Original subtitles

July 1945, Huadung battlefield, China

I promised to bring you home.

Fire!

3 hours ago

Pick up your rifle!

Okay.

Radio man!

Have 003 move toward the front

003, this is 001.

Division Commander asks you to attack the enemy's front.

Hurry. Get him to the infirmary before he passes out.

Hold still.

Doctor,

this one with the broken leg has passed out.

Disinfect him first.

Doctor, drink some water.

Charge!

Cut off the enemy tanks.

Yes, sir.

Too much enemy fire.

I'm afraid our tanks will collapse.

If we attack from the front, we'll lose a lot of men.

Their ammunition depot is behind the turrets. Wait here.

I'll lead an assault squad and go for their left flank.

Let me lead the squad.

Assault squad!

Here!

Follow me.

Commander,

generals don't lead attacks.

Rocket launchers!

Here!

We move forward. No turning back.

We'll blow up that barbed wire.

Anesthesia.

Brother,

help me.

Commander.

Charge!

Calling 003.

Coordinates:

0565024930.

003, 003, this is 001. Do you hear me?

Give it to me.

All canons, fire at the enemy bunker.

All canons, fire at the enemy bunker.

Coordinates: 0565024930.

Got it.

How do we get this thing inside?

Just stick it in.

Ready?

Commander, what do we fire at?

Watch for the canons.

Fire!

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wait.

I'm not Japanese.

I'm a doctor from Taiwan.

How come he speaks Chinese?

Salute!

Japanese P.O.W train, Fengtain.

Dear Kun,

I had a haircut

I was going to save it for when you return,

but the cat got fleas...

...and gave them to me, so I had to cut my hair.

Masako.

First of all, thank you for volunteering to help out here.

We can't afford any pay...

...aside from two meals a day.

We can't pay you anything more.

If you're still willing to help, please stay.

Miss Sun, come here.

Why don't you tell the newcomers what to do?

Come. Follow the Head Nurse.

She will tell you what to do.

Come on. Hurry up.

Careful.

Here.

This is a list of the wounded.

Go check the names of those here.

See if there are any mistakes.

I can't really read,

but I'm good at taking care of people.

Alright.

I believe he's alive.

No matter where he is, I'll find him,

this is my destiny.

Winter 1947, Shanghai

- Is that right? - Yes!

♪ The violet is whispering with a smile, ♪

♪ Raising her face at the bright stars ♪

♪ The rose is quietly talking about ♪

♪ The superb mood she's in ♪

♪ A tender and lovely antelope ♪

♪ Leaps close to listen ♪

♪ And the sacred river far away ♪

♪ Roars in reply ♪

♪ And the sacred river far away ♪

♪ Roars in reply ♪

♪ Happy dreams. ♪

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Director Wu.

A big thanks to the Orphanage Choir.

You played so well.

No. I got distracted.

And thank you, Miss Zhou Yunfen, at the piano.

You play so romantically tonight.

How I envy you!

Thank you, sweet sister.

Be a lady.

You're not a college kid anymore.

Look, Mother. I told you the shoes are too small.

General Lei,

you're everyone's hero.

General, please tell the story again...

...of how your leg was wounded.

I stepped on a banana peel.

Hi, children.

Look who's here. Uncle Lei.

Are you having fun? Yes!

Soldiers...

it's okay to be friends with them.

But if you're looking for a life partner,

you need to think twice.

Mom, you've been saying this since I was 15.

You're just so rebellious.

Mom,

this is an age of romance.

Romance?

You wanna be a revolutionary?

Ms. Yuan Shenglan, wife of...

...Director Zhou Zhongding of the Bank of Communications,

donated this diamond necklace.

Thank you for your generosity.

Great.

You sang well.

I can't take credit for that.

It's her,

Miss Zhou Yunfen.

She often comes to teach the kids, for free.

She's a very kind person, and the kids love her.

Let's dance. Dance.

A telegraph just arrived today.

The US Congress passed the loan yesterday.

The Nationalists are losing battle after battle in Manchuria.

Most of the region are in the hands of the Communists.

The situation is changing.

You need to make arrangements.

I'm not worried.

Maybe another administration is just what we need

I just came back from Germany

Europe has been wrecked by the war.

Hundreds of cities need to be rebuilt.

The war has shown me

a great deal of opportunities.

Is that so?

My dear cousin,

I'm wondering

if I still have a chance with you.

No.

Hello

I'm Lei Yifang.

I know who you are.

Everybody knows you.

You're a famous anti-Japanese hero.

In the newspapers, they call you...

Crazy Lei.

Crazy is what I am. No hero.

May I have the honor of a dance with you?

Not today.

My shoes are half a size too small.

