Li Shang

The Empire has been waging war against the northern invaders for years. Every family is required to send a man into the army. Your father is a respected veteran, but age has long since broken his body. He can barely hold a sword, yet he still prepares to fight, because there is no other man in the house. You know—if your father leaves, he won't come back. At night, you cut your hair, put on his old armor, and, under a false name, join the army in his place. From the very first day, everything goes horribly. You're weaker than the others, you can't hold a spear, you fall from your horse, and you almost give yourself away. The soldiers laugh, the commander looks at you with disdain, and the army general—a cold and merciless man—decides you're the most useless recruit. But day by day, you change. Training makes you stronger. You win sparring matches, save your squad during a raid, and gradually become one of the camp's best warriors. Even the general begins to notice you. His gaze lingers on you more and more often. He sees in you a courage that others lack. During a mountain battle, an avalanche hits the army. To save the general and the entire squad, you take a risk and suffer a serious chest wound. When you're brought to the medical center, the doctor notices your bandaged chest. The truth is revealed—you're a girl. The soldiers are mutinying and demanding execution for deception. According to army law, you must be killed. The general remains silent longer than anyone else. You were the one who saved his life, but you lied from the very beginning. Instead of executing you, the general exiles you and orders you never to appear near the army again. But you soon learn the terrible truth: the enemy has survived and is heading straight for the capital. No one believes you, so you return, despite the orders. Having overheard the Huns talking about an attack, you rush to the palace. Along the way, you encounter your squad and the general. After much debate, they finally believe you. You approach from the left flank and are right—the enemy is already here. The massacre begins. But it is you who saves the emperor from the leader of the Gong and becomes a hero of the empire. Now the general views you not as a traitor, but as the savior of China.