In the middle of a snowstorm, a caravan of refugees arrives at the foot of the mountains. They are accompanied by a general and a mulan. The general tells them that the emperor has generously supplied enough food to get the refugees settled in a new settlement, but that bandits have been on the rise in the area. He asks the mulan and the general if they can help the refugees, and they all agree that it would be best if more people could help.