My feet are so sore.

What?

What's so funny?

Don't worry about that.

My legs don't work that well either

I know why

they call you Crazy.

Why?

Because you are really crazy.

And I know why they call you Gutsy Zhou.

None of my friends call me Gutsy Zhou.

Oh they will.

Because no one has the guts to dance a waltz barefoot.

These shoes really are half a size too small.

My mother agreed to let me come out with you.

How did you do it?

I told her that, if she said no,

then an army of 60,000 soldiers...

...would be posted at your door

I thought soldiers are all very serious

lam very serious.

This car looks simple enough.

Can I drive?

It's all yours.

They say jeeps are for men.

I don't buy it.

There's nothing I can't do.

This car is a little different.

Put it into low gear.

Release the clutch and step on the peddle.

Turn.

Have faith in me.

I will master it.

Of course I have faith in you.

You're my Gutsy Zhou

1948, Nanjing Road, Shanghai.

Please read our flyer against the civil war.

It's General Lei.

My, my. Is Mrs. Lei pretty!

Like a movie star.

Those who fought the Japanese are indeed heroes,

but who can take pride in fighting among ourselves?

Miss Yu?

Yes.

Shall we?

Alright. Hold it a little bit longer.

Yes.

Closer.

The baby's crying. It'll be over very soon.

Look here. Good.

Three.

Two.

One.

The middleman said that

I would be paid in cash.

It's not that I don't want to give you cash.

Don't you see what the notice says?

We don't want the cash notes either,

but I don't have anything else.

If I don't hand in the picture, my family gets no food notes.

Can you do me this favor?

Thank you.

By the way,

what's your name?

We are not in real relation, any name's fine.

You never know, we may see each other again.

Alright. See you.

I'm waiting for my unit here. Where are you going?

I need to return the baby.

So the baby's not yours?

No wonder you couldn't get him to stop crying.

Maybe you could help me with something.

Go ahead.

Which unit are you with?

Take all these students away.

What are you doing? No more flyers.

No civil war! We want peace!

Take all of them. Hurry up.

Give me the baby.

Go. Go.

The soldiers are killing people.

We want peace! No civil war!

Watch out.

Hide inside for now.

Go.

Here are the news summaries. In East Hebei, the Nationalists have reclaimed Leting.

Sir, can I help you?

Look.

Do you think you can put these two together

so that it looks like one picture?

Like this re-fabricated picture of Lang Jingshan's.

Like you took it together.

Yes.

Well, I need to make copies of the pictures and tweak them.

It will cost you more.

That's alright,

but I need it very soon.

I'm going back to Taiwan in a couple of days.

Okay. The day after tomorrow. Enter your name for me.

Alright.

♪ Our hearts are aflutter ♪

♪ Kissing in each other's arms, ♪

♪ we shyly watch the glittering ripples ♪

You sure are hungry.

♪ The singing from across the river ♪

♪ is breaking our hearts ♪

♪ And we weep ♪

Thank you. Go ahead and eat.

I'll hold! Wait.

Thank you.

Let me add a little salt for you.

The soup doesn't have much taste.

♪ Moonlight above the river ♪

How did you know I like it with strong taste?

You look like you're from the North.

Well, where are you from?

Shanghai, I suppose.

It's great to be a Shanghai native.

People from Shanghai are so modern.

How long have you been in the army?

I've been fighting the Japs for six years.

I joined the army in Shenyang when I was just 18.

I'm lucky to be alive till this day.

Each of you soldiers have a designation number, right?

This thing is with you all your life,

Dead or Alive.

So, as long as I remember this number,

I should be able to track down the person?

If you remember this,

you can surely track me down.

He wasn't lying.

He wasn't lying.

Daqing, get up here. Let's go.

Remember this.

Take care.

Stay alive. Don't die.

Rest assured.

I have you and our son to keep me lucky.

I took a family portrait here with my husband.

I'd like to make another copy.

Sure.

I'll pay for it myself.

No problem.

Your husband's name?

Tang Daqing.

Is it Tong Daqing?

Yes. Tong Daqing.

Alright.

What the hell?

Go grab some buns

before they're all gone.

Sir,

have you seen any wounded from the same division and brigade?

I didn't pay attention.

There's no room here anymore.

If there were any, they've probably been transferred.

Are you looking for someone?

His name is Yang Tianhu.

He's with the Division 7, Brigade 9, Band 55, Company 8.

I'm not familiar with this person

but most of the wounded have been shipped to Taiwan.

I can't seem to calm down.

I want to write a piece for you,

but no matter how I try,

I just can't make it work.

I'm sure you'll play it beautifully one day.

I wish I knew music,

so I could write a piece for you.

Yifang,

I don't want to go to Taiwan.

