How to pronounce "巧妇难为无米之炊"

[Silent Honor]

[Episode 13]

From November 1st, 1949

to December 27th, 1949,

the PLA spent 57 days

liberating most parts of Sichuan, Xikang, Yunnan and Guizhou,

as well as over 500 cities and towns

in Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi and Gansu.

Chiang Kai-shek personally directed the battles,

yet he could not reverse the tide of defeat.

On December 10th,

he flew from Chengdu to Taiwan,

and never set foot on the Chinese mainland again.

[Caoshan Villa]

President.

These are several plans from the Ministry of Defense about

recapturing Kunming and punishing the traitor Lu Han,

including deploying troops from nearby areas to close in on Kunming

and carrying out a direct air force bombing

on Wuhua Mountain where the Yunnan Provincial Government is.

It seems everyone at the Ministry of Defense

is filled with righteous indignation.

We're just waiting for your order, President.

No hurry.

Zhirou.

To suppress the rebellion and save the nation,

punishing Lu Han alone is far from enough.

I have more important arrangements for the air force.

Yes, sir.

We lost the Southwest Campaign

and there is the deciphered content of the telegram.

I suspect there's a Communist spy in the military top brass.

Where is Gu Zhengwen now?

[BIS of the Ministry of Defense]

Director.

The terrain in Taichung's mountainous areas is complex.

And inter-village transportation is often inconvenient.

Posing as a school teacher,

I built closer relations with local villagers.

Through extensive investigations,

it wasn't until recently

that I discovered that a group of people,

under the pretext of land reclamation,

were engaging in large-scale purchases

of weapons left behind by the Japanese army.

Combined with the previously collected information,

I think that

one of armed bases of the Communist spies

is likely located in the area between Zhuzikeng and Baimao Mountain.

As for the exact location,

we still need further detailed investigations.

You go compile this into a document.

I'll send others to conduct the investigation.

Yes, sir.

Now that the Nationalist Army keeps retreating in defeat,

intelligence personnel from all over the country

have come to Taiwan.

But in Taiwan,

there can't be too many Communist spies.

We don't need so many people.

So rectification and downsizing are imperative.

Only those who deliver results get to keep their positions.

Yes, sir.

We've almost run out of the credit we got

from our success with the Guangming News case.

It's time to reopen the Zhang Hao case.

Yes, sir.

Well,

your last trip to Hong Kong wasn't in vain.

Using the key and codebook

you brought back,

the Section 4 deciphered a telegram that was intercepted

on September 21st.

It contained military deployments for Kinmen and Xiamen.

And according to Liu Kangfu's confession,

he was sending the telegram

to a Communist spy team called East Sea.

So I suspect that the East Sea

is hiding within the upper echelons of the Nationalist Government.

Comrade Jianfeng has agreed

that from now on,

you'll be reinstated to your original position.

Go find out that Communist spy.

Yes, sir!

Captain Liu.

The numbers don't add up.

It's short by about 100 kg.

That can't be right.

Did you count wrong?

How could I possibly count wrong?

Captain Liu.

You can't keep giving us less each month.

That's not proper, right?

There're so many men in my team.

How am I supposed to distribute this?

I'm just the delivery man.

I deliver exactly what is allocated to you.

We're colleagues working together.

I wouldn't cut your food short,

would I?

I'm off.

Captain Liu!

The numbers just don't add up.

What do you mean?

If you're not satisfied,

I'll just take it all back.

I can just send someone else to drop it off,

and it'll end up another 100 kg short.

It's not about my satisfaction.

There are so many people in my team.

We can let everyone see

if it gets less and less each month.

I'm not lying to you!

Lianwang.

Come here and be the judge.

Lianwang, come take a look.

See if they're skimming off the army rations.

I don't really understand these things.

How can you not understand this? Come here.

You...

I left my folder inside.

I forgot to bring my folder.

Lianwang.

See?

Nobody wants to get involved.

In the army, it's always the superiors

that take advantage of the ones below them.

Captain Liu.

If you don't make up the shortage today,

you don't even think about leaving.

Are you asking for trouble?

Yes, I am asking for trouble.

You!

Stop, stop, stop!

Leader!

You're finally back, Leader.

They've been holding back our food supplies.

Nonsense!

Holding back the army rations?

Mr. Gu.

Captain Liu, that's impossible, right?

Mr. Gu.

We both work for the Nationalist Government.

Times are tough for everyone now.

I understand that.

It's not easy, but that's okay.

I'm back now.

By the way,

here's some money, which is not much to share.

Take it and get everyone something to eat.

Captain Liu.

If there's really not enough food for us,

just take all this away.

That won't be necessary, Mr. Gu.

No need.

I mean it.

When there's a proper opportunity later,

I'll get more for you to make up for it.

Really?

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Leader.

I thank you on behalf of everyone.

You've finally returned.

You don't know when you were gone...

Enough. Don't dwell on these small matters.

Get me the schedule number

for the Ping'an Ship. I need it.

Help me take the stuff upstairs.

Be careful!

-Yes. -Yes.

Leader.

I'm going to read the newspaper.

I'm going to read the newspaper for a while.

Be good.

[Communist Party Members' Remains Were Found on Coast After Over Ten Days]

At 10 PM on September 19th,

it arrived at Keelung Harbor.

It departed at 6 AM on the 21st.

Leader, I found it.

So Zhang Hao

sent the telegram right after

the ship departed on the 21st.

But at 10 PM on the 19th,

the ship arrived in Keelung.

Keelung was under curfew at that time.

That means

he could only get the content for the telegram

during the daytime of the 20th.

What telegram?

It has been deciphered!

Take Liu Kangfu to the interrogation room.

Do you know why you're here?

I previously

ruined your big plan.

And now this is my chance to atone for my mistakes.

It's not some big plan.

Things are always changing.

It's not all your fault.

This time your mission is very simple.

You just need to

tell me every single detail

about Zhang Hao and you

since you met,

including what he said,

what he did,

even what clothes he wore,

and his habitual phrases

and gestures.

