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Episode 31

Let's take a picture as a souvenir

Ziqi, come

I don't think this battle is as simple as it seems

Linyi was clearly emptied out

I feel the same way

The main force of the Communist Army is uncharted

Emergency telegram

Speak

Reconnaissance plane report

The main force of the Communist Army

has been spotted moving towards Laiwu

Frequent movement is detected

Laiwu

Linyi

Shandong

East China Field Army

Li Xianzhou The 73rd, 46th and 12th Armies

On the Northern Front, the 73rd

46th and 12th Armies

were given the order to move south

and so have arrived in Laiwu

These three armies are in echelon formation

They're alone

The Communist Army found an opportunity

They are closing in on Li Xianzhou

They've got a lot of nerve

Liang Tong, how should we fight this battle?

Have Li Xianzhou's three armies hold on to Laiwu

Laiwu

Shandong

Li Xianzhou The 73rd, 46th and 12th Armies

Let the Communists surround them

And have the Ou Zhen army move swiftly north

to form another encirclement

around the enemy's formation

The Communist Army will become sandwich meat

and we'll carry out a battle of annihilation in Laiwu

This is a bold idea

We've been trying to find the Communist Army for a decisive battle

A showdown in Laiwu is not a bad idea

Mengxiang

Leave me the chance to go in first, this time

Don't run ahead of my troops again

The Ou Zhen group

is not able to move that quickly

Will Li Xianzhou hold out long enough

for the reinforcements to arrive?

I'm not optimistic

General Liu

Ou Zhen's group is a mechanized division

While the communist soldiers rely on their two legs

There's no way we're slower than them

If the Communist Army can do it

we can do it too

Idealistically, yes

but the reality is

The Communist Army has been planning this for a long time

I don't think we're ready

to fight this war of annihilation

Tell me your plan

Have Li Xianzhou's group deploy quickly

to break the seige

Have Ou Zhen's group on the Southern Front

move quickly north

The two groups will reunite first and then we'll make our plans

But then we will lose our chance

for a showdown with the Communist Army

Things were going

exactly according to the Communist Army's strategic plan

This encirclement in Laiwu

has the Kuomintang army in a difficult position

Liang Tong, following the organization's instructions

put forward a suggestion

Liang Tong knew very well

that he and Liu Feiyun's two proposals

were both very sound

It was the wavering between the two proposals

that was going to cause trouble for the National Army

Taking half a second longer in decision making

could mean defeat for the National Army

Shi Yang

What has you traveling so far out?

We could have come to you instead

I wanted to familiarize myself with the area too

Okay. We'll be visiting each other often

Next time, tell me so I can go pick you up

Tong has gone to Xuzhou

He's not home

I can only come to you for help

Last time, with my father

we relied on General Wu's help

Mengxiang has also gone to the front in Shandong

I can't find him now

What can I do?

This time it's murder

much more serious than last time

Wasn't it a Japanese your father killed?

Yeah, a damned Japanese

But he was my father's instructor

and it-it's a big crime.

Masanobu Tsuji. I know that man

He's a Japanese war criminal

Do you think there's hope for father?

Stay calm

I'll think of something

Before father left

he signaled for me to seek Miss Melanie

But where can I find her?

So I thought of you

Melanie...I know how

Sister, I'm counting on you

I'll do my best

Try not to worry

I'll let you go in first this time

I'm not gonna race you for the credit

I'm giving my men three more days of leave as a reward

That's how you treat your brother right

It's yours

It's from France

This time the Communist Army is still playing the same old game

Our three rescue troops from the Southern Front

will probably be ambushed

This is an old Communist tactic

We've never been afraid of it before

Yeah, you're not afraid alright

because here comes your chance for receiving a commendation

If I do get it this time

I'll buy you a drink

Bring Liang Tong and Pang Zhuping with you

Just a drink?

That's too cheap

What do you propose then?

