The Wind Blows From Longxi Episode 1 Recap
> The Wind Blows From Longxi Recap
In 228 A. D. , Prime Minister Zhuge Liang launched the Northern Expedition against the Wei State. In the military camp, Zhuge Liang received intelligence stating that General Zhang He's army intended to take Wating Road to cross the Xiao Pass for a decisive battle. Though relieved, Zhuge Liang, ever cautious, decided to send elite troops to guard Fanxu Road and the critical Jieting Fortress.
Ma Su volunteered to defend Jieting, and Zhuge Liang appointed Wang Ping as his vice commander, instructing Wei Yan and Gao Xiang to be ready to reinforce them if needed. Zhuge Liang declared that a victory against Zhang He would lead to the conquest of Chang'an and a successful Northern Expedition. However, this intelligence was false. General Zhang He's army, instead, took Fanxu Road under the cover of night and ambushed Jieting.
Ma Su, unprepared for this change, suffered a devastating defeat, leading to the fall of Jieting. The Shu army found itself encircled, forcing Zhuge Liang to retreat to the Hanzhong region. The Shu State's defeat was a stroke of luck for the Wei State. In Tianshui, Governor Guo Gang, pleased by the continuous influx of Wei troops into the city, was flattered by Chen Gong, the Recorder of Tianshui.
Chen Gong bowed and praised Guo Gang, asserting that he would surely realize his ambitions in Longxi, to which Guo Gang responded, hoping it would indeed be so. Following the fall of Jieting, Ma Su faced unavoidable punishment. Despite Adjutant Li Miao's fervent pleas for mercy, citing Ma Su's high rank and the example of Qin pardoning Meng Ming, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang remained resolute.
He emphasized that military law must be upheld, especially after Ma Su had sworn on his family's lives to defend Jieting. As their debate concluded, Ma Su's severed head was brought in. Zhuge Liang, although outwardly stern, ordered a pension and monthly grain for Ma Su's family, lamenting the unexpected failure of the Northern Expedition rather than Ma Su's fate itself.
Chief of Staff Yang Yi, recognizing the gravity of the Jieting debacle, suspected that Baidi's intelligence had been tampered with, indicating a Wei spy might have infiltrated Siwencao Intelligence, the Shu State's intelligence department. Zhuge Liang ordered a thorough investigation. Section Clerk Feng Ying informed Yang Yi that the intelligence, written in codes, made a mid-transit swap unlikely. He considered Baidi's loyalty the key issue, suggesting he might be compromised or have fallen victim to a Wei ploy.
Feng Ying explained that the Wei State had established its own Military Intelligence Agency, operating outside local government control and reporting directly to Yecheng, specifically to infiltrate Shu and spread misinformation. Yang Yi revealed his own informant had confirmed a Wei spy within Siwencao. Feng Ying also disclosed that Siwencao had dispatched a spy to Tianshui to investigate Baidi, but no report had been received yet.
Yang Yi, feeling the immense pressure on the Prime Minister from both Northern Expedition and southern war hawk factions, particularly Li Yan's insistence on invading the Wu State, demanded immediate results, acknowledging the inevitable political turmoil. He instructed Feng Ying to report any updates from Baidi without delay, as he would be returning to Chengdu with the Prime Minister.
In Tianshui, a man named Lin Liang bought a horse and, in a secluded spot, discovered a note with "Niu's Tavern" written on it. Meanwhile, at the Jinyuyao Brothel, Guo Gang and Chen Gong were enjoying themselves, discussing the recent victory. Guo Gang, clearly pleased, confessed to Chen Gong that their success in retaking Tianshui was thanks to a Wei spy, code-named Zhulong, who swapped Baidi's intelligence and relayed new information to them.
Guo Gang explained that Baidi, a real Shu spy and not just a legend, had indeed stolen Zhang He's ambush plans for Jieting and sent them to the Shu army. However, Zhulong intercepted and replaced this critical message, leading to the Shu army's defeat. Guo Gang proudly revealed that Zhulong had been the Commander's informant and was recently assigned to him.
Guo Gang then informed Chen Gong that Zhulong had reported a new Shu spy was on his way to Tianshui to investigate the Jieting incident with Baidi. Guo Gang saw this as a prime opportunity to capture Baidi. The Shu spy, unaware of the lurking Wei agents, asked for directions to Niu's Tavern. Mi Chong, Chancellor of the Tianshui Military Intelligence Agency, was already waiting upstairs, having been informed of the spy's movements towards Yunxu Street.
Liang Jian, also of the Military Intelligence Agency, and his men were disguised as diners, keeping watch on the spy. Suddenly, Chen Gong whistled and, under the pretext of celebrating Guo Gang's future capture of Baidi, insisted on raising two two-toned flower baskets and bringing in Dantu beauties from Yunxu House to accompany Guo Gang. The man who had bought the horse earlier, Lin Liang, entered Niu's Tavern.
Upon seeing the flower baskets outside, he feigned a need for the bathroom and swiftly escaped. Although Chen Gong covertly signaled the Shu spy to flee, it was too late. The spy was ambushed and hacked to death in the tavern. Guo Gang, watching the scene unfold, remarked that the show he had prepared was far more exciting.
Following the Northern Expedition's failure, Zhuge Liang took full responsibility, confessing to Liu Chan his shortcomings in leadership and personnel selection, particularly regarding Ma Su's disobedience at Jieting. He offered to be demoted by three ranks to atone and set an example for the army. Liu Chan, the King of Shu, initially spoke without anger, stating that success and failure are common in war and even questioning the value of Zhuge Liang's initial victories if followed by losses.
