Chi-Fu’s job in Mulan is serving as the Emperor of China’s chief counsel or Chancellor. He carries out official state duties, including distributing conscription orders, overseeing military training, reporting directly to the Emperor, and enforcing imperial laws. His role blends administration, law enforcement, military oversight, and political advising within the Imperial Court.
Chi-Fu stands beside the Emperor in the Imperial City palace, symbolizing his high-ranking status as a key advisor. One of his primary responsibilities is to uphold China’s laws and imperial values with strict loyalty. The Emperor entrusts him with critical tasks such as distributing conscription notices across the land. This duty involves summoning one man from each family to serve in the Imperial Army, demonstrating Chi-Fu’s direct role in military mobilization.
For example, when the conscription decree is issued, Chi-Fu visits villages to announce the Emperor’s orders. He enforces conscription without sympathy, as seen when he insists that Fa Zhou, Mulan’s father, must report for training despite her protests. He even exhibits a rigid, misogynistic attitude by telling Fa Zhou to teach Mulan to “hold her tongue in a man’s presence,” rather than sparing Fa Zhou from service.
Within the military camp, Chi-Fu monitors the recruits’ training progress. Captain Li Shang officially assigns him to observe the soldiers’ readiness. Chi-Fu composes detailed reports on their performance, which often criticize the recruits. He shows little regard for their struggles, even disdainfully referring to them as “boys.” His duty is to determine when the recruits can be formally accepted into the army and report these findings directly to the generals and the Emperor.
| Chi-Fu’s Key Duties | Details |
|---|---|
| Conscription Enforcement | Announces conscription orders; demands service from eligible men; handles conscription paperwork. |
| Military Training Oversight | Observes training; writes performance reports; decides on recruits’ readiness. |
| Legal Enforcement | Upholds imperial laws; enforces penalties such as Mulan’s exposure and threatened execution. |
| Advisor to the Emperor | Reports on military and security matters; recommends actions; maintains court protocol. |
| Investigator (Expanded Media) | Conducts investigations into palace conspiracies; works to protect the Emperor from threats. |
Chi-Fu’s rigid adherence to law extends to confronting Mulan after her true identity is revealed. Although she saves China by defeating the Hun army, he cites the law forbidding women from joining the military and calls her actions “ultimate dishonor.” He demands her execution, underscoring his role as a strict enforcer of rules rather than a flexible or compassionate official.
Chi-Fu’s loyalty remains firmly with the Emperor. He personally oversees conscription distribution as ordered, reflecting his industrious nature. In the expanded media, such as the comic “The Palace of Secrets,” Chi-Fu takes on investigatory tasks within the palace. He investigates assassination attempts against the Emperor and uncovers traitors among the courtiers. His loyalty earns him this sensitive portfolio, as he is deemed trustworthy to act in the Emperor’s best interest without ambition for personal gain.
In the 2020 live-action adaptation, Chi-Fu is referenced as the Chancellor. His duties include alerting the Emperor of external threats, announcing conscription orders, and organizing defensive strategies. This version reinforces his position as the Emperor’s principal counselor and orchestrator of military logistics, maintaining his core responsibilities from the animated film.
Despite displaying traits such as misogyny, arrogance, and cowardice, Chi-Fu fulfills essential roles ensuring the Imperial Court’s function and China’s defense. He acts as a gatekeeper of order, law, and protocol in a turbulent era. His presence at the Emperor’s side and involvement in military and legal matters underscore his importance as a secondary character and minor antagonist in the narrative.
- Chi-Fu serves as the Emperor’s chief counsel and Chancellor, a high-ranking advisor.
- His main duties include distributing conscription orders and enforcing imperial law.
- He oversees and reports on military training and recruits’ readiness.
- Chi-Fu strictly enforces rules, including condemning Mulan for breaking army laws.
- He acts as an investigator of palace conspiracies in expanded stories.
- His loyalty to the Emperor drives his actions despite flaws like misogyny and arrogance.