Tell me everything in detail.

Okay, I'll tell you.

I'll tell you everything.

I first met Zhang Hao

at the end of August.

At that time, I had been assigned to work

on the Ping'an Ship by the Taiwan Work Committee

for more than two months.

He was the first mate on the ship.

Right.

I was practicing throwing mooring lines that day

when he suddenly came up to me.

Deputy Chief Wu.

Deputy Chief Wu.

The Chief hasn't returned yet?

Not yet.

There's no meeting at the ministry today.

Where did he go for a meeting?

I'm not quite sure about the details.

How about I call you when the Chief returns?

You're the First Secretary.

And you don't know?

General Huang Jie has sent three urgent telegrams in one day.

I'm waiting for the Chief's decision.

Well...

The Chief went to the Hsinchu base for a meeting.

He specifically ordered that no one should disturb him.

Fine.

Let me know as soon as he returns.

Yes, sir!

September 20th?

The question is so sudden

that I can't remember now.

It has been over three months.

It has indeed been

over three months.

But look,

the Ping'an Ship arrived at Keelung Harbor

on the evening of the 19th.

But in the early morning of the 21st,

it left Keelung Harbor for Guangzhou.

That means Zhang Hao

could only have gone to Taipei

during the day on the 20th.

Now that you mention it, I remember.

That docking was particularly hasty.

We weren't allowed to get off the ship at all.

As for whether Zhang Hao got off

or where he went,

I have no idea.

Mr. Gu,

I've only met Zhang Hao

a few times in total.

I've already told you everything I know

and I can remember.

I believe you.

Was there any informal contact

between Zhang Hao and you

that was not related to your party work

or your duties on the Ping'an Ship?

Now that you mention it, there was indeed one time.

When I was eating at a restaurant in Keelung,

I ran into Zhang Hao.

When was this?

Who did he meet?

Did he see you?

It was probably also in late September.

I really don't remember what he was doing.

I was sitting in the restaurant.

He probably didn't see me.

It was very hot that day.

There were a lot of salted fish drying on the street,

with a fishy smell everywhere.

What did you eat?

Sanxian Noodles.

Sir.

You think there's something wrong with Zhou Zhirou

rushing to Hsinchu for the meeting?

It's definitely unusual.

It seems that

the air force will take action soon.

That's possible.

Mr. Chiang

is furious about Lu Han's uprising.

Is the air force planning to retaliate against Lu Han

by bombing Kunming?

Or will they send the air force

to support Hu Zongnan at the Chengdu front?

China is so vast.

We can't rule out that Mr. Chiang might have other plans.

Mr. Gu, aren't you eating?

Never mind. I'm not hungry anyway.

It tastes good?

It's fine.

Both taste

and smell

can help you remember.

Have you thought of anything?

No.

That's okay.

Well then...

When you saw Zhang Hao that day,

was he right in front of you

or was he on your

left

or right?

Right.

On your right?

On your right.

On your left?

This side.

On your left.

You were eating Sanxian Noodles that day.

You turned your head to the left

and saw Zhang Hao.

Xiaonan.

Come here.

Stand here.

Hurry.

You play Zhang Hao. Here.

Was Zhang Hao talking with...

Yes.

So Zhang Hao was talking to someone

and you couldn't see that person

due to this position, right?

That person was behind the wall.

There was a wall on this side?

Yes.

No wonder.

Turn around.

-Turn around. -Yeah.

Right. Zhang Hao turned around,

and that's how I saw him.

I remember that day

he seemed reluctant to leave.

Reluctant to leave?

Well, it seems

the person behind the wall

had a special relationship with Zhang Hao.

I'll take you to Keelung Harbor tomorrow.

Wait.

I think it's here.

Don't stop now.

Find a place to pull over ahead.

I remember it was around here.

There were many snack stands

in this area.

Here.

This way.

I was sitting right in this spot

and he was standing over there.

Isn't this on your right?

Sorry, I made a mistake.

So you were looking

at that direction?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Definitely. Right here.

Let me know if you have dried oysters.

Hold this.

Thank you.

Hello.

Hello.

What kind of fish is this?

It's the local Sipo fish,

also called Balang.

It adds great flavor to congee and soup.

I was worried you couldn't understand what I said.

Are you not a local either?

In business, customers come

from all over the world.

Learning some local dialect helps with business, right?

Yes, indeed.

I'll take some of this.

Sure.

These are good.

Let me weigh some for you.

Great.

Leader,

do you think there's something wrong with this shop?

Why isn't Mrs. Ma here today?

She loves playing mahjong the most, doesn't she?

Director Ma has got another mistress.

Director Ma is such a playboy. He changes mistresses every month.

You really don't want to know

who that woman is?

Who is she?

The the lead songstress at Huadu Ballroom.

She's also an air force widow.

She was a college student.

After graduation, she married a pilot.

The day after their wedding,

her husband's plane fell from the sky.

She came to Taiwan and became a songstress.

I've seen her.

She's incredibly beautiful.

No wonder Director Ma can't resist her

and never goes home.

Mrs. Huang, would you play for me for a while?

I suddenly got a headache.

I'll go rest over there.

All right, I'll take over.

Where do you pick up all these gossipy bits?

My husband told me!

His job is basically gathering information

about others, isn't it?

Your husband knows

so much gossip.

Aren't you afraid he might

follow Director Ma to Huadu Ballroom?

If he really wants to do that,

how can I possibly stop him?

As long as he doesn't bring his mistress home, it's fine.

You're so open-minded.

What else can I do?

That's true.

You can't exactly

tie your husband down with a rope.

Mrs. Wu, I really envy you.

You never have to worry about such things,

right?

My husband also said

that Deputy Chief Wu is a really good man,

who never flirts with other women

and only focuses on his work.

Exactly.

I've heard that too.

You can't judge people by appearances.

I've heard that

a woman went to Power Company Guesthouse

to see Deputy Chief Wu.

Keep your voice down.

Your husband is really something,

spying even on his superior's personal life.

Deputy Chief Wu?

