CH.6
Meanwhile, nearby where Mulan had caused the wild ruckus in the camp, Chi-Fu noticed the noise and did not pay it no mind. He returned back inside the tent where the meeting was being held by the general of the Emperor's army. Inside were just Chi-Fu, General Li, Shang, and John. General Li sat down in front of his sons with the map of their country sitting in between them, as he went on to explain to his sons and Chi-Fu what he is going to do on his part. Ever since John had arrived at the camp he was greeted by his big brother and their father, but was not too pleased to see Chi-Fu after what had happened in the village.
Luckily for Chi-Fu, General Li managed to keep John from beating the shit out of the sorry man with no mercy, and told him to focus heavily on the task at hand. Yes, yesterday, John had to rally up and fire up the inner warrior in every soldier with his lecture speech. Making all the men have the mindset ready to serve the Emperor and protect the people of their country, by killing and removing every Hun off the face of the earth. As a matter of fact, John went as far as to give a pre-taste of his determined goal of what he wanted to do, which is for them to take the territory homelands of the Huns and claim it as theirs after they finally kill Shun Yu.
"Now, then." General Li pointed down at the map with his horsewhip. "The Huns have struck here and here. One of our scouts has informed us that they have set up a few bases from the north to the south, right here and here."
Shang and John looked at the map and watched the spots where their father had pointed out to where the Huns had settled in.
"Those bastards are getting too comfortable, I see." John commented when eyeing the labeled map.
Shang nodded. "Indeed they have, John."
General Li pointed to this location on the map. "This village was taken by the Huns not too long ago and then made their way to this village. I will take most of the men with me to this passage up in the snowy mountains and settle there in these neighboring villages. From there, I will stop Shan Yu's men from destroying any of these villages without him expecting the unexpected."
"Excellent strategy, sir!." Chi-Fu said with cheerfulness before looking at Shang and John. "I do love surprises."
Chi-Fu did a slight chuckle but no one joined in. He received looks especially from John, who still has not let go of what he did to his wife. Chi-Fu started to shut up immediately before letting General Li continue with the meeting.
"Well, as I was saying." General Li looked at his sons. But looked good at John. "John, not only that I am taking the best men with me, but I am also taking your whole entire able Commando Elites as well."
"You can not be serious." John looked at his father in shock. "Dad, you are telling me that you are relinquishing my troopers for you to take."
"Yes, John, I am. But do not worry, I will be leaving you and your big brother here to train the new recruits." General Li spoke while going to his left to pick up a sword and a solid metal badge. He looked at his sons with a big smile on his face. "Congratulations, to the both of you. Shang, you have been promoted from First Lieutenant to Captain. John, you are promoted to First Lieutenant."
Upon saying that, General Li handed Shang the sword of the ranked Captain and then handed John the ranked badge of First Lieutenant. This made the brothers really happy as this is what they have always wanted. Getting a deserved promotion. Shang looked at his new sword happily while John looked at his new rank badge. Chi-Fu on the other hand has a second opinion. It was bad that he is forced to be here with them to file a daily report and then send it all in full once the training is finally completed. But having Shang being captain while being in charge of training with John.
"B…B…But General, that is an enormous responsibility." Chi-Fu began. "Maybe you should reconsider. Someone with much more experience."
John looked at Chi-Fu with a frown. "Reconsider?. I have you know, my brother, Shang is the best person to be captain. Do not start or else."
"R…Right. I'm terribly sorry." Chi-Fu quickly lets it go as he can see that he is not on John's good terms yet.
"That, with both my sons having impressive deeds and accomplishments, stands out the most in the military. Much less, John's most impressive Commando Elite troopers." General Li looked at his boys proudly. "I strongly believe without a doubt that these two will turn these men into warriors."
"Oh, father, you do not have to worry about anything." Shang spoke with gratitude. "John and I will not fail."
"Count on it." said John, when getting up off the floor.
"Excellent." General Li grabbed his helmet and got up. "We will one day toast to China's victory at the Imperial City with the Emperor, once we have killed off all the Huns and Shan Yu himself."
