Our past together Chapter eight - The days of our training

by agssaamor

Mulan arrived in the camp and Shang has to train "Ping" and the other soldiers to turn them into real men. How many troubles did Mulan get while she was training? How "Ping" and Shang became friends? Enjoy your reading.

Chapter Eight.

"Captain?" Shang asked surprised, not to say shocked while looking at the sword his father handed to him.

Chi Fu was the most shocked inside that tent. "T-this is a-an enormous responsibility General! Ah, perhaps a soldier with more experience?" Said the annoying and unbearable Emperor's counsel.

Shang didn't mind, he didn't even listen what Chi Fu said; he did not believe: He was promoted to Captain!

But Shang raised his head to look at his father when he talked to Chi Fu. "Number one in his class, extensive knowledge of training techniques…" General Li paused as he touched his face and looked to the left "…and an impressive military lineage." Then Shang's father got serious again and looked at his son, who now was the newest Captain of the Imperial army. "I believe Li Shang will do an excellent job."

Shang's heart was beating as fast as an enraged wind; his happiness did not fit inside his body. "Oh I will! I won't let you down! This is, I mean…" Shang paused because he noticed that he was almost exposing that he was thrilled and this was not appropriate for a warrior. "…yes, Sir." Shang said in a serious tone as he bowed to his father.

"Very good, then," General Li said as he got up. "We will toast China's victory at the Imperial City. I will expect a full report in three weeks." Shang nodded to his father.

As soon as General Li got out of the tent Chi Fu put his hand on the curtain to get out of the tent, but before he leaved the tent, his smiled turned to a sour facial expression. "And I won't leave anything out…" He said arrogantly with his squeaky and annoying voice.

Shang approached to the curtain to get out but he stopped, reflexing for a moment about the promotion he just got. "Captain Li Shang," He said to himself, it was a huge honor for him. "Hum; leader of China's finest troops," Shang said proud of himself as he tied the sword in his armor. "No! The greatest troops of all time." He added grinning confidently.

When he got out of the tent, the sight he had of the huge mess in that camp undid the smile on his face. The three men; Shang, General Li and Chi Fu were looking at that scene shocked: there was a lot of rice soup scattered all the way over the ground, the cauldron of the soup was tumbled, the chickens were flying everywhere and all the recruits were fighting and soaked in the broth of the rice soup that had been spilled.

It was very ironic that he just got his promotion and was very confident when this trouble happened. "What-the-hell-happened-here?!" It was everything that passed through his head in that moment.

A man with his shirt messy and a bruise in one of his eyes approached to the three men and saluted them before he fell face down hard on the floor.

"Most impressive…" Chi Fu said to Shang, arrogantly as always but that bunch of recruit's situation didn't make the things much easier.

General Li arched an eyebrow and smiled slightly, he walked over the man fallen on the ground but without standing on him and walked toward his stallion and turned toward Shang. "Good luck Captain," He said to his son, knowing that he would do a great job. "Hya!" General Li shouted as he hit his horse with the whip ordering the animal to start running and all the high ranking military officers followed General Li; the other Generals were out of the camp waiting for General Li and the other soldiers, mounted in their stallions.

When General Li and the other soldiers appeared, coming out of the camp, that huge troop of high ranking military officers rode toward the Tung Shao pass.

"Good luck, father." Shang said to himself, he knew his father didn't heard what he said but he said it by reflex; deep inside, he was afraid of losing his father and wanted above all make his father proud of him.

Chi Fu gave a challenging look to Shang and positioned the brush over the clipboard. "Day one." He said in an ironic way.

This just made Shang get even more annoyed than he already was, he was more than disappointed with the immature behavior of his soldiers; so he frowned and walked toward the bunch of soldiers that were fighting.

"Soldiers!" He shouted and the men immediately stopped fighting and lined up, "He started it!" they said pointing to a small and young soldier dressed in a black and green armor who was curled on the floor like a ball, which saved him from taking a big beating. Our beloved Mulan.

Shang approached to the "boy" who noticed his shadow over him and looked at Shang from under his arm, who arched an eyebrow while looking at the boy.

Mulan got up and dusted off her clothes while looking at Shang with a worried face, Shang placed his hands on his waist and said very angry, "I don't need anyone causing trouble in my camp."

This action of Shang obviously intimidated her; "Sorry" she said with a shaky voice but that voice was too high for a man and Shang noticed it. "Ah, I mean, sorry you had to see that. But you know how it is," Mulan said with a deeper voice, trying to sound more like a man and punched Shang on his arm but he didn't feel anything at all; he and Chi Fu were just confused. "When you get those manly urges and you just gotta kill something-" Mulan felt pain in her hand when she hit her hand with the other but quickly tried to look like a man again, "and, uh, fix things… cook outdoors-"

Shang interrupted Mulan; in his point of view, he had a boy in front of him who seemed to be thirteen years old and was talking nonsenses. "What's your name?" he asked with his face very close to Mulan's face.

"Uh, I-I… I, uh-" Mulan stuttered for a moment, touching her fingertips against each other without looking at Shang in the eyes but Shang was looking at her face waiting for her name, better saying "his" name. But Chi Fu he had to get in the middle of that disastrous situation.

"Your commanding officer just asked you a question."

"Hah… I've got a name, and it's a boy name too." Seconds later Mulan muttered "his name is Ling," but forgot that Shang heard that.

"I didn't ask for his name, I asked for yours!" Shang replied angrier than before.

"A Chu" Mulan said, thinking that was going to be her war name.

"A Chu" Shang repeated the name; it was too weird to be truth.

"Mushu…" Mulan muttered annoyed, Mushu was just making a fool of her with that stupid suggestion.

"Mushu?" Shang asked thinking that was the boy's real name.

"No!" Mulan immediately replied.

"Then what is it?!" Shang asked Yelling at Mulan.

"It's Ping." Mulan answered.

"Ping?" Shang asked as he arched an eyebrow and gave Mulan a confused look. "What kind of parents would give their son a name which means flower vase?" This is what he thought that moment.

Mulan put her hand on her neck. "Yes, my name is Ping." She answered confirming that that was her name.

"Let me see your conscription notice," Shang ordered as he reached out a hand. Mulan removed a scroll from her belt and handed to Shang, he read out loud "Fa Zhou," He got really surprised and looked at Mulan "The Fa Zhou?"

"I didn't know that Fa Zhou had a son," Chi Fu added.

"He doesn't talk much about me." Mulan said and put her hands on her waist, she tried to spit on the ground just like Iao did minutes before but she only managed to make it stream from her mouth.

Shang raised an eyebrow, he got so confused that for a moment he forgot that he was angry, but he remembered when Chi Fu whispered to him, "I can see why, the boy is an absolute lunatic." Shang just narrowed his eyes, he was easy to piss off and his first day as captain wasn't being easy.

"Okay gentlemen," Shang begun and handed the scroll to Chi Fu and started walking around Mulan, "thanks to your new friend Ping, you'll spend tonight picking up every, single, grain of rice." He said pointing to the floor and the men did a disgusted face, but they became serious again when Shang looked toward them "And tomorrow, the real work begins."

He added and turned around, Shang walked toward his father tent but didn't enter; he stood up in front of the tent while watching the men pick up the rice scattered on the floor, he would not let more trouble happen, at least not that day.

Shang looked at the young soldier, who was picking up the grains of rice with "his" hands just like the other soldiers.

Shang crossed his arms, "At least it seems that he's obedient," he muttered but then he noticed that Iao and Ling were premeditatedly approaching to Ping from behind; obviously they had the intention of beating the boy, who was with his hands full of rice and dripping drops of the rice soup's broth, all the men were putting the rice they picked up from the grass in the empty caldron.

Shang was more than angry with Ping but that boy was very weak compared to Iao and Ling so he wouldn't be able to defend himself from them; Chien Po was looking with a worried look at Ping, despite being very big he was as nice and innocent as a child, so he felt sorry for Ping but did nothing.

Iao and Ling were tip-toeing so silently that Ping didn't notice that there were two men just three meters from behind him.

"Will do something or let it happen?" Chi Fu asked with an ironic smile to Shang, by his voice it seemed that he wanted Ping to be beaten up.

Shang walked toward Iao and Ling and grabbed both by the shirt and pulled them back, "I'm who give the punishments here; and I don't need more trouble in this camp today." He whispered in a calm, but very cold tone. Ling and Iao startled and nodded at their commanding officer.

Hours later, the sun was setting, there was not an only grain of rice on the ground and the camp was organized again; Shang looked around and came to the conclusion that the recruits had carried out his orders perfectly.

"Well gentlemen, be here tomorrow morning for the training." He said while looking at the soldiers, they were still with a bit sore and bruised but now they were looking more presentable with their clothes clean and not torn.

"Did you get it? Ping…" Shang asked sarcastically and at the same time, coldly to Mulan.