Didn't he just move?

Could it have been a female colleague or something?

She was dressed like a rich madam,

so she definitely is not a colleague.

Enough.

Stop gossiping behind people's backs.

Mrs. Dou.

I'm really sorry,

but I'm just too tired.

I'll leave first, okay?

Please enjoy yourselves.

Goodbye, Mrs. Wu.

See you next time.

Alright, goodbye.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

Liu, bring Mrs. Wu's shawl over here.

Coming.

Here. Give it to me.

Thank you.

I'm sorry about today.

I've ruined everyone's mood.

Not at all.

You're always welcome here.

It's my fault.

I should invite just anyone to my home.

It's fine.

Go back inside.

Goodbye.

She's angry with me?

Did I say something wrong?

Liu,

bring Mrs. Duan's coat over here.

She should be leaving too.

I'm a straightforward person.

I hate gossip the most.

You're no longer welcome at Dou's Mansion.

Please leave.

How could you be like this?

Why is it so hard

to tell the truth these days?

When your husband becomes

Deputy Chief Duan, then we'll talk.

Madam, you're back.

Didn't you go to Dou's Mansion to play mahjong?

Why are you back so early?

You didn't work overtime today?

No. We've made that agreement, haven't we?

I should come home on time.

Nice talk.

I'd rather believe pigs can fly

than believe a man's smooth talk.

What's wrong?

Did you hear something at Dou's Mansion?

All these years you've worked so hard outside.

I know that and understand you.

For a high-ranking official like you,

it's normal to have a mistress.

But I only have one request.

Don't lie to me.

Did you hear something from those madams?

What did they say?

Mrs. Ma wasn't there today.

And they said that

Director Ma got another mistress.

Then Mrs. Dou said she envied me.

But Mrs. Duan sitting nearby

started to stir things up,

saying something ridiculous.

Which madam?

Mrs. Duan.

What ridiculous things did she say?

Don't ask anymore.

It was nothing.

Yuxun.

I only have one request.

No matter what,

don't lie to me.

Bikui.

We met and fell in love when you were 18.

We've been married for 30 years.

Doesn't all of this

outweigh their gossip?

I shouldn't have listened to them.

I shouldn't have listened.

It was nonsense.

Come on, Bikui.

Listen to this.

No matter what you hear,

you must believe

I won't lie to you.

Trust me.

Your hairstyle looks beautiful.

Morning, Sir.

Duan Tuizhi is investigating Mrs. Chen.

Just because of what happened at Power Company Guesthouse?

At that time, she claimed to be my wife's friend.

If the investigation continues, her cover will be blown soon.

So we must send her back.

Get her the exit permit as soon as possible.

Alright. I'll do it today.

[Deputy Chief's Wife Leads Christmas Charity Sale to Support Zhoushan]

Many people know about the telegram

regarding Kinmen and Xiamen.

Are you still suspecting Deputy Chief Wu?

There are indeed quite a few people with access to the deployment information

in Kinmen and Xiaman.

But...

But only Deputy Chief Wu

also had the chance

to meet Zhang Hao on September 20th

and also actually met Zhang Hao

at the entrance of NTUH.

What does this have to do with this Mr. Lin?

I suspect that the person Zhang Hao met

at Sanrong Trading in September was Lin Yiliang.

And according to Liu Kangfu,

these two had a deep connection.

I believe

they might be brothers

or

Communist spy partners having worked together for a long time.

But regardless of their relationship,

as long as we investigate him thoroughly,

it will lead to a major breakthrough in the case.

Birds of a feather flock together.

This kind of situation

is quite common.

It's not enough.

It's still too peripheral.

Since you're suspecting Deputy Chief Wu,

you must get the first-hand information.

Yes, sir. I'm working on it.

Where else can we find such a good employer

who even works alongside us?

Anywhere else, we'd have to carry everything ourselves.

What are you looking at?

Keep working.

I've been working all along.

The sooner you finish, the sooner you get paid.

Just put it by the door.

Put it by the door too.

Hello. What are you doing?

I need to use the restroom.

Wait.

This way, please.

No, the one inside...

Turn left here, and you'll find it to your right.

The staff in the shop are very vigilant.

And they're also very tight-lipped.

I've been looking for a chance,

but I couldn't even get one foot inside.

Leader,

I think

there's definitely something fishy about the shop.

Alright, let me sum this up for you.

So with an ordinary identity,

you can't go inside, right?

Yes.

I think

Sanrong Trading

is impenetrable

and sealed off.

For us to break in

is indeed quite difficult.

How many Keelung Work Committee members

we arrested for the Guangming News case

are still in custody?

About 30.

About 30.

You mean

we'll pretend to be from the Keelung Work Committee, right?

That's a great idea, Leader.

I've been wrongly accused.

I didn't do it!

Please.

Let me go!

Please release me!

It really wasn't me!

Mr. Zhuang.

It has been a long time.

You've lost weight.

No, no, no.

You bastard.

Forty-seven lives lost

at Keelung Middle School.

Can you sleep at night?

Yes, I can.

You know, I'm also a materialist.

You'll die a terrible death.

It really is suitable.

Bring him out.

Let's stop here for today.

Deputy Chief Wu, please stay.

Senior.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told me

that the French government

finally agreed to let Huang Jie's corps withdraw to Vietnam.

That's good.

Better to get some back than none.

It's better than letting Lin Biao

capture 30,000 more men.

The condition is

that the troops must surrender their weapons.

Surrender the weapons?

Surrender the weapons to the French?

Come in.

Leader, you wanted to see me?

Have a seat.

How has your harvest been lately?

W-What harvest?

I heard that

you've been frequently helping out at the Operations Division lately.

Leader,

I didn't keep it all to myself.

While you were away,

our colleagues were almost out of food.

So I came up with a way

to improve everyone's living conditions.

Do you remember

the full name of our team?

The Counterintelligence Section of the BIS.

The Counterintelligence Section of the BIS

actually has a very short history.

When you were still at the Taiwan station,

it was just a unit under the Operations Division.

