Resilient spirit carries prisoner to prosperity

The drama also features several charismatic female roles, including Sun Qian as Chang Yu'er, the kindhearted daughter of the mabang leader who ultimately becomes Gu's wife; Xiang Hanzhi as Bai Yimei, Gu's fiancee who later falls in love with a rebel army general; and Li Chun as Su Zixuan, an ambitious and shrewd businesswoman who financially supports the rebel forces.

Although the status of women was largely defined by feudal norms during the Qing Dynasty, those who showed exceptional talent could pursue their dreams, Zhang comments, adding that he hopes the female roles will resonate with modern audiences.

Actor Chen recalls that he absorbed the role's spiritual power. "Although Gu doesn't appear physically strong, he possesses a resilient spirit. He can endure hardships that others cannot. No matter what difficulties or dangers he faces, he always maintains a pure heart," says Chen.

For Chen, a native of Anhui province, which is also the hometown of his character, the distinctive spirit of the local merchants is something he absorbed quickly, echoing the childhood stories told by his uncle.

Chen explains that he drew upon this traditional ethos to portray the character of Gu as resilient and hardworking.

"Whether in favorable or adverse circumstances, Gu maintains a sense of inner peace. Through him, I learned to never give up hope. Even in an extremely harsh environment like Ningguta, one must hold onto an enthusiasm for life," Chen says.

He also shares that two of the most memorable scenes involved riding a horse across an icy lake and hunting wolves in the wild of northeastern China.

"The best part about being an actor is embracing the unfamiliarity a role brings. To play different characters is to experience different lives. Each time I step into a new role, it feels like the new beginning of a life resumed," Chen adds.