In the fall of 1870, General Pang (starring Jet Li) stands high atop the city walls fully attired in governor's robes. Peering down upon the site of his inauguration, he is filled with dreams and ambition. Pang has taken a path of no return; had he chosen differently, he might have been one of the heroes to later overthrow the corrupt Qing imperial regime and establish a new China. He could have changed the course of history... but two bandits and a woman have changed the course of his life - helping him achieve his goal, but ultimately causing his demise. The two bandits are his sworn blood brothers: Zhao Er-Hu (starring Andy Lau) and Jiang Wu-Yang (starring by Takeshi Kaneshiro). The woman who comes between them is Zhao's wife Lian (starring by Xu Jinglei).