Didn't we agree on this?

You just got pregnant.

Go to Taiwan for some peace and quiet.

I'll join you once the battle's over.

Are you sending me to Taiwan because you're worried about what's going to happen?

The Communists have won the North.

If we lose the South,

there will be mayhem in Shanghai.

It's not that I'm losing faith,

it's just that, only when you're safe

can I focus on the battle.

If there's anything in my life

that I can't bear to lose,

it's you

and our baby.

You're like this orchid.

It's been three years,

and it's still so beautiful

and so full of life.

No matter where in the world it is,

it always grows beautifully.

I don't want you to come see me off.

Why?

It's unlucky.

"Seeing off" means never seeing again.

Excuse me, how much is a ticket to Taiwan?

It's all on the blackboard.

There are too many numbers

It's 655,000 for now. It'll go higher tomorrow.

You want to buy it?

Next.

Remember to visit your father, even if you're busy.

I'm worried about him being alone.

I will.

Come visit us in Taiwan for Chinese New Year.

A big disaster

is usually followed by peace,

As the old adage goes.

Although everything is unstable now,

you could see it as the beginning of peace.

A small separation has its benefits.

You will learn to appreciate it more,

and so will Yifang.

He will love you more.

Auntie,

let me take a picture for you, as souvenir.

One. Two. Three.

Good.

Cousin,

take one for me as well.

Alright.

It'll help me remember Shanghai.

Alright. Here we go.

One. Two. Three.

What are you doing? Give it back.

Mrs. Tong.

Come on. Tell us.

How did you and Mrs. Tong meet?

Give it back to me.

She's from Manchuria as well?

We're from the same village.

She's pretty for a girl from Manchuria.

She sure is pretty.

With you not around,

somebody will get her to run away with him.

Nonsense.

My wife's not like that.

What are you all blabbering about?

Find your own ladies.

Captain, is your wife bossy?

Does she boss you around?

She's not bossy at all.

She's really sweet.

Well-read, and knows so much.

Do you know how to take care of children?

No.

How to work the abacus?

No.

Have you worked in a bank?

No.

You can't do anything. Go away.

I can cook and wash clothes. I can even make tofu.

Next.

She's so capable,

and pretty.

Pretty when she's not smiling,

and even prettier when she is smiling.

And she's very kind-hearted,

to everyone.

Back where I come from,

people say that dimples are the sign of a good heart.

My wife has three.

One on the left, and two on the right.

Her personality is great as well.

Shes gentle with everyone.

Never had a fight with anybody.

If someone in the village wasn't nice to her,

she would just shrug it off.

Go sleep on the street.

Shameless slut.

How dare you bring a man here?

You want to tarnish my house?

Alright.

It's fine now.

Go back to sleep.

Trash! Slut!

The day I left,

she didn't want to part with me.

She held my hand and said,

"Stay alive! Don't die!"

It was those words

that kept me alive till this day.

End of autumn 1948, Keelung Harbor, Taiwan

Welcome.

Welcome, President Yuan. Mrs. Zhou. Mrs. Lei.

It's been a long trip for you.

Welcome to Taiwan.

Thank you. Thank you.

Yan Zekun.

What were you doing in Shanghai?

I'm a doctor.

I go to Shanghai several times a year

to get medicines.

How did you learn to speak Mandarin?

In Changchun. I was recruited by the Japanese and stayed there for two years.

So you were at the Fengtian Prisoner of War Camp?

Yes.

Zekun.

Are you tired?

Nah.

Here. Let me.

How's everyone at home?

Mom is so worried about you.

Yeah?

How was Shanghai?

Getting worse.

Some students were protesting and marching.

How are you?

I miss you, Kun, every day

I heard that you have safely returned to your home in Keelung.

I can finally feel at ease.

Zekun, you're back.

Hold on.

Hold on.

Red turtle cakes. Freshly made this morning.

Thank you.

Don't mention it.

You look really well.

You flatter me.

Mom.

Zekun's back.

Mom, I'm back.

You're back.

It took you longer this time.

Some medicines took longer.

As long as nothing happened to you.

Mom,

I need to go to Keelung Port to deliver a baby.

I'll take you there.

No. Zeming can take me.

Yeah, I'll take her.

Meifang,

Zekun's back.

You must be exhausted.

I'm alright.

Here. Say "Uncle".

Say "Uncle".

Naughty boy.

That's alright.

Dear Yifang,

it's very quiet in this house.

So quiet, that the only sound one hears is that of the wind chimes.

It's as if

they're reminding those away from home,

that there is someone waiting for them,

missing them.

Hello, Miss.

Hello.

Enjoy staying here. Thank you.

What's your name?

Aman.

