In Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan, the imperial army captain who trains Mulan’s recruits is Li Shang.
Li Shang is the son of a respected general and is placed in charge of training a new group of soldiers. At first, he sees Mulan, under the name Ping, as an undisciplined recruit. Through demanding exercises and battlefield experience, the group becomes an effective unit, and Shang gradually recognizes Mulan’s courage and ability.
Li Shang is voiced in English by B. D. Wong, a detail that can be confused with the film’s other prominent performers. The character is a captain rather than the Emperor or the overall Hun commander. In the 2020 live-action adaptation, the story changes this role: Commander Tung serves as Mulan’s commanding officer instead of reproducing the animated film’s Li Shang character.