Empty City Stratagem
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Here is another celebrated example of Zhuge Liang’s feat. Once he was confronted with an extremely dangerous situation: An enemy battalion 150,000 strong was approaching an isolated city garrisoned by only a handful of old soldiers under his command when his main force was away.
Zhuge ordered all the flags in sight to be taken down and all the city gates thrown open. He had soldiers dressed as scavengers to sweep the streets at the city gates. No one was permitted to move about or make any noise. Then dressed in his usual white robe, he mounted the city wall, lit a stick of incense and began playing a piece of peaceful music on the lute. When the enemy commander saw the scene, he immediately suspected a sinister trap and withdrew. By the time he found out the truth, Shu’s main force had already returned.
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Wise Proverbs
- To fight a hundred battles and win a hundred is not supreme excellence; what would be more supreme is breaking the enemy's resistance wothout fighting.
- 百战百胜，非善之善也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
- A wise man never wants a weapon.
- 智者从来不需要武器。
- He who risks nothing gains nothing.
- 收获与风险并存。
Editor Says:
Zhuge had a reputation for being cautious and risk-averse. Knowing that his opponent was a shrewd man who loved deception in strategy but often fell victim to his own suspicion, he gambled on his suspicion. Acting out of character, Zhuge succeeded in deceiving him.