Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast.

This is episode 49.

Last time, Cao Cao has sent his general Xia Hudun and a hundred thousand men to go wipe out Liu Bei, who was in

Xinye County. Liu Bei's new advisor, Zhuge Liang, cooked up a plan to repel the invaders

near the city of Bo Wang. But most of the people that Zhuge Liang was giving orders to,

including Liu Bei himself, were a little bit skeptical.

So Xia Hudun was marching his army toward Bo Wang. He put half in front as the vanguard,

and the rest marched in the back of the column, defending the provisions. It was autumn,

and strong winds were starting to blow. As they marched, they saw dust being

kicked up ahead, a sure sign of oncoming troops. So Xia Huden ordered his men to line up for battle,

and he asked the guide where they were. Bo Wang is ahead, behind that is the mouth of the river Luo, the guide answered.

Xia Hudun ordered the officers Yu Jin and Li Dian to hold the line, while he himself

rode forward to scope out the oncoming force.

When he saw them, he suddenly started laughing.

When his men asked why, he answered,

In front of the prime minister, Xu Shu had praised Zhuge Liang to the heavens. But now,

I see how he deploys his troops. Look at a sorry state of his vanguard. Pitting such troops

against me is like driving a herd of dogs and goats into a fight with

tigers and leopards. I had told his excellency that I will capture Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang alive,

and now I'm going to make good on that promise. So he rode out to meet the enemy.

From the oncoming force, the general Zhao Yun rode out to meet him, and Xia Hudun cursed him.

You followers of Liu Bei, you are like lost souls chasing a ghost.

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