We fought the Japanese for eight years,

but it's the first time I set foot in a Japanese house.

Miss.

Walking on the floor barefoot,

feeling its coldness,

I thought of last winter

in Shanghai,

dancing with you barefoot as Guts Zhou.

Take off your shoes.

- What? - Take off your shoes.

I don't understand. Speak Mandarin.

Take off your shoes.

I didn't expect to find

a piano here.

Like everything here has been prepared for me.

Now,

I can finally quiet down,

and write a piece for you.

Mrs. Gu,

she wants to rent the room.

Excuse me.

You want to rent the room?

Yes.

I'm sorry,

but we're not looking to rent to single women.

I'm married. My husbands with the army.

Mom, I'm cold.

Thank you.

It's getting cold,

and the water doesn't stay warm for long.

I don't want the kid to get the cold.

I understand.

You don't need to help.

It's okay. Just helping out.

Thank you.

You have kids too?

A son as well.

He's staying with my mother-in-law.

Which unit is your husband with?

Division 7.

They' re at the front.

My husband's with the General Staff Office.

Straighten up.

If you're not straight, the characters won't be either.

Hold still.

You'll get a cold.

When your sister's done with her calligraphy, we'll eat.

I want to have red bean buns.

There are no red bean buns today. Another time.

Put the sweater on.

You're a nurse?

I just help measure their blood pressure, change bandages,

feed them...

ls there a picture of your husband?

Yes.

This is the only one we have.

Last month he got an injury leave.

We took it before he left again.

Nice picture.

Your son is so chubby and cute.

Dear Yifang,

I don't know if you'll get my letters,

but I'm going to keep writing them.

Thank you,

for never bringing the war home,

for only showing me

the beautiful side of life.

Huadung battlefield, China

We have to break out of it

before the Communists have us encircled.

I'm afraid we will lose more men if we do that.

We can't stop here.

This place is cold and lifeless.

We are low on food and ammunition,

and our supply line has been cut.

If we end up being encircled, we're finished.

I now order the army

to be prepared to break out.

In two hours,

Divisions 25 and 108

are to march towards Yongcheng.

Yes, sir.

Commander, I have Headquarters on the line.

The enemy vanguard army has reached Jiagou. About 30,000 men.

They're congregating towards Qinglongji.

The Headquarters want all units to

cease the breakout and wait for further instructions.

Cease the breakout?

Sir,

my unit is read to break out

with Divisions 25 and 108 as vanguard

and Divisions 34 and 35 covering the flanks.

I have confidence that

we will be out of the Communist encirclement tomorrow at day break...

and reach Yongcheng.

I'm sorry we didn't wait for you.

Division 34 broke out last night.

30 to 40 thousand men went missing,

and another 5,000 didn't make it.

Division 45 is trapped in Laozulou.

The fifth Army has sent their men to reinforce them.

The battle is still going on.

The Communists have gotten hold of our breakout plan.

The plan is off.

Even so, we can't stop.

We have to go.

If we don't, we will be encircled.

The new order

is for us to wait here for instructions.

It's the lives of more than 100 thousand men.

Who can take responsibility for this order?

The Old Man will.

At that moment,

I felt helpless like never before.

I don't mind dying on the battlefield,

but it pains me to watch my troops sacrificed for a senseless battle plan.

The order from the General Staff Office

could only be described as "stupid".

A few years ago,

many brothers fought the Japanese here

and never made it back.

Now,

brothers have become enemies

and many will die on the same land.

If I had known,

I would have preferred to die in battle back then.

At least I wouldn't have had any regrets.

Yunfen,

what kept me going...

...has always been the thought of you.

I kept imagining,

what is the life we could have

had there been no war.

Yifang,

people here say that

the silvergrass is prettiest in fall and winter.

I'm telling you, this flower

...is like this. You're so stubborn.

- Give it to me. It's mine. - What are you saying? I can't understand a word.

I'm going to plant it under the sun. Get out of my way.

It will grow.

- You don't understand. Give it up. - What are you saying? I can't understand.

Then where do you want to plant it?

Stop fighting. What is it?

Miss, she

sometimes speaks Hokkienese and sometimes Japanese.

I don't understand a word.

You, speak Mandarin.

Miss,

I'm telling you.

If you plant the orchid under the sun,

it will grow.

And he just started babbling.

I told him we could plant it there, but

- he wants to plant it there. - Alright.

It's best to plant orchids in a greenhouse.

We'll build one soon.

Guo, you should learn to speak Hokkienese from Aman.

Hokkienese?

How do you say

"sorry" in Hokkienese?

I'm sorry.

That's okay.

You old fox,

come and get it.

Give the flowers back to me.

Come get it.

