Mulan’s Malnourished China

The Animated Film Where China’s Existence is Threatened by the Huns and Famine

Do you remember how, upon being invaded by the Huns, the Emperor of China demands “one man from every family” to join the army? Assuming that China has anywhere from “a few thousand” to “a bajillion” families, that should’ve meant a humongous conscription order!

Apparently, there are only something like 20 families in China.

What is up with the serious numerical discrepancy?

Not to mention the fact that, in the short time between training and arriving at the Tung Shao Pass, Shang’s contingent managed to diminish to exactly 9 soldiers.

Exhibit A: Lots of people.

Exhibit B: What was left after a day’s march.

Cannibalism, or something.

It’s obvious that, in the film, China’s suffering from major famine. There’s no other explanation. Did you also wonder why, prior to the new troops, the entire standing army of the Empire consisted of less than a hundred horsemen?

“Your Majesty, regarding this Hun invasion thing, trust me: me and my 25 dudes totally got this.”

The film does attempt to provide evidence that there are more than a few dozen military servicemen with the strategy session in the General’s tent, so let’s examine that.

Legend: Each block represents approximately 1 person.

We know that later on Shan Yu loses his entire army in one single battle against ten Chinese soldiers (and two horses), so we can assume the three Hun divisions on the map later combined to form one large unit, consisting of a whopping, what, 200 Huns?

We also know Shang Sr.’s unit (the bottom-most piece) was heading to the Tung Shao pass to head off the Huns. We are left in the dark as to what the hell the other two units were up to. The uppermost Chinese unit was in a perfect position to cut off the Huns, but you know, didn’t. And then there’s that extra unit on the left there, chilling out in the countryside while the Empire faced an existential threat.)

And that’s it. That is the entirety of the Imperial military.

Wait,” you say skeptically, “You don’t know what’s on the rest of the map. Could be hundreds more pieces.”

Nope.

Also, why is the capital only a walking distance from the god-forsaken mountains?

“Let’s get a bobsled going, guys. We’ll be there in 10.”

You could argue that Mulan’s training camp and her unit were just one of many camps, and all the other bajillion recruits were simply in different areas of the country. Yeah, so where were they when the Huns were invading? Defending the South?

China’s greatest threat wasn’t the Huns. It was famine.

Behold, the densely populated court of Imperial China.