You'll sing a Dan role in a Sichuan opera

Hey! Get your commanding officer some medication

He's very sick

Let's go

Report!

An urgent telegram from Li Xianzhou in Laiwu

Speak

We have decided to start breaking out

Command Headquarters, Xuzhou

at 6 am on February 21

With no authorization!

The battle plan set by the Chairman

is not to be changed at will

Commander Gu

We've spoken with Vice Commander Li

He thinks the reinforcement route from the South

has been blocked by the Communist Army

So it's impossible for reinforcement to reach the expected location

The 77th Division of the 73rd Army

encountered an ambush by the Communist Army

on the way to Laiwu this afternoon

They lost most of their men

This proves that the Communist Army is very well prepared

If they don't break out of the encirclement soon

Li Xianzou's troops might be wiped out

They won't be able to secure the city

How do you know that before you even try?

The Communist Army is now clearly

in a position to close the siege

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

The Southern Front's three Ou Zhen Corps are going in for the rescue

It's only to be expected that they'll be blocked

Chen Sir, Gu Sir

Li's troops are running away before the battle is even fought

I'm afraid that on their way out

they'll still be attacked by the Communists' mobile forces

The moment we found out Linyi was an empty city

Li Xianzhou's group should have started deploying

towards the Southern Front

Let's not go there

Let's not dwell on the past

The operational plan was decided by the Chairman himself

Now the situation has changed

We need to come up with a response

The three reinforcements from the Southern Front

are being forcefully blocked by the Communists

They are unlikely to reach the intended location on time

Li Xianzhou is in serious danger

If we want to break out, we must do so without delay

We can't wait until tomorrow

If we delay for one second

The whole thing could be lost

But we can only break out in the morning

Linyi's defensive line is stretched too wide

It will take time to close in

Then it will be too late!

No matter the cost, the three reinforcements

must be at their intended location by tonight

to form an encirclement of the Communist Army

Anyone who fails to do so will be punished by the military justice

Order Li Xianzhou's group

to hold on to Laiwu at all costs

and wait for the arrival of reinforcements

Yes, sir

Liang Tong thought to himself

His actions should be aligned with the Central Committee's intention

Linyi Command Headquarter, Shandong

Linyi

Division Commander

Can we end our leave now?

Division Commander,

the three southern troops are coming towards the north

My old superior Li Xianzhou

is in dire need of help

We've just won Linyi

Are you asking me to give up?

But the Communist Army is now targeting Li Xianzhou's corps

According to intelligence analysis

targeting Li Xianzhou's troops is a feint

Taking back Linyi is real

We're already surrounded

What...

Command Headquarter, Xuzhou

Move back and form a siege

Report! Urgent message from Wu Mengxiang in Linyi

Linyi is under siege

The 86th Reorganized Division is trapped

Requesting reinforcements

Is the Communist Army trying to take back Linyi?

Linyi is now an empty city

Does it make sense?

You're looking at it wrong

The capital of the liberated area of Shandong is Linyi

Linyi is political

We just made a lot of noise about capturing Linyi

And then we lost it

How can we explain this to the Chairman?

Sir

From a military point of view

We should let Wu Mengxiang's 86th Division

close ranks with the Ou Zhen corps

We should give up Linyi

I agree. Abandon Linyi

I think the 86th Reorganized Division

should hold on to Linyi

We can't get caught up in the Communist Army's mobile operation

I believe they are just bluffing

They don't really want to take back Linyi

What's your opinion?

I think we should consult the Chairman

Tell Wu Mengxiang to hold on to Linyi

and wait for the Chairman's instructions

Yes, sir

Read

Yes, sir

Chief of General Staff Chen called

We've been instructed to stand guard and wait for reinforcements

Report!

Oh, no

The north side has been attacked by the Communist Army

They have breached us

Our northward evacuation route has been cut off

We're isolated!

Order Liu Hucheng

Close that gap on the north

Do it or don't bother coming back!

