BEGINNING IN THE SCENTED ROOMS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY WHERE THE CHINESE EMPEROR'SFIRST CONCUBINE HAS A CHILD, NOT THE EMPEROR'S BUT THAT OF HER SECRET LOVER, MOVING SWIFTLY TO THE BLOODY EXECUTION OF 20 CRIMINALS WITNESSED BY A HORRIFIED ENGLISH DOCTOR NEWLY ARRIVED IN THE ORIENT AND THEN EXPLODIGN OUT ONTO THE HUGE CANVAS OF A CIVIL WAR THAT TORE APART CHINA, BARBARIANS IS FAST-MOVING AND VERY DRAMATIC.