After the Guangming News case,

the Director appreciated

our competence in capturing Communist spies,

so he made our team a separate section.

However,

if

our future work doesn't go smoothly

and we fail to catch Communist spies,

then I'm afraid you'll end up on the streets

checking IDs.

Just as you said,

"I speak both Mandarin and Hokkien,

which comes in handy,

while Yu Xiaonan is so inarticulate

that he can't even check IDs properly."

Leader,

how did you know that?

Isn't this what you said?

I believe those were your exact words.

I'm sorry, Leader.

I...

I was indeed speaking out of turn.

How is that speaking out of turn?

It was precisely because you have these skills

that I specifically transferred you here

from Director Ye.

You're overthinking it. It's fine.

Sit down.

Even if

the Ministry of Defense

orders Huang Jie's corps not to surrender their weapons

and hold their position,

do you think they would listen?

They've fled all the way from Hunan,

running over 1,000 kilometers.

They're just one step away from crossing the border

to safety.

Huang Jie's corps

had been retreating under the PLA's pursuit.

They could only detour through Vietnam

to return to Taiwan.

Wu Shi had approached Zhou Zhirou several times before

but failed to get any information.

Now that Zhou Zhirou brought up the matter himself,

Wu Shi keenly realized

this was the perfect opportunity to pry into the air force's

secret operation.

Wu Shi then seized the chance,

using his opposition to Huang Jie's corps

surrendering their weapons to the French

to probe Zhou Zhirou's true thoughts on the matter

and then act accordingly.

In any case, it's better than

being annihilated by the Communist Army, isn't it?

Chief,

what are you going to do?

After Huang Jie's corps surrender their weapons,

they'll assemble and stand by in Haiphong, Vietnam.

This involves many parties.

Therefore,

someone from our ministry must take charge.

I'll have to trouble you

to coordinate with various parties.

Yes.

I understand.

I'll take charge of this.

I'll report directly to you.

For 30,000 men,

I need transport ships.

I've made a rough estimation.

In total,

we need 3 to 10 transport ships.

Good.

You can go to Director Ma directly.

He is currently in charge of coordinating military logistics.

If it's really impossible to arrange the ships,

then we'll have to postpone it.

It cannot be postponed.

Chief.

Huang Jie was the former Deputy Chief of Staff after all.

If he's really captured,

it'll be embarrassing for all of us.

If we can bring back Huang Jie's corps,

that's 30,000 combat-ready soldiers after all.

Good.

Then I'll trouble you with this task.

Rest assured. I'll do my best.

I will definitely work hard

and catch more Communist spies for you,

making the Counterintelligence Section live up to its name.

It's not for me.

Even if you don't say doing it for our party and our ideology,

you should at least mention doing it

for the welfare of everyone in our section.

You just said yourself

that you're concerned about our colleagues' livelihoods.

That's good.

Yes, sir! I'll catch more Communist spies for our section.

Good.

Weng Lianwang,

I have a mission right now

for you to carry out.

Director Ma, Deputy Chief Wu is here.

Deputy Chief Wu, what brings you here?

Director Ma, what a refined hobby you have.

Doing this in front of you is really showing off my poor skills to an expert.

It's just a way to kill time.

This is really something.

Luo Zhenyu.

You're truly an expert.

Sir,

when will you also write a piece of calligraphy for me?

Director Duan got a piece of your calligraphy

and keeps showing it off to me.

No problem.

Just tell me what content you want, and I'll write it for you.

Please, have a seat.

You're a great scholar

and also a master calligrapher.

Anything you write would be wonderful.

Please.

Have some tea.

Recently,

I managed to get

some precious calligraphy supplies from Guangzhou.

The rice paper is from Jingxian.

And among them, there was

a Wushi Qiyan ink stick.

That ink stick

is truly rare.

I've already sent someone

to deliver it to Wu's Mansion.

Thank you, Director Ma.

Rice paper is precious,

but soldiers are even more valuable.

Director Ma, you must have guessed

that I came here today

to request your help to bring

Huang Jie's corps back.

Sir, I wouldn't dare call it a request.

The Chief has already informed me.

I was planning

to go to your office later

to report to you personally.

Then I'll get straight to the point.

There are 30,000 men in Huang Jie's corps.

We need at least five transport ships.

You're really putting me in a difficult position.

Even if you pushed me to the limit,

I still couldn't produce five transport ships.

That's not right.

I know

that the military aid from the U.S. alone

included ten transport ships.

My request isn't unreasonable.

Sir,

I'm just in charge of logistics.

There are too many transport requests now.

I really can't spare any to allocate to you.

Then what should we do?

We just let

the 30,000 soldiers of Huang Jie's corps

wait in that internment camp in Vietnam?

Every few days, more than ten bodies are carried out.

This involves

diplomatic affairs

and the image of the Nationalist Government.

Director Ma, can you bear the consequences?

Sir,

how about this?

I'll allocate three ships to you first.

Would that work?

Director Ma, since this is so difficult for you,

then just take back the rice paper

and other things you sent to my residence.

If I can't bring back General Huang's troops,

I won't have many chances

to use such fine paper and ink anymore.

Sir,

please don't leave.

Let me be honest.

I just can't make bricks without straw.

Commander-in-Chief Xue Yue borrowed the ships

to march forward into Hainan Island

and hasn't returned them yet.

Chief Gu sent a fleet to Guangxi

to pick up Bai Chongxi's troops.

And Chief Zhou

dispatched many transport ships

to Zhoushan.

I don't even have enough ships

to send supplies to Kinmen.

I hope you can understand.

Please, have a seat.

General Hu Lian has already urged me twice.

Sending supplies to Zhoushan

isn't that urgent, is it?

How about sending those ships to Vietnam first?

You have no idea.

Of all the ships, those bound for Zhoushan

are the most needed and most urgent.

Everything must be transported within two weeks.

Director Ma.

What can be more urgent than my matter?

What can be more important

than the lives of 30,000 soldiers?

Sir,

you have a point.

But Chief Zhou also said

that this shipment of military supplies

is a top priority.

