Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast.

This is episode 82.

Last time, with Liu Bei tightening the news around his metaphorical neck,

Liu Zhang was so desperate for help that he

turned to his long-time nemesis Zhang Lu, promising to give him 20 districts if he helped repel Liu Bei's

invasion. Zhang Lu agreed to this and sent his new acquisition, the general Ma Chao, to lead an army

to attack Liu Bei.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei was on the move, marching toward the key city of Mianzhu, which lay

between him and his ultimate destination, Liu Zhang's power base at the city of Chengdu.

Liu Zhang has sent reinforcements to garrison Mianzhu, and this force was led by

two men, Fei Guan, who was Liu Zhang's brother-in-law, and Li Yan. When they heard that

Liu Bei was coming their way, Fei Guan sent Li Yan out to meet the enemy. Li Yan led 3,000 men out

to meet the oncoming force. Once they lined up,

Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong rode out and faced Li Yan. They fought for 40-some bouts,

with neither men getting the upper hand. Zhuge Liang now ordered the gong to be sounded to signal retreat.

Huang Zhong returned to his lines and asked,

I was just about to capture Li Yan, why did you call me back? From what I can see,

Li Yan cannot be defeated by force, Zhuge Liang said. Tomorrow we will take him on again.

At that time, Yu will pretend to lose and lure him into following you

into a canyon, where we will stage an ambush to defeat him. So the next day, Li Yan came to meet

them again, and this time Huang Zhong fought him for less than ten bouts before feigning defeat

and leading his men in retreat.

...