Unlike typical war epics that focus solely on the front lines, this series uses the Hu family as a microcosm of society. We see the war through the eyes of the spoiled but spirited 16-year-old Hu Xiangxiang and her twin brother, Xiaoman .
The drama begins with the devastating 1938 Changsha Fire , a "scorched earth" strategy that accidentally destroyed the ancient city and killed thousands of its own people.
The drama is celebrated for its multi-dimensional characters who feel like real, flawed humans rather than stereotypical heroes.