Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast.

This is episode 37.

Last time, we left off on the cusp of one of the defining military campaigns of the novel.

Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were about to go at each other near the Yellow River with everything they got.

Yuan Shao had marched 700,000 troops to the front lines, and they had set up camps that ran for some 30 miles.

When scouts reported this intel to Cao Cao, he and his meager army of 70,000,

had just arrived at the Key River crossing of Guan Du. When they heard about the sides of the

enemy, Cao Cao's men were feeling just a little intimidated, and Cao Cao met with his

advisors to discuss how to proceed.

Yuan Shao's army may be immense, but there is no need to fear, said one of the strategists, Xun You,

each of our soldiers is the equal of ten of theirs, but it's in our best interest to fight quickly.

If this campaign gets dragged out, our provisions will run low and it

will become problematic. My thoughts exactly, Cao Cao said. So he ordered his army to beat the

battle drums and advance on the enemy. Yuan Shao led his army out to meet them, and the two sides

lined up in battle formation. On Yuan Shao's side,

his advisor, Shen Pei, put 5,000 men with crossbows on each wing of his formation,

with another 5,000 archers hidden out of view near the front entrance to the formation.

After three rounds of drums, Yuan Shao rode out to the front of the lines,

donning a golden helmet and a suit of gold-plated armor,

a fine robe and a studded belt.

To his left and right were his generals, led by the likes of Zhang He,

Gao Lan, Han Meng, and Chen Yu Qing,

...