From October 2^nd to October 6^th 2019, with LI Baoqun as playwright and GONG Xiaodong as director, NCPA drama commission The Crossroad will hit the stage. The drama draws on some highlights of the Chinese Nation’s history, and shapes up the glorious image and vivid roles on stage.


“Great aspiration is cherished for great cause at the cost of many sacrifices, and people go all out to change the world”, which is cited from MAO Zedong’ poem Eight-Line Chinese Poem with Seven Characters · Arrival in Shaoshan. The background of the drama The Crossroad is set on the eve of the Anti-Japanese War in the winter of 1948. Confused, anxious, desperate emotions are surging up among soldiers, as well as the women and children following the army.

MA Ze’an, ZHANG Yufeng, ZHENG Yihu and ZHOU Keren are the four brothers who have promised each other as sworn brothers during war period, and shared weal and woe. They are at high ranks of the Northwestern Army, but have a misunderstanding in face of the current political situation. Under Chiang Kai-shek’s secret order, the women and children evacuate southwards together with the army, but they become hostages so that front-line soldiers are forced to fight to the death. Unwilling and resentful emotions spread in the evacuating army. At the critical moment, deputy commander ZHANG Yufeng’s foster son is missing. Under suspicion, four sworn brothers are feuding with each other.

Photo by NIU Xiaobei

Four generals, the roles played by actors WU Jing’an, HONG Tao, ZONG Ping and YIN Shixian, swear to save the nation and the people, suffer trials and tribulations, and become sworn brothers for ever. On the eve of the battle, they represent opposite stances. “In the war, until at the last moment, we should never be desperate for victory. ZHANG Yufeng, who was injured and went to Yan’an, realizes the party is the people’s hope. He is entrusted by the party and lurks in the upper ranks of the Kuomintang Army all year round. “Under orders issued by commanding generals, armored soldiers and saddled horses powerfully win a victory”. He leads his subordinates to wear military uniforms backwards, arm with white towels, and pave the way to let the PLA pass the defense zone. This uprising disrupts all the deployment of Chiang Kai-shek and breaks into defense line for the decisive battle, which heralds the dawn of victory for the people.