Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast. This is episode 7. When you get done with this episode, be sure to check out our website for supplemental materials like maps and graphs of the relationships between all

the characters. Also, if you like what I'm doing so far, consider rating or reviewing the podcast

on iTunes to help other people discover the show. Thanks. So last time on the Three Kingdoms

podcast, 18 contingents have formed an alliance to wage war against Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo sent one of his generals, Hua Xion, to Si Shui Pass to meet the vanguard of the invading army.

When the vanguard led by Sun Jian arrived, Hua Xion sent one of his officers, Hu Zhen, out to meet them, but Hu Zhen was killed

by one of Sun Jian's generals after just a few bouts, and Sun Jian ordered his men forward

to storm the pass. However, Hua Xion's men rained down arrows on them and fought off the siege.

Seeing his attack blunted for the time being, Sun Jian ordered his army to pull back

and make camp. He then sent two messengers, one to Yuan Shao to report the initial victory,

and the other to Yuan Shu with an urgent request for provisions for his troops. But not too

surprisingly, when you've got 18 ambitious leaders of men in one coalition,

some of them just seem incapable of being happy for other's success.

And so it was the case with Yuan Shu.

When he received Sun Jian's request for provisions, one of his advisors said,

Sun Jian is a tiger in the east. If he breaches the capital and kills Dong Zhuo,

then we would be getting rid of a wolf and putting a tiger in its place.

Let's cut off his provisions, his army will surely fall apart then.

Yuan Shu listened to this advice and declined to send along any provisions.

With no food, it didn't take long for Sun Jian's army to fall into disarray.

Spies reported this to Hua Xion, and one of his officers, Li Su, offered up a plan of attack.

Tonight I will lead a force and take the back roads to attack the rear Sun Jain's camp while you attack the front,

...