Forging peace from dynastic chaos

Hence, the title conveys a symbolic yearning for peace. The drama centers on three young men — Qian Hongchu, Zhao Kuangyin, and Guo Rong — whose fates prove decisive in restoring order to the chaotic era. They are, respectively, the ninth son of the ruler of the Wuyue Kingdom — a region that now encompasses Zhejiang province, parts of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Jiangxi provinces, as well as Shanghai; the son of an imperial army commander; and the adopted son of a warlord.

Depicted as joining forces in a battle to defend Kaifeng — then the capital of the Later Jin (936-947), the third of the Five Dynasties — from the brutal general Zhang, the three young men begin to realize their respective roles, guided by destiny toward their ambitions. Qian eventually ascends the throne as the king of Wuyue. Zhao becomes the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Guo rises to become emperor of the Later Zhou (951-960), the fifth and last of the Five Dynasties, and is widely regarded as the most capable and benevolent ruler of his era.

Revisiting a rarely depicted period on screen, the drama has quickly gained popularity thanks to its exquisite settings, compelling narrative and refined dialogue. Since its premiere on China Central Television's CCTV-1 and its recent second run on three broadcasters — CCTV-8, Hunan Satellite Television and Zhejiang Satellite Television — the 48-episode series has generated over 2,000 trending topics, amassed 800 million clicks on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo, and accumulated 3.9 billion views on Douyin.