[Silent Honor]

[Episode 13]

From November 1st, 1949

to December 27th, 1949,

the PLA spent 57 days

liberating most parts of Sichuan, Xikang, Yunnan and Guizhou,

as well as over 500 cities and towns

in Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi and Gansu.

Chiang Kai-shek personally directed the battles,

yet he could not reverse the tide of defeat.

On December 10th,

he flew from Chengdu to Taiwan,

and never set foot on the Chinese mainland again.

[Caoshan Villa]

President.

These are several plans from the Ministry of Defense about

recapturing Kunming and punishing the traitor Lu Han,

including deploying troops from nearby areas to close in on Kunming

and carrying out a direct air force bombing

on Wuhua Mountain where the Yunnan Provincial Government is.

It seems everyone at the Ministry of Defense

is filled with righteous indignation.

We're just waiting for your order, President.

No hurry.

Zhirou.

To suppress the rebellion and save the nation,

punishing Lu Han alone is far from enough.

I have more important arrangements for the air force.

Yes, sir.

We lost the Southwest Campaign

and there is the deciphered content of the telegram.

I suspect there's a Communist spy in the military top brass.

Where is Gu Zhengwen now?

[BIS of the Ministry of Defense]

Director.

The terrain in Taichung's mountainous areas is complex.

And inter-village transportation is often inconvenient.

Posing as a school teacher,

I built closer relations with local villagers.

Through extensive investigations,

it wasn't until recently

that I discovered that a group of people,

under the pretext of land reclamation,

were engaging in large-scale purchases

of weapons left behind by the Japanese army.

Combined with the previously collected information,

I think that

one of armed bases of the Communist spies

is likely located in the area between Zhuzikeng and Baimao Mountain.

As for the exact location,

we still need further detailed investigations.

You go compile this into a document.

I'll send others to conduct the investigation.

Yes, sir.

Now that the Nationalist Army keeps retreating in defeat,

intelligence personnel from all over the country

have come to Taiwan.

But in Taiwan,

there can't be too many Communist spies.

We don't need so many people.

So rectification and downsizing are imperative.

Only those who deliver results get to keep their positions.

Yes, sir.

We've almost run out of the credit we got

from our success with the Guangming News case.

It's time to reopen the Zhang Hao case.

Yes, sir.

Well,

your last trip to Hong Kong wasn't in vain.

Using the key and codebook

you brought back,

the Section 4 deciphered a telegram that was intercepted

on September 21st.

It contained military deployments for Kinmen and Xiamen.

And according to Liu Kangfu's confession,

he was sending the telegram

to a Communist spy team called East Sea.

So I suspect that the East Sea

is hiding within the upper echelons of the Nationalist Government.

Comrade Jianfeng has agreed

that from now on,

you'll be reinstated to your original position.

Go find out that Communist spy.

Yes, sir!

Captain Liu.

The numbers don't add up.

It's short by about 100 kg.

That can't be right.

Did you count wrong?

How could I possibly count wrong?

Captain Liu.

You can't keep giving us less each month.

That's not proper, right?

There're so many men in my team.

How am I supposed to distribute this?

I'm just the delivery man.

I deliver exactly what is allocated to you.

We're colleagues working together.

I wouldn't cut your food short,

would I?

I'm off.

Captain Liu!

The numbers just don't add up.

What do you mean?

If you're not satisfied,

I'll just take it all back.

I can just send someone else to drop it off,

and it'll end up another 100 kg short.

It's not about my satisfaction.

There are so many people in my team.

We can let everyone see

if it gets less and less each month.

I'm not lying to you!

Lianwang.

Come here and be the judge.

Lianwang, come take a look.

See if they're skimming off the army rations.

I don't really understand these things.

How can you not understand this? Come here.

You...

I left my folder inside.

I forgot to bring my folder.

Lianwang.

See?

Nobody wants to get involved.

In the army, it's always the superiors

that take advantage of the ones below them.

Captain Liu.

If you don't make up the shortage today,

you don't even think about leaving.

Are you asking for trouble?

Yes, I am asking for trouble.

You!

Stop, stop, stop!

Leader!

You're finally back, Leader.

They've been holding back our food supplies.

Nonsense!

Holding back the army rations?

Mr. Gu.

Captain Liu, that's impossible, right?

Mr. Gu.

We both work for the Nationalist Government.

Times are tough for everyone now.

I understand that.

It's not easy, but that's okay.

I'm back now.

By the way,

here's some money, which is not much to share.

Take it and get everyone something to eat.

Captain Liu.

If there's really not enough food for us,

just take all this away.

That won't be necessary, Mr. Gu.

No need.

I mean it.

When there's a proper opportunity later,

I'll get more for you to make up for it.

Really?

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Leader.

I thank you on behalf of everyone.

You've finally returned.

You don't know when you were gone...

Enough. Don't dwell on these small matters.

Get me the schedule number

for the Ping'an Ship. I need it.

Help me take the stuff upstairs.

Be careful!

-Yes. -Yes.

Leader.

I'm going to read the newspaper.

I'm going to read the newspaper for a while.

Be good.

[Communist Party Members' Remains Were Found on Coast After Over Ten Days]

At 10 PM on September 19th,

it arrived at Keelung Harbor.

It departed at 6 AM on the 21st.

Leader, I found it.

So Zhang Hao

sent the telegram right after

the ship departed on the 21st.

But at 10 PM on the 19th,

the ship arrived in Keelung.

Keelung was under curfew at that time.

That means

he could only get the content for the telegram

during the daytime of the 20th.

What telegram?

It has been deciphered!

Take Liu Kangfu to the interrogation room.

Do you know why you're here?

I previously

ruined your big plan.

And now this is my chance to atone for my mistakes.

It's not some big plan.

Things are always changing.

It's not all your fault.

This time your mission is very simple.

You just need to

tell me every single detail

about Zhang Hao and you

since you met,

including what he said,

what he did,

even what clothes he wore,

and his habitual phrases

and gestures.

Tell me everything in detail.

