Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast. This is episode 1.45.

Last time, Jiang Wei had launched yet another northern campaign. Yeah, I know, it sounds like a broken record by now,

but this time he got off to a pretty nice start.

He bested Deng Ai in a contest of formations

and took over Deng Ai's camp at Qi Mountain.

Deng Ai only escaped with his life

when his comrade Sima Wang rescued him.

It turned out that Sima Wang knew a little bit more about Jiang Wei's formation than Deng Ai,

and that gave Deng Ai an idea.

He told Sima Wang,

Tomorrow, while you engage Jiang Wei in a contest of formations,

I will lead an army to launch a sneak attack on the back side of

Qi Mountain. We will engage them on both sides and retake our camp. So it was settled and

Deng Ai sent the message to Jiang Wei challenging him to round two the next day, and

Jiang Wei agreed. After sending Deng Ai's messenger

away with his reply, Jiang Wei told his officers, The late prime minister gave me a secret text

that taught me the 365 permutations of this formation. Deng Ai challenging me to a contest of formations is a case of trying to show off in front of the formation. Deng Ai challenging me to a contest of formations

is a case of trying to show off in front of a master.

But there must be deception afoot.

Do you know what it could be?

The general Liao Hua guessed,

They must be trying to distract us while they attack us from the rear.

...