Give me the flowers.

What is it, Miss?

Miss.

How did this happen?

Uncle, you need to listen to the doctor.

His prescription.

Another patient is waiting outside.

Follow me.

Zekun.

Uncle.

I brought over the wife of a general.

Take a good look at her.

Okay.

Doctor.

Madam.

This is Doctor Yan Zekun.

My nephew.

Kun, this is Mrs. Lei.

Do you feel numbness in your hands and feet?

No.

It's not poisonous.

Not poisonous.

Don't worry. You just need a little disinfection.

Does this medicine have any side effects?

I feel a bit stuffy in the chest lately.

Let me check your heart.

Madam, would you unbutton your coat for me?

What are you doing?

What do you mean what he's doing? He's checking on Madam.

He wants to take off her clothes.

He doesn't need to do that to check on her.

If you're not a patient, please wait outside.

Here. Don't worry. It's all your fault.

Let's wait outside.

Miss, no need to worry.

Don't worry.

It's okay. Just leave it like this.

Your heart sounds fine.

You just arrived in Taiwan?

Yes.

It could be due to the pressure

of moving to a new place.

Take it easy. You should be fine.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I must have owed you in the previous life.

We're merely acquaintances from the same town,

and here I am, showing you how to steal my job.

How much can a dancing girl earn?

If you start from the bottom, about 100,000 per month.

That's not much.

But if you're lucky,

you would end up being some rich guy's mistress,

so that you don't need to live in a shack anymore.

That's not what I want.

I just want to make enough money to buy a ticket on the ship.

Don't worry.

As long as I'm around, you won't go hungry.

Would you read to me

what the letter says?

"Dear Zhen,

I miss you a lot.

We're crossing the Yangtze tomorrow. It will be a tough battle.

When the war is over, we'll find a place to live together.

Take care. Yang Tianhu."

June, 1947.

June.

That was four months ago.

The Nationalists are losing battle after battle.

This guy could be dead already.

Then these would be his last words.

Bullshit.

They say that soldiers are all playboys,

but I know

that he really loves me.

As long as I have our life together to look forward to,

my life won't be unbearable.

He gives me hope.

Zhen,

in our job,

occasional naivety is more than enough.

Romance wont' keep you from starving.

Quiet down. Don't shout.

We need a living! We need a living!

Quiet! Quiet!

Listen to me.

Listen to me. Listen to me.

Alright. Alright. Ladies,

the Shanghai government wants to save on energy.

Our dance hall was picked in a lottery to be put out of business.

There's nothing we could do.

Wait till the curfews are over...

You can wait, sure. But what about us?

I have eight people to feed in my family.

Does the government have to force us into prostitution?

Sisters, we want justice! We want our rights!

We want justice! We want our rights!

We want our rights! We want to eat!

We want a living! We want to eat!

We want our rights! We want to eat!

You alright?

I'm fine.

Get up.

Go away.

Well? Are you hurt?

I'm fine.

Your first day on the job,

and there's no more dancing.

When no one's looking, run.

What about you?

Don't worry.

I can take care of myself.

Be careful.

Take her.

Be quiet.

Ma'am,

your health lies in your own hands.

You have asthma,

and yet you're still smoking.

Madam, let me carry the medicines for you.

Remember to drink lots of water.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Here. Careful.

Be careful.

I saw your painting,

the one you did in 1942.

Where did you see it?

Let's not talk about this here.

How about this? There's a lighthouse nearby.

I'll meet you there.

Sorry.

I'm sorry

to have kept you waiting.

That's okay.

Which direction is the northwest?

Come with me.

Northwest is where this wind comes from.

That is to say,

this wind is coming from the north of Central Plains.

Yifang,

you said you would come.

Just get here safe.

You come here often?

I used to, with a friend.

We used to love coming here

and looking out to the sea.

That friend is called Masako?

You said you saw my painting.

It's of a girl playing the piano in the silvergrass.

Where did you see it?

In the room where she played the piano.

I saw your painting first,

with your name on it.

There's a notebook.

I suppose it's for you.

She also left an unfinished music score

I like.

Does this tune ring a bell?

It's a beautiful tune, written for someone she loved.

On that,

we are quite alike.

I've been trying to write a piece for my husband,

but I don't know where to start.

I'd like to use hers as my beginning,

and I'll finish the rest.

How can I help you?

You and I both need this piece.

Tell me some stories about her.

If I could get under her skin,

I'll do a better job.

I'm sorry.

My memory is filled with war and death.

There's not much room for more.

It'll come back to you.

Beautiful memories always come back.

After I met him,

I started keeping a diary.

Before that,

nothing.

This afternoon, there was the drawing competition.

I was representing the girls' high school.

