Legend of Hua Mulan (Hua Mu Lan Chuan Qi / 花木兰传奇)

Legend of Hua Mulan.

Episode 1.

Around the 5th Century, the Northern Wei Dynasty wanted to expand their empire as well as unite the north..

However the rich nomadic empire, the Rouran Khaganate, did not want to give up their plains..

The two went to war with each other year after year..

In the year 423 CE，the Crown Prince, Tuo Ba Tao, and the Khan of Rouran, fought their deciding battle near Hetao..

Kill!!

Kill!!

General.

Rouran has attacked and our borders are in a state of emergency..

The 12th year of the Northern Wei dynasty, February 3rd..

The Emperor has issued a decree:

Every man in Wu Valley who is under 50 years old.

.

must gather here on February 7th..

Anyone who defies will be executed..

Li Hong Ping.

Wu Da Niu.

Jian Bei Feng.

Hua Hu.

I don't want to go!!

Father!

Father!!

.

Mulan.

Father.

Mulan.

You are no longer a child..

Dad is going back to the military for the sake of the country to kill our enemies.

But if you cry like this, it will bring bad luck..

Mother.

Jia Yun.

Your Highness. Urgent news from the City of Ping!

Your Highness.

In 423 CE, the Emperor of Northern Wei, Tuo Ba Si, passed away.

Your Highness, His Majesty has passed away. The country cannot be without a ruler.

Your Highness should make peace with Rouran then hurry back to the City of Ping to have your coronation.

The enthroning of a new emperor is important for the government.

But it would be a shame if we let the results of today's battle go to waste.

Your Highness, our sources say that the other princes in Ping have been constantly in contact each other

and stirring up trouble..

If Your Highness does not return soon, your throne may not be secure.

We have news that the second Prince of Rouran is currently hurrying 5000 troops over here.

We should try to go head to defeat them in one swoop.

If we can have a quick and decisive battle, and take advantage of Rouran's current situation.

it might not solve external conflicts but there will be many internal ones.

The situation will become even more dangerous..

Your Highness, please think carefully about whether we should battle or make peace.

Therefore for tomorrow's battle, we must intimidate Rouran so that they won't make any sudden movements..

Once Your Highness becomes Emperor, you won't have any more worries.

Then regarding tomorrow's battle.

we'll play out a show.

Go! Kill!!

Chief Adviser, who is that person?

That's Tuo Ba Tou..

What!? Tuo Ba Tou!!

Kill! Kill!!

Fellow soldiers, kill!!

Kill!!

Khan!!

The Wei army has broken through our West lines..

What??

Khan! Khan! Wei army appeared in our left direction, we no longer have an escape route..

Chief Adviser, looks like we cannot run today.

Khan,

as long as we can endure till night time, we can use the geography to our advantage.

You think they still can endure till night??

Khan please give me 5000 soldiers and let me take a gamble..

Perhaps there's still a chance..

I only have at most 3000 soldiers in my hands..

And Northern Wei has not used all of their power yet..

Just hold out for a little bit longer! Ok!!

Chief Adviser, if we temporarily ask for a truce how would Northern Wei think?

I'm afraid Northern Wei won't agree and humiliate us..

From what I see, we can only protect the soldiers we have and try to make a comeback in the future..

Retreat! Retreat!!

Imperial order arrives!

.

Chief Adviser, what is going on?

Perhaps an unexpected event happened on their side..

Khan, Chief Adviser.

Northern Wei and Rouran have been fighting year after year causing our people much misery..

In honor of the Emperor's fortieth birthday, His Majesty is willing to make peace with the world

by creating a truce between the two countries through marriage..

The Emperor has decreed that in half a year to marry the princess to a prince of Rouran and unite the two nations.

Please give me a moment..

Chief Adviser, it looks like God is helping Rouran.

Khan, there is one thing that I don't understand..

Northern Wei is currently winning, why do they keep giving up when they are so close?

Didn't you say that Tuo Ba Tao's ability is only mediocre??

Perhaps the Emperor of Wei is the same, he looks strong but is actually weak on the inside.

I'm just afraid that this is a trap..

But right now, we are in a disadvantage. The only way to retreat is to agree to this marriage proposal.

Khan, we should first try to stall. In 4 hours, Prince Duo Lun will be here.

If Khan does not wish to make peace with Northern Wei, I shall go back and report this.

Wait, please stay, we are currently in the middle of our discussion.

Before I came, the Crown Prince has ordered that if there is no reply after half the incense has burned.

then His Highness will bring the troops forward.

Please tell the Crown Prince.

the Emperor brings good wishes. Our Khan also feels compassion for our people,

and agrees to have a marriage alliance for Rouran and Northern Wei to be like brothers from now on.