"Y-Yes Sir!" Mulan quickly answered and bowed to Shang as a sign of respect.

Shang arched an eyebrow and remained serious, he turned around and walked toward his tent, "Go to your tents, you'll energy for tomorrow." Shang said before he entered his tent.

All the soldiers went to their tents and Mulan did the same; but just in case she pitched the tent away from the other tents so she wouldn't be beaten up by her comrades who were very indignant with her.

Shang was inside his tent; he was sat on his bed with his hair down and wearing just his training pants, his elbows on his knees, he sighed. "Ancestors, help me to pass through this ordeal…" He prayed to his ancestors with his head down; then, he sat with upright posture and picked up the candlestick with a lighted candle and put out the fire by blowing it.

He put the candlestick back on the side of the bed and lay down on the bed to sleep, before closing his eyes he said a phrase to himself as he stared at the ceiling: "They will get on track; they can be sure…" Shang said and then closed his eyes, he quickly fell asleep.

Along with the sunrise, Shang woke up and got up from the bed; he tied his hair up in a bun with a blood-red ribbon, put on a long-sleeved shirt and put on his black shoes with white socks.

He exited his tent and walked toward the row of men who were picking up food with the cook, when he picked up his breakfast a soldier poked him on the shoulder, "Sir, what are you going to teach us today?" The soldier asked.

Shang turned around holding a bowl of rice soup on his left hand and looked down at the soldier with a sarcastic smile on his face, "Attend the training and you will know." He said as he walked back toward his tent and entered it, he sat on side the bed and ate his breakfast alone, he usually would do it with Yin or his father, but none of them were there so he just settled for it.

After finish eating his breakfast, he got up and exited his tent, while he was walking toward the soldiers, he heard they laughing, screaming and mocking Chi Fu, when he saw that Iao was about to punch Ping on the face he had to intervene.

"Soldiers!" Shang shouted and all the recruits lined up in a row. "You will assemble swiftly and silently every morning," Shang said as he removed his shirt and picked up a bow and a bag with some arrows (and Mulan was staring in awe at what she was seeing) "Anyone who acts otherwise will answer to me." He said as he walked alongside the row of soldiers.

"Oooo… tough guy," Iao muttered, it looked like he still hadn't learned to respect his commanding officer.

"Iao," Shang said and then positioned an arrow on the bow, aiming at Iao. All the soldiers took a step back and Iao remained where he was, by his facial expression he thought that Shang would really shoot that arrow on him.

Then, Shang aimed the arrow to the top of the wooden pillar and fired it. "Thank you for volunteering," Shang said sarcastically as he removed the bag with arrows, "retrieve the arrow." He ordered.

"I'll get that arrow pretty boy, and I'll do it with my shirt on." Iao answered and walked toward the wooden pillar.

When Iao was about to jump and climb the wooden pillar, Shang said: "Once moment, you seem to be missing something." Shang approached and Chi Fu approached as well, holding a wooden box with difficulty. Shang removed two weights made of bronze and put one on Iao's right hand.

"This," Shang said as he lifted Iao's hand "represents discipline" he said and released Iao's hand, it was heavier than he thought. "And this," Shang said as he put the other weight on Iao's left hand and this time he lifted Iao from the ground, "represents strength." He said as he released Iao's hand, making the man fall on the ground.

The men started laughing a bit and Mulan made a facial expression of "this is going to be very difficult" while looking at her comrades, but they stayed quiet again when Shang looked at them. "You need both to reach the arrow."

Iao looked up, at the wooden pillar that was about twelve meters high, Mulan and all the men knew that climb that wooden pillar and reach the arrow would be everything but easy.

Iao didn't want to appear less capable, so he jumped and climbed the wooden pillar halfway before he started slipping down and stuck his front teeth on the pillar trying to not fall, bad idea: he slipped down and almost broke his front teeth.

Ling wasn't much luckier than Iao, he fell upside down and hit the back of his head on the wooden pillar.

Chien Po slipped so fast and because he was very overweight, that when he fell sat on the ground who was close to him could feel the ground shake.

Shang ordered the soldiers, one by one, to climb the wooden pillar but none of them managed to climb more than six meters of that huge wooden pillar. Mulan was the last one Shang ordered to climb up the wooden pillar.

Mulan tied the bronze weights on her wrists by herself and tried to climb the wooden pillar, she only managed to climb about four meters before she slipped down and fell sat on the floor. She took of the bronze weights from her wrists and walked toward the row, rubbing her butt.

Shang rubbed his nape while he saw Ping returning to the row "We've got a long way to go." Shang muttered and picked up some bamboo sticks and threw them toward the soldiers.

(Just a warning: I'm not very patient to describe the song detail by detail, so I'm going to focus on describing moments that can be described as scenes that were not seen in the film.)

"Let's get down to business, to defeat, the Huns." Shang said as he used a bamboo stick to throw two ceramic pots into the air, hit the objects by breaking them with the stick before they hit the floor and pointed the stick at the soldiers.

"Ha!" All the recruits shouted. "Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?" Shang asked as he saw all the recruits falling in domino effect, which means, some men fell over others, who fell over others and so on. Reason: Ling dropped a beetle inside Mulan's shirt, who she started to move like crazy trying to get that bug out of her shirt but all she managed to do was take down all the comrades around her.

"You're the saddest bunch I've ever met," Shang said when he saw that Ping was making trouble again, so he used his bamboo stick to jump to where Ping was "but you can bet," Shang tried to make Ping stop but he got smacked on the stomach by the bamboo stick Mulan was holding "before we're through" He said as Ping almost hit him in the head with the bamboo stick but this time Shang bent down and Mulan noticed that he was very close to her, he got up and looked at her with his intimidating look in his eyes.

"Mister I'll, make a man," Shang said as he took the stick from her hands and Mulan crossed her arms in front of her chest as if she was protecting herself but Mushu who was watching the whole scene wanted to burn Shang for scaring his little girl but cri-kee prevented his friend from making the mistake of his life (at least for the moment) "out of you…" Shang said as he grabbed Mulan by the collar and pulled her closer, lifting her from the ground.

Chi Fu wrote it down on his clipboard with a sadistic smile on his face. "Wanna add a note, captain?" Chi Fu asked to Shang with his brush positioned over the clipboard.

Shang looked toward Chi Fu, he narrowed his eyes and arched an eyebrow; he showed the middle finger to Chi Fu, not to say "Fuck you". Then, Mulan poked Shang on his head; he looked to her with his typical serious expression on his face "Sir; my feet are not touching the ground…" Mulan said with a deepened voice and with a scared smile on her face.

Shang rolled his eyes and released Mulan; she fell sat on the ground and saw Shang return to where he was before she caused the trouble.

"Well soldiers; let's start today's training learning how to wield a sword, but as a precaution, stay at least a meter away from each other." Shang said sarcastically with his hands on his waist and looking contempt at Mulan, the soldiers giggled silently. "And Ping," This time he spoke directly to Mulan "as a punishment, after training you must run ten laps around the camp." Mulan nodded.

The training with the bamboo sticks went well, (without more fuss) but no recruits had the needed skills to wield a sword, especially "Ping".

Other day, Shang was teaching how to shoot arrows toward a target at the same time hitting a pomegranate with the arrow. "Tranquil as a forest, but on fire within; this is what you need to do this perfectly." The soldiers tried to do the same but arrows and pomegranates were everywhere on the ground.

"Mulan, you're missing all the shots, the angry captain will be even angrier if you don't hit at least one target." Mushu whispered to Mulan, he was hidden inside her bag with arrows inside.

"I know! But you know I never trained with a bow and arrow!" Mulan whispered to Mushu, she was worried she would be discovered if she could not improve her skills on the trainings.

"I'll stick a pomegranate on your arrow, then you just try to shot the arrow, he'll think that you at least managed to hit the pomegranate." Mushu whispered to Mulan as he raised his paw and showed that he was holding a pomegranate.

"And if he notices?" Mulan asked whispering.

"Stop wasting time girl! Do what I said, and look at the target, the captain no shirt is coming." Mushu whispered annoyed to Mulan, stuck a pomegranate on her arrow and hide back inside the back. Although Shang didn't saw Mushu, he saw the pomegranate stuck on Mulan's arrow; so he approached to Mulan with his hands on his waist and his typical serious look on his eyes.

Mulan felt that someone was very close to her; she looked to the left and saw Shang looking at her, he was angry with her, again. She smiled embarrassed, Shang sighed "Now decided to cheat?" Shang said and reached out his right hand, with the other still on his waist "give me that arrow," he ordered and Mulan obeyed.

Shang removed the pomegranate from the arrow with his fingertips and grabbed Mulan's left arm, he put the arrow stained red on her hand and released Mulan's am "Now fire it." Shang said to Mulan pointing toward the target on the tree.