As soon as General Li exited out of the tent with Chi-Fu following, both brothers excitedly congratulated each other on their promotion. John and Shang's relationship as brothers is very strong as the two always lookout for each other, despite John not being asian. Either way, Shang loves his baby brother the moment his father brought him into their lives years ago. As a kid, Shang has always wanted a brother much less be a big brother like all the other boys in their village.
"I have finally become a captain." Shang looked at his new sword proudly.
John grinned. "My efforts of helping you get that rank have finally paid off. Every time I go to Dad's office or even go as far as to talk to the Emperor, I always have the same conversation with them. Push My Big Brother For A Promotion!."
"Right!." Shang spoke with excitement. "I keep telling the Emperor respectfully to promote you to my former position, after your bravery in the last war. He was convinced of what I said. Still, he did not tell me when he would grant the idea to happen. Guess, we both got pushed for a promotion."
John smiled. "Indeed, Shang. Now, we are going to be training these recruits and making them military-worthy."
Shang nodded when tying his new sword to his side. Then he went to help take out the rank badge off of John's armor and then replace it with the new one. John removed Shang's former rank and handed it to him, who then put it into his pocket until he properly put it away when he went to his tent later.
"Captain Li Shang and First Lieutenant Li John. That has a nice ring to it." Shang commented. "And who knows you might have some of these men become members of your elites."
"We shall see. You know what I consider Commando Elite material when it comes down to it." John opened the flap. "Ready to get this orientation started?."
Shang walked out. "Ready as you are, John."
As soon as both brothers exit the tent together, the two are introduced to what is currently happening as they can not believe it. Especially for General Li and Chi-Fu, who were standing in the same spot as John and Shang as all four looked at what their eyes were showing them. There in front of them were the entire recruits both covered in hot wasted rice and roughhousing each other. Neither John nor Shang can not believe that these are the men they are going to train in the time of bootcamp. Heck, John has seen worse when being selected to be drill sergeant from time to time, but seeing the current men was the tip of the iceberg.
But it did not stop there. One of the men whose shirt is all unfixed while having two black eyes. He slowly walked in a daze before turning his direction to them. Then he smiled with a few teeth missing and saluted at them before slowly falling down to the ground unconscious.
Chi-Fu had a look of displeased facial expression and spoke with sarcasm, after seeing all that he liked to see. "Most impressive"
General Li brushed it off as he walked over the unconscious men as he turned to his sons and shrugged with a smile. John and Shang tried to say something to help ease the embarrassment but they could not do so. The two brothers were indeed embarrassed and the cause of it will not go undisciplined.
General Li put on his helmet and then hopped onto his horse and readied himself to take off with his men. He looked at his sons. "Good luck, Captain. First Lieutenant. Ha!."
General Li made his horse storm out of the camp while leading the combined force of regular soldiers and elites. They stormed out of the camp with the others outside waiting as they followed behind in a double line formation with the general leading the way. Shang and John sighed when watching their father leave and soon out of sight. The two know about these circumstances when it comes down to fighting or being in a war. There is no such thing as a guarantee of seeing the person you know again. Meaning that you have to accept the reality that seeing the person that you know personally either a best friend or a family member, might be the very last time they will see them alive.
Shang sadly sighed. "Good luck. Father."
John shared the same facial expression. "Good luck. Dad."
Once the slight pain moment had come to an end and regained their military persona, as the two looked at the task at hand. Literally. Shang took a breather when looking at the work in front of them and carrying out to train them. As for John, he had a displeased look on his face as he was getting upset at seeing all of this happening right in front of him.
"Day Zero, boys." Chi-Fu spoke to the two in such a mocking way. "I'm being generous enough to say that I will not document this, since your father has already seen this before leaving."
John looked at the man and then back at the group. "How very charitable you are, Chi-Fu. Let's have immediate control, Shang."
Shang nodded as he and John stepped forward and got close enough and spoke in high volume.
"Soldiers!." Shang yelled.
"Get all of your asses at attention!." John yelled.
The group immediately stopped attacking each other, once seeing their two commanding officers in front of them and now they have some serious explaining to do. Yao took one more punch to the guy that he is holding by the hair. Without giving Shang and John the chance to repeat themselves, they all did as they were ordered and stood at attention. But not after they told their drill sergeants about who is the cause of all of this wild chaos.
"He started it, sir!." they said pointing at the man who is on the ground balled up and covering himself from getting hit.
