The Battle at Lake Changjin

Wu Qianli, fresh from the Chinese Civil War, comes home and tells his family that his brother Baili was killed in action. He promises to build a house for his parents using the land allotted for his service. His leave is soon cancelled as China enters the Korean War.

The film jumps to the Korean War's early days with the Battle of Incheon underway. U.S. aircraft indiscriminately bomb a village in Andong Province, China, as Chinese forces prepare. The atmosphere signals escalating tension before Chinese troops arrive at the front.

In Zhongnanhai, Beijing, the CCP Politburo discusses the war situation. Mao Zedong asks whether the U.S. crossing the 38th parallel implies crossing the Yalu. A military briefer notes that U.S. forces in Taiwan already invade China and threaten its security.

Wanli, Qianli's younger brother, secretly enlists and is assigned to the 7th Company. Qianli initially refuses to assist him or even provide him with a rifle. The brothers' tension foreshadows the hardships to come.

The 7th Company is en route to Korea when their train is bombed while track repairs are underway. They press on on foot, avoiding American aircraft.

The 7th Company stumbles into a battle and helps Chinese troops. Wanli and Qianli fight hand-to-hand, killing four Americans, and narrowly avoid being crushed by a tank.

The company reaches the front lines and delivers essential field radios to units in need. The soldiers brace for harsher conditions ahead.

Mao Zedong's son, Anying, serving under the alias Liu, helps distribute clothing to the soldiers. The unit takes a rest before being ordered back to the front.

The soldiers endure freezing temperatures as U.S. forces target their base. Anying runs back to the base to fetch a map and is killed in the bombing, a blow to the unit.

The 27 November offensive begins with Chinese assaults on the U.S. 31st Infantry Regiment at Sinhung-ni. Qianli shoots Colonel Allan MacLean, but he stops Wanli from executing him.

A U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsair attacks Chinese lines and is downed by a Chinese bazooka. Lei Suisheng retrieves a smoke marker and drives a jeep to join the retreat, where he is killed.

Hagaru-ri comes under heavy Chinese assault; U.S. forces retreat by air and ground, pursued by Chinese troops.

The 3rd Company, 3rd Division, 58th Corps holds Hill 1071 as American forces press the defense. Yang Gensi, the last survivor of his unit, launches a suicidal charge against tanks with a satchel charge.

Retreating U.S. Marines discover Chinese soldiers frozen to death on their positions, prompting General Oliver P. Smith to salute them. A voiceover notes that fighting such resolve meant the U.S. was unlikely to win.

The film closes with a mass grave at Hungnam and captions detailing the evacuation of 105,000 U.S. troops by 24 December and the 9th Corps' capture of Hungnam. It describes the Battle of Lake Changjin as a turning point that halted MacArthur's plan and set the stage for final victory.