Once upon a time, in ancient china, there lived a girl named Mulan. Her father was a retired general. When he returned from the battlefield after fighting a war, he had become weak and ill. He had grown too old to fight. At home, he decided to teach Mulan the art of fighting. He taught her how to use a sword and ride a horse. During those days, girls were not taught such many skills but her father had a different opinion. He believed that everyone should be competent enough to protect himself or herself. Therefore, he trained his daughter in warfare skills.