It was later that I learned that

he wanted to sketch my eyes,

but didn't have the courage.

I realized that

he never looked me in the eye,

so I played a little trick on him.

He immediately lowered his head and drew something else.

Our love at first sight

was accompanied by such embarrassment.

Not bad.

Congratulations.

He got the second prize again.

I felt really sorry for him.

No matter how well he draws,

the first prize always goes to Japanese students,

never to the locals.

But today,

I went up to K and congratulated him.

He just smiled and looked back at me in a silly way.

He couldn't say a single word.

Later, he told me that he felt like he was having a fever.

In fact, my heart was racing as well.

His beats

seemed to be

a bit

peculiar.

Then one day, we started sharing our deepest thoughts.

That year,

his father passed away from tuberculosis

and left the family in financial crisis.

Although life was very hard,

his mother

would never borrow money from relatives.

Instead, she had him sell us that piano that she brought over

when she got married.

I know.

How painful it was for her.

This piano is in such great shape.

It must have been very dear to your mother.

Don't worry. We will take good care of it as well.

Okay.

Sorry.

It's okay. Just leave it like this, Zekun.

It's alright.

Masako

has a fever, and is in bed. Maybe she'll get up in a bit.

Why don't you stay here and have a cup of tea?

No, thanks.

I'll see you around.

Zekun.

Are you okay?

I thought you had a fever.

On that day,

he finally kissed me.

It was our first kiss.

My heart was beating so fast.

Because

you never know what's going to happen.

We don't need to kiss up to those Japanese.

It's always us that suffers in the end, right?

That's right. We all suffered in the hands of the Japanese.

Especially your son Doctor Yan,

he's simply too kind-hearted.

That's right, Mrs. Yan.

We don't want Zekun to fall into that Japanese woman's trap.

If they get married, will they live in Japan

or stay here?

Yes. Better have a daughter-in-law that understands you.

Stay out of other people's business. Stop it. Go get some work done.

I hope these stories are of help to you.

Thank you

for sharing your stories with me.

Good bye.

Only two?

Only two. Beat it.

Don't push.

Brothers.

Brothers.

We just need to hold on a bit longer.

As soon as the weather clears,

the air force will be dropping supplies for us.

Hold on a little bit longer.

Yunfen,

it's been snowing for days.

The troops are trapped in this little village.

The supplied stopped coming,

and we don't have any orders from above.

If we go on like this,

I'm afraid our morale will be destroyed.

Miss Yu,

I'm Tong Daqing, who took a family picture with you.

I haven't read much,

but there's a lot that I want to say,

but I don't know how to say it.

I just want to tell you that,

that day at the noodle house,

when you wiped the chopsticks clean for me...

Captain Sergeant.

Commander.

Thank you, Commander.

We're all just waiting anyways.

My radio is broken.

Can you help me fix it?

I give you my word.

Commander.

Thank you.

Well, I'll...

I'll just put it together.

Sit.

How long have you been in the army?

Sir,

six years.

What have you done?

I was an engineer for a while. Now I'm captain of the signal troop.

Are you married?

Yes.

Do you have a picture of your family?

Kids?

Right there in my wife's arms.

They're both back home.

Well, you beat me to it.

My wife just got pregnant.

She's in Taiwan.

You have a wife and son waiting for you at home.

You're truly lucky.

Commander.

You should never mistake your wife for someone else.

Here.

This is the house I designed for myself.

Quiet, with a small garden.

What do you think?

Looks nice.

But why use all this space for a lawn?

My wife likes to dance barefoot.

I like to imagine her dancing on the grass.

It feels

uninhibited, natural,

and a little bit naughty.

What about you?

I just want to work hard under you,

and have a land of my own after the war

so that my family can be fed and clothed.

Nothing more.

Your family must be proud of you.

Give it your best shot.

I certainly will.

Nurse!

Nurse!

My family...

Relax.

It's been three days since they visited me.

Don't worry. They will come.

Last time they were here,

they said they had been starving for days.

Is there anything I can help you with?

Please give this ring

to my wife.

Tell her to pawn it.

This should be able to feed them

for a few days.

Excuse me.

Here.

Money.

Miss, give me some food.

Go away. Go away.

Miss, give me some bread.

Stop following me.

The bread is for someone else.

Stop chasing me.

Brother!

You alright?

Brother, what happened to you? Brother!

Is this Tiantong Road Lane 58?

Straight ahead.

Which one is Liu's house?

Which Liu?

Liu the soldier.

I think it's that one over there.

Where does Liu the soldier live?

Is this Liu's house?

Yes.

They took rat poison. Been dead about two days.

Due to infections in the lung,

the wounded soldier died at 2:08 PM.

