Wu Weidong

Korean War, winter 1950. In the frozen and snowy area of Changjin Lake, a bloody battle is about to begin between the elite troops of the United States and China.

The year is 1927 and the Alliance moves triumphantly from victory to victory in an epic and bloody civil war campaign against the uprisings of brutal warlords and feudal barons that has left the country on the brink of total collapse. With the nation's fate hanging in the balance, a rebel revolt in the stronghold city of Nanchang threatens to give the insurgents the upper hand and as the first day of August dawns the Alliance, led by some of the bravest soldiers and greatest tacticians the world has ever seen, face their deadliest and most monumental battle yet.

Lu Shangfei, a young Zhuang man from northern Guangdong, runs a mountain goods store in town with his girlfriend, A'Lian, but their lease is about to expire. To successfully renew the lease for a storefront at the township cultural station, he volunteers to form a "Huapao" (Firecracker) team. He seeks out and recruits various people with special talents, including "Iron Head" A'Quan, "Swift Legs" Houzi (Monkey), the strongman brothers, the "King of Scraps," and a street singer. Together, they establish the "Flying Leopard Firecracker Team."

In 1973, Premier Zhou Enlai, diagnosed with bladder cancer, returned to Yan'an after a 26-year absence. The 13 years he spent in Yan'an vividly came back to him. This land had nurtured the Chinese revolution, the People's Liberation Army, and the first generation of CPC leaders, solidifying the Party's leading position. Premier Zhou reflected on the contributions of the Yan'an people to the revolution and worried about the continuing hardships they faced. He urged the local cadres and the "sent-down youth" to contribute to the development of this revolutionary sacred land. The cadres pledged their commitment, and the sent-down youth vowed to put down roots in the yellow earth. Everyone was filled with passion and determination to improve the lives of the Yan'an people. Moved by their enthusiasm and resolve, Premier Zhou, despite his illness (which prevented him from drinking alcohol) raised a toast with everyone, solidifying their shared vow.

The story takes place in Beijing before the Liberation. Beggars’ Gang leader Niu Er, played by Han Shanxu, terrorizes the streets with his gang of thugs. When Sun Douzhi, played by Liang Qinggang, refuses to pay him tribute, Niu destroys his douzhi stall. His hot-blooded son, Sun Liu, played by Wu Weidong, vows revenge. Sun Liu and roast-meat shop owner Boss Liu both fall for Li Shuying, played by Wu Weiling, daughter of Li Wobei, played by Wang Ningsheng. Too poor to compete with Boss Liu, Sun Liu joins the Beggars’ Gang and uses Niu Er’s influence to defeat his rival. Disgusted by his son’s transformation, Sun Douzhi disowns him, while Shuying enters a Buddhist convent. After Niu Er betrays him, Sun Liu sees through his schemes, steals his dragon whip, and becomes the gang’s new leader. His first act is to lead his men in destroying Boss Liu’s shop, prompting Sun Douzhi to declare that he will sever all ties with his son.

Feng Menglong was a Chinese historian, novelist, and poet of the late Ming Dynasty. The film tells the story of his legendary move from Suzhou to to Shouning, where he entered politics for the sake of writing. During Shouning's tenure as an official, he fought against Japanese pirates, killed tigers, banned female infants, advocated culture and education, loved the people, was pragmatic and honest

During a brutal Japanese offensive, a skirmish leaves only a handful of children and a few soldiers to carry an important command west along the Great Wall.