“This is the rule, kid,” the man with the scarred face sneered. His name was Fifth Master Wu. “I saw you fight in the intake room. You’ve got some skill. Some kung fu.” He circled the new prisoner, Li Zhongming. “But don’t provoke him,” Wu motioned with his chin toward a hulking figure in the corner, Dao Jiasheng. “You start something here, you’ll suffer. Understand?”

“Don’t worry,” Li said, his voice quiet. “I don’t want to provoke anyone.”

“Good. Now, the other rule.” Wu snapped his fingers. “The ‘welcoming fee.’ You pay, you don’t get hit. You don’t pay… you get hit.”

“The Japanese stripped us bare when we came in,” Li stated flatly. “Where would I get money?”

“Then we’ll just have to collect the interest today,” Wu grinned, cracking his knuckles.

“Lao Ma,” another prisoner cut in, “it’s a nice day. Don’t spoil the mood.”

Fifth Master Wu shot him a dark look. “New guy,” he said to Li, “remember this. Our business isn’t finished.” He turned and started a roll call. “Three, four, line up! Five, six… Deputy Mayor Hai…”

Later, in the crowded cell, Li overheard the man they called Deputy Mayor Hai whispering to another. “I heard the Japs are shipping all of us from the Northeast Army to Hokkaido. Hard labor.”

“A dream!” another man scoffed. “They want me in Hokkaido? Even if I go, I’ll lead a team to fight them.”

“Quiet,” Hai hissed. “What can we do? We lie low, and we wait.”

Li needed to make contact. He sidled up to a prisoner who seemed to have connections. “Hey,” Li whispered. “Can you get me a message out?”

“Asleep,” the man mumbled. “Ask me tomorrow. Someone from my hometown is visiting. Maybe he can take it. But you’ll owe me.”

“Fine. Just do me a favor.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“I need a box of matches.”

“Easy. Leave it to me.”

The next day, the man slipped Li the matches. Before Li could hide them, Fifth Master Wu and his crew rounded the corner. “Quick, Tiger and the others are coming!”

“Fifth Master,” Li’s contact stammered.

“What are you doing?” Wu barked, shoving the man. “Don’t you know the rules? This is my territory! You teaching the new guy bad habits?” He raised his fist.

“Fifth Master, please, mercy!” the man pleaded. “He’s new! He doesn’t know the rules!”

“I didn’t know this was your territory,” Li said, stepping forward.

“He’s deliberately making trouble for us!” one of Wu’s men shouted.

“Fifth Master, please!”

“New guy,” Wu sneered, turning to Li. “Today, we settle old and new debts.”

“Be generous, Fifth Master.” A new voice, calm and powerful, cut through the tension. An older man, Master Duan, stepped into the yard. “This man is with me.”

Fifth Master Wu’s expression soured, but he backed down instantly. “Master Duan. Of course.”

Duan nodded curtly and walked away. Li followed.

“You owe me a favor,” Master Duan said, not looking at Li.

“Thank you, Master Duan.”

Duan stopped by a workbench. “Was it worth getting beat down for a box of matches?”

“If I knew I’d be caught, I wouldn’t have,” Li said.

Duan picked up the box. He expertly broke the heads off several matches, then handed the box to Li. “Here. Nine matches. If you can’t contact Lao Kang any other way, give these to him. He’ll understand your identity.” He then whispered a series of numbers. “This is the other half of the code. By seeing the nine broken matches and hearing the code, you can confirm Lao Kang’s identity.”

Li’s eyes widened.

“This is the top-secret cipher for the International Communications Bureau to contact Communist International delegates,” Duan said quietly. “I’m the only one on the Special Committee who knows it. If you still can’t make contact with this, you must abandon the mission. Understood?”

Li needed to create a diversion to pass information. He lay down on his bunk, waited, then deliberately rolled off, bumping the man next to him.

“Hey! Why’d you hit me?” the man yelled.

“Who hit you? You bumped into me while you were sleeping!” Li shot back, just as loud.

“You hit me!”

“I’m telling you, don’t touch me!”

“You bumped me! What nonsense are you talking?”

“I’m talking nonsense? You pushed me!”

The two men were on their feet, shoving. “You pushed me!” “Don’t touch me!” A crowd gathered as a guard stormed in. “Why aren’t you sleeping? What’s wrong with you?”

Fifth Master Wu was furious. He’d lost face with Master Duan and Li was still walking. He decided on another approach, planting a small packet of opium in a loose brick near Li’s bunk. Then he tipped off the brutal guard, Dong Pingshan.

