Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast.

This is episode 128.

Last time, after Shu had tried to invade the rival kingdom of Wei for the third time,

Wei decided to return the favor and launch its own invasion of Shu.

But that invasion was literally washed out by a month-long torrential downpour.

While the Wei army was slogging home, Zhuge Liang began preparing for his fourth northern

expedition.

Once again, his sights were first set on the Key Wei city of Chang'an, and he told his officers

that he would march the army to Qi Mountain, just like he did on the previous three campaigns.

But this time, his officers were kind of skeptical.

There are other routes to the region around Chang'an, so why does your excellency keep insisting

on going through Qi Mountain? they asked him.

The main road to Chang'an runs through Qi Mountain, Zhuge Liang explained.

Enemy troops from the region have to go through there.

Besides, the hills border the Wei River in the front and Shia gorge in the rear.

That allows us to maneuver left and right and hide troops.

This is a good place to wage war. That is why I want to take it

first, so that I can have a geographical advantage. That explanation satisfied the men, so Zhuge Liang

split his forces. He sent one army through Ji Gorge and another through Xie Gorge,

and they were to converge at Qi Mountain

on the other side.

He then led the main army and appointed the generals Guan Xing and Liao Hua as his vanguard

...