The Course of History

This film (drama)Also known as历史的进程，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2009Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin/Cantonese，Current Douban rating7.0(For reference only)。

Lian Yiming plays Ding Xiaotian in a small, uncontentious town in southern Anhui called Yanliu Town. This town lies between plains and mountains, close to a river. Yanliu Town is named after the Yanliu River, which flows through it, dividing this centuries-old town into two parts; the land to the north belongs to the Qi family, while the land to the south belongs to the Ding family. The rivalry between the Ding and Qi families over land escalates, and they become bitter enemies. In the north, the Japanese invasion of China has begun, yet the town remains extraordinarily quiet, with the Ding and Qi families still battling over territory. Ding Xiaotian, a wealthy widower from the Ding family, faces pressure to continue his lineage. He finds himself drawn to the only daughter of the liquor-making Fang family, Yinzi, but the Qi family intends to take her as a child bride to please their elderly patriarch. In a fit of anger, Ding Xiaotian abducts Yinzi, causing the Qi patriarch to die from the shock. In retaliation, the Qi family colludes with bandits to kidnap Ding Xiaotian's father, leading to his stroke and death. Before he dies, he urges Ding Xiaotian to defend their family land. The feud between the Ding and Qi families explodes! Qiu Liuquan, who had connections with the Ding family, secretly comes to Yanliu Town to procure food for the party, only to be reported by the Qi family. At this time, Qi Chuqiu, the second son of the Qi family, returns to Yanliu Town with troops. To protect Qiu Liuquan and stand against the Qi family, Ding Xiaotian acts, but Qiu Liuquan manages to escape amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Yinzi, who had been taken by the Ding family, also escapes, seeking to follow Qiu Liuquan. However, she encounters Japanese forces along the way and is rescued by guerrillas, eventually becoming a female guerrilla fighter. Ding Xiaotian initially plans to perish alongside the Qi family, but when the Japanese attack, Qi Chuqiu retreats with his forces, allowing Ding Xiaotian to survive. The eldest son of the Qi family, unable to escape in time, is captured by the Japanese. To save himself, he claims no relation to Qi Chuqiu, betraying his own brother and surrendering all their food, leading to near annihilation of Qi Chuqiu's troops. The Japanese investigate the Ding family's local reputation and try to use Ding Xiaotian, opting to return all his family’s land and even the Qi family's land—with one condition: Ding Xiaotian must become a village chief. Defiant, Ding Xiaotian refuses, determined not to collaborate with the Japanese. However, the sudden appearance of Yinzi changes his mind; he listens to her and Qiu Liuquan's advice, becomes the chief, and uses his wealth to bribe the Japanese puppet army to protect his fellow villagers and guerrillas. He has two motives: one, because he is a Chinese person; two, for Yinzi. As the war against Japan reaches the toughest phase, the Japanese scour the villages for guerrillas, intending to slaughter them. Huang Ying, the innkeeper who has long had feelings for Ding Xiaotian, steps forward, offering her body to save the villagers. Before she leaves, she asks Ding Xiaotian to carry her through the town, to which he agrees. With tears in his eyes, Ding Xiaotian carries Huang Ying away, and the whole town sees her off. After being mistreated by the Japanese, Huang Ying is returned, and when Ding Xiaotian proposes to marry her, she rejects him. Only Ding Xiaotian knows the reason for her refusal. Due to betrayal, Qiu Liuquan is captured, and Huang Ying sacrifices herself to protect Yinzi from the Japanese. Ding Xiaotian, unable to bear it any longer, rescues Qiu Liuquan from the Japanese, but Qiu instead sacrifices himself to protect Ding Xiaotian. Yinzi forgives Ding Xiaotian for his mistakes, and with complex emotions, he joins Yinzi in the New Fourth Army's guerrilla force. Ding Xiaotian can finally fight against Japan openly, but he unexpectedly encounters his old rival, Qi Chuqiu, who turns out to be his commanding officer! Despite their enmity, they unite against the Japanese after Ding Xiaotian witnesses Qi Chuqiu kill his elder brother, a traitor. Following Yinzi's advice, Ding Xiaotian teams up with Qi Chuqiu to fight against Japan! To Ding Xiaotian, no one else matters but Yinzi; he only listens to her. However, in Yinzi's eyes, he is merely a landlord fighting against Japan! During a battle right before the victory over Japan, Yinzi is seriously injured and trapped. Ding Xiaotian goes in alone to rescue her, and this deeply moves Yinzi. After the war, Yinzi wants Ding Xiaotian to stay in the army and head north with her, but he insists on honoring his father's last wish to guard their desolate home. Meanwhile, Qi Chuqiu, representing the Kuomintang, takes control of Yanliu Town. Qi Chengmu, the youngest son of the Qi family who had feelings of deep hatred for Ding Xiaotian, accuses him of being a traitor. Ding Xiaotian demands that Qi Chengmu execute him on his own family's land. At the moment of execution, Ding Xiaotian's old subordinates save him with Yinzi's help. Without a home to return to, Ding Xiaotian realizes this feud is not just personal but tied to the land. He understands that to protect the land, revolution is necessary! Ding Xiaotian continues to lead his brothers to join the People's Liberation Army, following Yinzi north, formally becoming an officer under her command. He achieves numerous victories in battle but refuses promotion, always wanting to stay with Yinzi. During the War of Liberation, Ding Xiaotian fights many battles alongside Yinzi, gradually developing feelings for her. With Yinzi and the political commissar's help, he learns revolutionary theories and witnesses the fruits of the revolution, finally understanding his purpose and what revolution means for Yinzi! Ding Xiaotian leads his troops to liberate his hometown. His old rival, Qi Chuqiu, is surrounded, and Ding Xiaotian personally attends to persuade him to surrender. Qi Chuqiu, intimidated, agrees to revolt but is killed by spies. Ding Xiaotian cleans up the mess for Qi Chengmu, who ultimately announces his surrender. Ding Xiaotian realizes that without a new country, he cannot protect his land and therefore participates in land reform, leading the division of his family's land. He aims to liberate all of China with Yinzi and continues to head south. Ding Xiaotian volunteers for the next battle, and Yinzi agrees. He departs, having written a report to his superior, Yinzi, expressing that he does not want military achievements upon his return; he only wishes to marry her. By now, Yinzi has come to understand Ding Xiaotian and has developed feelings for him too. Ding Xiaotian wins the battle but is gravely injured. In Yinzi's embrace, on the land he loves most, Ding Xiaotian uses his last ounce of strength to pluck a wheat ear and hands it to Yinzi, listening to her soft call before closing his eyes with a smile.