The film is adapted from the section "The Intelligent Conquest of Wuhushan" in Qu Bo's novel of the same name, telling the story of the People's Liberation Army's campaign to eliminate the bandit forces composed of remnants of the Kuomintang that were entrenched in Northeast China.

After being swindled out of his land by a local landlord in 1930s China, a grandfather commits suicide. His son burns down the landlord's house in a fit of rage, then escapes to join the PLA. His grandson later joins the PLA too in the 1940s to avenge his father, grandfather and mother.

1943, the Japanese Army is falling back to the Pacific, leaving only collaborationist troops. Commissar Yang Xiaodong is sent to inflitrate the provincial capital.

Lu Xi, a female engineer at a locomotive factory who lost her husband during the decade of turmoil, and Feng Shaoheng, a young engineer, are working on the automation of lathes.

After the decisive “Three Battles,” the East China Field Army is ordered to encircle Shanghai. Commander Tang Yunfu’s 300,000-strong KMT garrison readies for a climactic showdown. Under directives to liberate and yet preserve the city, Commander Fang and Commissar Zhang orchestrate a pincer movement, luring Tang’s main force to the suburbs for annihilation while infiltrating Shanghai’s heart. With underground leader Lin Fan’s help, our troops seize territory south of the Suzhou River. The KMT falls back to the north bank, and Liu Yi’s division makes a final stand downtown. Street fighting erupts as our vanguard storms the power plant, city hall, and key installations. Overwhelmed by coordinated military might and political pressure, the remaining defenders hoist the white flag, marking Shanghai’s liberation.