Soon, they discovered that the smoke had not only rendered them unconscious but had also killed their horses.
Shan Yu tightened his fist until his knuckles turned white.
Their already burning desire for revenge had reached its breaking point. This time, they would take no prisoners.
***
One week later,
Morning.
Aladdin stood beside Mulan, who was now dressed in his warrior's garb, making it difficult for anyone to determine that she was a woman, watching as Li Shang and the remaining soldiers of the Chinese Imperial Army slowly awoke.
Abu, Carpet, Mushu, and Cricket hid themselves in a safe location. They knew better than to reveal themselves to the group.
Li Shang clutched his head as he slowly sat upright. The events of what had transpired surged into his mind like a storm. He winced slightly in pain.
He scrutinised his surroundings and realised that he was in a cave.
He saw numerous comrades in similar situations, trying to discern their current circumstances.
What happened?
Where were they?
Suddenly, Li Shang noticed someone standing close to him.
"Ping!" Li Shang swiftly recognised the familiar face.
"Captain," Mulan replied. She stepped forward and knelt before him.
"How did we get...?" Li Shang began, but stopped at once when he noticed the figure behind Mulan.
"Who's that?" he asked, reaching for his weapon before remembering he had none.
He frowned.
"Calm down, Captain. This is Aladdin… He's my friend… He's a traveller from far away who saved my life after the camp was attacked," Mulan said quickly. "He also created the smoke that helped me save all of you."
"Hello. It's a pleasure to see that you've awakened and are well." Aladdin stepped forward with a smile.
Li Shang narrowed his eyes at Aladdin. He looked at Aladdin's clothing and could tell that he wasn't from China. Even the smoke, which had incapacitated both Shan Yu and the Hun army, and which he himself had fallen victim to, was unlike anything he had ever witnessed. He surmised that Aladdin was probably a foreigner, just as Mulan had said.
"Help me up," he said.
Mulan swiftly helped Li Shang to his feet. Although he could not feel any lingering injuries or effects from the poisonous smoke, he could barely feel his body and needed some time to regain full control of it.
Li Shang bowed respectfully and cupped his hands together.
"Thank you for the help you've offered my men and me. Once this war is over and we return to the Capital, I'll ensure that you are greatly rewarded."
"Please rise. You don't need to reward me. I did this because I couldn't ignore those in need," Aladdin said, helping Li Shang rise to his feet.
"Thank you. You're a good man," Li Shang said with a sigh.
"How long have I been unconscious?" he asked.
"A week," Mulan replied.
Li Shang's expression darkened into a heavy frown.
"How many of our soldiers are alive?" He asked.
"330."
"Shan Yu... what happened to him?" Li Shang asked.
"They awakened earlier and are currently searching for us. We're hiding in a safe location, so we've been able to evade their pursuit," Mulan replied.
Li Shang nodded. He knew the Hun army was highly trained to endure harsh conditions, so he wasn't surprised they had recovered. He was only disappointed in himself for taking so long to awaken.
He looked over his body again and realised that even the wounds he had sustained during training had disappeared. It was almost as though they had never existed in the first place.
It felt almost magical.
Li Shang glanced at Aladdin.
For such an individual capable of creating such a mysterious, deadly smoke capable of bringing down both the Huns and the Imperial Army, if they could have a man like him fighting alongside them against the Huns, then their battles would be won much more easily.
"Mr Aladdin..." Li Shang fell to one knee before Aladdin.
Mulan tried to pull him up, but Li Shang gently pulled away from her grasp.
"Let me speak," he said.
Mulan reluctantly withdrew her hand.
"What do you want?" Aladdin asked.
He could already guess what Li Shang wanted, but kept that information to himself.
"I would like to ask for your support in our battle against the Huns. This is a formal invitation, and as such, I'll ensure that you're recognised by the Emperor and properly rewarded for your efforts."
Li Shang looked at Aladdin.
Aladdin remained silent.
"With the help you've already rendered, you've completely earned our trust, and with the capabilities you've shown, you're more than qualified to aid us in defeating the Huns. Our military has been reduced from thousands to only a few hundred soldiers. If we do nothing, Shan Yu and his men will slaughter their way through the Capital of our Empire, killing thousands of innocents civilains to capture our Emperor."
"Please... we need your support in this war."
Li Shang pleaded, thinking that Aladdin was contemplating refusing his offer. After all, which stranger would choose to participate in the war of another country?
What a joke!
Even he would hesitate before risking his life in a battle that wasn't his own for the sake of another, regardless of the reward. It was common sense that the value of one's life was above material gain.
Aladdin remained silent.
Then, suddenly, he spoke, "…This is a very difficult position that you've placed me in, Captain Li Shang. I cannot give you an answer right now."
"It's okay. Please take your time to think about my request patiently. I hope to receive an answer from you before my men and I are ready to depart," Li Shang replied with a sigh.
"I will," Aladdin responded.
He wasn't going to accept too quickly. The longer he delayed, the more believable his response would be.
Although Aladdin hadn't outright killed the Huns, he had ensured that a few of them awakened later than the others, and considering that the Huns' army didn't take too kindly to weaklings, it was no different from signing their death certificates.