Okay, I'll tell you.

I'll tell you everything.

I first met Zhang Hao

at the end of August.

At that time, I had been assigned to work

on the Ping'an Ship by the Taiwan Work Committee

for more than two months.

He was the first mate on the ship.

Right.

I was practicing throwing mooring lines that day

when he suddenly came up to me.

Deputy Chief Wu.

Deputy Chief Wu.

The Chief hasn't returned yet?

Not yet.

There's no meeting at the ministry today.

Where did he go for a meeting?

I'm not quite sure about the details.

How about I call you when the Chief returns?

You're the First Secretary.

And you don't know?

General Huang Jie has sent three urgent telegrams in one day.

I'm waiting for the Chief's decision.

Well...

The Chief went to the Hsinchu base for a meeting.

He specifically ordered that no one should disturb him.

Fine.

Let me know as soon as he returns.

Yes, sir!

September 20th?

The question is so sudden

that I can't remember now.

It has been over three months.

It has indeed been

over three months.

But look,

the Ping'an Ship arrived at Keelung Harbor

on the evening of the 19th.

But in the early morning of the 21st,

it left Keelung Harbor for Guangzhou.

That means Zhang Hao

could only have gone to Taipei

during the day on the 20th.

Now that you mention it, I remember.

That docking was particularly hasty.

We weren't allowed to get off the ship at all.

As for whether Zhang Hao got off

or where he went,

I have no idea.

Mr. Gu,

I've only met Zhang Hao

a few times in total.

I've already told you everything I know

and I can remember.

I believe you.

Was there any informal contact

between Zhang Hao and you

that was not related to your party work

or your duties on the Ping'an Ship?

Now that you mention it, there was indeed one time.

When I was eating at a restaurant in Keelung,

I ran into Zhang Hao.

When was this?

Who did he meet?

Did he see you?

It was probably also in late September.

I really don't remember what he was doing.

I was sitting in the restaurant.

He probably didn't see me.

It was very hot that day.

There were a lot of salted fish drying on the street,

with a fishy smell everywhere.

What did you eat?

Sanxian Noodles.

Sir.

You think there's something wrong with Zhou Zhirou

rushing to Hsinchu for the meeting?

It's definitely unusual.

It seems that

the air force will take action soon.

That's possible.

Mr. Chiang

is furious about Lu Han's uprising.

Is the air force planning to retaliate against Lu Han

by bombing Kunming?

Or will they send the air force

to support Hu Zongnan at the Chengdu front?

China is so vast.

We can't rule out that Mr. Chiang might have other plans.

Mr. Gu, aren't you eating?

Never mind. I'm not hungry anyway.

It tastes good?

It's fine.

Both taste

and smell

can help you remember.

Have you thought of anything?

No.

That's okay.

Well then...

When you saw Zhang Hao that day,

was he right in front of you

or was he on your

left

or right?

Right.

On your right?

On your right.

On your left?

This side.

On your left.

You were eating Sanxian Noodles that day.

You turned your head to the left

and saw Zhang Hao.

Xiaonan.

Come here.

Stand here.

Hurry.

You play Zhang Hao. Here.

Was Zhang Hao talking with...

Yes.

So Zhang Hao was talking to someone

and you couldn't see that person

due to this position, right?

That person was behind the wall.

There was a wall on this side?

Yes.

No wonder.

Turn around.

-Turn around. -Yeah.

Right. Zhang Hao turned around,

and that's how I saw him.

I remember that day

he seemed reluctant to leave.

Reluctant to leave?

Well, it seems

the person behind the wall

had a special relationship with Zhang Hao.

I'll take you to Keelung Harbor tomorrow.

Wait.

I think it's here.

Don't stop now.

Find a place to pull over ahead.

I remember it was around here.

There were many snack stands

in this area.

Here.

This way.

I was sitting right in this spot

and he was standing over there.

Isn't this on your right?

Sorry, I made a mistake.

So you were looking

at that direction?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Definitely. Right here.

Let me know if you have dried oysters.

Hold this.

Thank you.

Hello.

Hello.

What kind of fish is this?

It's the local Sipo fish,

also called Balang.

It adds great flavor to congee and soup.

I was worried you couldn't understand what I said.

Are you not a local either?

In business, customers come

from all over the world.

Learning some local dialect helps with business, right?

Yes, indeed.

I'll take some of this.

Sure.

These are good.

Let me weigh some for you.

Great.

Leader,

do you think there's something wrong with this shop?

Why isn't Mrs. Ma here today?

She loves playing mahjong the most, doesn't she?

Director Ma has got another mistress.

Director Ma is such a playboy. He changes mistresses every month.

You really don't want to know

who that woman is?

Who is she?

The the lead songstress at Huadu Ballroom.

She's also an air force widow.

She was a college student.

After graduation, she married a pilot.

The day after their wedding,

her husband's plane fell from the sky.

She came to Taiwan and became a songstress.

I've seen her.

She's incredibly beautiful.

No wonder Director Ma can't resist her

and never goes home.

Mrs. Huang, would you play for me for a while?

I suddenly got a headache.

I'll go rest over there.

All right, I'll take over.

Where do you pick up all these gossipy bits?

My husband told me!

His job is basically gathering information

about others, isn't it?

Your husband knows

so much gossip.

Aren't you afraid he might

follow Director Ma to Huadu Ballroom?

If he really wants to do that,

how can I possibly stop him?

As long as he doesn't bring his mistress home, it's fine.

You're so open-minded.

What else can I do?

That's true.

You can't exactly

tie your husband down with a rope.

Mrs. Wu, I really envy you.

You never have to worry about such things,

right?

My husband also said

that Deputy Chief Wu is a really good man,

who never flirts with other women

and only focuses on his work.

Exactly.

I've heard that too.

You can't judge people by appearances.

I've heard that

a woman went to Power Company Guesthouse

to see Deputy Chief Wu.

Keep your voice down.

Your husband is really something,

spying even on his superior's personal life.

Deputy Chief Wu?

Didn't he just move?

