Biography of Chinese statesman Kang Sheng who for half a century was the most feared individual in China as Mao's hatchet man.

Pt. 1. Caught between two worlds. From the province of Confucius -- Shanghai, haven for revolutionaries -- Living dangerously -- Secret dangers, secret service -- Moscow, finishing school for sadists -- Pt. 2. In the camp of the bandits. Mao's man -- Lord of the snakes -- Connoisseur of terror -- Partial eclipse -- Pt. 3. At the court of the emperor. A family affiar -- Comeback of a courtier -- Playing the Russian card -- Opera lover -- Dress rehearsal for destruction -- Pt. 4. Godfather of the cultural revolution. The play's the thing -- "Don't fear chaos!" -- The spider weaves his web -- The king of hell -- The Kang Sheng collection -- The Lin Biao conspiracy -- The last double cross -- The legacy of Kang Sheng.