During the early War of Resistance Against Japan in Baiyangdian, Hebei, the Yanling Squad, led by Communist Party member Hei Lao Cai, conducted effective guerrilla warfare. Yang Xiaomei, fleeing abuse from her husband Zhang Jinlong, joined the squad and developed feelings for farmer Niu Dashi. Zhang Jinlong, unable to change, defected to the Japanese. As Japanese sweep operations intensified, Xiaomei, Dashi, and Zhang Jinlong faced different paths in the conflict.

Militiaman in Lü Liang Shan actively organize to fight enemies.

Canadian surgeon Norman Bethune assists the Communists during the anti-Japanese struggle.

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.

The clan law of the Yang family works against the relationships of a widow and her daughter until a new marriage law is enacted after liberation.

Based on the novel "Mother" by Maxim Gorky, about the hardships of a peasant laborer.