“Li Zhongming!” Dong yelled, storming the cell block. “You can’t escape this time!”

“Sir, we’re all good citizens here,” Li said, standing slowly.

“Shut up!” Dong roared. “I have a report you’re smuggling opium. Is it true? Search his bunk!”

Fifth Master Wu watched from the back, smirking. “I told you I’d make you look bad.”

A guard pulled the packet from the wall. “Reporting to the warden! Suspicious item found!”

“Sir, this is the opium,” the guard said, handing the packet to Dong. “It’s high-grade.”

“Li Zhongming, you’re really something,” Dong sneered. “You’re framing me!”

“What do you want? The evidence is here, and you’re still stubborn.”

“You’re mistaken!” a new voice called out. Shang Qingcheng, the quiet prisoner from Nanjing, stepped forward. “Li Zhongming didn’t hide that opium.”

“And what qualifications do you have to speak for him?” Dong snapped.

“We are honest men. We don’t do shady things,” Shang said. “What you’re doing is wrong.”

“I don’t need you to speak for me,” Li said, shooting Shang a warning look.

“What did you say about me?” Dong advanced on Shang. “I’m telling you, Shang Qingcheng, you’ll pay for those words. Quick, take them both away!”

In the dark, damp solitary cell, Shang Qingcheng hissed at Li. “Lao Kang is in danger. He’s been here two months. Can’t you see Dong Pingshan is deliberately trying to provoke you?”

“He planted the opium. There was nothing I could do.”

“You can’t escape Dong Pingshan’s world like this. We don’t have a chance to even speak.”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” Li said.

“Don’t pretend,” Shang said. “I know you. We met in Shanghai. We’re both living under the gun. We are all Chinese. We can’t let Lao Kang fall into Japanese hands. Whether he goes to Yan’an or Nanjing, it’s his luck. We just have to get him out. We need to delay. If we wait two months, it’ll be too late.”

Suddenly, the cell door opened. “Report! Why did you put Qingcheng in solitary?”

Dong Pingshan’s voice replied, “He’s too smart and disobedient. He spoke up for that brat Li Zhongming.”

“You fool! Use your brain!” It was the Japanese Warden. “I am trying to cooperate with Nanjing. Shang Qingcheng is from Nanjing! If you kill him, how can we continue this game? Listen, return Shang Qingcheng to Cell Block 1 immediately! Go!”

“Yes, sir! Right away!”

The door opened. Guards grabbed Shang. “I, Shang Qingcheng, am quite experienced,” he said loudly, for Li’s benefit, as he was led away.

Later, in the infirmary, a prisoner named Song Dingchen collapsed, vomiting. “He’s in shock,” the prison doctor, Dr. Zhao, announced. “He needs glucose, now! Get him to the Harbin Central Hospital!”

The prison’s old ambulance sputtered. “This engine’s shot, Doc,” the driver said.

Dong Pingshan overheard. “Li Zhongming! You’re a mechanic. Get this car running. Now. You’ll ride along in case it breaks down again.”

“Sir, that’s irregular,” another guard protested.

“It’s decided!” Dong snapped.

On a dark road, the ambulance, carrying Li, Dr. Zhao, Song, and two guards, sped toward the city. Suddenly, Song Dingchen sprang up, pulling a hidden shiv. He stabbed both guards before anyone could react.

“What are you doing?” Li yelled.

Song pointed the shiv at Dr. Zhao. “Drive! To Xinjing Station!”

“You’re not sick!” Li realized. “This was a setup!”

“Shut up and drive!” Song yelled at the terrified doctor.

“You’re not Lao Kang,” Li said, studying the man.

“It doesn’t matter! The Japs are after him. I’m getting out. Now drive!”

Headlights flooded the cabin. A military truck screeched to a halt, blocking the road. Japanese soldiers.

“Stop! Stop!”

Song grabbed Li. “You! You fight like them. You’re a collaborator!”

“That’s just basics I learned,” Li said, pushing him off as the doors were ripped open.

“The pursuers are here!” Song shrieked. “We’re doomed!” He turned the shiv on himself. “I won’t be taken! Help me! Kill me!” He lunged at a soldier’s bayonet.

Li and Dr. Zhao were dragged back to the prison.

“Did you collude with Song to escape prison?” the new interrogator, Prosecutor Xu, demanded.

“He escaped. So you’re the one left, Li Zhongming. I know you’re tough, but I don’t think you can be tough this time.”

“Stop!” Dong Pingshan entered. “What right do you have to give orders?”