Mulan had no idea or any knowledge of hearing her husband and brother-in-law give out an order. Mulan slowly let her hands down. Then she slowly looked up once hearing the beatdown and groaning noises had ended. She did not like what she is currently seeing as she is now looking up at an unimpressed brother-in-law and very tipped off husband. Mulan now has found herself in a pickle.
John did not hesitate in giving him an order. "On your feet, jackass. Now!."
Mulan shook at her husband yelling at her but she did as she was told. She quickly got up on her feet with a mix of fear and nervousness as she was both dusting herself off and being met face to face with an angered Shang.
"I do not need anyone coming here and causing trouble and chaos in our camp." said Shang in seriousness.
In truth, Mulan's sibling-in-law relationship with Shang is quite pleasant and very brotherly and sisterly. He was very pleased with her being part of his family and such. This is her first time seeing this side of Shang. His legit military side. Which by the way is quite intimidating, to say the least.
"Oh, um, sorry." Mulan choked before realizing that she is using her real voice, and then quickly switched to her fake man voice. "Oh, I mean sorry that you have to see that dude."
Mulan playful punched Shang in his left shoulder to the man's slight surprise. Mulan continued while using some manly body language. Even though she is definitely making an absolute ass of herself.
"You guys already know that us men have got those uncontrollable manly usages." Mulan slapped her hand hard into her other hand. "And you just gotta kill something!."
Mulan quickly waved the pain of her hand that she created for herself as it did hurt. Next, she is trying to sound convincing as she continues on while knowing that she is sounding like a complete ass.
"And next thing you know, you found yourself wanting to fix things. Don't want to clean up after ourselves or even want to take a bath. Or we just spend the days camping in the deep woods and cooking outdoors and…" Mulan trailed off as to what man would like to do and tried to ignore the fact she was sounding very stupid and getting both men irritated.
"Soldier, shut the fuck up or I will make you shut the fuck up!." John made Mulan silent with no second to waste.
Mulan shut up right there and did it. "Yes, sir.".
John tilted his head. "Wiseass, when I say shut the fuck up, I mean shut the fuck up and not get any vocal response."
Mulan instantly got nervous as this was not how she wanted this to go out. John told her of how he acts in boot camp and brushed it off, telling him he is just saying that to playfully scare her. How dead wrong her little ass is.
"What is your name, trooper?." asked Shang.
"My name?." Mulan completely forgot her fake male name based upon all of this pressure on her. "Well, it is, uh. It is, uh…"
Without warning or even thinking that it would happen, John came up and roughly pulled his disguised wife by the front of her army. Making a scared Mulan look at her husband in utter fear.
"My brother asked you for your name." John tightened his grip. "Do not make me have to punch your ass by the throat to make you tell us your name."
With that said, John let her go before stepping back. Still, Mulan is even more afraid than ever. And John was about to punch her right in her throat, that was until Chi-Fu interfered as he wanted the answer as well.
"Both of your commanding officers have asked you a question!." Chi-Fu spoke.
Mulan wanted to get mad at the man who shamed her for wanting to protect her father from this war. But now it is not time for that.
"I have a name!." Mulan finally spoke with boldness. Nodding in seriousness. "And it is a boy's name too."
"Well, by all means." Shang crossed his arms. "Tell us."
Both fortunately and unfortunately for Mulan she had Mushu to help her in her dire need of aid. And boy, she is in for some silly ass shit.
Mushu secretly popped up from his hiding as he was behind her back and started thinking quickly before speaking in a whisper. "Let's see, Let's see, I, yes. Ling!. How about Ling?!."
Mulan slightly turns her head to speak to Mushu. She used her head to point at the man behind her who was in currently worse shape. "No. That guy's name is Ling."
Shang got right into Mulan's face with irritation. "We did not ask for his name. We asked for your name."
"Damn." Mushu started rubbing his head in hopes of helping him come up with a new name. "Uh, Uh, Achoo!."
Like an idiot, Mulan repeated what Mushu said and believed that it must be the new name. "Achoo!."
Shang raised his brow. "Achoo?."
"No, that is not the name I wanted us to use." Mushu started snickering at hearing Mulan say that. "But damn that was funny how you said that."
