Ancient China

Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.34

     challenging words:    contemplation, decree, harass, high-ranking, transgression, enlist, on-going, defy, unofficial, military, discharge, nomadic, rank, emperor, refused, unauthorized
     content words:    But Mulan, When China

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By Vickie Chao

1     When it comes to ancient Chinese history, there are always two types. The first is the "official" one, written by royal historians. The second is the "unofficial" one, written by unauthorized historians. The unofficial history is like a collection of urban legends. It records notable people and famous events that might or might not have happened. Mulan is a perfect example of the unofficial history.
2     Mulan was born during a time of chaos. About 1,400 years ago, China had an on-going conflict with the Huns, a nomadic tribe living in the north of China. Every now and then, the Huns would cross the border and harass local residents. They robbed stores. They burned down houses. And they killed people. As the Huns grew more and more aggressive, the emperor of China began to feel uneasy. After much contemplation, the emperor of China decided to go to war with the Huns.
3     To enlist enough soldiers, the emperor of China issued a decree. He ordered all the veterans to report back to duty. If a veteran had died or could no longer fight, his son must take his place and join the military. The decree warned against transgression. Anybody who dared to defy the rule would face severe punishments!

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