1997, Color, 110 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

In the ancient China, it was not unusual to collect a tax in a form of human life. This was called a blood tax. Soldiers sent by the emperor to a village to collect this tax in the form of ten male babies to be trained as warriors. After losing one of the boys, the commander conscripts a pregnant woman. After she gives birth to a boy, he claims the child and leaves her alone in the desert. Unexpectedly, she follows the soldiers to take care of her son. Her bravery and perseverance through unbelievable adversity earns her the respect of the commander who finally risks his own life and honor to return her son to her.

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