Mulan nodded, she aimed the arrow toward the tree, she felt cold sweat stream over her forehead. "Fire it, boy!" Shang yelled and by the startle Mulan fired the arrow. The arrow went far, far from hitting the target. Because of the startle she aimed the arrow at the wrong direction for a moment and fired it, the arrow got stuck in a tree's branch.

Shang slapped himself on the forehead, "ha, ha, ha…" Mulan laughed nervously, Shang turned toward the other recruits "Gentlemen, now you can go back to the camp," Shang said to the recruits who nodded and started walking to leave the forest and return to the camp.

Mulan was about do the same but Shang prevented her from doing that "You not Ping," Shang said out loud to Mulan and without looking back, Mulan stood where she was "You need to improve your archery skills." He added looking back and looking at Mulan over his shoulder.

Mulan swallowed, Yao and Ling tried to hide their laughs and Chien Po looked with pity. They joined the other recruits and walked to leave the forest.

"I wonder if by some miracle the brat can shoot the arrow at the target." Iao said with his husky voice, he and Ling were having fun with that "I highly doubt it!" Ling added and laughed very loud. "Isn't it wrong to treat him like that?" Chien Po asked in a kind way. "Nah!" Iao and Ling said as they three walked to leave the forest.

"It's the last time I listen to your advice!" Mulan whispered to Mushu in an angry voice.

Mushu put his head out of the bag "I was just trying to help you; maybe if you did what I said at the first time I said, you-" Mushu didn't managed to finish his phrase because Mulan stuffed Mushu back into the bag when she saw that Shang turned toward her.

She immediately straightened up when Shang looked at her; he walked toward her and did the most unthinkable thing he could do: He positioned himself behind her, aligning his arms with hers, his feet with hers, his chest was touching her back and he has holding her wrists with his hands.

Mulan swallowed, she was very embarrassed of having such a handsome man so close of her, and his body was touching hers.

"Ping," Shang said in a serious voice and narrowed his eyes "Yes sir!" Mulan said really fast "heed my explication because I have no patience for those who do not want to learn." Shang added as he looked to Mulan but she didn't dare to look at his eyes.

"But I want to learn, captain!" Mulan said trying to be positive.

"Great; first: shoulders back, your posture is too hunched forward," Shang said putting his hands over Mulan's shoulders; she did what he said and opened her shoulders back.

"Two: I noticed that you are left-handed, hold the bow tightly with your right hand; but pull the bowstring even more firmly with your left hand." Shang said with his hands holding Mulan's wrists; she did what he said but the bow was trembling, it is not as easy as it seems to use a bow and arrow. He seemed to be friendlier this time.

"And three: Aim to where or what you want to shoot the arrow and fire it, in the battlefield you must take as little time as possible to aim at the target and fire the arrow." Shang said with a serious voice again, Mulan did what he said; she felt more confident and fired the arrow. The arrow didn't reach the target and fell at the tree's roots.

Shang sighed and rolled his eyes, Mulan gritted her teeth in nervousness "Well, now your training is finished, let's go back to the camp," Shang said and walked to leave that forest, Mulan walked behind him a few meters away.

Mushu got out of the bag with the arrows and climbed till he was over Mulan's shoulder, he smiled maliciously "How tightly did he hold your wrists?" the little red dragon asked whispering to her.

"Shut up," Mulan said but she said loud enough to Shang hear and he turned around, looking at her, Mushu quickly hide behind Mulan. "Did you say something?" Shang asked with an imposing voice. "Nothing sir, it might be a noise of a bird," Mulan said fast trying to explain, Shang seemed to not believe much in what Mulan said but he just arched an eyebrow and returned to walk toward the camp.

Mulan breathed a sigh of relief, Mushu climbed on her shoulder again and Mulan looked at him with a very angry look.

"What?!" Mushu asked confused.

"Don't open your big mouth again when Captain Li Shang is near to me. Chatterbox dragon." Mulan said to Mushu with an annoyed facial expression.

"Chatterbox?! I-" Mushu said very loud but Mulan covered his mouth with her hand, luckily, this time Shang didn't heard anything because he was some meters away from her.

Days later, Shang guided the soldiers to a rocky mountain; all the recruits were wondering why he was holding an empty bucket in the left hand and a bamboo stick in the right hand.

When they arrived in a place on the mountain that looked like a cliff, Shang put the bamboo stick very close to the cliff; he picked up the bucket and walked toward a stream that there was in that place, when he returned to where the recruits where, the bucket he was holding was full of water.

He walked toward the cliff with the bucket on his hand, he crouched and put the bucket over his head; he picked up the bamboo stick and got up.

"Once you find your center, you are sure to win; this training will help you to find your balance." Shang said pointing the bamboo stick he was holding toward the recruits "Throw rocks toward me." Shang ordered but the soldiers seemed to be a bit afraid of doing that and their superior would be angry with them.

"Do it! I'm ordering!" Shang yelled and the recruits obeyed, they picked up some rocks and threw them toward Shang, but he defended himself easily with the bamboo stick, and most impressively, without dropping a drop of water from the bucket over his head.

After showing this to the recruits, he walked toward Mulan and gave her the bamboo stick "Go there Ping, you'll go first," Shang said as he pointed to the cliff, Mulan nodded and walked toward the cliff, Shang walked by her side, he put the bucket full of water over her head "Straighten up, this will help your balance." Shang said as he turned around and walked toward the recruits.

Mulan did what he said but just by doing this the bucket almost fell from her head and some water fell from the bucket.

"Begin!" Shang ordered and the recruits picked up some rocks, he put his hand on his nape when he saw the mean look of the other recruits.

The recruits, especially Iao and Ling threw the rocks toward their comrade "Ping" with the intention of hurting "him". Mulan startled and the bucket fell upside down, covering her head completely and soaking her shirt and hair, she started swinging the bamboo stick to and fro like a crazy, since she was seeing nothing but had to defend herself against the rocks.

She managed to hit one rock but the rock came toward Shang; he dodged it easily and the rock hit Chien Po, who didn't feel anything, but this didn't make Shang get less angry. "Spineless, pale, pathetic lot; and haven't got a clue…" It was everything that Shang thought about Ping.

Mulan lifted the bucket a bit, showing her face, she was sad; she was trying as hard as she could but she wasn't improving like the others.

Mulan removed the bucket from her head and walked toward Shang, she gave the bucket and the bamboo stick to Shang, who handed the bucket to Chien Po "You're the next Chien Po, go get water." Shang ordered to Chien Po, who nodded and walked toward the stream with the empty bucket on his hand and smiling as if he was in complete inner peace.

Shang looked at Mulan, She immediately saluted him putting her hand on the side of her head and smiled embarrassed; Shang just arched an eyebrow and rolled his eyes.

Mulan's hair was dripping water and her shirt as well "Ping, wait in silent with the other soldiers until further orders." Shang said in a voice calmer than normal but he was clearly ordering.

Mulan obeyed and to not get in trouble with her comrades again she remained silent while watching the rest of the men do the training.

Another day, all the soldiers were at the bank of a river in the middle of the forest, it was a very beautiful place, and it was a shame that no one was there to admire the view.

Shang took off his shoes and socks and walked into the water of the river until it covered his ankles. "Ping, Iao, you're the first, I'll teach you how to get food by your own, for that you need to be quick as a snake pouncing."

Iao and Mulan did what Shang said and walked into the river's water. "Better watch out brat, I can be poisonous like a snake." Iao said in a sarcastic way but he wasn't joking, so Mulan just nodded.

Shang showed what to do, catch a carp by hand, this is not impossible but it requires a lot of speed in the arms and quick reflexes. Mulan and Iao tried to do the same, Mulan got too excited because Shang made it look like it was easy to grab a carp by hand; swift as a coursing river and without looking at the water, she grabbed something that she thought it was a carp, but she got really confused when she saw that she grabbed someone's leg, when she looked at her right side she saw Iao lying under water.

Mulan smiled embarrassed and put Iao's leg down. All the soldiers started laughing, Shang tried to not laugh but that was impossible; so he just turned his face to the right expecting the soldiers to not see him laughing.

Iao sat up to breath, Mulan approached a bit "Sorry… Are you okay?" Mulan asked. Then Iao made an expression of utter anger and got as red as a tomato, he got up and grabbed Mulan by the collar "I'll punch you so hard that your children will be born bruised!" Mulan covered her face with her hands in fear.

"Enough! This is the army, so behave like soldiers, not like quarrelsome kids!" Shang said with an imposing voice, he was a serious man and did not tolerate immature people in his troops. This saved Mulan from having a broken nose; she thanked the ancestors for this coincidence.

It was the same day of the training on the river but now the sky was dark, the sun had just sat. All the soldiers were lined up in two straight rows; in one row, the recruits were separated in pairs, in each pair one man was holding a bow and a bag with arrows and the other man was holding a lit torch.

