The series focuses on the national crisis period from 1937 to 1945, telling the story of two generations of three intellectual families in Peking, facing the great turmoil and changes of the times, and the choices and sacrifices they made. Some choose to protect Chinese culture and continue the cultural bloodline; others choose to join the army and save the country with guns. They are both civil and military, indomitable, idealists, and realistic activists. They try their best to save the nation and actively explore the way out for the country, and finally move towards light.