 Once across the river, however, Alaric began plotting a new invasion of the Western Empire, this time across the Rhine into Gaul.Stilicho, kept informed of Alaric's plans and movements by spies within the Gothic camp, considered himself absolved of the treaty, and laid an ambush for the Goths in the mountain passes from Gaul into Rhaetia, which lay on Alaric's proposed route.The barbarians found themselves trapped in the mountain valleys near Verona, surrounded on all sides by Stilicho's forces.