However, he was swayed by General Li Yan's strong arguments for strict adherence to military law, emphasizing that upholding the law was paramount for governing. Li Yan also criticized Zhuge Liang for prioritizing the Northern Expedition over avenging the late King's defeat in Yiling. Ultimately, Liu Chan agreed to Zhuge Liang's request for demotion. Yang Yi was dismayed that Liu Chan had demoted Zhuge Liang to General of the Right and Acting Prime Minister, suspecting Li Yan's machinations.
He warned Zhuge Liang that Li Yan was dangerous and likely aiming for military power. Zhuge Liang, however, remained calm, pointing out that the imperial edict still granted him command of the army and stressed the importance of unity for the state, stating, "Make nice for the sake of our state. Remaining in peace will benefit both."
Later, Li Yan, after meeting with wealthy Yizhou clans who expressed dissatisfaction with Zhuge Liang's leadership, was informed by Adjutant Hu Zhong about Zhuge Liang's attempts to appease him. These attempts included proposing Li Yan's promotion to Cavalry General and assigning his eldest son, Li Feng, to oversee Jiangzhou's defense. Li Yan, harboring deep resentment, rejected these overtures, distrusting Zhuge Liang's sincerity. He then pressed Hu Zhong on the rumored Wei spy within Siwencao.
Despite Hu Zhong's difficulty in obtaining information from Siwencao, being Yang Yi's creation, Li Yan ordered him to find a way to infiltrate the intelligence agency and verify the reports of Wei's infiltration. In Nanzheng County, Xun Xu, Deputy Chief of the Internal Affairs Department, endured water torture as Feng Ying repeatedly pressed him about his relationship with Chen Gong.
Xun Xu confessed that Chen Gong, a former student of General Li Yan, was his sworn brother and that he had introduced Chen Gong to Siwencao Intelligence. He also revealed that Chen Gong's wife, Di Yue, was his cousin and an undercover agent he had personally recruited and placed within the Wuxian Sect to collect intelligence for the Internal Affairs Department.
He explained that both the Xun and Di families had served the Zhuge clan as spies for over a century, their efforts being instrumental to Zhuge Liang's early knowledge of world affairs. Despite the torment, Xun Xu steadfastly maintained his belief in Chen Gong's innocence. Feng Ying, observing Xun Xu's unwavering loyalty, decided he had passed the test.
He then revealed that Chen Gong had been dispatched to the Wei State, where he served under Vice Commander Guo Huai, rose to the rank of Commandant, and was eventually appointed Recorder of Tianshui, overseeing military provisions. Feng Ying confirmed that Chen Gong’s true identity was "Baidi," a closely guarded secret. Feng Ying explained Baidi's intelligence contribution over the years, leading to Zhuge Liang's early successes.
He recounted how Zhang He's movements were a top secret, and Baidi's emergency intelligence, though false, still led to Jieting's fall, ruining the Northern Expedition. Back in Tianshui, after the botched operation at Niu's Tavern, Guo Gang and Mi Chong, Chancellor of the Military Intelligence Agency, discussed the events. Mi Chong noted that the Wei army's surveillance of the Shu spy confirmed Zhulong's intelligence and that they had expected the spy to meet Baidi at the tavern.
However, Mi Chong suspected that someone had warned the Shu spy due to his abrupt behavior. Mi Chong continued to suspect Chen Gong, arguing that all other high-ranking personnel had been cleared in the investigation of the military secret leak, leaving only Chen Gong. He countered Guo Gang's defense of Chen Gong's low rank by explaining that as Recorder, Chen Gong could infer military movements from provisions.
He pointed to the fire at the Commander's camp, ten days before Zhang He's army moved, as the time of the intelligence leak, noting Chen Gong's presence.
Guo Gang, however, fiercely defended Chen Gong, explaining he was only there to deliver medicine to the ailing Commander on his orders, a duty of filial piety, and furthermore, Chen Gong was detained for seven days afterward, making it impossible for him to transmit any intelligence to Shu, which would have already reached Mount Qi by then.
Feng Ying then revealed Xun Xu's true mission: he was to go to Tianshui to ascertain the truth behind Jieting's fall and eliminate the "traitorous" Shu spy, Baidi (Chen Gong). Feng Ying promised Xun Xu a promotion to Chief of the Internal Affairs Department upon his successful return. He acknowledged Xun Xu's strong sense of brotherhood but emphasized that "national righteousness" must take precedence.
He instructed Xun Xu to first extract information about leaked secrets from Chen Gong, then execute him with a poisoned dagger. To ensure Xun Xu's return, Feng Ying revealed that the tea Xun Xu had just consumed contained a slow-acting poison, and he would need to return in three months for the antidote, a standard protocol for field agents. With a poisoned dagger in hand, Xun Xu, who had never served in the field before, departed for Tianshui.
Returning to his residence, Chen Gong was greeted by Lin Liang, the man who bought the horse earlier. Lin Liang reported the failed rendezvous and worried his warning to the spy might have left traces, so he planned to stay indoors. Chen Gong, his brow furrowed with worry, rejected Gu Zheng's request for a meeting, instructing all his agents to lie low as the situation was perilous.
He shared his deepest fears: Tianshui's Military Intelligence Agency already suspected him as Baidi, and Siwencao, likely believing his original intelligence was false, now regarded him as a traitor, especially after the death of their spy. The more alarming truth was that his own intelligence channels had been infiltrated. Chen Gong broke down in desperate tears, agonizing over how to convey Zhulong's existence to the Shu Han.