Could it have been a female colleague or something?

She was dressed like a rich madam,

so she definitely is not a colleague.

Enough.

Stop gossiping behind people's backs.

Mrs. Dou.

I'm really sorry,

but I'm just too tired.

I'll leave first, okay?

Please enjoy yourselves.

Goodbye, Mrs. Wu.

See you next time.

Alright, goodbye.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

Liu, bring Mrs. Wu's shawl over here.

Coming.

Here. Give it to me.

Thank you.

I'm sorry about today.

I've ruined everyone's mood.

Not at all.

You're always welcome here.

It's my fault.

I should invite just anyone to my home.

It's fine.

Go back inside.

Goodbye.

She's angry with me?

Did I say something wrong?

Liu,

bring Mrs. Duan's coat over here.

She should be leaving too.

I'm a straightforward person.

I hate gossip the most.

You're no longer welcome at Dou's Mansion.

Please leave.

How could you be like this?

Why is it so hard

to tell the truth these days?

When your husband becomes

Deputy Chief Duan, then we'll talk.

Madam, you're back.

Didn't you go to Dou's Mansion to play mahjong?

Why are you back so early?

You didn't work overtime today?

No. We've made that agreement, haven't we?

I should come home on time.

Nice talk.

I'd rather believe pigs can fly

than believe a man's smooth talk.

What's wrong?

Did you hear something at Dou's Mansion?

All these years you've worked so hard outside.

I know that and understand you.

For a high-ranking official like you,

it's normal to have a mistress.

But I only have one request.

Don't lie to me.

Did you hear something from those madams?

What did they say?

Mrs. Ma wasn't there today.

And they said that

Director Ma got another mistress.

Then Mrs. Dou said she envied me.

But Mrs. Duan sitting nearby

started to stir things up,

saying something ridiculous.

Which madam?

Mrs. Duan.

What ridiculous things did she say?

Don't ask anymore.

It was nothing.

Yuxun.

I only have one request.

No matter what,

don't lie to me.

Bikui.

We met and fell in love when you were 18.

We've been married for 30 years.

Doesn't all of this

outweigh their gossip?

I shouldn't have listened to them.

I shouldn't have listened.

It was nonsense.

Come on, Bikui.

Listen to this.

No matter what you hear,

you must believe

I won't lie to you.

Trust me.

Your hairstyle looks beautiful.

Morning, Sir.

Duan Tuizhi is investigating Mrs. Chen.

Just because of what happened at Power Company Guesthouse?

At that time, she claimed to be my wife's friend.

If the investigation continues, her cover will be blown soon.

So we must send her back.

Get her the exit permit as soon as possible.

Alright. I'll do it today.

[Deputy Chief's Wife Leads Christmas Charity Sale to Support Zhoushan]

Many people know about the telegram

regarding Kinmen and Xiamen.

Are you still suspecting Deputy Chief Wu?

There are indeed quite a few people with access to the deployment information

in Kinmen and Xiaman.

But...

But only Deputy Chief Wu

also had the chance

to meet Zhang Hao on September 20th

and also actually met Zhang Hao

at the entrance of NTUH.

What does this have to do with this Mr. Lin?

I suspect that the person Zhang Hao met

at Sanrong Trading in September was Lin Yiliang.

And according to Liu Kangfu,

these two had a deep connection.

I believe

they might be brothers

or

Communist spy partners having worked together for a long time.

But regardless of their relationship,

as long as we investigate him thoroughly,

it will lead to a major breakthrough in the case.

Birds of a feather flock together.

This kind of situation

is quite common.

It's not enough.

It's still too peripheral.

Since you're suspecting Deputy Chief Wu,

you must get the first-hand information.

Yes, sir. I'm working on it.

Where else can we find such a good employer

who even works alongside us?

Anywhere else, we'd have to carry everything ourselves.

What are you looking at?

Keep working.

I've been working all along.

The sooner you finish, the sooner you get paid.

Just put it by the door.

Put it by the door too.

Hello. What are you doing?

I need to use the restroom.

Wait.

This way, please.

No, the one inside...

Turn left here, and you'll find it to your right.

The staff in the shop are very vigilant.

And they're also very tight-lipped.

I've been looking for a chance,

but I couldn't even get one foot inside.

Leader,

I think

there's definitely something fishy about the shop.

Alright, let me sum this up for you.

So with an ordinary identity,

you can't go inside, right?

Yes.

I think

Sanrong Trading

is impenetrable

and sealed off.

For us to break in

is indeed quite difficult.

How many Keelung Work Committee members

we arrested for the Guangming News case

are still in custody?

About 30.

About 30.

You mean

we'll pretend to be from the Keelung Work Committee, right?

That's a great idea, Leader.

I've been wrongly accused.

I didn't do it!

Please.

Let me go!

Please release me!

It really wasn't me!

Mr. Zhuang.

It has been a long time.

You've lost weight.

No, no, no.

You bastard.

Forty-seven lives lost

at Keelung Middle School.

Can you sleep at night?

Yes, I can.

You know, I'm also a materialist.

You'll die a terrible death.

It really is suitable.

Bring him out.

Let's stop here for today.

Deputy Chief Wu, please stay.

Senior.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told me

that the French government

finally agreed to let Huang Jie's corps withdraw to Vietnam.

That's good.

Better to get some back than none.

It's better than letting Lin Biao

capture 30,000 more men.

The condition is

that the troops must surrender their weapons.

Surrender the weapons?

Surrender the weapons to the French?

Come in.

Leader, you wanted to see me?

Have a seat.

How has your harvest been lately?

W-What harvest?

I heard that

you've been frequently helping out at the Operations Division lately.

Leader,

I didn't keep it all to myself.

While you were away,

our colleagues were almost out of food.

So I came up with a way

to improve everyone's living conditions.

Do you remember

the full name of our team?

The Counterintelligence Section of the BIS.

The Counterintelligence Section of the BIS

actually has a very short history.

When you were still at the Taiwan station,

it was just a unit under the Operations Division.

