Battle on the Lake

The life-story of Wu Xun, a beggar in the Qing dynasty who set up free schools for poor children.

In 1949, as Shanghai faced liberation, prices soared, and people struggled. Students worried about tuition waivers. At a middle school, corrupt influences led to unfair waivers, angering students like Jiang Dacheng, who was expelled after being reported by Wu Guangen. Guided by Yang Ming, an underground party worker, Jiang Dacheng joined the revolution. He and classmates Lü Xiaoke, Chen Yuzhen, and He Guisheng formed the underground Young Pioneers, transforming the confiscated *New Youth Newspaper* into a wall newspaper to spread revolutionary ideas. They secretly listened to Xinhua News, printed leaflets about the People’s Liberation Army’s victory, and distributed them, causing panic among spies Wu Inspector and Principal Zhu. Teacher Yang Ming protected the children, but his actions drew suspicion. Jiang Dacheng learned of Yang Ming’s arrest plan and helped him escape. They celebrated Shanghai’s liberation, and Jiang Dacheng vowed to follow the Communist Party forever.