General Qi Jiguang was the most brilliant military mind of the late Ming Dynasty. He defeated the pirates and fortified the Great Wall. But his biggest challenge wasn't on the battlefield—it was the political minefield of the imperial court.

In this episode, we explore how a visionary military reformer had to play the game of political flattery just to keep his troops fed. Why did this hero die in poverty and disgrace? Join us for a tragic look at a man who was too advanced for his time.

Key topics:

• Innovative military tactics and the "Qi Army."

• The paradox of a general who must be a politician.

• The decline of Ming military power.