In the other row, the soldiers were just waiting for orders with their hands crossed behind their back. Shang was between the soldiers, there was a space of about ten meters between the rows of soldiers.

"When I give the signal, two soldiers will start running as fast as they can, as the others will shoot arrows that are on fire." Shang said as he walked between the soldiers, then he turned around and supported his hand in a pitcher of water that was more than a meter high "Inside this pitcher there is water in case of an accident, but I recommend that you avoid at all costs being hit by one of these flaming arrows, after all... your lives literally depend on it." Shang said in a serious and at the same time sarcastic voice, he played these mind games with his soldiers to put fear on them and make them do their best.

"Iao, Chien Po, you go first; archers, get ready." Shang ordered.

Iao and Chien Po positioned themselves side by side between the two rows of soldiers and the archers aimed the arrows toward them, the arrows were already on fire.

Shang raised his arm (that movement that people make before they break a plank by hand) "Fire!" Shang ordered and lowered his arm.

The archers started firing the flaming arrows as Iao and Chien Po started running while tried to not be hit by those arrows.

"I'm never gonna catch my breath!" Chien Po said when an arrow fell so close to him that it almost hit him, but he managed to cross the path without being hit by any arrow.

Iao was not so lucky; he tripped and fell to the ground, and an arrow on fire hit him in the backside. He jumped really high, screaming and with his hands on the backside, his shirt was on fire and he was trying to he was desperately trying to put out the fire.

"Put out! Put out the fire!" Iao was screaming while the others soldiers were laughing uncontrollably.

Mulan run toward the pitcher and grabbed by the handle but was too heavy for her to lift alone, luckily, Shang grabbed the pitcher by the other handle and his strength was of great help.

"Hurry!" Mulan said to Shang, her kindness was greater than the bullying that the other soldiers did to her.

Mulan and Shang run toward Iao and threw all the water over him, he was soaked but at least the water put out the fire.

Iao rubbed his face with his hands to wipe the water over his eyes; he looked at Mulan with an expression of irritation and indifference on his face, as if to say "seriously?" Then he looked toward Shang with the same facial expression, but Shang arched an eyebrow and put his hands on his waist.

Iao immediately straightened up and returned to the row of soldiers. Ling slightly slapped Iao's shoulder to get his attention "Don't be so sulky, you were lucky to get away with it." Ling said trying to cheer his friend up. "Say goodbye to those who knew me! I don't think I can handle this." Iao said and crossed his arms.

Mulan was still perplexed by what just happened, Shang took the pitcher from her hands "Ping, you're the next, take your place." Shang said to Mulan who obeyed, but she was trembling of fear that she would be hit by one of those flaming arrows.

"Fire!" Shang ordered and the archers started firing the arrows on fire, Mulan took a deep breath and started running as fast as she could "AAHHHH!" Mulan screamed as she crossed the path as fast as lighting and with her eyes closed.

Shang got very surprised when he saw the crazy way his youngest (and clumsiest) soldier managed to ran the path without being hit by any arrow.

After she escaped from a third degree burn, Mulan stopped to catch her breath; resting her hands on her knees. "You had luck," Shang said to Mulan who looked at him "next time don't run with your eyes closed." Shang said with his hands on his waist and giving Mulan a serious look.

Mulan sighed and bowed her head as she saw Shang turn around and walk toward the archers. She knew that her captain would treat her without disdain only when she improved her skills in the trainings.

Another day of training, the soldiers had to break stone bricks that were as thick as logs.

"This exercise will teach you to concentrate your strength in a specific part of your bodies; to do that you can't be afraid, otherwise, you will get broken bones as a toast." Shang said as he picked up a stone brick and put it over two smaller stone bricks. The stone brick was so heavy that was hard even for Shang to lift it off the ground.

All the soldiers swallowed, they knew they would get covered in bruises before they could break one of those stone bricks. "Ling, you go first." Shang ordered to Ling.

"Sir, I can't break that brick…" Ling said with a shaking voice, trying to explain but Shang interrupted his sentence "I don't care! I'm not asking you to do this, I'm ordering!" Shang said pointing to the stone brick.

Ling walked toward the stone brick "Why was I a fool in school for cutting gym?" He said as he approached to the stone brick and tried to break it by hitting his head against the brick, the result you already know.

Mulan, all the recruits and even Shang made a facial expression of pain; as if they felt pain just by seeing that.

Mushu poked his head out of Mulan's shirt "Advise: If captain no shirt order you to do this, don't try by hitting your head against that brick." Mushu whispered in Mulan's ear. "After seeing what happened to Ling, I don't think I will even try to do this." Mulan answered whispering to Mushu; Cri-kee just rolled his eyes and made a sharp little sound.

Next day; Mulan didn't know what was happening, oh wait, she knew; but she'd rather believe that was a nightmare! Shang ordered her to fight him! She was already terrible to fight against the other soldiers, now Shang was ordering her to fight him!

"I'm going to be screwed a lot!" Mulan said to herself as she walked toward Shang. Cri-kee looked at Mushu with a worried look and making a little sound. "Don't worry my little bug friend, she can handle some punches and kicks." Mushu said as he put a towel over his shoulders.

Mulan stopped about a meter away from him, she bowed and Shang did the same, it was a sign of showing respect for the opponent. Both straightened up, clenched their fists and separated their legs with the knees slightly bent.

Mulan swallowed and her eyes widened when Shang narrowed his eyes, their fight didn't last ten seconds: Shang tried to hit Mulan with his forearm but she at least hold the blow with her hands, he tried to hit her with a very fast blow with his hand but she bent down; but she covered her head with her hands and closed her eyes which was a bad idea.

Mulan opened her eyes for a second and everything she saw was Shang's hand before he slapped her face so hard that she almost flew backwards and just didn't go an farther because she hit her back on a tree.

Mushu looked with an angry look at Shang for a moment and then turned his attention toward Mulan. Mushu twisted the towel over Mulan's face, letting the water wet her face, hoping it would make her feel better. He helped her to get up and after helping her he quickly hide between the tree's leaves; Cri-kee stayed where he was and looked at Mulan with a pity look.

Mulan walked toward Shang, she was covering her eye with her hand; Shang was waiting for her with his arms crossed and looking at her with contemptuous look for her being so weak.

"Let me see," Shang said as he approached to Mulan "No need, Sir! I'm fine." Mulan said making a gesture with her left hand, like she were asking him to not touch her and covering her eye with her right hand.

Shang didn't say anything, he grabbed both her hands; he pulled Mulan's hand away from her face to see her right eye. Her eye was swollen and it had a big dark bruise; Shang just arched an eyebrow and slowly released Mulan's arms, she had to do her best to not freak out when Shang grabbed her face with his hand, but she closed her eyes and forgot the fear when he touched her bruise; that hurt a lot.

He released her face and backed away a bit "I've seen worse injuries, and had worse injuries." Shang said in a serious voice as he crossed his arms "Go to the doctor's tent, he may have a medicine to help you with the pain." He added as he turned around, and walked back to the place where he and Mulan were fighting.

"Come here and fight me, you're the next." Shang said as he pointed to an aleatory man. All the recruits were afraid to fight Shang after seeing how easily he defeated Ping.

Mulan walked next to the tree Mushu and Cri-kee were, they looked to her but she went straight to the doctor's tent, which was on the other side of the camp.

Cri-kee looked at Mushu with a confused look; Mushu was looking at the other soldiers but noticed that Cri-kee was looking at him. "This guy's got them scared to death!" Mushu said in an annoyed tone as he looked Shang. Cri-kee just rolled his eyes.

Minutes later, Mulan came out from the doctor's tent with a small pot of ointment in her left hand and covering her bruised eye with the right hand. "Tell Captain Li that no one can touch your wound for two days." The doctor said as he opened the curtains of his tent. "Yes sir thanks for your help." Mulan answered deepening her voice.

Mulan walked toward her tent; the training was over for her. The moment that Shang grabbed her face and looked at her closer was still perfectly clear inside her head; just by remembering that moment she felt a shiver run down her back.

"Hope that he doesn't see right through me…" Mulan said out loud but luckily she was the only one who heard that; she entered her tent and put the ointment on her injurie.

Mulan lay on her back and looked at the ceiling of her small tent, she smiled at bit, remembering when Shang put his hands on her face; even though he was a very strict and demanding trainer he showed concern even for his less efficient soldier. She blushed when she remembered Shang's hands touching her face at the same time his black eyes stared in hers, she couldn't help it.

Days later, the recruits had to carry out a training that would test their balance and speed: Cross a river running over logs.