After the Guangming News case,

the Director appreciated

our competence in capturing Communist spies,

so he made our team a separate section.

However,

if

our future work doesn't go smoothly

and we fail to catch Communist spies,

then I'm afraid you'll end up on the streets

checking IDs.

Just as you said,

"I speak both Mandarin and Hokkien,

which comes in handy,

while Yu Xiaonan is so inarticulate

that he can't even check IDs properly."

Leader,

how did you know that?

Isn't this what you said?

I believe those were your exact words.

I'm sorry, Leader.

I...

I was indeed speaking out of turn.

How is that speaking out of turn?

It was precisely because you have these skills

that I specifically transferred you here

from Director Ye.

You're overthinking it. It's fine.

Sit down.

Even if

the Ministry of Defense

orders Huang Jie's corps not to surrender their weapons

and hold their position,

do you think they would listen?

They've fled all the way from Hunan,

running over 1,000 kilometers.

They're just one step away from crossing the border

to safety.

Huang Jie's corps

had been retreating under the PLA's pursuit.

They could only detour through Vietnam

to return to Taiwan.

Wu Shi had approached Zhou Zhirou several times before

but failed to get any information.

Now that Zhou Zhirou brought up the matter himself,

Wu Shi keenly realized

this was the perfect opportunity to pry into the air force's

secret operation.

Wu Shi then seized the chance,

using his opposition to Huang Jie's corps

surrendering their weapons to the French

to probe Zhou Zhirou's true thoughts on the matter

and then act accordingly.

In any case, it's better than

being annihilated by the Communist Army, isn't it?

Chief,

what are you going to do?

After Huang Jie's corps surrender their weapons,

they'll assemble and stand by in Haiphong, Vietnam.

This involves many parties.

Therefore,

someone from our ministry must take charge.

I'll have to trouble you

to coordinate with various parties.

Yes.

I understand.

I'll take charge of this.

I'll report directly to you.

For 30,000 men,

I need transport ships.

I've made a rough estimation.

In total,

we need 3 to 10 transport ships.

Good.

You can go to Director Ma directly.

He is currently in charge of coordinating military logistics.

If it's really impossible to arrange the ships,

then we'll have to postpone it.

It cannot be postponed.

Chief.

Huang Jie was the former Deputy Chief of Staff after all.

If he's really captured,

it'll be embarrassing for all of us.

If we can bring back Huang Jie's corps,

that's 30,000 combat-ready soldiers after all.

Good.

Then I'll trouble you with this task.

Rest assured. I'll do my best.

I will definitely work hard

and catch more Communist spies for you,

making the Counterintelligence Section live up to its name.

It's not for me.

Even if you don't say doing it for our party and our ideology,

you should at least mention doing it

for the welfare of everyone in our section.

You just said yourself

that you're concerned about our colleagues' livelihoods.

That's good.

Yes, sir! I'll catch more Communist spies for our section.

Good.

Weng Lianwang,

I have a mission right now

for you to carry out.

Director Ma, Deputy Chief Wu is here.

Deputy Chief Wu, what brings you here?

Director Ma, what a refined hobby you have.

Doing this in front of you is really showing off my poor skills to an expert.

It's just a way to kill time.

This is really something.

Luo Zhenyu.

You're truly an expert.

Sir,

when will you also write a piece of calligraphy for me?

Director Duan got a piece of your calligraphy

and keeps showing it off to me.

No problem.

Just tell me what content you want, and I'll write it for you.

Please, have a seat.

You're a great scholar

and also a master calligrapher.

Anything you write would be wonderful.

Please.

Have some tea.

Recently,

I managed to get

some precious calligraphy supplies from Guangzhou.

The rice paper is from Jingxian.

And among them, there was

a Wushi Qiyan ink stick.

That ink stick

is truly rare.

I've already sent someone

to deliver it to Wu's Mansion.

Thank you, Director Ma.

Rice paper is precious,

but soldiers are even more valuable.

Director Ma, you must have guessed

that I came here today

to request your help to bring

Huang Jie's corps back.

Sir, I wouldn't dare call it a request.

The Chief has already informed me.

I was planning

to go to your office later

to report to you personally.

Then I'll get straight to the point.

There are 30,000 men in Huang Jie's corps.

We need at least five transport ships.

You're really putting me in a difficult position.

Even if you pushed me to the limit,

I still couldn't produce five transport ships.

That's not right.

I know

that the military aid from the U.S. alone

included ten transport ships.

My request isn't unreasonable.

Sir,

I'm just in charge of logistics.

There are too many transport requests now.

I really can't spare any to allocate to you.

Then what should we do?

We just let

the 30,000 soldiers of Huang Jie's corps

wait in that internment camp in Vietnam?

Every few days, more than ten bodies are carried out.

This involves

diplomatic affairs

and the image of the Nationalist Government.

Director Ma, can you bear the consequences?

Sir,

how about this?

I'll allocate three ships to you first.

Would that work?

Director Ma, since this is so difficult for you,

then just take back the rice paper

and other things you sent to my residence.

If I can't bring back General Huang's troops,

I won't have many chances

to use such fine paper and ink anymore.

Sir,

please don't leave.

Let me be honest.

I just can't make bricks without straw.

Commander-in-Chief Xue Yue borrowed the ships

to march forward into Hainan Island

and hasn't returned them yet.

Chief Gu sent a fleet to Guangxi

to pick up Bai Chongxi's troops.

And Chief Zhou

dispatched many transport ships

to Zhoushan.

I don't even have enough ships

to send supplies to Kinmen.

I hope you can understand.

Please, have a seat.

General Hu Lian has already urged me twice.

Sending supplies to Zhoushan

isn't that urgent, is it?

How about sending those ships to Vietnam first?

You have no idea.

Of all the ships, those bound for Zhoushan

are the most needed and most urgent.

Everything must be transported within two weeks.

Director Ma.

What can be more urgent than my matter?

What can be more important

than the lives of 30,000 soldiers?

Sir,

you have a point.

But Chief Zhou also said

that this shipment of military supplies

is a top priority.