone, Lin Nansheng urgently informed General Rong that he had little time and must speak without interruption.
He then recounted a secret meeting between General Rong and Cong Zhi Yuan in November 1947 at the Jin Qiao Hotel, detailing how Rong had been coughing while holding a blue handkerchief, and how Cong Zhi Yuan had recommended an old man in Yongning Street known for treating coughs. To further confirm his identity, Lin Nansheng offered General Rong a cup of "Lu Cui" tea, the general's favorite and identical to the one Cong Zhi Yuan had given him.
Recognizing the code phrases and the tea, General Rong understood that "Comrade Birch" (Lin Nansheng) had been sent by "Old Ji" (Cong Zhi Yuan). Lin Nansheng reassured Rong about his disguise and then, in response to General Rong's question, explained that Cong Zhi Yuan had sacrificed himself to ensure the smooth transfer of this vital information. Though he did not know the exact details of Cong Zhi Yuan's arrest, he affirmed that Cong Zhi Yuan had prioritized General Rong's safety.
General Rong, profoundly saddened, entrusted Lin Nansheng with the crucial intelligence for the Huaihai Campaign, emphasizing the urgency of its delivery, as it represented their only hope to turn the tide of the war. Lin Nansheng vowed to complete the mission. Shortly after, Wang Shi'an received news that Lin Nansheng had forcibly entered the Garrison Command's private theater, even assaulting a guard. Infuriated, Wang Shi'an immediately ordered Lin Nansheng's return, determined to prevent any further complications.