Mulan got upset when she now realized she made herself look even more stupid. She slightly frowned. "Mushu."
"Mushu?. Is that your name?." Shang tried his best not to lose his temper.
Mulan quickly answered back with quickness. "No, sir, that is not my name."
"Then what the fuck is it?!." John got up into Mulan's face in anger. "Boy, if you do not stop this, play around bullshit with us and get serious. Then I will not hesitate to punch you in the throat to help motivate your ass in giving us your name."
Mulan stiffened at hearing her husband's warning and knew he was not joking around. She most definitely does not want to get punched in the damn throat. However, the threat itself had jogged her memory on the name that she made up this morning.
"It is Ping, sir!." Mulan answered with no hesitation in her voice.
"Ping?." Shang raised his brow. "You sure?."
"Hey, wait a minute." Mushu started pondering as he rubbed his chin. "I know a guy named Ping. He was my best friend growing up, until the day that motherfucker had stolen my girl…"
Mulan quickly reached behind to close Mushu's mouth and took everything from there. She smiled with confidence. "Yes, sir, my name is Ping."
"Let us see you scroll. Now." John ordered with his hand out.
Mulan did as she was told as she pulled the scroll out from its hold and handed it to husband. Without any second, John handed the scroll to Shang so he could read it, while he took a stare at his new recruit. Mulan had to take her gaze away from her lover as she looked to the side. Feeling weird about having her man looking at her in a non loving husband kind of way. Instead of feeling that she feels like fresh meat to be butchered and John is the butcher. Shang opened the scroll while Chi-Fu took a glance at what the writing said. Shang can not believe what he is reading as he set the scroll down and looked at Ping in surprise.
"Fa Zhou. The Fa Zhou. You are kinfolk to us on my sister-in-law's side?." Shang asked just to be sure as this had shocked him.
But not as shocked as John, as it completely broke his seriousness. He even looks at his brother in utter shock and then back at Ping, who Mulan has now is looking back at him.
"Why, I never even knew that Fa Zhou had a brother." Chi-Fu looked at the man in disbelief. "Let alone have a legit nephew."
"Huh. Shang let me see that scroll please?." John went to grab the scroll from his brother and read it himself. The paper did not lie. This scroll is literally written out for the Fa Family itself. He looked at Ping in confusion. "Huh, that is weird. Because Mulan has never mentioned to me about her having an uncle. Much less having a first cousin."
Mulan can smell the opportunity to use this shock into a lie to better fit her male persona. "Pfft, is it not obvious?. Uncle Zhou and Cousin Mulan never talk about me that much. Hehehe."
Feeling to make it a statement, Mulan started coughing up and went to spit in the grass. That would look tough if her spit did not hang and dangle down, as it made her look not only more stupid but giving everyone the wrong idea about her male character. Even John, Shang, and Chi-Fu were a bit uneasy about the man.
"Now, I can see why your wife and Zhou never mention him." Chi-Fu spoke in a whisper so only both John and Shang could hear. "This boy is an absolute lunatic."
"That, I agree." Shang looked at John. "This man needs to be in a crazy house before he hurts himself or everyone here. Including us."
Yao and few other man can not help but to chuckle at their new teammate's bad introduction. Now, knowing why he had caused this whole mess in the first place.
John glanced at Ping and then back at Shang and Chi-Fu with the mindset of what to say in the defense of his wife's first cousin. "Need I remind you two that we are at war. And in the rules of war we are not picky at what type of men we are getting. Either slight mental health issues or plain old obesity. We need all able body men we can get in this time of crisis. Besides, we need to start the first part of orientation before nightfall. I will go first."
John looked at Ping. "At attention, Ping!."
Mulan quickly did as she was told and did not dare say a word. John had both of his hands behind his back when walking and looking at all the men. And then he stopped and stood still. Looking at everyone before speaking.
"My name is First Lieutenant, Li John!. Or if you know me or do not know me better based on the stories of the army in your villages. I am also the sole leader of the Commando Elites!." John paused and got a response from the men who looked at each other and was surprised to know that they are going to be trained by him.
As Mulan, she can not be even happier for her husband, as she now finds out that he has been promoted from second lieutenant to first lieutenant. She wanted to just go up and hug her strong black man, but she quickly reminded herself that she is Ping and not herself.