“Prosecutor Xu,” the Warden said. “The high command has ordered me to take charge of this entire case. You may attend the trial.” Xu turned to Li. “Dr. Zhao, please stay. I may need your help. Now, Li. If you tell the truth, you won’t suffer.”

“I’ve said it many times,” Li said, his voice level. “Song Dingchen and I were in the ambulance. I heard a noise, and Song had a weapon. He’d already killed the guards. He forced Dr. Zhao to drive. I risked my life to stop him.”

“Hmph. Very smooth. Prepared in advance, weren’t you?”

“I’m telling the truth.”

“Alright. The ambulance was taking a patient. Why were you in the car?”

“I went to fix the car.”

Dr. Zhao spoke up. “That’s true. I asked Li Zhongming to follow the car. Only he can fix that engine.”

“Of all the people here, only he can fix it?” Xu asked, skeptical.

“It’s a German-made ambulance,” Li said. “Very rare in China. I worked in an auto factory in Japan when I was studying. I’ve fixed them before.”

“A jack of all trades,” Xu mused. He held up a small metal valve. “What is this?”

“A pressure valve,” Li identified it. “If it was loose, the engine would have problems. Maybe someone was messing with it.”

“The car works sometimes and sometimes not,” Dr. Zhao confirmed. “If not for him, who else?”

Li was sent to work in the old boiler room. “Hey,” another prisoner whispered. “You know someone died here before? This place is weird. Used to be a monastery bedroom. The Japs came, found a stone tablet inside. Bad luck. They dug it up and built a prison. Two wardens lived here. Both died in their sleep. What is it if not a ghost?”

Later, Li met with Chief Qi, leader of the Northeast Army prisoners. “I’ve found an escape route,” Qi said. “I’ve seen the map of the underground pipes. But,” Qi sighed, “it leads to an open ditch outside. Guarded by the Japanese. It won’t work.”

“I know what’s going on,” Li said.

Chief Qi gathered his men. “Brothers,” one said, “since Deputy Commander Hai died, we’ve been desperate for revenge. We can’t fight without a commander. Chief Qi, you have the highest rank. Lead us!”

“The Northeast was bombed. We’ve lost face,” Qi said, his voice thick. “Now Ma Jingkui and his gang dare to stare us down. He’s shitting on our heads! Has our Northeast Army ever suffered like this?”

“I saw it with my own eyes,” another veteran growled. “Six-Fingers was cheating with Dong Pingshan’s brother. Nine out of ten, we were sold out by Ma Jingkui.”

“So Hai’s death is linked to Ma Jingkui?”

“Definitely, Chief! The brothers are waiting to avenge Deputy Hai!”

“Alright,” Qi said. “It’s decided.”

Ma Jingkui, arrogant and dangerous, approached Master Duan first. “Master Duan,” Ma said, “You know the feud between me and the Northeast Army. If our two families fight, who will you help?”

“I’m an old man,” Duan smiled faintly. “How can I still fight?”

“Please answer straight, Master Duan.”

“The straight answer is: I help neither of you.”

Later, Chief Qi came. “Master Duan, we’re going to give Ma Jingkui a lesson.”

“When Ma Jingkui came, I said the same thing,” Duan replied. “I will not help either side. This will be a good show.”

“Ma Jingkui is looking for death,” Qi told his men. “I have to kill him.”

“Wait,” another soldier, Tang Yanfu, said. “A soldier’s duty is to kill the Japanese invaders. Like Deputy Commander Hai! Ma Jingkui is our enemy, but he’s still Chinese. We are the Northeast Army. We don’t kill our own countrymen?”

“Even if a man doesn’t harm a tiger, the tiger will harm him,” Qi retorted. “Ma Jingkui killed many of our brothers. We must have revenge. We’ll do it tomorrow night during the drill.”

Li was in the machine shop, pocketing screws for the escape. A prisoner, one of Ma’s men, caught him. “Li Zhongming, you’re brave. What if I give this to Dong Pingshan?”

“Let go.”

“How about this,” the man sneered. “One pack of Old Standards cigarettes. Otherwise, no way.”

“Done,” Li said.

Later, Ma Jingkui cornered Fifth Master Wu. “Hahaha, you don’t look so good, Lao Wu.”

“Just bad dreams, Boss Ma.”

“Yes, I even kill collaborators in my nightmares,” Ma sneered. He snapped his fingers. His men grabbed Wu. “Lao Chen is dead. You sold him out to Dong Pingshan.”

