ROTK goes in search of higher TV ratings: Several role players get killed off, and we have a surprise marriage proposal.

* Transcript

* Map of Key Locations

* Graph of Key Characters

Transcript

PDF version

Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 66.

Last time, we left off with Sun Quan and the Dongwu forces bogged down outside the key city of Hefei (2,2), which was being defended by three of Cao Cao’s veteran generals — Zhang Liao, Li Dian, and Yue (4) Jin (4). Sun Quan had just lost a battle, and one of his bodyguards was killed in the fighting, which made him very sad.

After Sun Quan returned to camp following his defeat, one of his top generals, Taishi Ci, came to see him with a plan.

“One of my soldiers, a man named Ge (1) Ding (4), has a sworn brother who is a stablehand for Zhang Liao,” Taishi Ci said. “The stablehand was admonished by Zhang Liao and is holding a grudge, so he sent word to us tonight that he’s willing to start a fire in the city and assassinate Zhang Liao. I would like to lead some troops to back him up.”

“Where is Ge (1) Ding (4) now?” Sun Quan asked.

“He has already sneaked into the city,” Taishi Ci answered. “I would like to take 5,000 soldiers on this mission.”

However, one of Sun Quan’s advisers, Zhuge Jin (3), advised caution. “Zhang Liao is crafty. He might be prepared. We must not act rashly,” he said.

However, Taishi Ci insisted on going, and Sun Quan, lusting after some revenge for his dead bodyguard, signed off on the mission, so Taishi Ci took 5,000 men and waited for the fire from inside the city.

 

As for his inside men, Taishi Ci’s soldier, Ge (1) Ding (4), had sneaked into the city with Zhang Liao’s troops after that day’s battle. He found his sworn brother, the stablehand, and hashed out the plan.

“I have already sent word to General Taishi Ci, and he will bring backup tonight,” Ge Ding said. “How do you intend to proceed?”

“The stable is relatively far from the center of the army,” the stablehand replied. “I’ll set the horse feed on fire. You go out and start yelling that the troops inside the city are rebelling, and I will assassinate Zhang Liao in the chaos. Once he’s dead, the rest of the troops will flee.”

And so it was settled. That night, Zhang Liao returned to the city fresh off his victory and rewarded the troops, but he also ordered that they must sleep in their armor.

“We just won a battle today, and the enemy has fallen back a good distance. Why do you not allow the men to remove their armor and rest?” his staff asked.

“A commander must be neither too happy about victories nor too concerned about defeats,” Zhang Liao said. “What if Dongwu tries a sneak attack while our guard is down? We must be even more careful tonight than usual.”

 

Well, turns out he was right. Zhang Liao had barely finished speaking when a fire broke out in the rear of his camp, accompanied by cries of rebellion. Urgent reports streamed in, one after another. Zhang Liao quickly mounted his horse, summoned a dozen or so officers to accompany him, and stood on the main street.

“The situation sounds dire! We must go investigate!” his men said.

“It’s impossible that the entire city would be rebelling,” Zhang Liao said. “This is just the rebels trying to startle our soldiers. If anyone panics, execute them at once!”

Momentarily, the general Li Dian arrived with the two conspirators i...