John continued on. "Me and my brother Shang, who happens to be Captain, are your commanding officers in this exact camp!. Me and Shang have six months. That is right. You heard me, six months. Six months to train you sons of bitches into combat killing warriors that will make the Emperor proud to call his soldiers."
"In other words to those who do not understand what I mean. It means that your sorry asses belong to us now!." John eyed everyone. "In this and during the time in this boot camp, you men will not eat. Sleep. Drink. Wash your ass. Brush your teeth. Or even fucking jack off without our say so!. Trust me when I say this. This is not my first time training recruits like yourselves and let me tell you, boys, my training methods have produced top kill soldiers and some of them have reached beyond expectations or out performed their squad. As a result they ended up being part of my special ranks, which is the Commando Elites!."
Every man took in all that John said as it stayed with them with no choice. Mulan is having that regretful feeling in her stomach.
"Before I end my part of this orientation. I strongly recommend you punk asses to go find or make a tent and settle in!." John calmed down his yelling. "And get plenty of rest. You all are going to need it. Because tomorrow, boys, we are going to start doing the hard shit."
"The hard shit?." Mulan spoke in her mind in panic while biting her lower lip. "What hard shit?. Tomorrow is the first day of training. Why are we going to do something too hard, John?."
After saying his peace, John made his way out of sight and headed to do what he had to do for tomorrow. Leaving Shang to finish up as he handed the scroll to Chi-Fu to put away with the other scrolls.
"And before we can even get to the hard shit, each and every single one of you are going to spend the remaining daylight picking and cleaning up every single grain of rice before the ants get to it. You can thank your new friend Ping here for this mess. After that you can all go to sleep in your tents." said Shang, leaving out of sight with Chi-Fu following behind him.
All the men groaned in frustration as they knew without a doubt that this would take them literally up until nightfall. And they know who to thank as they shoot angry stares at their new friend Ping for the trouble. Mulan can see that all of these men are super pissed at her and she can not blame them. But in her defense, it was Mushu's big mouth that caused all of this shit in the first place.
"We should seriously need to work on your people skills." commented Mushu as everyone was pissed off while cleaning the rice up.
Mulan started picking up rice off the grass and said. "It is going to be one long ass six months."
Somewhere at dusk on the other side of the country, Shan Yu and some of his men were riding out through the burned down village that they carelessly destroyed along with its people. Shan Yu had that feeling within him. That feeling of his time of victory is on the horizon and he can just touch it. For years he had the plan all worked out. Successfully climb over the Great Wall. Then both reduce China's villages and army into a memory. Then reached the Imperial City. Make the Emperor bow in submission. And finally conquer the whole entire country of China. Plain and simple.
Shan Yu hosted his men behind him as he stopped his horse. Next, he got off his horse and was approached by his top arrow man.
"We found and caught two Imperial Scouts." He said.
Shan Yu looked and saw the two men on their knees and approached the two with his loyal hawk flew down, and rested on his right arm. The two Imperial Scouts looked up and started to have sudden fear within themselves when seeing the leader of the Huns in person. With poor training, they were caught easily and now were facing Shan Yu himself.
Shan Yu bent down before giving a scary smile as he started looking at the two. "Well, boys, I must say. You have found a handful of the Hun army. Assuming that your higher-ups have learned that I have spread my men around the country."
"The Emperor's army will stop you." one of the Imperial Scouts spoke bravely. "Let alone the Commando Elites."
"Stop me?." Shan Yu grabbed him and pulled him up in the air by the neck. "They did not stop me when I crossed over the Great Wall."
In physical response, Shan Yu threw the men down and then pulled out his sword before pointing it at them. "Go tell the Emperor to bring me all his best men!. And as for the leader of the Commando Elites?. Tell him…I am ready."
Shan Yu grinned evilly as he watched the two take off running to go carry out the message. He rubbed his chin in wonder. "Tell me something, my friend. How many messengers does it take to deliver a message?. Be honest."
The man grinned evilly as well when aiming his bow with an arrow and pointed at one of them. With that he shot one of them dead without giving any warning to the two Imperial Scouts. "Only one, Shan Yu. Only one."