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It's fall 217 BCE in the mountains of Central Italy.

Amid a camp of Carthaginian soldiers walks Hannibal Barca, their 30-year-old general.

While his soldiers rest and relax, Hannibal's mind races.

For over a year, war has been raging between Carthage and Rome as the two powers bowled for supremacy over the Mediterranean.

It's a conflict known as the Second Punic War, and Hannibal and his troops are fresh off a string of victories over Rome.

But trouble is on the horizon. Hannibal and his forces are stuck.

Roman troops have surrounded the Carthaginians camp blocking any route out of the mountains.

Fortunately, Hannibal and his soldiers have plenty of food, having gleaned several thousand cattle through their recent victories.

Hannibal's troops are now enjoying the spoils of war, cooking meat over fires.

But it's only a matter of time before their situation grows more dire.

Winter is on its way, and their cattle won't last them indefinitely.

With the Romans ready to wait them out, Hannibal knows he needs to make a move now, while conditions are still favorable.

As the general surveys the camp, staring into the eyes of the cattle among it, an idea comes to him, a way to use these animals as a distraction.

Immediately Hannibal orders his troops to find good kingdom.

While they spring into action, Hannibal rounds up his commanders and shares his plan.

He informs them that they're leaving the valley the same way they came in.

Commanders furrow their brows.

They could possibly get past four thousand Roman soldiers blocking their exit, especially with all their cattle.

They also don't understand why Hannibal would want to exit the same way they came, the general is well known for never taking the same road twice.

But that Hannibal tells them is precisely why this plan could work.

The commanders consider this and begin to come around to the idea.

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