During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi were two outstanding military strategists and statesmen who clashed many times on the battlefield and showed their wisdom and talents. One of the most famous was when Zhuge Liang laid out an empty city plan in Xicheng and successfully deceived Sima Yi so that he and the Shu army could retreat safely.
But is this really the case with this story? Was Sima Yi really confused by Zhuge Liang's plan to empty the city and not dare to attack Xicheng? Or did he have already seen through Zhuge Liang's plan but deliberately let him go?
Why didn't Sima Yi attack Xicheng?
In 228 AD, Zhuge Liang made the second northern expedition and attacked the street pavilion of Wei. The street pavilion was an important military point of the Wei State, and the defender was Zhang He, a famous general of the Wei State. Zhuge Liang sent Ma Tan as the vanguard to attack the street pavilion. Ma Tan did not listen to Wang Ping's advice and did not take precautions, but was surrounded by Zhang He and Sima Yi, and the street pavilion fell. Sima Yi took advantage of the victory to pursue, led an army of 150,000, and went straight to Xicheng. Xicheng is the granary of Shu and the base camp of Zhuge Liang. If Xicheng is lost, the Shu army will be completely annihilated.
At this time, Zhuge Liang only had 5,000 soldiers around him, half of whom were still transporting grain and grass, and only 2,500 soldiers were left in the city. Zhuge Liang has no generals, only a group of civil officials. In the face of Sima Yi's army, everyone panicked and didn't know how to respond. Zhuge Liang was calm and calm, and ordered the soldiers to hide the banners, and the city gates were wide open, and each city gate sent 20 soldiers to pretend to be ordinary people, sprinkling water and sweeping the streets. He himself put on a crane, put on a scarf, cranked a feather fan, led two little scholars, and carried a piano to the city tower, sat by the railing, burned incense and played the piano, and sang loudly.
When Sima Yi's vanguard arrived at the city, they didn't dare to act rashly when they saw this scene, and hurriedly went back to report Sima Yi. Sima Yi listened, didn't believe it, and came to observe it in person. He saw Zhuge Liang sitting on the city tower, looking calm, playing the piano. He was suspicious in his heart, thinking that Zhuge Liang had always been cautious and would not take risks, there must be ambushes in the city, and if he attacked, he would definitely be hit. So, he ordered the withdrawal of his troops and gave up the opportunity to attack Xicheng. Zhuge Liang was able to retreat safely and keep the country of Shu.
In this story, it seems that Zhuge Liang's wisdom defeated Sima Yi's bravery, but if you analyze it carefully, you will find that Sima Yi was not really confused by Zhuge Liang's empty city plan, but deliberately let Zhuge Liang go. Why?
Sima Yi is a visionary, ambitious and ambitious person who will not be easily satisfied. In the Battle of Jieting, he defeated Ma Tan in one fell swoop, seized an important military position of Shu, and made great contributions to the Wei State. But instead of being complacent, he thought of bigger goals and plans. He knew that although Zhuge Liang had lost the street pavilion, he still had Xicheng and Hanzhong, as well as the rivers and mountains and people's hearts of Shu, as well as other generals and ministers of Shu. If he rashly attacked Xicheng, even if he could capture Xicheng, he would not be able to completely destroy Zhuge Liang and the Shu army, but would provoke their resistance and counterattack, bringing greater trouble and danger to himself.
Why did Zhuge Liang put up an empty city plan?
So, why did Zhuge Liang put up an empty plan? Did he really have no choice but to use this method to delay time and wait for reinforcements? Or did he anticipate Sima Yi's reaction and deliberately use this method to induce Sima Yi to withdraw his troops?
Zhuge Liang put forward an empty city plan out of his helplessness and wit, out of his determination and courage, and out of his wisdom and humanity. He didn't really have nothing to do, but deliberately used this method to induce Sima Yi to withdraw his troops for his own greater purpose and interests.
Zhuge Liang is a knowledgeable and well-versed person in the art of war, and he will not be easily helpless. He once used fire to attack Cao Cao's army, deceived Cao Cao's eyes with straw boats and arrows, and confused Sima Yi's mind with eight array diagrams, he was very proficient in the use of the art of war and would not be trapped by the situation. After he saw the situation in Xicheng, he must have dealt with it in his heart, and he would not have to deal with it with the empty city plan.
Zhuge Liang is a person with great ambitions, loyalty and faithfulness, and he will not easily turn his back. Before Liu Bei died, he made an oath to assist Liu Chan and restore the Han family. He once expressed his loyalty and determination to Liu Chan in the teacher's table, vowing to fight for the rise and fall of Shu. After seeing the situation in Xicheng, he must have a responsibility in his heart and will not give up easily.
To sum up, Zhuge Liang put up an empty city plan because he knew Sima Yi's character and psychology, and deliberately used this method to stimulate and challenge him, making him doubt and fear, so as to give up the attack. He did this to protect the safety of himself and the Shu army, to preserve the strength of himself and the Shu State, and to continue the hope of himself and Shu Han.