Mulan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled a bit, "At least with this exercise I don't think I will be a disappointment to Captain Shang." Cri-kee jumped over Mulan's shoulder, the little bug made a happy sound, suddenly, Mushu poked his head out of Mulan's shirt "You better wait here my little friend, if she falls into the water you will drown." Mushu said to Cri-kee in a tone of voice that seemed that he was mocking with Mulan.

Mulan gave Mushu an annoyed look, "What?" Mushu asked as he arched an eyebrow, Mulan just rolled her eyes and positioned her hand next to her shoulder, Cri-kee understood and jumped over Mulan's hand; she crouched and put Cri-kee on the floor. "Mushu is right Cri-kee, wait for us here." Mulan said with a tender voice and the little cricket obeyed.

Mulan got up and walked toward her comrades, Shang was in front of the soldiers; he gave Mulan an angry look, as if he was saying "your delay also delayed your comrades' training" with his eyes.

Mulan bent her head down, "Soldiers, you already know what you must do; Chien Po!" Shang said and looked toward Chien Po. "Sir?" Chien Po asked "You will go first, I will go after you," Shang said and then looked at the other soldiers "And you go after me; don't even think about stopping abruptly, if one does that all the others will fall into the river; you are lucky that the current of the river is not strong enough to kill anyone." He said pointing to the river.

Chien Po walked toward the river but stopped. "What are you waiting for?" Shang asked with his hands on his waist and arching an eyebrow. "Captain…" Chien Po said as he touched his fingertips against each other. "What?" Shang asked as he raised his arms "Answer me!" Chien Po seemed to be ashamed to answer.

"He doesn't know how to swim!" Iao said out loud answering Shang's question. "Is this the problem?" Shang arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms "Go, we'll wait a few seconds before we start running after you." Chien Po had no choice but to obey, so he started to walk over the logs, but as he moved away from the shore he started to walk more and more slowly because he was more and more afraid of falling into the river. "Right now I really wish that I knew how to swim!" Chien Po said to himself as he walked over the logs.

Shang and the other soldiers started running over the logs; at least with this exercise Mulan wasn't having problems, her balance wasn't bad and she wouldn't have problems if she fall in the river, after all she knew how to swim.

But then, Chien Po stopped abruptly, even though Shang said that no one could do that. Shang stopped when he saw that Chien Po was standing on a log, in seconds, all the soldiers had bumped in each other and were leaning on each other; if one fell into the river all the others would also fall.

Shang and Mulan were who were keeping the men where they were, each one was at each end of the row. The recruits who had not yet started the exercise were looking worried to their comrades' "situation".

"How are we going to get out of this?" Ling asked very loud and a bit annoyed, he was being crushed among his comrades, like the other soldiers; the only ones who weren't being crushed were Mulan and Shang but their situation wasn't much better than the others'.

"Captain! What are we gonna do?" Yao asked very loud, he was in front Ling and behind another soldier.

"Jump into the river, real men doesn't get hurt with water." Shang ordered and the soldiers looked to each other, there was an awkward silence.

"Are you afraid or something?" Shang asked annoyed and then, he jumped into the river. All the soldiers almost fell into the river; Shang emerged from the water and looked at the soldier with his hair down and with his eyebrow arched.

"Answer me! Are you real men?" He yelled asking to his soldiers.

"I am!" Mulan answered proudly and jumped into the river, this time some men fell into the river when she did that. She didn't exactly know how this idea came from within her, but she did it.

Iao and Ling where still standing over the logs, all the soldiers who were standing over the logs and who were in the river and Shang were looking at Mulan, she emerged from the water with her hair messy but still tied up in a bun.

"If the boy is a real man, I am!" Iao said proudly and jumped into the river "Me too!" Ling said and Jumped into the river. All the soldiers did the same, except Chien Po.

Shang smiled a bit when he saw that Ping's clumsiness encouraged other soldiers to try to be better; then, he got serious again and looked up, toward Chien Po "Since you're to blame for this disaster Chien Po, tonight you'll help the cook to prepare tomorrow's breakfast. Did you get it?" Shang asked to Chien Po in a very serious tone.

"Yes sir, I'll fulfill my duty." Chien Po said and slowly returned to the riverbank.

Shang looked toward the other soldiers "And you go back to the riverbank, the training is over." The soldiers obeyed and returned to the riverbank, Shang did the same.

While he squeezed his hair to remove the water he looked to Ping, who was wiping his face on a towel brought by another soldier; the soldiers who luckily didn't fall into the river brought towels to their comrades.

Chi Fu approached to Shang "What should I write about what just happened?" Chi Fu asked with his arrogant voice and with his brush positioned over his clipboard.

Shang just turned his face to the left "Write whatever you want," he answered with disdain, Chi Fu was even more unbearable when you have to see his face every day.

"Are you sure you don't want to add a note even about the useless soldier?" Chi Fu asked and pointed to Mulan, Ling slapped her back and laughed, she laughed as well, but she just didn't fall because Chien Po was in front of her.

Shang looked to Chi Fu with a contemptuous look "He is weak and clumsy but he is the one who tries the most and is the most obedient, just write whatever you want and don't disturb me." Shang answered and walked toward the camp with the soldiers.

"Insolent… as if a nineteen year old Captain was able to turn these kids into warriors." Chi Fu said to himself and wrote something in his clipboard.

Another day, at the night, they were training out of the camp, since they were training how to fire with cannons.

It was technically simple what they had to do: hit a target with a cannon fire. But no one was managing to hit the target, they got close but get close was not enough; Shang was watching his soldiers train and correcting their mistakes but that wasn't having much effect neither.

Mulan had already aimed the cannon and positioned the cannon toward the target; she picked up two flint stones and scraped against each other, as soon as a spark ignited the cannon's wick, an unexpected thing happened.

Ling walked next to Mulan and dropped the support that was holding the cannon, she immediately hold the cannon but just took like three seconds before the cannon exploded in her arms, she got covered in ashes and black smoke, Mulan looked for a moment toward where the cannon's fire was going to hit.

Luckily, at least for that moment, Shang was teaching another recruit to fire the cannon correctly and there were explosion noises everywhere so he didn't saw that and didn't saw that Chi Fu's tent got burned by a cannon's fire and it almost burned him.

But then, all the soldiers and Shang heard a voice screaming, "LI SHANG!" The young Captain turned around and saw the Emperor's adviser walking toward him with a very angry expression on his face, but the fact that he was covered in ashes just made all the soldiers, even Mulan start laughing; Shang tried to not laugh but he couldn't help it.

"Look at what the stupid Fa Ping did!" Chi Fu yelled to Shang as he pointed to his tent that was turned to ashes.

Shang looked at the tent and then looked at Mulan, he just took a deep breath and answered Chi Fu "Accidents happen; I'll provide a new tent for you."

All the recruits and specially Mulan got surprised by the calm way Shang answered Chi Fu, who was the one who got more surprised, but he quickly remembered that he was angry.

"I have very serious matters to talk to you about! Let's go to your tent!" Chi Fu said very angry and walked toward Shang's tent.

"The training is over Men! You can go back to the camp!" Shang said to the recruits and walked toward his tent, where he knew that he would be scolded a lot by Chi Fu.

A recruit approached to other "Wow! Usually our Captain is so serious and strict, why did he not punish Ping?" the recruit asked whispering. "Those two hate each other, so anything bad that happens to the 'emperor's advisor' makes him in a good mood." The other recruit answered.

Mulan smiled when she heard that, for the first time her Captain wasn't mad at her for causing trouble, he even defended her.

Two hours later, Shang exited his tent, even though he had been scolded for the last two hours he was smiling for what happened with Chi Fu's tent; it is wrong to revel in the misfortune of others, but try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who is tormented by a person 15 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Chi Fu exited Shang's tent and before he walked toward the other side of the camp, he said a phrase that put an end to the young Captain's good mood. "Don't forget that tomorrow it will be three weeks that these incompetent soldiers are being trained by you! And if you don't find a way to make them progress quickly you will let your father down even more than he probably already is!" Chi Fu said very loud and walked toward the other side of the camp.

The smile faded from Shang's face, he remembered what he said to his father before General Li leave to the battle "…I won't let you down…" this phrase was resonating inside his head.

Shang walked through the camp; few were the soldiers who had not yet entered their tents to go to sleep. He saw Mulan sat under a tree, with a bowl of rice soup over her lap. Mulan noticed that he was looking at her so she saluted him "Good night Captain." Mulan said deepening her voice.

Shang narrowed his eyes, giving Mulan a very serious look, then, he walked toward the opposite direction. Mulan sighed and made a sad expression; Cri-kee jumped over Mulan's shoulder and made a little cute sound, like he was trying to cheer her up. Mulan gently caressed Cri-kee's head with her fingertip.

Mushu came out from behind the tree and stayed still on the left of Mulan. "Why are you feeling bad just for the way he looked at you? This Captain demand too much from his soldiers and I bet they would do better if he didn't demand so much of them." Mushu said to Mulan with his hands on his waist.

