Set in 198 A.D., when the Eastern Han Dynasty has collapsed into civil war, and the young Emperor is a puppet of prime minster and generalissimo Cao Cao (Jiang), the film singles out two famous chapters from Guan's (Yen) many heroic adventures: his hostage period in Cao Cao's camp in Baima City, and his dangerous mission to escort Qilan, concubine of his lord Liu Bei to safety.
