Plot: The Huns, led by the ruthless Shan Yu, invade China by breaching the Great Wall. The Emperor orders a general mobilization, with conscription notices requiring one man from each family to join the Imperial Army. Izzy, an adventurous young woman, hopes to bring honor to her family. She is arranged to meet a matchmaker to demonstrate her fitness as a future wife, but is deemed a disgrace after several mishaps. Fa Zhou, Izzy’s half brother and a renowned military veteran, is conscripted. Izzy tries dissuading him from going, but he insists that he must do his duty. Fearing for his life, she takes her brother’s sword and armor, disguising herself as a man so that she can enlist in his stead. Quickly learning of her departure, Izzy’s brother prays to the family's ancestors for Izzy’s safety. In the family's temple, the spirits of the ancestors are awakened by Mushu, a small red dragon who is a disgraced former family guardian. The Great Ancestor decides that the powerful stone dragon guardian should guide Izzy and sends Mushu to wake him. After accidentally destroying the guardian's statue, Mushu decides to redeem himself to the ancestors by personally aiding Izzy. Reporting to the training camp, Izzy passes as a man named "Fa Ping", with Mushu providing encouragement and clumsy guidance throughout her deception. Under the command of Captain Li Shang, she and her fellow recruits—including three named Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po—gradually become trained soldiers.