19

请关闭浏览器的阅读/畅读/小说模式并且关闭广告屏蔽过滤功能，避免出现内容无法显示或者段落错乱。

Mulan stared at the witch, her mind racing. B??0??2ri Khan had disappeared. He had raced away, and his army had been defeated??6??2.??6??2.??6??2. hadn’t it?</p>

Suddenly, Mulan understood what the witch was saying. B??0??2ri Khan wasn’t defeated. Leaving the others to fall had been part of his greater plan. His disappearance was not a retreat. He was going to go after the Emperor himself!</p>

Shaking her head, Mulan met the witch’s gaze. She lifted her chin, transforming back into the same confident warrior who had defeated the Rourans on the battlefield only hours before. “I know my place!” she said. “It is my duty to fight for the kingdom and protect the Emperor!” Then she turned and let out a piercing whistle. As Black Wind raced over, she leapt onto his back. The sadness and despair she had been feeling only a short time before was replaced with a wave of determination and anger. Anger at the thought that B??0??2ri Khan might succeed. Anger that the witch’s words had, for the smallest of moments, intrigued her.</p>

Yanking on Black Wind’s reins, Mulan looked one more time at the witch. Xianniang stared back at her, disappointment in her eyes. But there was something else there, too. Something that almost looked like admiration.</p>

Without another word, Mulan began to ride back down the mountain. The Phoenix let out a loud cry and flew into the air, following her.</p>

“They will not listen to you!” she heard Xianniang call to her. “It will always be a man’s army!”</p>

But Mulan didn’t look back. Let Xianniang believe Mulan would never find a place in the Imperial Army. Mulan didn’t care. All that mattered now was saving the Emperor. And to do that, she needed to warn Commander Tung.</p>

“What is the meaning of this?”</p>

Sergeant Qiang’s voice boomed out over the camp as Mulan raced into the middle of the gathered soldiers. Ignoring the sergeant’s question and the curious looks of the men, she leapt off Black Wind and ran over to Commander Tung. But seeing his stern expression, Mulan slowed her steps. When she reached him, she bowed low. Then, looking up, she forced herself to meet his eyes. “Commander Tung,” she began. “We must ride to the Emperor! His life is in danger!”</p>

Doubtful murmurs broke out across the camp. The soldiers didn’t believe her. Neither, it seemed, did Commander Tung. “B??0??2ri Khan’s army has just been decimated. The Emperor’s life has never been safer.”</p>

Mulan shook her head. “That’s what B??0??2ri Khan wants you to believe. Please??6??2.??6??2.??6??2.” She stopped and looked around for support. Seeing nothing but cold stares, she went on. “You have to listen to me??6??2.??6??2.??6??2.”</p>

This time it was Commander Tung who shook his head. “Only a foolish man listens to someone whose very existence is a lie.”</p>

His words hurt worse than the witch’s dagger. A part of her wanted to turn and slink away. But if she left now, everyone would be in danger. The kingdom’s future was more important than her own pride. Taking a deep breath, she pressed on. “At the battle, B??0??2ri Khan rode off with a small fighting force. At first, I thought he was a coward in retreat, but now I realize he was heading east towards the Imperial City.” She paused to catch her breath before plunging ahead. “This was his plan all along. While the army is focused on his attacks to the Silk Road, B??0??2ri Khan sneaks into the capital to kill the Emperor!”</p>

She stopped. Her words hung in the air. She saw the soldiers shift on their feet as they processed her news. A few nodded their heads, realizing that what Mulan suggested made strategical sense. If the Emperor thought he was safe, he would be an easy target. Mulan turned back to Commander Tung. She saw the struggle on his face as he balanced his feelings of betrayal and his experience as a commander. Mulan knew that the commander saw the truth in her words. She just had to get him to look beyond her own lie.</p>

“There is not an army in the world powerful enough to topple the Imperial City,” Mulan went on, her words respectful but direct. “But perhaps a small, well-trained force could. When employed correctly, four ounces can move a thousand pounds.”</p>

Commander Tung paused. He looked at Mulan and she could see him softening ever so slightly. She had not just been a soldier. She had proven herself time and time again. She had been a perceptive student, a willing conscript, and a brave warrior. He had to see that. He had to see past her single mistake—no matter how big it was.</p>

“You would believe Hua Jun!” a voice called out, shattering the silence. “Why do you not believe Hua Mulan?”</p>

Mulan’s head whipped around. Her eyes scanned the crowd of soldiers watching her and Commander Tung. To her surprise, she saw that the voice of support belonged to Honghui. Looking right at her, he nodded, and she could have sworn she saw a glimmer in his eye. Although it was the smallest of gestures, it was huge to Mulan.</p>

“She risked everything by revealing her true identity,” Honghui went on, his voice growing stronger. “She is braver than any man here.” He stopped and turned to the other soldiers, daring them to defy him. Daring them to disagree.</p>

Watching him, Mulan pushed down the lump that was forming in her throat. Despite her betrayal, Honghui was standing up for her. It was more than she could have hoped for, and the wave of gratitude that washed over her was immense. But it only grew as the other soldiers, following Honghui’s lead, began one by one to come to her defense. “I believe Hua Mulan!” one said. “Yes!” another added. Mulan’s heart soared as Cricket, Po, and even Yao added their own voices to the growing chorus of support. They were standing by her; even without her disguise, they believed in her.</p>

But did Commander Tung?</p>

Mulan turned back to the leader. His face was unmoving, his expression impossible to read. For a long moment, they stood face to face, neither speaking, neither blinking as around them the soldiers’ cries dimmed.</p>

“Bring me my sword,” Commander Tung said. As Sergeant Qiang moved to do so, the gathered soldiers exchanged nervous glances. What was the commander going to do? In front of him, Mulan braced herself, prepared for the worst. “Hua Mulan,” Commander Tung began, addressing her by her real name for the first time. “Your actions have brought disgrace and dishonor to this regiment, to this kingdom, and to your own family.” He stopped. When he spoke again, his voice was full of respect. “But your loyalty and your bravery are without question. You will lead us as we ride to the Imperial City.” Turning, he addressed the other soldiers. “Ready the horses!”</p>

As the men jumped into action, filling the valley with the sounds of swords, Mulan stood among her fellow soldiers. She had felt pride when she made it to the top of the shrine. And she had felt powerful when she had tricked the invading army and sent the avalanche careening down the mountainside. But none of that compared to what she felt now. She was going to save the Emperor. And not just as a soldier, but as a leader—and as herself.</p>

(/48753/48753972/10100991.html)</p>

。</p>