Yes

General Chen wants us to

sacrifice the 86th Reorganized Division

to hold back the Ou Zhen corps

If the 86th Reorganized Division is wiped out

Everyone will think Linyi is the main battlefield

We just need to hold back Ou Zhen's corps

for the East China Field Army to gain

as much time as possible to close the siege

Report, urgent message from the President

Go

Linyi must be preserved

That's all?

That's all

Linyi

Mr. Chiang is thinking of politics

Chen Sir

Should the three southern troops stop moving north

and go to Linyi's aid immediately?

Tell Wu Mengxiang:

Hang in there

I have confidence in the 86th Reorganized Division

I think the Communists are bluffing

Yes, sir

How's it going?

They've all gone to defend the city

Only one platoon is guarding the division headquarter

We don't have enough men yet

I'll go in first and help you from inside

You have to move fast

to take out the guards

Alright

Take as many of the headquarter's men alive as possible

I understand

We'll stick to the plan

I'm counting on you now

Take out the division headquarter

Take the 86th Division out of command

Understood

What's the situation?

As previously decided

We'll wrap up the fight quickly

That's all we can do

Commander, retreat!

I'll cover you

Don't move!

You two, stand up!

Stand up

Sir, no!

Don't do it!

Linyi North Command Office, Shandong

The Communist Army is attacking hard

We are losing Linyi city

Get me the division headquarter on the line

I'm requesting reinforcements

Yes, sir

Hold on, everyone!

Help is on the way

We've lost contact with the division headquarter

The phones and radios are down

You're going to the headquarter yourself

Get me the division commander

Yes, sir

Report!

The Communist Army has launched a general attack on Linyi

Report!

After listening to the communist radio stations

we can confirm that they are putting their main force

on the attack of Linyi

Why is everyone silent?

Director Li, what do you think we should do?

Wu Mengxiang must hold Linyi

and wait for reinforcements

This is the Chairman's order

No one is to disobey it

I mean right now

What do we do, right now?

Where's Wu Mengxiang?

Where's his division?

I'm afraid the odds are against Wu Mengxiang

Linyi is in danger

According to Li Xianzhou's telegram to us

He's not interested in holding out anymore

He's had a change of heart

He won't be able to hold on if he tried

If he wants to break out

It may not be too late

Have him move towards Ou Zhen's corps on the Southern Front

And then fight the Communists in Linyi

That's right

We can't give up on Linyi

We can't give up on Wu Mengxiang

But we can't break out now

The best time to break out

has passed

The Communists have probably completed the siege

It's better for Li Xianzhou to rely on position fighting in Laiwu City

than to be ambushed on the move

Linyi may well be a trap

So my opinion is

Li Xianzhou must now

hold on to Laiwu City

The three southern troops must advance north at all costs

The fight against the Communist Army's main force

in Laiwu City

is inevitable

You mean we'll ignore Linyi?

Yes, that's right

That's not what you said before

Situation has changed

Liu Feiyun was singing the opposite tune again

Liang Tong had to admire Liu Feiyun's

reading of the battle situation

Liang Tong's aim then

was to make Chen Cheng waver

And Liu Feiyun's suggestion

had inadvertently helped Liang Tong

As long as Chen Cheng was wavering

the Communist Army would have a chance to annihilate

Li Xianzhou's group

Take these two outside

I need to interrogate them alone

Keep a close eye on them

Go

Let's go

Hurry up

You two, go on

There's food

I'm starving

Have some rest here

Wait for us to take Linyi

Report!

Linyi has been lost

The reconnaissance plane sent back a telegram

The Communist red flag

has been planted on Linyi's walls

Linyi

It's been Linyi all along

I told you

The Communist Army really did hit Linyi

They have enough strength

to take on the 86th Reorganized Division

but not enough to take on all of Li Xianzhou's troops

They don't have that kind of appetite

Orders

Three troops on the Southern Front, retreat to take back Linyi

Troops on the Northern Front, close ranks with the southern troops

Yes, sir

Yes, sir

What about the division headquarter?