Take that into record.

I'd like my hair done.

Miss Yu, please sit down.

What kind of hairstyle would you like?

Hers.

Alright, no problem.

What did you say?

You want the same hairstyle as me?

Don't make me insult you.

What do you do?

You're a whore.

That's enough.

We're all decent families in this building.

We don't need to put up with this

just for a little rent.

Mrs. Wang, stop shouting.

What?

What are you doing? What are you looking at?

Am I wrong about you?

Mrs. Wang, take it easy.

Give me some face.

Please leave it, for my sake.

What are you looking at? I'm talking to you.

Don't give me stuff that this whore has touched.

Alright. Bye.

Don't get upset.

Miss Yu,

about this hairstyle...

She has a big face, and you a small one. Look.

It will look better on you than on her.

Hang on one second. Don't rush.

I'm still sticking to the old strategy:

give it everything we've got.

Be flexible and help each other.

Yes, Commander.

We need to hurry, but with order.

Commander, the villagers have come with food.

Keep the villagers safe.

Yes, sir.

Comrades, we have brought you some food.

Thank you. Thank you.

Keep it going.

I said we should move the battle underground,

and you were worried that we're shorthanded

and we don't have enough time.

Anybody still concerned now?

Slow down.

That's enough for a meal for everyone.

Captain, I know this place well.

Our house is right there on the wasteland.

When we march over there, I'll invite you over for warm buns.

Enough with the food talk. Why did you join the army?

Me?

I volunteered.

It's such a hard job working in the fields.

The army is much more interesting.

How about you, Captain?

Me?

I've always wanted to learn how to read,

but my family couldn't afford to send me to school.

Then I joined the army,

and they taught me how to read,

how to ride a horse,

how to build bridges and roads,

how to operate the radio,

how to...

how to shoot a gun.

We got it! We got it!

Meat dish! Meat dish!

Wait.

Salt.

Careful. Careful.

Please.

Please.

Come on.

See you around.

See you around.

See you around.

Erdan.

I asked him to take a message to my Mom,

so that she knows I'm fine.

You're just so good at taking advantage.

Wipe your face clean.

Can't let anyone know when we get back.

Captain, I'm no idiot.

You need to pay twice as much.

How can you do it twice and not pay twice as much?

What the hell!

You want to rob me!

Go to hell!

Like hell I'm giving it to you.

You filthy whore...

Talking about twice the pay.

I only came up because you're pretty.

You filthy bitch

I didn't quite have a good time yet,

and you're telling me I'm not paying enough?

Who do you think you are?

We woke you up, didn't we?

I'm sorry.

A distant relative

fighting over a little money.

Red bean buns made by the hospital.

Taste good.

No charge.

Thank you.

Good night.

Nationalist brothers,

you have come to the end of your rope.

Even though you forced the clerks

and young students you brought from Xuzhou

to join your army,

these people are not soldiers.

Many of your soldiers and officers don't want to fight anymore.

You have lost a total of 34 divisions already.

Brothers, we have prepared warm porridge

that we can send over to you at any time.

We can promise that all of you officers and soldiers will be safe and alive.

Drop your weapons today,

and you can be on your way home tomorrow.

Nationalist brothers,

you must be homesick.

I have a song here that you must like.

I like it too.

This is for you.

Commander,

we can't take it anymore.

Commander.

Get up! Get up!

Get up, all of you!

Get up!

Commander,

we would rather die on the battlefield

than starving to death here.

For a soldier,

whether he dies in battle for starves on the battlefield,

it makes no difference.

All that matters is if you're scared of death or not.

It's the same sky above us,

and the snow is not just falling on one side.

Why is it that they can take it but we can't?

Get up, all of you!

Do your jobs.

Get back here.

Stop!

Don't shoot.

Who told you to shoot?

Commander, they...

They want to go. Let them go.

We haven't been able to contact Division 108.

Have the Captain of signal troop inspect the line toward Zhengji,

and let me know as soon as it's connected.

Yes, sir.

Division 108. Division 108.

Do you hear me?

Leave us.

Lei,

it's been a long time.

Zhiqing.

I thought you retired a long time ago.

Each to his own.

I can't retire even if I want to.

After so many years, you're still leading the attacks.

I gotta give you that.

We've known each other a long time.

I didn't think that

we would still be able to drink together.

Here.

When we were fighting the Japs,

no matter how hard life was,

the civilians would do anything

to send us food and water

and set the landmines for us,

because they sided with us.

Perhaps you haven't heard that...

the US has publicly announced that

they would no longer back the Nationalist government.

Even your only ally has come to understood the situation.

Lei,

your army has been divided

into three parts by ours.

You have no chance of winning.

What are you trying to say?

