ThestoryissetduringtheJin-SongWars.Twowomenescapedwhilepregnantwhentheirhusbandswerekilled.Theirsonsgrewupseparately.GuoJingishonest,loyalandrighteous,butslow-witted.YangKangisclever,butschemingandtreacherous.Theyeventuallymeeteachotherandtheirrespectivelovers,HuangRongandMuNianci.ThemainplotfollowsGuoJingandHuangRong’sadventuresandtheirencounterswiththeFiveGreats.