It's been ambushed

And the divisional commander?

He's been captured

Take me to find them

I want them dead or alive

Brothers, let's go save the division commander!

Let's go!

Let's go!

The sound of gunfire seems to have faded

We can go take a look now

General Chen told us to stay put

and avoid moving around

He said he'll have someone come to meet me

Okay

He's got an old injury. It might be coming back

What? Quick!

Get the paramedics

Okay, I'm going

Yangyang

Have you been ill

the past two days?

I don't feel well, I feel like throwing up

Is it......

I don't know

Then you should go to the hospital for a check-up

No

I have an appointment with Miss Melanie today

Well

There's nothing more important than this

You can ask Miss Melanie

to meet you at the hospital

Tusikou

Shandong

A telegram from the reconnaissance plane

The Communist Army has captured Tusikouzhen

Communist Army

Li Xianzhou

The advance guard of Li Xianzhou's group

Gaojiawa

had just entered the Qincun-Gaojiawan area

when they were met with fierce enemy fire coming from Tusikouzhen

Mengyin

Communist troops have been spotted in the Mengyin region

They were stationed there probably to prevent Li Xianzhou's group

from retreating to the southwest

The main Communist forces

set up pocket positions on both sides of the road

all the way from Laiwu to Tusikouzhen

The Communist Army occupied the city of Laiwu

Laiwu

The rear of Li Xianzhou's group is completely cut off

Sir Chen, Linyi was a trap

The Communists' objective is Li Xianzhou

Order Hu Ziqi's 11th Reorganized Division to retake Linyi

and have the Southern Front move north to provide rescue

Yes, sir

It's too late

The Communist Army has completed the siege

We had too many conflicting orders

We were defeated by indecision

Congratulations on your pregnancy

It's a normal pregnancy reaction

You are free to leave the hospital

But I would like to remind you

Keep your exercise to a minimum

Thank you

Thank you, Doctor

You're welcome.

That's great. Congratulations

Thank you so much

That's great

Why isn't my dad here yet?

He's been informed

He's on his way

Don't worry

Actually, he's more nervous than I am

Of course he is

He's going to be a grandfather

Of course he's nervous

That's right

Is General Wu still at the front?

I'm worried about Mengxiang

Fighting the Communists

always makes me feel uneasy

Don't worry

The most important thing for you now is to take care of your health

Let me peel an orange for you

I have a favor to ask you

What is it?

General Zhou Yingkui killed a Japanese

He was arrested by Zeng Guangxi

A Japanese?

The Japanese man's name is Masanobu Tsuji

He was an instructor at the officer training camp

and also a Japanese war criminal wanted by the Americans

I know this Masanobu Tsuji

Please help General Zhou

I see

I'll look into

the training of Chinese officers by Japanese war criminals

Are you awake?

Just woke up

How's it going?

There's a bullet lodged next to his heart

When he gets too emotional

his heart takes the pressure

Can't the bullet be removed first?

That-that's a difficult operation

You go ahead and work

Staff Officer Chen

this guy must be a senior Kuomintang officer

Doctor Li

Don't pry

This is a sensitive matter

General Chen himself gave the order

forbidding anyone to have contact with these two

Do you understand?

Do not talk to anyone about the situation here

This is the highest level of command

Go on

This is it.

Search the place

Adjutant Ma Xiaoyong must be a communist undercover agent

I saw him kill two of our staff officers with my own eyes

In that case

Wu Mengxiang was framed by his adjutant

I think they're in cahoots

Can you swear that upon your life?

I...