“No! Boss! I didn’t!”

“You’re a Japanese dog.” Ma pulled a shiv and stabbed Wu. “I’ll kill you!”

Shang Qingcheng went to Li. “I have a detailed escape route. My brothers are waiting outside. When we get out, we’ll take them straight to Nanjing.”

“Then execute your plan,” Li said.

“What’s your plan?”

“Chief Qi,” one of Qi’s men said, “Ma Jingkui is about to move on Li Zhongming. We need to protect him. But Master Duan is also protecting him, so Ma doesn’t dare act recklessly. We’ll join forces with Duan.”

“You should know,” Shang said to Li, “I didn’t kill Six-Fingers.”

“It doesn’t matter if I know. What matters is Ma Jingkui thinks you killed him. He wants your life like crushing an ant. But don’t worry. I can reverse the situation. The point is, you have to tell me the name of that ‘well-wisher.'”

The three leaders—Li Zhongming, Shang Qingcheng, and Master Duan—met in secret.

“Even Master Duan has agreed to escape together,” Li said. “We should discuss it.”

“Indeed,” Duan said. “I’m not worried about you two. I know a little about your situation. Including your places in Shanghai and Nanjing. Your wife, Bian Meilan, is in Changchun, right?”

Shang paled. “Master Duan is a true hero. We shouldn’t hide it.”

“Alright,” Duan said. “Let’s talk about the next steps. Master Duan, there’s one more person escaping with us.”

“Who?”

“We’re escaping, not going to a party,” Duan grunted. “You want to take everyone in the prison?”

“There’s something I’m hiding,” Li said. “I hope Master Duan will forgive me.”

“I can’t forgive. Too many people, too many mouths. What if something goes wrong? You’ll hand me over to the Japanese!”

“Then tell me who it is!”

“You’ll know when we’re out.”

“Alright,” Duan said, his eyes cold. “I have ways to make you talk. Don’t force me. Why am I doing this? I’m the emperor here. Why should I take this risk with you?”

“Master Duan,” Shang cut in, “the situation has changed. You used to have five or six bodyguards. Now you have more than ten. You know the prison is more dangerous than the outside. Let’s talk about the next step.”

“A snake can’t live without a head,” Li said. “We need a leader. You are highly respected. I think you are the most suitable.”

“Mr. Shang, you know how to joke,” Duan scoffed. “You mean if something happens, I’ll be the only one responsible? You’re the one who only tells half-truths. But you control the tunnel. I won’t listen to him. I’ll listen to you.”

“Since Master Duan has said so,” Li said, “I’d rather obey. The sewer system in the kitchen and factory are dead ends. We can only find a way from the monitoring room to the cells.”

“By order of the warden,” a guard said later, “this prisoner must be interrogated secretly. No one is allowed in without my permission.” The guard left, and Master Duan stepped into the cell.

“Li Zhongming asked me to rescue you,” Duan whispered to the prisoner inside. It was Lao Kang.

At the Japanese HQ, Officer Okamura read a report. “The arrogant Lao Kang is about to be kidnapped by the Communists. Mr. Oshima, do you think this is reliable?”

“A fly can’t escape the Model Prison,” Warden Oshima sneered. “He even said Li Zhongming is a Communist. Li Zhongming is strange, but we haven’t noticed any unusual moves. Okamura-kun, I want to go to the prison and see. Even the Communists can’t escape my eyes.”

The riot began.

“Quick, open the tunnel!” Dr. Zhao whispered at a rendezvous. “Li Zhongming is waiting!”

“Li Zhongming in Cell 12 is trying to escape!” a collaborator yelled to a Japanese patrol. “There’s a tunnel under his bed! Quick, catch him!”

“The Japanese are killing people!” a prisoner screamed. “Brothers, go! It’s late! Only 20 minutes until it blows! Go!”

“Stand still! You can’t run! Lao Wu’s men are fighting the Northeast Army! Brothers, follow me north!”

Ma Jingkui confronted a cowering collaborator. “You’re courting death! I’ll take revenge today for the brothers who died at your hands!”

“I’m a coward!” the man sobbed. “Boss Ma, I do this to survive!”

“Every brother you met wanted to live!” Ma roared. “But none of them would live like you, a traitor and a slaughterer of our countrymen! You still want to live well?” He shot him. “Come on, brothers, this way!”

“Riot in the Renzi Building!” a guard shouted. “Captain Du, bring your soldiers! At all costs, ensure Lao Kang’s safety!”

“We can’t get out. We have to retreat!”

