The City’s River Crisis

Mulan

This flow traces how an environmental disaster becomes an opening for fraud and a threatened human sacrifice.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The River Turns Dangerous The River Turns Dangerous from "Mulan". A Port Loses Its Lifeline A changed river The river becomes unpredictable, flooding without warning and smashing boats against the rocks.

The River Turns Dangerous from "Mulan". A Port Loses Its Lifeline A changed river The river becomes unpredictable, flooding without warning and smashing boats against the rocks.

A Port Loses Its Lifeline A changed river The river becomes unpredictable, flooding without warning and smashing boats against the rocks. Decline follows As homes are ruined and livelihoods vanish, those able to leave abandon the once-busy port.

Fear Invites Exploitation Fear Invites Exploitation from "Mulan". A Convenient Explanation The Hag’s claim Daji, disguised as a hag, tells the Magistrate that the River King’s anger causes the floods.

Fear Invites Exploitation from "Mulan". A Convenient Explanation The Hag’s claim Daji, disguised as a hag, tells the Magistrate that the River King’s anger causes the floods.

A Convenient Explanation The Hag’s claim Daji, disguised as a hag, tells the Magistrate that the River King’s anger causes the floods. A profitable lie The Magistrate uses frightened parents’ contributions to enrich himself while presenting the proposed sacrifice as civic necessity.

A Bride Is Selected A Bride Is Selected from "Mulan". A Convenient Sign The black horse The Hag declares that the River King’s bride will arrive on a black horse, making Mulan an easy target when she appears.

A Bride Is Selected from "Mulan". A Convenient Sign The black horse The Hag declares that the River King’s bride will arrive on a black horse, making Mulan an easy target when she appears.

A Convenient Sign The black horse The Hag declares that the River King’s bride will arrive on a black horse, making Mulan an easy target when she appears. The crowd complies Residents accept the claim because they fear continued floods more than they trust the stranger’s protest.

The Accusation Is Tested The Accusation Is Tested from "Mulan". Public Doubt Emerges Lu Ting-Pin asks questions He demands that the Hag personally verify the River King’s wishes instead of sending an uninvolved girl to die.

The Accusation Is Tested from "Mulan". Public Doubt Emerges Lu Ting-Pin asks questions He demands that the Hag personally verify the River King’s wishes instead of sending an uninvolved girl to die.

Public Doubt Emerges Lu Ting-Pin asks questions He demands that the Hag personally verify the River King’s wishes instead of sending an uninvolved girl to die. The fraud unravels The crowd notices that the alleged emissary will not accept the same danger she assigns to Mulan.

The Crowd Reverses Course The Crowd Reverses Course from "Mulan". Anger Finds Its Source A sacrifice prevented The residents recognize the deception and turn against the Hag and Magistrate instead of Mulan.

The Crowd Reverses Course from "Mulan". Anger Finds Its Source A sacrifice prevented The residents recognize the deception and turn against the Hag and Magistrate instead of Mulan.

Anger Finds Its Source A sacrifice prevented The residents recognize the deception and turn against the Hag and Magistrate instead of Mulan. No civic cure The crowd’s reversal saves Mulan but does not repair the river, leaving the city’s underlying hardship unresolved.

Years before Mulan’s arrival

Before the travelers reach the city

As Mulan enters the city

At the river landing

Immediately after the Hag refuses