Don't talk without proof

It's a grave matter

If anyone makes any more unwarranted accusations

I'll personally rip their mouth off

Ma Xiaoyong must be

I'd bet my life on it

There's no one in there

They've all moved

The East China Field Army's two regiments, East and West

launched a centripetal assault on Li Xianzhou's group

adopting a cut-through and split tactic

After five hours of battle

They were able to annihilate Li Xianzhou's group completely

The Battle of Lunan

under the unified leadership of the Party Central Committee

was a heroic victory

achieved through the interplay

of military struggle and intelligence work

The victory of the Battle of Lunan

set the stage for a much larger campaign

of mobile warfare

and wars of annihilation

60,000 men

All gone in five hours

Breakout

Who told them to break out?

Who gave that order?

Wang Yaowu did

It was approved by General He Yingqin

Who's in charge?

Who's in charge exactly?

Anyone could take command

There were too many people in command

That's the situation

Sirs

Hu Ziqi has taken Linyi back

We should......

How can you even talk about that?

Didn't I tell you before?

Linyi was a trap

Go and film all the evidence

Shi Jihong Residence, Nanjing

Shi Yang doesn't know about Mengxiang yet, does she?

We'll talk here. Sit down

Shi Yang is pregnant

Shi Yang is pregnant?

I haven't had the chance to celebrate

before Mengxiang's bad news came

Sir...

General Hu Ziqi and Director Zeng Guangxi have arrived

Invite them in

Yes, sir

Gentlemen

Sir

Sir

Come, have a seat

Sir, it's chilly today

Why are you sitting outside?

Shi Yang is pregnant

She's resting so as to not agitate the baby

We can talk here without disturbing her

Come, sit down

Good, that's a good thing

Yes, it is

As soon as something happened to Mengxiang

you're all here

You have an admirable friendship

We'll talk about Mengxiang right here

When you see Shi Yang later

don't say a word

Could Director Zeng tell us about the situation, please?

Sir

Mengxiang is likely to have escaped

The list of war prisoners released by the Communists

did not include Mengxiang's name

And if the Communists really did capture Mengxiang

they would have made a big deal out of it

But we haven't heard anything

Let's hope he makes it back to Nanjing

The child can't be without a father

I don't think the situation is that bleak

Mengxiang's adjutant is a Communist

I believe Mengxiang was tricked

It's quite possible

I'm investigating this too

Some people

just love passing the buck

They put all the blame on Mengxiang

to protect themselves

I've just met with Director Zeng

He told me not to worry

He said my father is doing well inside

He even assured me

that father would be home in a couple of days

See? I told you not to worry

Here, have an apple

Are you finding me annoying, coming here all the time?

Of course not, sister

I'm bored and alone at home

They're constantly checking up on me

"Musn't agitate the baby"

You're not that young anymore

It's only right to be careful

Don't you worry about me

What about you?

You're a few years older

and you still haven't given birth

Don't you want a child?

I already have two

Little Stone and Little Lan

How are things between you and Liang Tong?

There's been a lot going on at home lately

Mrs. Yang just passed away

My father's in prison again

I don't have time to think about that

It'll be fine

Ms. Shi

This is the soup Ms. Xiugu brought for you

Drink it while it's hot

Come on

I've simmered it for hours

Sister, you're going to make me fat

What if Mengxiang comes home to find me looking like a little pig?

Hu Ziqi is back already

When is General Wu coming back?

I'll go to work tomorrow

I'll find out for myself where

they've hidden Mengxiang

Drink the soup

Come on, now

Auntie! Auntie!

My brother bullied me

I didn't hit you. I didn't bully you

Little Stone, don't bully your sister

I didn't even hit you

But you did!

Did not!

Tong

Liang Tong

Mengxiang!

Give me a hand

Let me see

I thought I'd never see you again in my life

You wouldn't get a penny of my legacy even if I died

Does Shi Yang know you're back?

I'm starving

Make me some food

Come on, dig in

So hungry

Don't you want some?

What's your plan?

No one knows I'm back

I'll hide out with you for the night

I'm going to see the Commandant tomorrow

To see the Commandant?

