Edward Grainger has joined three other men, Carter, Ambrose and Bryce Convey, in a search for the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi in China. They are helped by a peasant family of four. Edward is attracted to Mai Ling, one of the peasants. When they find the tomb underground in a pit, they discover thousands of terracotta soldiers. The peasants help with the difficult job of removing one of the soldiers and stowing it in the plane. To keep the find a secret, Carter takes the family some distance from the others, and Edward hears three shots. He is appalled and can only hope that Mai Ling escaped.