Rouran's clothing has always been very simple, while Northern Wei is much more skilled in the art of sewing..

When the Princess marries, I ask that an embroidered betrothal piece be used as the Princess's dowry.

I shall report this immediately..

Luo Zhao.

.

Dr. Luo.

Chun Chou, I knew you would be the first to arrive..

Your complexion doesn't look too good. Did you stay up late again?

I had a lot of work to do last night, so I ended up staying up late..

What kind of work caused you to stay up so late??

The merchandise is for a few Tiele merchants..

But I heard their servant say that all this silk is really for the Prince of Rouran.

Really??

Recently, we have been fighting Rouran right??

So many Rouran people say that they are from Tiele or Tuyuhun or some other place.

Never knew such things occurred..

Don't worry about them. Soaking your hand is more important.

Dr. Luo, I thought that yesterday's water was too hot.

I felt that you had cold air in you so I specifically made the water hotter.

Mulan.

Dr. Luo.

I was in town the other day and I saw the plum flower that you embroidered. Your work just keeps getting better.

What? You aren't happy?

My father got drafted..

But Master Hua's waist injury hasn't fully healed yet..

That's why I'm so worried for him..

Do not worry so much..

Master Hua has seen the battle field many times. I'm sure that he will be able to return safely.

Thank you, Dr. Luo.

Looks like Dr. Luo only has eyes for Mulan.

Chun Chou, speaking nonsense again.

Here, I listen to you all and treat you all equally.

Dr. Luo.

Lady Si.

Fu Ling.

Mulan.

Is everyone here??

Mulan, where's your mother??

My mother is at home taking care of my dad..

Your mother has not been here for three days..

Her craft isn't that great to start with, and if she doesn't soak her hands, she won't be able to do this job in the future.

Why should she stop just because you say so??

Si Niang is right, when I go home I shall tell my mother.

Si Niang, the hour is about right.

Please go in..

Third hour of the Morning (Chinese time).

Calm your hearts..

Concentrate.

Start.

Zi Su, Fu Ling.

The Emperor of Northern Wei has passed away, the Crown Prince is succeeding.

Change the year. (Years are named after current emperors).

The Emperor of Northern Wei has passed away, the Crown Prince is succeeding. Change the year.

The Emperor of Northern Wei has passed away, the Crown Prince is succeeding. Change the year.

Tuo Ba Tao!!

Such big news, yet we only found out about it today!!

Khan, Northern Wei's palace keeps its secrets well.

They kept the secret for three whole days..

Our people only got the news today and came to report immediately.

But now it's too late!!

If the news came then, I would have fought him to the end

Instead of agreeing to the betrothal..

Thinking back on it now, four days ago Tuo Ba Tao already received the news.

Therefore he seemed uninterested to continue fighting and returned quickly to succeed the throne..

But now the new ruler is in charge, it'll be unlikely that the political situation over there will be stable..

There will be fears of unrest, and foreign invasion..

Therefore, they forced us to make peace through marriage;

saving some effort for themselves as well as strengthening their power.

Why not weaken Tuo Ba Tao's footing then? Send out troops immediately.

Head them straight into battle, the City of Ping will be just around the corner.

Khan, you must not do this..

We just agreed to a peace treaty with Tuo Ba Tao through marriage.

If we were to break the agreement first, then we will cause people to lose trust in us.

If we dispatch the troops without a rightful cause it'll be hard to win.

In addition, after the deal is sealed, people's hearts close around the matter.

Ｔhe morale is already gone among the soldiers..

Therefore if we dispatch the troops now, it would be hard to ensure success.

What??

Then are we simply going to stare as this opportunity to invade Northern Wei go to waste?

Khan, if we can find a suitable excuse and the right time.

then perhaps the odds of invading Northern Wei will be in our favor.

Then tell me, where are the time and excuse??

Isn't Northern Wei suppose to give us a betrothal piece as a gift?

Betrothal piece??

If Tuo Ba Tao uses all of his resources, it would at least take him about half a year to finish the piece..

And that betrothal piece within half a year will be with the Princess as she marries into Rouran's royal family.

As long as the betrothal piece is unable to be completed, then we'll have an excuse.

Chief Adviser, it looks like when you were making peace with Northern Wei, you were actually planning for the future.

At that time, I felt that there was a hidden reason behind the proposal which they did not want to reveal..

But because I could not figure out what, that's why I proposed the betrothal piece idea.

So that Rouran can have some time to maneuver..

Jing Can Zi, ah Jing Can Zi,

you were always good at deceiving the enemy.

You have never let me down..

You,

Chief Adviser, the craftsman has brought the latest design.

He Hong.

Father, father!!

Father, did Duo Lun return yet??