To attempt to turn the balance in the region, Antipus comes up with a plan. He has the young men set forth as decoys, and to march past the Lamanite stronghold in the city of Antiparah. Antipus and some of his army follow them, but far enough behind that they would not be seen. They hoped that the Lamanites would see Helaman and his unit as an easy victory and leave the city to attack them.