"Red Dawn Bandits", a TV series set in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, vividly depicts the story of a group of green forest heroes who are transformed into guerrillas under the leadership of Communist Party members and fight against the Kuomintang and Japanese invaders. The drama is directed by Xu Zongzheng and stars Zhu Yuchen, Yang Xue and Lin Xiyue.
Plot recap
The story is set in 1949, at the end of the War of Liberation. In the Wolf Horror Mountain of Zixi, Jiangxi, He Yunfeng (played by Zhu Yuchen) leads a group of green forest heroes who are famous for robbing the rich and helping the poor and upholding justice. These heroes not only hold a high position in the hearts of the local people, but are also deeply loved for their integrity and bravery. In an accident, He Yunfeng rescued the injured Communist Party member Chen Zimo (played by Yang Xue), and since then, the two have intertwined fates and formed a deep friendship. Chen Zimo showed He Yunfeng the ideals and goals of the Communist Party, which aroused the patriotic enthusiasm in his heart. However, this move angered He Yunfeng's sworn brother, Kuomintang security commander Zheng Guozhong (played by Lin Xiyue), who colluded with the Japanese to eliminate He Yunfeng and his gang. Under the guidance of Chen Zimo, He Yunfeng led the mountain brothers to form a guerrilla force and launched a life-and-death struggle against the Kuomintang and the Japanese invaders. In this process, the relationship between He Yunfeng and Chen Zimo gradually warmed up.
The climax of the plot
One of the climaxes of the show occurs in episode 23. He Yunfeng and Chen Zimo led the guerrillas to attack the Kuomintang arsenal, but they accidentally fell into Zheng Guozhong's ambush and encountered a heavy siege. In order to protect Chen Zimo and other comrades-in-arms from retreating safely, He Yunfeng bravely rushed to the enemy alone and launched a desperate confrontation with Zheng Guozhong. In the fierce firefight, He Yunfeng was unfortunately hit by Zheng Guozhong and fell in a pool of blood. Seeing this scene, Chen Zimo did not hesitate to return to the rescue, but was gunned out by Zheng Guozhong. Just as Zheng Guozhong was about to pull the trigger, He Yunfeng grabbed Zheng Guozhong's hand with his last strength and stopped his action. Facing the muzzle of the gun, He Yunfeng used his last strength to say to Zheng Guozhong: "You are my brother, how can you do this?" This sentence touched Zheng Guozhong's deep emotions, and a wave of grief and complicated emotions surged in his heart, and finally put down the gun and let He Yunfeng and Chen Zimo leave. This scene not only shows He Yunfeng's heroism and noble righteousness, but also reveals Zheng Guozhong's inner contradictions and struggles.
In the 35th episode of "Red Dawn Bandits", which is also the finale of this show, another plot climax is presented. The guerrillas led by He Yunfeng (played by Zhu Yuchen) and Chen Zimo (played by Yang Xue) joined forces with the People's Liberation Army, and they received instructions from their superiors to exterminate the last remaining bandits in Zixi. It turns out that their old rival Zheng Guozhong (played by Lin Xiyue), after the defeat, did not give up and lurked in the mountains, united with bandits, and tried to sabotage the construction of the new regime. He Yunfeng and Chen Zimo led the guerrillas deep into the mountains and forests for their final decisive battle with Zheng Guozhong and the bandit leader Long Xiaotian (played by Shu Yaoxuan).
In this fierce battle, He Yunfeng and Zheng Guozhong clashed again. He Yunfeng gained the upper hand and seriously injured Zheng Guozhong. At this critical moment, He Yunfeng did not take the opportunity to put Zheng Guozhong to death, but out of brotherhood, he persuaded him to reform and serve the people together. However, Zheng Guozhong knew that he had no power to return to heaven and chose to cut himself off, and He Yunfeng was deeply saddened by this and cried bitterly. At the same time, the duel between Chen Zimo and Long Xiaotian also reached a climax. The two battled wits and courage, and in the end, Chen Zimo took advantage of Long Xiaotian's unpreparedness and hit him with a shot, ending his criminal career. This scene not only shows the justice and courage of He Yunfeng and Chen Zimo, but also reveals the tragedy and helplessness of Zheng Guozhong and Long Xiaotian.
On the whole, "Red Dawn Bandits" is not only a historical drama that reproduces the difficult years of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, but also profoundly reveals the heroism of the guerrillas and the power of the people's army. The plot is compact, the characters are distinct, the plot is ups and downs, the battle scenes are thrilling, and the emotional clues are touching. The actors in this drama performed well, Zhu Yuchen and Yang Xue created an affectionate anti-Japanese couple, and Lin Xiyue perfectly interpreted a complex and multi-faceted villain image. The other supporting characters also have their own characteristics, adding rich layers to the plot. To sum up, "Red Dawn Bandits" is a passionate, moving, and thought-provoking TV series, and it is definitely a masterpiece not to be missed.