“What? Captain Du, retreat first! I’ll cover you! Go! The Japs are waiting!”

“Ah! Captain Du! Quick! Don’t leave anyone behind!”

Chief Qi stood on a balcony. “Brothers! This riot was planned by our Northeast Army! It has nothing to do with you! Go back to your cells!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” a prisoner shouted. “We’re all men! The Northeast Army can kill devils! Right?”

“Yes! We’re not afraid! We’d rather die than be slaves! Avenge Captain Du! Avenge the Chinese people killed by the devils! Revenge! Kill!”

“If I leave, what will you do?” one of Li’s men said, holding a detonator. “I left explosives. If not, Li Zhongming and the others will be exposed. It’s too late. Don’t argue. One death is better than two. Go! Chen Changle! He’s dead!”

“Go! Kill them all! Don’t leave anyone alive!”

“I love you, brothers! In the next world, we’ll still kill devils together!”

“Haha, you Chinese!” Okamura appeared, pistol drawn. “I told you! If you resist the Imperial Japanese Army, none of you will survive!”

“You’re right, you bastard!” Li Zhongming appeared behind him. “If you resist the Chinese people, none of you will survive!”

“Okamura killed my father!” another prisoner screamed, charging. “National hatred and family hatred must be avenged!”

“Zhao Jixian! Why are you here?”

“Godfather! Aren’t you looking for the treasure?” the young man yelled. “Warden, the treasure is right below!” He tackled Okamura. “Avenge the Chinese! Go to hell!”

An explosion rocked the room.

“There’s an explosion up there! Go! Go!”

Li, Shang, and an older man—Lao Kang—burst out of a sewer exit into the streets of the city.

“Sorry, who’s in charge?” a man with a rifle asked from the shadows.

“We’re friends of Mr. Wen,” Li panted. “We’re here to pick up friends from Yan’an.”

“I’m a friend of Mr. Wen. We’ve set up control around the station. We must ensure the old man’s safety at all costs.”

“Thank you. The train won’t arrive for half an hour. We’ll wait.”

“We can’t act recklessly,” Li said. “The station is too close to the highway. Gunshots will cause trouble. This is the last half hour. We can’t make a mistake.”

“Today,” Shang said, breathing hard, “I know what a true Communist is.”

At the Japanese HQ, the phone rang. “Warden Okamura died in the guard room.”

“Where is Lao Kang?”

“Lao Kang was also in the guard room. It was blown up.”

“Enough! Find Lao Kang! Find him alive or dead. Li Zhongming, Shang Qingcheng… they weren’t just thugs. They were helping Lao Kang escape!”

On the platform, Lao Kang breathed deep. “The air of this free world is amazing.”

“Quick!” a contact ran up. “Secretary Liu is here!”

“Is it Lao Kang?”

“It’s me! You’re finally out!”

“I’m fine. Old man, you’re back! We’ve been waiting.”

“Quick! The Japanese are coming! With heavy machine guns!”

“I just got a call,” the contact said. “Train is in 10 minutes. We have to wait.”

“There’s only a few of us! It’s hard to last 5 minutes!”

“Then run!”

“Running is suicide!” Li snapped. “The terrain is open. We wait here.”

Gunfire erupted. “Japanese are coming! Prepare bullets! Go to hell!”

“Old man, go first! Take care!”

“Comrade Li,” Shang said, firing his pistol. “The great Communist Party. I admire you. I entrust our old man to you. Take care.”

“Goodbye, comrades! Get on the train!”

One by one, the men fell, sacrificing their lives. Lao Kang, Li, and Shang were pulled onto the moving train.

“So many people sacrificed for one person,” Lao Kang said quietly. “I don’t even know the names of Master Duan’s disciples. They did it not just for me, but for our country.”

“Comrade Shang,” Lao Kang said, “what are your plans? Why not come with us to Yan’an to fight the Japanese together?”

“Since ancient times, a loyal minister never serves two masters,” Li said, watching Shang. “Mr. Shang is from the Kuomintang. He can’t go to Yan’an.”

“I… I feel ashamed,” Shang said. “How can I have the face to stand with you?”

“We are all Chinese,” Lao Kang said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We should set aside past hatreds and unite against the Japanese. Mr. Shang is enlightened. He understands the common good.”

“Alright,” Shang said, looking at Li. “Qingcheng. Let’s go to Yan’an. I’ll go with you.”

“Welcome.” Li Zhongming smiled, and in the dark of the speeding train, the two men—Communist and Nationalist—shook hands.