Both take place during the Japanese Colonial era and involve the questioning of suspects for anti-Japanese motives - espionage films. One takes place in a mansion house and the other takes place in an isolated hotel. In both films, the Japanese are trying to hunt down a mole called "Phantom". These similarities are because both films are adapted from Mai Jia's 2007 novel, The Message.
Both are about school teachers plotting to take revenge for being wronged, and with a student involved.
Directed by the same director, Kong Sheng. Both dramas involve the development and reform of a town/county.