The story of the Empty City Strategy comes from "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", a story adapted by the author based on "Guo Chong's Three Things" in Pei Songzhi's annotation of the Three Kingdoms. The protagonists of the Empty City Strategy are Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi.
The Story of the Empty City Strategy
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang lost the strategic location - Street Pavilion due to the misuse of Ma Di. Wei general Sima Yi took advantage of the situation and led an army of 150,000 to swarm towards the west city where Zhuge Liang was located. Come. At that time, Zhuge Liang had no generals around him, only a group of civilian officials. Half of the 5,000 troops he led had gone to transport grain and grass, leaving only 2,500 soldiers in the city. Everyone was shocked when they heard the news that Sima Yi was coming with his troops. After Zhuge Liang climbed the tower to watch, he said to everyone: "Don't panic, everyone. I can teach Sima Yi to retreat with a little strategy."
So Zhuge Liang sent an order to hide all the flags and keep the soldiers where they are. Don't move. If anyone goes out privately or makes a loud noise, he will be beheaded immediately. Soldiers were also asked to open the four city gates, and 20 soldiers were sent to pretend to be ordinary people at each gate and sprinkle water to sweep the streets. Zhuge Liang put on his crane cloak and tall silk scarf, led two little book boys and a harp, went to the city and sat down on the railing in front of the enemy tower, lit incense, and then slowly played the harp. .
Sima Yi's vanguard troops arrived at the city. Seeing this momentum, they did not dare to enter the city easily, so they hurried back to report to Sima Yi. After hearing this, Sima Yi smiled and said, "How is this possible?" Then he ordered the three armies to stop and flew forward to watch. Not far from the city, he saw Zhuge Liang sitting on the tower with a big smile, burning incense and playing the piano.
There is a book boy on the left, holding a sword in his hand; there is also a book boy on the right, holding a whisk in his hand. Inside and outside the city gate, more than 20 people who looked like ordinary people were sweeping with their heads down, as if there was no one around. After seeing this, Sima Yi was confused, so he came to the middle army and ordered the rear army to act as the front army, and the front army to act as the rear army to retreat.
His second son, Sima Zhao, asked: "Is it because Zhuge Liang has no soldiers at home, so he deliberately acted like this? Father, why do you want to retreat?" Sima Yi said: "Zhuge Liang has been cautious in his life and has never taken risks. Now. The city gate is wide open, and there must be an ambush inside. If our troops enter, they will fall into their trap. It is better to retreat quickly!" So all the soldiers and horses retreated. The protagonist of the Empty City Strategy
Zhuge Liang (181-October 8, 234), courtesy name Kongming, nicknamed Wolong, was a native of Yangdu, Langya (now Yinan, Shandong). He was the prime minister of the Shu Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period and an outstanding statesman. Military strategist, writer, calligrapher, inventor. In his early years, he followed his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Jingzhou. After Zhuge Xuan's death, Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion in Longzhong. Later, Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times to invite Zhuge Liang, and joined forces with Sun Quan of Eastern Wu to defeat Cao's army in the Battle of Chibi. Forming the tripartite momentum of the Three Kingdoms. He died of illness in Wuzhangyuan (now Qishan, Baoji, Shaanxi) in the 12th year of Jianxing Shu (234) at the age of 54. Liu Chan posthumously named him Zhongwuhou, and later generations often called Zhuge Liang the honorific name Wuhou. The Eastern Jin regime named him King Wuxing because of his military prowess.
Sima Yi (179-September 7, 251), courtesy name Zhongda, was a statesman, military strategist, and powerful official in Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, and one of the founders of the Western Jin Dynasty. Sima Yi was smart, erudite and Confucian since he was a child. Because Cao Cao was born "an eunuch with an ugly legacy", Sima Yi once refused the official position granted by Cao Cao. However, after Cao Cao became prime minister in the 13th year of Jian'an, he forcibly appointed Sima Yi as a literary official. Sima Yi was good at strategizing and was successful in many expeditions. He once led his army to capture and kill Meng Da, twice led his army to successfully resist Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, and led an expedition to pacify Liaodong. It has made important contributions to the development of agricultural economy such as farming and water conservancy.