In the last years of the Manchu dynasty: After the murder of the revolutionary Yue Sheng, his two sons are separated. Years later, Yue Feng becomes a rebel leader against the Manchu, but his brother Yue Donghua becomes a bodyguard for his fathers killer, without knowing it.
The film tells the story of the Communist Labour College that opened in the 1960s. Long Guozheng, an emissary from the Communist government and Li Jinfeng, a female peasant student, must fight against the school's more conservative elements. In the film's climax, Li is put on trial and is about to be expelled from the school when she is saved by a pronouncement from Chairman Mao himself.
Mengyu wants to go straight after inheriting his father's crime empire but evil police Captain Zhang pressures him to continue the criminal activities.