The Wind Blows From Longxi Episode 15 Recap
> The Wind Blows From Longxi Recap
Under the guise of inspecting military rations, Gao Tangbing arrived at the head office of the Military Technology Department, planning to secretly retrieve the agreed-upon crossbow designs. Chen Gong, who had been lying in ambush in a tree, leaped down and, after a struggle, captured Gao Tangbing, confirming him as Zhulong. Chen Gong, revealing himself as Baidi, confronted Gao Tangbing and tortured him, asking, "Does this hurt?"
He vowed to make Gao Tangbing suffer a fate worse than death, just as his wife, Di Yue, had endured. Upon returning to Siwencao Intelligence, Feng Ying was informed by Yin Ji that Xun Xu had gone to the head office with a transit permit he had signed, and during that time, the crossbow designs had been stolen.
As Feng Ying and Yin Ji were preparing to demand Xun Xu's release from Commandant Qiao Jun, Chen Gong appeared at Siwencao Intelligence, announcing, "I have the design of the crossbow. It's secure." Meanwhile, at the head office, Xun Xu was being severely tortured. Sun Ling pleaded with Qiao Jun to stop, emphasizing that torture would not yield information from Xun Xu.
However, Qiao Jun, fearing for his own position, insisted on continuing, saying that if Xun Xu didn't confess, he would lose his head. Just as Qiao Jun prepared to resume the interrogation, Feng Ying arrived with Chen Gong. Chen Gong presented the actual crossbow designs to Qiao Jun, who, realizing the truth, immediately allowed them to take Xun Xu.
Chen Gong rushed into the interrogation room to find a barely conscious Xun Xu, whose first words were to confirm that Zhulong had been captured. Relieved, Xun Xu passed out, and Chen Gong quickly arranged for him to be carried away on a stretcher and brought back to Siwencao Intelligence.
Chen Gong later explained to Feng Ying and Fox Zhong how he and Xun Xu had devised the plan to lure and capture Zhulong, using Wei’s Qingping Plan as a cover and infiltrating the Wuxian Sect. He recounted how Xun Xu’s actions in the head office, despite the severe torture, were crucial to the plan's success.
Yin Ji then presented a replica of Baidi's code-cracking plates, which had been found during the search of Gao Tangbing's residence, confirming his identity as Zhulong. Gao Tangbing, now imprisoned, declared that he would only speak to Xun Xu.
However, Xun Xu’s legs had been severely injured, and despite the best efforts of Physician Hua, a descendant of the renowned Hua Tuo, who managed to stabilize his condition, he was explicitly advised not to get agitated and to remain bedridden for at least seven days, making him unable to undergo interrogation. Chen Gong, despite his success, felt no joy. He requested that any celebration be postponed until Xun Xu recovered and until he could retrieve Di Yue’s remains.
Feng Ying ordered Sun Ling to burn the forged transit permit that Xun Xu had used, erasing any evidence of his unauthorized entry. Chen Gong then visited Xun Xu, who had awakened but was still very weak. Xun Xu, thinking of Chen Gong's sacrifice, chastised him for not accepting honors for his achievements. Chen Gong, struggling to maintain his composure, delivered the devastating news: Di Yue had died.
Xun Xu was heartbroken, blaming himself for her exposure, as Gao Tangbing had seen them meet at the temple and alerted Wuxian Sect. Chen Gong tried to comfort him, repeatedly assuring him, "It wasn't your fault." He promised to bring Di Yue's body back, but refused Xun Xu's offer to accompany him, insisting that Xun Xu needed to focus on his recovery. Meanwhile, Li Yan was pleased to learn of Chen Gong's return and his success.
He remembered Chen Gong as his former direct disciple, a talented individual. Li Yan confided in Fox Zhong, recalling how Chen Gong’s father, Chen Fu, had sacrificed himself by impersonating Li Yan in battle, an act of loyalty Li Yan never forgot. Li Yan revealed that Chen Gong only knew his father died for the state, not the specific details of his sacrifice.
Li Yan hoped Chen Gong would choose to join his faction rather than align with Zhuge Liang, stating he did not wish to be Chen Gong's enemy. He instructed Fox Zhong not to press the matter, believing that if Chen Gong valued their past connection, he would seek him out himself. Zhuge Liang paid a visit to the demoted Yang Yi, informing him that the Zhulong case was solved and Baidi was cleared.
Yang Yi, however, expressed his conviction that there was a deeper conspiracy behind the case, though he admitted it was only a hunch based on his years of experience battling Wei's intelligence. He pleaded with Zhuge Liang for reinstatement, but Zhuge Liang replied, "Not now," and urged him to continue his studies. Back in Nanzheng, Xun Xu, despite his injuries, diligently studied "The Scripture on Great Peace," eventually cracking the coded message Gao Tangbing had written on the bamboo slips.
It revealed the changing sequence of patrol passwords for the head office, a sequence personally drafted by Feng Ying and issued by the Military Strategy Department. Furious but confined to his bed for seven more days, Xun Xu yearned for the opportunity to confront Gao Tangbing. Chen Gong retrieved Di Yue’s body, and Xun Xu met them at the city gate. Chen Gong shared Di Yue's last message: "She didn't let you down."
At her burial, Chen Gong took the sword Di Yue had given him from Wuxian Sect and cut off his little finger, burying it with her and vowing that Huang Yu would die by that very blade. Later, Chen Gong asked Xun Xu about Gao Tangbing. Xun Xu admitted to finding the case perplexing.
He recalled Gu Zheng's previous statements and questioned how Gao Tangbing, as Commandant of the Military Strategy Department, could have known about Gu Zheng, a contact only accessible to Siwencao Intelligence. Xun Xu then voiced his suspicion: not that Feng Ying was a Wei spy, as that would have meant Chen Gong and Di Yue would have been exposed long ago, but that Feng Ying was deeply ambitious and might have known Zhulong's identity all along.
He suggested Feng Ying might have deliberately let Zhulong operate to manipulate events for his own political gain, even making selective deals with Cao Wei, sacrificing Siwencao Intelligence's agents in the process. Xun Xu revealed his evidence: the commission appointing Huang Yu as General Who Pacifies the South, found in Wuxian Sect, was drafted by Guo Huai, Cao Wei's Inspector, whose handwriting he had seen on Feng Ying's desk last year.
Chen Gong, noticing Pei Xu nearby, intervened, cautioning Xun Xu, "Without corroborating evidence, keep this conversation between us. Do not tell anyone else." He emphasized that his warning was not for Pei Xu, but for the situation at large.
