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Shang chuckles walking to the scene, reminded of the first time he met Mulan. Just like her, the man is curled up into a little ball to protect himself from Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po. Getting closer, he sees that the soldier is also skinny and small. They sure liked to pick fights with the runts, that's for sure. Which isn't particularly surprising.

But this is no training camp, Shang reminds himself. This is actual war, and these men have already been trained. Them especially should know better.

The small man looks up from his hands and locks eyes with Shang.

He gasps. "Mulan," he whispers.

Oh no. Oh no. Mulan is flooded with panic. She can't move; paralyzed with fear before Mushu whispers, "Xiang Yin. Act natural, girl, c'mon."

She hurries to her feet and clears her throat.

"Sorry General," she mutters, trying to mask her awful 'man voice'.

Shang shakes his head. He's been thinking about the wife he left behind so much that now he's seeing things. This one is definitely not Mulan. Or Ping for that matter. His cheeks are too hollow and lips too thin. The eyes aren't the same. Not to mention the scar going under one. Shang knows he should be glad, but he isn't.

"Who are you?" he asks with a glare. "I don't think I've seen you before."

Mulan gulps and avoids the steady narrow gaze. Oh no. What's her name again?

"Um, I'm...Shang Yin. Uh, I mean Xiang Yin. My name is Xiang Yin," she quickly corrects.

She doesn't think he looks too convinced.

"Here's my registration," she pulls out of her belt and hands to him. "I live up in the mountains so I guess it's kind of...old-looking."

Shang inspects it briefly and shoves it back into her open palms. He doesn't remember a Xiang being on the list, but if he's willing to die for China then he won't be the one to stop him.

"Well, country boy," he says sharply, "I don't know how you managed to complete your training, or how they train up in the mountains, but here the only fighting permitted is with the Mongols."

He looks like he's done speaking until he turns to Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po.

"This is not training camp," he continues. "It's war. You three should know better."

Then he marches off, and Mulan lets out a sigh of relief. Pretending to be a man is harder than she remembers. And it's only been a month.

"I think I can handle this, Mushu," Mushu mimics in a high pitched voice. "Just cause you helped me save China n' all don't mean I gotta take your advice."

"I didn't mean to do that," Mulan tells him.

"All soldiers report to the general!" somebody shouts.

Mulan begins to walk to the center of camp. "Yeah, just like you didn't mean to set that cannon off and give away our position to the huns," he mutters.

"That was you, Mushu."

The crowd gathers around Shang and Mulan purposely stays in the back, wanting to be unseen. Besides, if Shang takes off his shirt at least he can't tell if she stares.

"You men have been chosen as the finest soldiers in China," Shang says. "I know you're all aware of the high stakes. The Mongols are a lethal kind, perhaps more dangerous than the Hun army. What they lack in size they make up with strength. However, we do have many good men to crush them with. If it becomes necessary to post another draft, it will happen. But for now, I firmly believe we can defeat the Mongols with this company here."

Mulan raises her eyebrows. That was different from what he told her yesterday night. He could be trying to build their confidence. Then again, he could've tried to make it seem like it was too bad for her to go.

"Enjoy your last night of resting in a long while," Shang says. "Tomorrow, we head for the eastern border."

An older man, aged in his late forties or early fifties steps forward from the crowd, bows to Shang and promptly looks to him with concern.

"General," he says, "no disrespect, but if we are the finest soldiers in China, where is Fa Mulan? Or, Li Mulan now, isn't it. We've all heard a great deal about her."

Mulan feels the color draining from her face, and watches Shang bite his lip and look down.

"Mulan is at home taking care of her family," he replies.

"No she ain't," Mushu says from her collar. Mulan shushes him.

"I thought it would be best for her there. We don't want the hero of China to be killed in battle this soon after saving the country."

"Hm. I thought it was because you love me," Mulan mutters.

They spend the remainder of the day packing cannons into the wagons. It's a very tedious task. You have to wrap the cannon perfectly and fit it just right into the wagon or else it might go off, and set the others off too. Mulan works toward the back of the camp, trying to go unnoticed.

However, this strategy proves to be faulty because much to her dismay, she watches Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po move their stuff next to where she is sitting.

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