"I can understand why he is like that, he has to transform soldiers of my level into real warriors and in a very short time we will have to go to battle; it's a lot of pressure." Mulan said as she looked to the sky of that full moon night.

"Maybe it would have been better I punish that boy…" Shang said to himself while he walked through the camp, no one but himself heard what he said, but seconds later Shang remembered Ping's innocent and optimistic face when he saluted and talked to him.

Shang needed time alone in a place where he would not be disturbed so he walked to the top of a hill near the camp and sat on the ground; he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then, he opened his eyes and looked toward the wooden pillar lightened by the full moon's light.

"It's been three weeks, and no one managed to remove the arrow from the pillar; I'm already getting hopeless…" He said to himself and seconds later, he lay on his back on the ground, looking up at the starry sky and with the bright full moon.

He felt the night breeze on his skin and waving the grass of the hill, Shang sighed and closed his eyes "…ancestors, if you can hear me, help me to fulfill my duties as a commanding officer and as a son." Shang said to himself and opened his eyes; he got up and returned to the camp.

The next day, they had to take a hike on the rocky mountain trail that was close to the camp; to make this training that was going to last hours even more difficult; they had to walk this trail carrying two weights over their shoulders. "Time is racing toward us, till the Huns arrive…" Shang thought as he as he distributed the weights for recruits to carry.

He put two weights over his shoulders as well, "Heed my every order and you might survive." Shang said and the soldiers agreed "Yes Sir!" The recruits said loudly and started walking.

Two hours later, all the recruits were panting and tired for walking for long with the weights over their shoulders but were still walking. Shang wasn't tired at all, he was used to this exercise, but the only drawback was having to walk for the next two hours next to Chi Fu; so he preferred to remain silent so as not to have unnecessary discussions with the Emperor's adviser.

Suddenly, Chi Fu made a sign to call Shang's attention, then, he pointed back; Shang looked back and saw Mulan completely exhausted, she was almost fainting of exhaustion and walking much slower than the other recruits.

"It had to be him…" Shang muttered and walked toward Mulan; she fell face down on the floor, Mushu and Cri-kee tried to help her to get up but she couldn't do it, Mushu and Cri-kee quickly hide inside Mulan's shirt, a second later she found out the reason when she looked up.

Shang picked up the burden Mulan was carrying before she fell and put over his shoulders as he gave Mulan a look that mixed angry with contempt.

Mulan hung her head down when she saw her commanding officer returning to where he was before she once more failed in an exercise, she was disappointed with herself.

She had no choice but to return to the camp on her own, the look Shang gave her practically said that without words. She got up and started walking to return to the camp, Mushu and Cri-kee came out of her shirt and followed her walking by her side.

"Mulan, don't be so sad, you was too tired and fell on the ground, it can happen to anyone." Mushu said to Mulan trying to cheer her up, but Cri-kee gave Mushu a stern look.

Mulan kept walking resting her hand on the rocky wall of the mountain and with her head down "Thanks Mushu, but you saw the way he looked at me, I caused confusion several times and have disappointed him several times." Cri-kee and Mushu looked to each other and kept walking along with Mulan, in silence.

Meanwhile, Shang was walking beside Chi Fu; there was silence between them till Chi Fu talked with Shang.

"Shang, you must send that boy home, Fa Ping might be the son of Fa Zhou but he's nothing like his father, he's a useless soldier and the only thing he can do is hinder the training of others." Chi Fu said in an arrogant tone.

Shang took a deep breath and looked at the sun that was setting and the sky that was getting dark "For the first time, I have to agree with you," Shang said and kept walking "tonight I'll send Ping home." He muttered.

It was late at night; Shang walked toward Mulan's tent and took a peek inside the tent, it was very small, simple and "Ping" wasn't there. He looked at the black horse that was sleeping peacefully near a small tree.

He carefully approached to the animal, if the horse woke up and got scared, Shang would be in danger of being kicked by the animal.

Shang knelt down and gently caressed the horse's head. Khan opened his green eyes and got really confused when saw Shang running his hand over Khan's black mane.

Khan got up and looked at Shang with a confused look, Shang grabbed Khan's reins and pulled it, and the horse understood the signal and started walking along with Shang, who led the horse to his owner.

Mulan was returning to her tent after she bathed in the lake, rubbing her sore arm, she was tired in body and soul.

"You're unsuited for the rage of war" Shang said as he walked toward her in the middle of the night, he was holding Khan's reins and the horse was obeying to him, "so pack up," Shang said as he handed the horse's reins to Mulan "go home, you're through." He added as he turned around and walked toward his tent.

Shang walked toward his tent, "How could I make a man out of you?" Shang muttered asking himself, then, he entered his tent.

Mulan had no choice but to obey, Captain Li Shang had given up on her and there was nothing to do about it. Or maybe there was.

She remembered the training with the wooden pillar; she looked up and saw the arrow stuck on the top of the wooden pillar. Mulan released the reins of her horse, who neighed to get his owner attention and used his head to point toward the path she should go. Mulan gently caressed Khan's face "My dear friend, no one was able to carry out this exercise, if I can, perhaps the captain will allow me to stay here and continue training." She whispered to Khan, the animal agreed but looked at Mulan with a worried look.

"Go back to the place where you sleep Khan; I'll try one more time and this time ... I'll make it." Mulan answered whispering to Khan but she said proudly. The black horse obeyed but he didn't thought that disobey Captain Li Shang was the best thing to do.

Mulan tiptoed to the tent where the bronze weights were kept, she slowly searched for the bronze weights between all those weapons, shields, cannons and another war objects.

Meanwhile, Shang was lying on his bed and looking at the ceiling of his tent; doubts did not leave his head. "Why I'm still thinking about this? I should be calmer now that he will no longer hinder the training of other recruits…" Shang turned on his side, but he just closed his eyes and the sad expression on Ping's face returned to his mind.

He immediately opened his eyes and sat on his bed. "Ahhhh! Why? Why am I feeling guilty? If at least my father or Yin were here I would have someone to take those damn doubts with." But then, he remembered that his father trusted him, his best friend trusted him and all his soldiers trusted that he was going to turn them into real warriors. He also remembered all the troubles Ping caused, so he decide that the best thing he should do was to be a responsible leader.

"No, I'm a Captain of a troop and we're in a war! I did the right choice when I agreed to send Ping home; I couldn't let that boy go to the battle to day in the first moments." Shang said to himself and lay back on his bed; he quickly fell asleep, apparently he was with no regrets, but deep down, he wished he hadn't send his youngest soldier away.

Meanwhile, Mulan finally found the bronze weights and walked with them toward the wooden pillar; she tied the weights to her wrists, took a deep breath and jumped, she grabbed the wooden pillar with all her might, but she just climbed up a few inches before she slipped and fell on her back on the ground.

"I can do this; I know I can do this!" She muttered confidently to herself. For hours she tried as hard as she could but she only fell like a rock on the ground. When the sun was almost rising, she tried once more, she fell like the previous times, but an idea came up to her mind: to use intelligence instead of brute force.

She tied the weights around the wooden pillar and started climbing; now she was making it, along with the sunrise she was rising up and she would finally prove that she could do all the trainings now she had found a new way carry out the trainings.

Chien Po was the first in the camp to come out of his tent; he saw that the small and young soldier was climbing the wooden pillar and had already climbed higher than any other soldier in that camp. The other soldiers were coming out of their tents and got very surprised when they saw the worst soldier of the whole camp managing to do what they didn't managed to do.

Mulan slipped and almost fell, but she continued to climb the wooden pillar with determination, she was close to fulfill the exercise that none of her comrades managed to.

Iao, Ling and Chien Po approached to the wooden pillar, the other recruits approached as well; they were incredulous with what they were seeing at first, but then, they started cheering and screaming to her.

"Go on Ping! You can do this!" Ling shouted as he raised his arms with his fists clenched.

"Don't give up boy! You're very close!" Iao shouted with a huge smile on his face.

"Come on guys! Cheer him! He'll make it!" Chien Po shouted for the recruits; who were already looking admired to Ping but did what Chien Po said.

"Ping! Ping! Ping!" The recruits started cheering to Mulan; motivated by her comrades cheering for her, she climbed the wooden pillar like a tiger; she reached out her right hand and pulled her body up, sat on the top of the wooden pillar and finally removed the arrow from the wooden pillar.

Mulan rose up her left arm, holding the arrow with her hand, she was smiling broadly; proud of herself. "I got it!" Mulan cried out happy, she was sure that the captain would allow her to remain in the camp after seeing her feat.

All the recruits started screaming and whistling to Mulan, now all she need to do was wait till Shang come out of his tent and saw what she have done.

