In September 1930, the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) pushes a bold anti-feudal idea onto Hainan Island by forming a division that includes a daring company of female soldiers, known as the Red Detachment of Women. Hong Changqing, the CPC representative who pretends to be an overseas businessman, seeks to recruit Nan Batian and his growing force, claiming he has returned from abroad with substantial fortunes to fund their cause. He arranges a banquet to win Nan Batian’s allegiance, and during the visit he notices a maidservant under harsh oppression within Batian’s household. With a quick, practical ruse, he secures her liberty, and at the moment of parting, that young woman’s name—Wu Qionghua—is revealed, revealing a fierce resolve to step into the ranks of those fighting against feudal landlords.
Wu Qionghua, driven by a desire to change her own fate and that of others, heads toward the Red Detachment encampment alongside another young woman, Fu Honglian, who rejects a life of widowhood and chooses to become a soldier. They are warmly received by the unit, drawn in by their humble origins and their courage. The two women begin a path that intertwines personal courage with collective struggle, and the detachment quickly learns to rely on discipline, mutual trust, and the transformative power of conviction.
During a reconnaissance mission, Qionghua witnesses Nan Batian again and, acting on impulse, fires at him. The act violates military discipline and results in Batian’s injury, while Qionghua’s mission falters. The company commander challenges her, and Hong Changqing reminds her of her proper role as a revolutionary fighter. Undeterred, Qionghua remains determined to prove herself within a cause larger than personal vengeance or fear.
In a subsequent operation, a calculated deception brings Hong Changqing and Wu Qionghua back into Batian’s fortress, posing as a businessman and his maidservant once more to gather crucial intelligence. The Red Detachment infiltrates from within, and in a fierce battle, they seize Batian’s fort with inside help and capture Nan Batian alive. Yet Batian proves resourceful and escapes through a tunnel, leaving the Red Army to continue its pressure from the surrounding terrain.
As peasant movements swell, Wu Qionghua takes an active part and applies to join the Chinese Communist Party, signaling a formal commitment to the broader revolutionary movement. Nan Batian, hearing of the setback, reports to the government, and the Kuomintang (KMT) responds by dispatching a brigade to crush the Red Army on Hainan Island. The Red Army withdraws to the mountains to delay and regroup, and in the ensuing retreat, Hong Changqing is wounded and captured. He refuses to surrender, facing death with unwavering bravery, a poignant moment that tests the resolve of everyone who follows him.
Witnessing Changqing’s sacrifice, Wu Qionghua returns to the encampment and rises as the next CCP representative, ready to lead new efforts against the occupying forces. She engineers a decisive operation to rout Nan Batian’s forces once the KMT brigade pulls away from the island. The detachment reclaims Batian’s fort, and Nan Batian is ultimately brought to justice. Under Wu Qionghua’s leadership, the Red Detachment of Women strides forward into a brighter future, embodying courage, solidarity, and a steadfast commitment to their revolutionary cause.