I've come today

to persuade you to side with the people,

and put an end to this misery.

I don't know politics.

I'm just a soldier,

and I do what a soldier is supposed to do.

I would rather die on the battlefield than surrender.

I know there are some who will choose to leave,

but as long as there's one that wants to stay,

I'm still their Commander.

Lei,

take care.

Take care.

We're on the same side

I'm Tong Daqing, Captain of the 12th Army signal troop.

Headquarters is having trouble contacting your division.

I'm here to inspect the line on the Commander's orders.

The line is good. Please go.

Well...

Listen.

We, Division 108,

no longer takes orders from the twelfth Army.

Now that you have left them,

why would go back to risk your life?

If you report back,

we'll be in deep trouble.

Pal,

we' re not stupid.

Don't worry. We won't breathe a word, right?

But we have to get back.

If we don't, the Commander will be suspicious,

right? That would get you into more trouble.

We'll get back and tell him the line is fine.

And, um, battle are all fought

by the big shots.

None of us lowly soldiers want to fight,

but it's our lives that are at stake, right?

Everybody, take care.

We'll see you around.

See you around.

Let's all be safe.

Slowly.

Brothers of the Band of Blades,

your mission

is honorable and difficult.

It will determine

the outcome of this battle.

We give you our word.

Bottoms up.

Bottoms up.

Didn't we agree not to report it?

We know they surrendered. If we hold this information,

it would be like killing the Commander.

Stop. I won't let you.

What's this about?

It was you who messed up the line.

You were the one inspecting it every day.

You had a deal with them long before today, didn't you?

I ran into them on one of my inspection rounds.

They just wanted to talk me into surrendering, and nothing else.

They brought a bun my Mom made for me.

I've been saving it

to share with you.

Look.

What's their relationship to your family?

Our family has been poor generation after generation.

Nobody respected us.

But they are different.

When they passed by our door,

even when they were tired or hungry,

they never set foot in our house

or took down our door plank.

Captain, my Mom and I both believe that

they really are good people.

I see.

Shoot.

I won't kill a brother.

Captain, don't push me.

Brother...

Back where I come from, we say "pal".

It's okay.

I'll help you.

I won't look at you.

All you need to do is pull the trigger.

Don't push me.

The final order has been issued.

There's no turning back.

The Headquarters have decided to not stay put anymore, and break out instantly.

We have all been through life and death together, till now.

You have done your best,

and I thank you.

By my orders,

you are dismissed. Go home.

Commander,

we want to stay with you,

and fight till the end.

Get up!

Commander.

What took you so long?

What did you find?

Commander, I ask to be punished.

Why?

What's the point for punishment now?

It's just a terrible sound. Everyone hold their position.

Have everyone hold their position.

Pay extra attention to the rear defence,

in case the enemy uses a decoy.

Yes, sir.

If Division 108 reinforces in time,

we still have a chance of breaking out.

Charge!

Fire!

Yes, sir.

Contact Division 108 immediately.

Ask where they are.

Commander,

Division 108

has surrendered to the Communists.

What?

You fucking withheld information!

I'm willing to be court-martialed.

Hold on to your gun.

Protect yourself.

Come on.

Commander.

You okay?

Commander.

I'm fine.

Shit.

You could have left alive.

Why did you come back here asking to be punished?

I knew someone surrendered to the enemy,

but I didn't report it right away.

Also,

I lied about having a wife and family for the food notes.

Actually I'm not even married.

I've been so dishonest,

but you still trust me so...

I've been dishonest as well.

I promised my wife

that I would return to her safe and sound.

She, too, trusts me.

If you're not leaving,

I have one last mission for you.

Give this to my wife.

Make sure she gets it.

Go.

What about you, General?

I can't go like this.

There's something I need to get first.

Yunfen,

every time I think of you,

I feel

peaceful inside.

While facing death every day,

I still have someone

to think about.

This is my greatest happiness.

Please forgive me for breaking my promise.

There is an image lingering in my mind.

On a large meadow...

circled by flowers,

You are barefoot,

with the kid...

Dancing on the grass.

Running.

Laughing...

in the sunlight warm and bright.

January 10, 1949, Huadung area

After fifty-five days of battle and thirty days of besiegement. The army of KMT,

including five groups, twenty-two brigades and fifty-six divisions,

total five hundred and fifty-five thousand people are killed.

There are about a thousand people getting on Taiping in January 27, 1949.

Including Zhen Yu, Ze-Kun Yan, Da-Qing Tong, Zhong-Ding Zhou and Peter.

The Taiping is sailing to Keelung the night before the Chinese New Year's Eve.

The Taiping and the Jianyuan collided and sunk at 11:45 p.m.

To be continued.