The only issue was that he had overlooked Shan Yu's falcon because of its limited appearance in the movie.
However, after discovering that the falcon had been trailing their party, he had Abu and Carpet create various obstacles along its route to delay the Huns from raiding another village for supplies or heading toward the Capital, so he wasn't in that much of a hurry.
"Thank you."
Li Shang rose back to his feet.
He turned to face the soldiers who had already awakened and were stretching their bodies. They had also witnessed the events that had just transpired.
"Soldiers... Pay your respects and gratitude to Ping. He has not only helped us escape from the hands of the Huns, but also spared our lives and given the Empire another chance to fight," Li Shang ordered.
Then he turned to the side and fell to one knee before Mulan.
"Captain, you don't need to..." Mulan tried to say, but Li Shang quickly interrupted.
"Silence!"
"You risked your life to infiltrate the enemy's camp rather than running away. You led the rescue of hundreds of soldiers. We owe you our lives. You've done China a great deed. Your accomplishment will be recorded among the other great warriors of China," Li Shang said with a solemn expression.
The soldiers knelt on one knee toward Mulan.
After showing their respect and gratitude, they rose to their feet.
"As Captain of the Imperial Army, I hereby grant Ping the rank of Lieutenant," Li Shang announced.
Mulan swiftly fell to one knee and bowed her head.
"As of today, you'll no longer be known simply as Ping, but as Lieutenant Ping."
He removed his sash, tore a piece from it, and tied it around Mulan's right hand to show her current leadership. Since he didn't have an insignia on him, he used a piece of his attire.
"You may rise," Li Shang said.
"Once we find my father, I'll have him make this new rank official and see if he can grant you an even higher position."
There was no need for an elaborate ceremony to grant a promotion. A simple declaration from a superior officer was enough to elevate the status of a soldier. However, it was the Commander, his father, who had the authority to make it official.
"What is it that you wish to say? Please, speak your thoughts," Li Shang added, noticing Mulan's hesitation.
Mulan nodded.
"While monitoring Shan Yu and his men, we realised that they were currently heading toward the Commander and his forces. They no longer have their horses, so judging by their pace, it will take about two weeks before they reach them," Mulan explained.
Li Shang's expression turned fierce.
"Do we have a way to contact the Commander's forces?" he asked solemnly.
"Yes. But it will take some time."
"How long?"
"Six days before we receive any meaningful response."
"That's acceptable." Li Shang nodded. He turned to Chi Fu, the Emperor's advisor, who had arrived at his side. He had been captured along with the soldiers; however, he had been lucky enough to survive within the Huns' camp.
"Send a message to them informing them of the impending attack and everything that has happened to the military camps stationed along the border."
"Emm... Captain. I don't exactly have any scrolls or ink with me." Chi Fu spread out his arms, revealing the empty folds of his attire.
Li Shang slapped his forehead. He had overlooked such an important detail. They had just been rescued from the enemy's camp, so where were they supposed to find ink and paper to send a message?
"I have a few scrolls and an inkstone here."
Aladdin stretched out his hands toward them, holding the items.
Li Shang and Chi Fu looked at him in surprise.
"Thank you... thank you... I'll make sure His Majesty hears of your kindness and rewards you handsomely," Chi Fu said, accepting the scrolls, the inkstone filled with black ink, and the brush with a respectful bow.
Li Shang nodded in approval. After piecing together the details, they weren't surprised that Aladdin carried such items. As a traveller, writing supplies were an essential means of communication. What truly surprised them was his generosity.
"You don't need to worry yourselves about any of that," Aladdin said, waving his hand.
"Nonsense. To overlook your deeds would be an insult to both the Emperor and China. Such merit deserves recognition. Let us set this matter aside for now and discuss it after we return to the Forbidden City," Chi Fu said.
He knew Aladdin was the primary reason for their survival, as Ping could not have accomplished such a monumental task alone. Because of that, he treated Aladdin with the utmost respect, second only to the Emperor himself.
So whether Aladdin liked it or not, he would be receiving his reward.
Aladdin said nothing further. He realised that anything he said at this point would be futile.
Chi Fu sat on the ground and began writing down everything Li Shang told him.
Meanwhile, three familiar figures suddenly appeared before Mulan.
A short, muscular man with one eye shot forward. A tall, lanky man with a prominent gap between his front teeth. And lastly, a tall, heavyset man with a baby face.
"Yao... Ling... Chien Po!!" Mulan said with a smile the moment the men arrived before her.
"How are you guys feeling?"
"Mulan!" They rushed in to hug her with tears in their eyes and snot running down their faces.
Although she felt uncomfortable, thanks to her armour, she was able to endure it.
"I didn't believe I was going to make it... Shan Yu and his army picked us off one by one. They treated us like animals," Ling said.
"You should've been there. I managed to overpower two of the Hun soldiers single-handedly before they chained me down and put me aside to deal with the others because I was too difficult to handle," Yao said.
"I'm just so glad that you survived and came to rescue us as well. Does this mean that we're family now?" Chien Po said in his gentle voice.