The True Story

of Mulan
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a girl in
ancient China named Mulan. Mulan's father was a retired
general. He had come home sick and frail. He was too old to
fight, but not too old to teach Mulan how to ride a horse and
use a sword. Girls usually did not learn these skills. But
Mulan's father believed everyone should know how to fight,
even girls.
One day, the government officials sent warriors to
Mulan's village. War was coming. Men were needed for the
army. The military leader of the group posted a list of names
in the village square. Each name represented one volunteer,
one man from each family.
Mulan saw her father's name on the list. She knew her
father would never survive another battle. Mulan's brother
was a young child. There was only Mulan who could take her
father's place. But the military did not take girls as
replacements for fighting men.
Quietly, the next morning, before her father could report
for duty, Mulan stole his armor. She disguised herself as a
man. She reported for duty. The warriors accepted "him" in
her father's place. Later that day, as the all men taken from the
village marched away, Mulan saw her father, standing by the
side of the road, shaking his head in confusion. He had
reported for duty, but was told he was not needed. That made
no sense to him. He had not yet returned home. He did not
know that Mulan was missing.

Mulan was very careful over the years. No one ever

suspected that she was a girl. When the war was over, Mulan
received a special award from the emperor himself for her
outstanding courage. The emperor gave her a horse and a
bagful of wealth, and wished her a safe trip home.
Her family greeted her with joy. Her brother was
delighted with gift of her military clothes. He dressed in them
immediately. Mulan dressed once again in the clothes of a
woman. That evening, Mulan and her family gathered
together to watch the sunset.

Two of the men who had served with Mulan stopped by

her home, on their way home. When Mulan came forth to
greet them, they could not believe their eyes. One of them
shouted, "You are not Mulan! What have you done with our
friend?"
After recounting many memories, they finally believed
that Mulan was a woman who had fought by their side in
many a battle. They spread Mulan's story across China.
Mulan's story inspired many young women, who demanded to
learn how to ride a horse and use a sword.