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General Li is a minor character in the 1998 Disney film, Mulan. He was the father of Li Shang.

Background[]

Little of General Li's background is revealed, except that he was the Head of the Chinese Imperial Army and that Li Shang is his son. He is shown to be very loyal to the Emperor, offering to station his army in the Imperial City to protect the Emperor. He complies immediately, however, when ordered to protect their people instead. He seems to have a great deal of faith and pride in Shang, choosing to promote his son to an army Captain for his accomplishments, despite Shang's young age and the great responsibilities of the position.

Role in the film[]

General Li, as his title suggests, is the General of China's Imperial Army. When the Huns invade China, the General meets with the Emperor to discuss defense plans. Though General Li suggests moving the army to the Imperial City to protect the Emperor, he is instead ordered to protect their people. When the Emperor ordered that new recruits be conscripted into the army, General Li believes that his current troops would be enough to defeat Shan Yu and the Hun army, but the Emperor is not willing to take that risk.

General Li is next seen at the military camp where new army recruits are meeting. In a tent, he discusses war plans with his son, Shang. The General reveals his intention to stop the Huns at the nearby Tung Shao mountain pass, as it is the quickest way to the Imperial City and the site of a village in need of protection. He promotes Shang to captain and tasks him with training the new recruits. When Chi-Fu protests that Shang is not ready (citing the fact that it is an enormous responsibility to take in), General Li lists Shang's numerous skills, as well as his "impressive military lineage." Chi-Fu is tasked with observing the training and allowing the new recruits to join the regular army when he feels they are ready. General Li mounts his horse and wishes Shang good luck before leaving with his army, unaware this is the last time he will see his son.

General Li is not seen for the rest of the film. When Shang and his troops arrive at the village where the general had intended to intercept Shan Yu, they find it ravaged to the ground and Li's army completely massacred, having severely underestimated the size and strength of the Hun army (along with the fact that Shan Yu and his men were able to learn the imperial army had been waiting for them thanks a doll from the village that Shan Yu's falcon had brought them). While searching for survivors, Chien Po discovers that General Li is among the dead and brings the General's helmet to Shang as proof. Shang takes a moment to mourn, setting up a makeshift shrine to honor his father. Mulan also places the doll (which Shan Yu had mockingly left behind) she had found in the village's remains at the shrine to honor all the lives that have been lost.

When Li Shang presents the sword of Shan Yu to the Emperor, the sovereign praises the young captain, assuring him that his father would have been proud.

Trivia[]

  • Although General Li does not physically appear in the 2020 remake, the scene where Commander Tung's army passes by the remains of the Fourth Battalion who were killed by the Rouran army on their way to the Mountain-Steppe Garrison is an indirect reference to General Li - specifically the scene where Chien Po finds Li's helmet on their way to battle as a reference to the original 1998 film, despite the fact that Li does not physically appear in the remake.

Gallery[]


v - e - d
Mulan Logo
Media
Films: Mulan (1998 film) (video/soundtrack) • Mulan II (video/soundtrack) • Mulan (2020 film) (video/soundtrack)

Video Games: Animated StoryBook: MulanDisney's MulanKingdom Hearts IIDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Crossy RoadDisney Magic KingdomsDisney Sorcerer's ArenaDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Speedstorm
Books: The Art of MulanDisney Princess BeginningsReflection (A Twisted Tale)Kilala PrincessFeather and Flame

Disney Parks
Castle of Magical DreamsDisney Animation BuildingFantasy GardensGarden of the Twelve FriendsIt's a Small WorldVoyage to the Crystal Grotto

Entertainment: Cinderella's Surprise CelebrationDisney's WishesFantasmic!Mickey and the Magical MapMickey’s Storybook AdventureMickey’s Year of the Dragon CelebrationMulan's Chinese New Year GreetingsMulan, La LégendeOnce Upon a MouseRoyal Princess Music CelebrationThe Golden Mickeys
Restaurants: Plaza Inn
Parades: Disney Adventure Friends CavalcadeMain Street Electrical ParadeMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey's Rainy Day ExpressMickey's Storybook ExpressMulan Parade
Fireworks: Disney EnchantmentIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationDisney in the StarsDisney Movie MagicHappily Ever AfterHarmoniousHurry Home: Lunar New Year CelebrationIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightMomentousWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Color-Fest: A Street Party!
Summer: Mickey's WaterWorks
Halloween: The Disney Villains Halloween Showtime
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy Parade

Characters
Original: Fa MulanMushuCri-KeeLi ShangYao, Ling, and Chien PoChi-FuShan YuGeneral LiFa ZhouFa LiGrandmother FaFirst Ancestor FaFa Family AncestorsThe Emperor of ChinaThe MatchmakerLittle BrotherKhanShang's HorseHayabusa the FalconImperial ArmyHun ArmyElite Hun Soldiers

Sequel: Sha-RonTing-Ting, Su, and MeiLord QinPrince Jeeki
Remake: Hua XiuCommander TungChen HonghuiSergeant QiangPhoenix

Songs
Original: Honor to Us AllReflectionI'll Make a Man Out of YouA Girl Worth Fighting ForTrue to Your Heart

Sequel: Lesson Number OneLike Other GirlsHere Beside Me
Live-action: Loyal Brave True
Deleted songs: Keep 'em GuessingWritten in Stone

Locations
ChinaImperial CityFa Family HomeVillageFa Family Temple
Objects
Great Stone DragonMulan's Hair AccessorySword of Shan YuMulan and Shang's NecklacesGolden Dragon of UnityDragon Cannons
See Also
Mulan: Alternative OpeningMulan: Shan Yu Destroys the Village
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