That's a dangerous move

Aren't you afraid of being held responsible?

I'm totally loyal to the Commandant. I've got nothing to fear

You'll be investigated

Do you know why I had the confidence to come back?

No, I don't

There's already so much infighting

Gu Zhutong complains that Chen Cheng

disregarded the advice of his superiors

and went over his rank to give command

Chen Cheng, on the other hand, complains that He Yingqing

gave Wang Yaowu orders indiscriminately

interfering with his command

While Bai Chongxi complains that Chen Cheng and Gu Zhutong

sacrificed the Guangxi Clique

because they left Li Xianzhou's group to die

I know all this

No, you don't

All these were the orders of the Commandant

The Commandant instructed Chief Chen to hold on

and he instructed He Yingqin to break out

He Yingqin had consulted the Commandant

before giving Wang Yaowu the order to break the siege

That means the Commandant is to blame

Anyone who pursues this is asking for trouble

No one would dare to hold the Commandant responsible

But the Commandant likes to see them trying to pin it on each other

I came back now

to cause a bit of trouble and confusion

I will be fine

But I just need to see the Commandant first

After you see the Commandant tomorrow

Go home to Shi Yang

She's worried sick

I'll ask Xiugu to call her in advance

She has something to tell you

What is it?

She can tell you herself

Being secretive, huh?

How's that Strategic Planning Department of yours?

Liu Feiyun lodged a complaint against Li Xiaoru

He said he missed a war opportunity and didn't know how to command

Chief Chen wants to dismiss him

and the Commandant has agreed

My guess is that the chief's post at the Strategic Planning Department

is in Li Feiyun's hands now

I'll give him the help he needs

This is a much tougher guy than Li Xiaoru

You can lodge a complaint against him too, you know?

I'm telling you, the more chaos, the better

We can only win when there's chaos

You'll get your position as chief

of the Strategic Planning Department back

Me? A complaint against him?

I got no reason to complain

Reason?

I'll give you a great reason

Yeah

Say he's a Communist

He originally proposed

for the northern troops to break out and retreat south, didn't he?

That would land our troops right inside

the Communist Army's pocket formation

Isn't that exactly

what happened in the end?

That's true

There's no such thing as a coincidence

He could only have set it up

You know what?

You do make better noodles than me

Get me another bowl

You're so good at ordering me around

Mengxiang cleverly conveyed the latest instructions

from the Party organization

to Liang Tong

The Americans have all the evidence

Fortunately, they agreed not to release it to the public

On the condition that we

try these Japanese?

Yes

The Commandant had no choice but to say yes

So going through the motions seems inevitable

We'll just have to see what happens

The CPC is getting more brazen

We need to update our understanding of them

These Japanese officers

have a lot of experience

in dealing with the Communists

That makes them our invaluable asset

We need to do everything we can to keep them

The Americans are still looking for Zhou Yingkui

They want to investigate the Masanobu Tsuji case

We mustn't let them find him

Hide him away quick

The case of Zhou Yingkui's attack on Masanobu Tsuji

cannot go to court

If the press gets involved, it'll be a big deal

Having Japanese as instructors...

If this gets out to the public

we'd be in a bad position

Zhou Yingkui is a lieutenant general

It would be inappropriate to execute him in secret

What do you propose we do?

House arrest can't go on forever, either

How about this?

We'll let him go first

Have him lie low in Sichuan

Make sure he keeps his mouth shut

Or he'll be silenced

I'll take care of that

By the way

There's one more thing I want you to do

Go and find Wu Mengxiang for me

He's a most formidable enemy

So deeply embedded

right next to Mr. Chiang for so many years

Find him and bring him to justice

You mean

Wu Mengxiang is a Communist?

Isn't it obvious?

His adjutant is a Communist

They spend every day together

He's not one to be tricked or manipulated by an adjutant

I think he's a Communist himself

Are you certain that Wu Mengxiang is a Communist?

I'm sure