Shang woke up by the sound of voices that seemed to be celebrating something and people whistling. He tied his hair up and put his socks and shoes on. "What are they celebrating to be awake so early?" He asked himself curious while he put on his shoes.

Shang got out of his tent, Mulan got very excited when she saw him; she rose up her arm and threw the arrow toward Shang. Shang looked around for a moment, suddenly, an arrow fell a few meters in front of him; he got very surprised.

He looked up and didn't believe what he saw: on top of the wooden pillar, Ping was sat on the top of the wooden pillar, elbows on his knees and looking at him with a smile.

"Impressive…" Shang muttered while looking at his youngest soldier. He walked toward the wooden pillar, the soldiers stopped screaming and cheering at Mulan and stayed still; but they were still smiling, like if they were proud of their teenager comrade.

Shang approached to the wooden pillar he looked up and Mulan looked down to him, he looked at Mulan with a serious look.

"He must be furious, I should have obeyed him and went back home." Mulan thought with nervousness.

"Ping, go down immediately." Shang ordered and Mulan obeyed, she slowly got down that huge wooden pillar.

All the soldiers were nervous for the way Shang looked at Ping, but were confused and whispering to each other things like "Did he do something wrong?"

Mulan looked at Shang with a nervous look on her eyes, like someone who is waiting for a punishment. Shang was with his hands on his waist and looking at Mulan with a stern expression on his face; but actually, he wasn't angry at all.

He reached out his left hand, Mulan understood what he meant with that gesture and handed the bronze weights to him and hung her head down. "Ping, when I give an order to a soldier, I expect him to obey!" He exclaimed severely.

"And when I ordered you to go home, you should have done that!" He added even more severely than before.

The recruits looked to each other, understanding why their Captain was talking like that to Ping; but by the expression on their faces they didn't want their comrade to be punished.

Mulan closed her eyes, but she opened her eyes when she felt a hand touching her shoulder gently. Shang was looking at her with a smile "But you proved yourself and did what no one here managed to; you can stay."

Mulan looked at Shang with a huge smile on her face, Shang was smiling as well; he removed his right hand from Mulan's shoulder and put on his waist.

"Thanks sir, I promise that from now on I will no longer be a stone in your way or in my comrades' way!" Mulan said to Shang with a very happy voice, she was very thankful for Shang allowing her to stay in the camp.

Shang turned toward the soldiers "Men, don't forget to be here in two hours." He said and the soldiers obeyed.

Mulan walked toward where the soldiers picked up their food; Shang crossed his arms and walked toward his tent, he picked up a towel, threw it over his shoulder and walked toward the lake.

Mulan picked a bowl of rice and sat under a tree to eat her breakfast alone, but while she eat her food, several of the men who passed through her said things like "You were amazing Ping!" or "How you managed to do such a feat?!"

Mulan was very happy; suddenly, Cri-kee jumped on her knee, making cute sharp little sounds and smiling, he was trying to say "I'm very proud of you!"

All of sudden, Mushu climbed on Mulan's head, "I totally agree with you my bug friend!" Mushu said to Cri-kee "I'm very proud of you girl!" He said to Mulan.

"Did you see that?" Mulan asked to Mushu and smiled.

"Of course I did! I woke up with the sound of the recruits screaming and whistling and walked toward here; and I saw your awesome feat!"

Mulan smiled and returned to eat her breakfast, Mushu hid inside her shirt and Cri-kee stayed by her side; the soldiers who passed through Mulan kept praising and congratulating her, this was very gratifying for her.

Mulan did what she promised to Shang; from that day on, not only she no longer hinder anyone's training, but she was going much better.

She improved so fast in the archery that one day managed to shoot five arrows with pomegranates to the targets. Inspired by her sudden improvement; the other recruits started to shoot arrows with pomegranates right to the targets.

One day, they did something unbelievable: Each soldier fired an arrow with a pomegranate toward the targets and hit the targets with precision; who fired the first arrow was Mulan, Ling fired the second arrow, Iao the third arrow, Chien Po the fourth arrow and the other recruits fired the arrows at the remaining targets; all of them fired the arrows precisely.

Shang applauded the incredible performance of his soldiers "Perfect; you all are to be congratulated!" he said proudly to the recruits.

Another day, they had to do the exercise to walk with weights over their shoulders; but instead of walking kilometers with those weights over their shoulders they had to run a shorter distance in an open field near the camp.

Right when they started running, Mulan was running by side with Shang, he got surprised when he saw his youngest soldier running by his side.

"You have improved more than I expected Ping." Shang said looking at Mulan while they kept running in front of the other recruits. Mulan gave him a challenging look and smiled, she was feeling very confident with the phrase Shang said to her.

"You've seen nothing," She said confident and started running even faster, Mulan passed Shang and started running in front of her commanding officer and all her comrades.

Mulan was smiling broadly, proud of herself. When Shang forgot he was surprised, he smiled, proud of his soldier.

The next day, they were training martial arts; all of the soldiers had improved very much in this aspect, but none of the soldiers managed to defeat Shang in a hand-on-hand combat.

He had just defeated a recruit when he saw Mulan fighting against three soldiers and at the three fights she defeated them with ease.

Mulan stretched her arms, like she was preparing to a next fight; Shang was with his hands on his waist, he walked toward Mulan and touched her shoulder; she turned around and looked at him.

"Ping, fight me; let's see how much you improved in the martial arts." Shang said taking two steps behind, getting ready for the fight.

"Yes sir, I'll do my best." Mulan said a bit nervous, after all, the last time she fought with Shang all she managed to do was to get a bruise on her eye; but a few seconds later she straightened up, remembering that she was much better in this training now.

They started to fight; Shang was surprised, he was using his best techniques and yet, Ping was defending himself without difficulty and attacking, Shang was lucky that he was who teached that soldier how to fight, so he was defending himself without difficulty as well.

For a moment, he almost managed to hit Mulan's head with his forearm, but Mulan defended herself with her forearm, both stood still for a moment; it was almost like she had predicted his movements.

Shang looked surprised at his youngest soldier, but Mulan narrowed her eyes and smiled to Shang, almost in an arrogant way; the way she looked at him was almost saying "I bet you didn't expected that".

Shang returned to his typical serious expression, and tried to attack Mulan two times with high kicks but she bent down both times; then, she tried to punch him but Shang defended himself and tried to strike a very swift blow; Mulan bent down and took advantage that he turned his back on her for a moment.

In that moment that he got distracted, swift as a coursing river, Mulan raised her leg and Kicked Shang in his face.

"Oh!" All the recruits exclaimed dumbfounded, with what they saw.

Shang fell on his back on the ground, he put his hand on his jaw, looked at Mulan smiling broadly.

Mulan reached out, offering him help to get up; Shang accepted her help and got up, wiping the dust from his clothes. He put his hand over Mulan's shoulder and smiled "Good job Ping, I'm proud of you." Shang said and removed his hand from Mulan's shoulder.

"Thanks sir; I'm very thankful for your words." Mulan thanked Shang. The young captain walked toward the other soldiers "Does anyone try fighting him?" Shang asked to his soldiers, they all looked at Mulan; she was totally calm and didn't seem a bit threatening, they looked to each other, looked to their commanding officer and looked at Ping with an expression on their faces that was like they were thinking: "If he managed to defeat Captain Li, we wonder what he can do with us".

That same day, by the night, Shang was wearing an open shirt; he was walking through the camp when he heard the sound of laughs and people chatting. He followed the sound and saw Ping playing Xiangqi with another recruit and with three other recruits next to them, watching the match.

"I never thought Ping knew strategic techniques," He muttered when he saw that Ping was completely calm while his opponent seemed to be in a dead end.

The soldier moved a piece on the board, by his face he was expecting to be lucky that his move had been smart; but Mulan didn't even look at the board and moved a piece "I won." She said.

"Impossible! I the fourth you face in this game and the fourth who lose?" The soldier said very loud.

Shang arched an eyebrow "Fourth?" he muttered, asking himself very surprised "Is Ping that good in this game?"

"I told you! None of us won against Ping, so you wouldn't either!" One of the soldiers said pointing to his friend who loosed the game against Mulan.

The soldier got up and walked away with a sullen face, two of the soldiers followed him, the third picked up the Xiangqi board and walked away "Nice play Ping." The soldier said in a friendly tone of voice without look back.

Mulan got up from the ground and walked away from where she was, passing through Shang. "Ping, wait." Shang said to Mulan and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Captain! I didn't know you were here!" Mulan said surprised to see her commanding officer. Shang released her arm and put his hands on his waist "I saw you playing Xiangqi with that soldiers and I heard that you're pretty good at it."

"Heh, heh, heh; I think I am…" Mulan answered with an embarrassed voice, she was trying to not blush.

"Wanna face me in this game? I guarantee one thing: it won't be easy." Shang said giving Mulan a challenging look.

"I wouldn't ever refuse a match of Xiangqi, Sir." Mulan answered.

