Therefore I intend to make Spain our base, and to march through Southern Gaul over the Alps into Italy, and there to fight the Romans on their own ground.
Already I have agents at work among the Gauls and the northern tribes of Italy, who will, I trust, join me in the war against our common enemy.
The enterprise is a great one, but it is not impossible; if it succeeds, Rome will be destroyed and Carthage will reign, without a rival, mistress of the world.

The plan was Hasdrubal's, but it has fallen to me to carry it out." "It is a grand plan indeed," Malchus exclaimed enthusiastically--"a glorious plan, but the difficulties seem tremendous." "Difficulties are made to be overcome by brave men," Hannibal said.
"The Alps are the greatest barrier, but my agents tell me that the difficulties are not insuperable even for elephants.

But before we start we have Spain to subdue.

Saguntum is under the protection of Rome, and must be crushed, and all the country north of the Ebro conquered and pacified.

This done the passage of reinforcements to my army in Italy will be easy.