Shang turned around and walked toward his tent "follow me" he said and Mulan followed him.

They entered Shang's tent "have a seat" Shang said and Mulan sat on a bench, Shang picked up a Xiangqi board and sat in front of Mulan and put the board in the table.

They were thinking carefully before they moved the pieces on the board, Shang was right: that match wasn't going to be easy.

Shang moved a piece on the board, "Who teached you to play this game? Your father?" He asked Mulan without looking at her.

"Yes sir; he is a very wise man, I admire him in all aspects." Mulan said and moved a piece on the board, then, she looked at Shang.

He looked at Mulan "I can imagine; my father told me about your father and the incredible warrior he was." Shang replied.

Mulan moved a piece on the board and looked back at Shang "speaking of our fathers; was also your father who taught you to play Xiangqi?"

"Yes, he taught me almost everything I know." Shang answered and looked at the board for a few seconds, then, he moved a piece. Mulan looked at the table for a few moments and moved another piece; Shang got surprised with the move of his soldier.

"Nice play Ping, your father teached you very well." Shang said looking a Mulan, "Thanks sir." she answered at him with a smile. "I think you've already bested him in the Xiangqi game." Shang added as he looked at the board and moved a piece on the board.

"No sir; I learned a lot from him but to win him in a Xiangqi match, the match would have to last hours."

Shang arched an eyebrow and smiled a bit. Then, he looked down at the board, "Actually I think the same about me and my father; beat my father in a Xiangqi match would be anything but easy. Although I've beaten him in this game on a few rare occasions…" He said as he looked down to the board and moved a piece.

Mulan looked at the board, thinking what piece she should move, "You're good at everything you do, your parents must be very proud of you Sir." She said as moved a piece on the table and looked at the young captain in front of her.

Shang's facial expression went from concentrated to an expression of nostalgia; he moved a piece on the board and looked at the right smiling slightly. "Just my father; my mother joined the ancestors when I was eleven years old."

Mulan gasped in silence, then she bent her head down and moved a piece on the board, "Sorry sir, I shouldn't have asked…" Mulan apologized to her captain.

Shang became a bit serious and looked at Mulan "Don't blame yourself Ping; you had no way of knowing." He said and put his hand over Mulan's shoulder. Mulan looked at him, Shang narrowed his eyes a bit but he was still smiling, "don't be emotive, soldier; this is the army." He said in an imposing tone but he was obviously talking to Mulan as a friend.

Mulan smiled and arched an eyebrow, feeling less guilty with Shang's words.

"Anyway! Let's go back to the match." Shang said sarcastically and looked at the board and moved a piece.

Mulan's eyes widened when she saw how Shang moved the piece on the board "Wow; now the situation turned complicated…"

Shang arched an eyebrow "You spoke exactly like my best friend,"

"Cause you always beat him in this game?"

"No; it's just the way you spoke, you remind a lot my best friend with your clueless way to act."

Mulan arched her eyebrow "I'll take this as a compliment, captain. What's his name?"

Shang moved a piece on the board "His name is Dai Yin; after we toast China's victory at the Imperial city, you two will have enough time to meet each other."

Mulan moved a piece on the board "He must be a very nice person."

Shang looked at the board and smiled slyly without look at his soldier. "You right; and…"

"And?" Mulan asked confused.

"…And you just dug your own grave. Look at this." Shang said sarcastically and pointing to the board.

"Damn it! I lost!" Mulan said frustrated.

"Maybe you won the next time." Shang said as he picked up the board and got up from the bench.

Mulan got up from the bench. "Well, I better go to my tent; good night, sir." She said and turned around.

"Wait, Ping." Shang said, preventing Mulan to get out of his tent.

"What, sir?" Mulan asked, looking toward Shang.

An awkward silence remained between them for a few seconds; then, Shang put his hands on his waist. "When no one is around, you can call me by my name."

"As you wish; Shang…" Mulan said as she turned around and exited the tent, smiling for have passing a time with her captain.

Shang smiled when he heard "Ping" say his name.

Mulan walked through the camp to return to her tent, but a small inconvenient red dragon appeared in front of her.

"Where were you, young lady?" Mushu asked annoyed.

Mulan got a surprised with the sudden apparition of Mushu and toke a few moments to answer him "I was just at Captain Shang's tent."

Mushu crossed his arms, "Doing what?" Mushu asked as he arched an eyebrow.

Mulan returned to walk toward her tent, "We were just playing Xiangqi, nothing you need to worry about." Mulan said without look at Mushu.

"But I think the less time you are next to him the better for you." Mushu said while he followed Mulan and Cri-Kee followed him.

Mulan looked at Mushu confused and annoyed, "What? Why?" she asked while she kept walking toward her tent.

Cri-Kee made a few cute high-pitched sounds, he said something but Mulan didn't even look at the cute bug cause she didn't understand at all what Cri-Kee meant; luckily, Mushu translate whatever Cri-Kee says.

"Yeah, anytime she spends with Captain Li it's a chance for him to discover her secret." Mushu said to Cri-Kee.

"You don't need to worry, I'm cautious with everything I do." Mulan said calmly while she kept walking with her eyes closed, her hands behind her back and smiling a bit.

Mushu looked annoyed to Mulan when he noticed the distracted expression on his face, "But the worse is… Every time she talks to him, her mind seems to blank out!" He said to Cri-Kee in an annoyed tone.

Mulan arched an eyebrow and looked at Mushu; by her facial expression it was obvious that she got offended with what Mushu said. "Hey!"

Mushu shrugged, "Well, I don't think you can disagree with what I said." He said sarcastically; Cri-Kee cried with laughter.

Mulan frowned and entered her tent. "If you say that again you're going to sleep outside the tent tonight, then shut up!"

Mushu's eyes widened and he entered the tent with Cri-Kee "Fine! Fine!" Mushu said like someone who doesn't want to sleep outside.

Chien Po no longer was afraid of falling in the river and drowning; now he could run over the logs and not just this, could even do stunts over the logs. The soldiers could run over the logs and following Chien Po without fear of bumping in each other; besides, now they could run over the logs with perfect balance and very fast.

Iao now could run thought the way with the flaming arrows flying toward him fearless and didn't even need to look at where the arrows were coming from to not get hit by any of them. The other soldiers could do the same, all fearless and very swift.

Ling and the other soldiers now could break stone bricks without get hurt; the only difference between the way Ling broke a stone brick and the other recruits broke stone bricks was that Ling broke the stone brick hitting his chest against it while the others hit with their heads. But Mulan also broke the stone brick with her chest, she couldn't risk break her teeth.

Now Mulan could do something even Shang couldn't: pick six fishes at the same time in a stream, three in each hand. The other soldiers turned very good as well at doing this exercise, but none of them were so good at this like Shang and Mulan.

One day, at the sun setting, the soldiers were at the open field near the camp; the sun was the sun was going down on the horizon and the sky was reddish.

"Line up!" Shang ordered and the soldiers lined up in horizontal rows. He picked up a lot of bamboo sticks and threw it toward the soldiers.

Iao grabbed the bamboo stick that Mulan should have grabbed; Mulan looked annoyed at Iao for a moment but Iao smiled and handed the bamboo stick to he, Mulan smiled surprised, but this time was a good surprised.

Shang smiled a bit seeing that the other soldiers were finally treating Ping with some respect. "Begin!" Shang ordered, shouting to his soldiers.

"Hya!" The soldiers screamed as they positioned their arms in front of their bodies while holding the sticks.

"Hya!" They screamed again as they raised their left legs in the air and high kicked.

"Hya!" They screamed again as they bent down, practicing to dodge an attack.

Then, they got up and used the bamboo sticks to get a boost and jump higher; the soldiers raised their right legs in the air and kicked "Hya!"

It was almost beautiful to see, the soldiers doing the Kung Fu movements perfectly.

"You all are dismissed. You've improved very much; I'm proud of you all!" Shang said to his soldiers proudly, trying to remain serious but he couldn't help smile a bit.

Shang picked up his shirt and put on while Ling passed by him "This is a miracle; I knew they would improve but not so fast and not this much, how did this happened?" Shang muttered to himself while looking at the sun setting, smiling a bit and holding his shirt with both his hands.

Suddenly, a voice answered Shang's question even though he didn't know someone heard what he said. "When we saw that Ping could do any training we decided that we could also do." Ling said to his commanding officer as he kept walking toward the camp.

Shang turned toward the camp and looked at Ping's silhouette walking back toward the camp. He smiled a bit and walked back toward the camp.

"The ancestors are confabulating in my favor, there is no other explanation." Shang thought as he saw the sky getting dark and the recruits celebrating proud of themselves.

End of Chapter

I told you from now the story would pass much faster!

Stay tuned! The next Chapter won't be exactly what you're thinking will be.