The Empty City Strategy is a well-known story in China, and is even listed as one of the thirty-six strategies. Regardless of whether this story is true or not, let’s discuss the empty city strategy based on the fact that this story is true!
From Zhuge Liang's perspective,
used the empty city strategy to defeat the enemy without fighting and save himself and the city. For the Shu Han, the importance of Zhuge Liang is self-evident, because he proposed the Longzhong pair for Liu Bei to dominate the world, which was Liu Bei's later strategic line. Looking at the entire establishment process of Shu Han, it is basically the same as Zhuge Liang's strategy. Therefore, the success of the Empty City Strategy protected not only Zhuge Liang, but also the future and development of Shu Han. Judging from the results of the short war at that time, Zhuge Liang was the winner, and judging from the general military thinking, Zhuge Liang was successful. For those on the verge of death, survival is the only option. And we all admire and respect those who have the wisdom to escape death. Whether it is Zhuge Liang himself or the Shu Han, Zhuge Liang seems to be the winner of the empty city strategy. But, is this really the case?
From the perspective of Sima Yi
First of all, from a military point of view. Sima Yi had two choices. The first was to send thousands of troops in to see what was true. In that case, Zhuge Liang's deception would be discovered. Then, Sima Yi either killed Zhuge Liang or captured Zhuge Liang, thus becoming famous all over the world. The second is not to go in and retreat back to the camp. It can be said that it is because he is afraid that Zhuge Liang will ambush, as a way to shirk responsibility. However, Sima Yi, a famous general who has been on the battlefield for more than ten years, will definitely look at the geography of the mountain, the possibility of city defense and troop deployment. Since it can be seen from the position of the city and the surrounding terrain that Zhuge Liang did not ambush, why did Sima Yi retreat? Sima Yi knew that political interests were greater than military interests, which is why his decision was so puzzling.
Then, politically. If the famous Zhuge Liang was captured by Sima Yi, Sima Yi would be a high-ranking official and well-paid. However, it is also true that just one powerful master can keep Sima Yi awake every night. Compared with his physical health, Sima Yi probably didn't want the threat to his life due to his great achievements, so sparing Zhuge Liang's life was the only choice and the best choice. After all, officialdom is not a moment, but a period of decades. Sima Yi thought about it for a long time. He would not pursue big results every time he fought. Instead, he would stop in moderation and achieve merit but not greatness. It was both important and non-threatening. He was a truly outstanding strategist.
From a time perspective,
In the short term, Zhuge Liang's empty city strategy was successful, and it was also a good strategy that impressed people. However, if we think deeply, it is Sima Yi who decides whether Zhuge Liang lives or dies, and it is Sima Yi who decides whether the Empty City Plan succeeds or fails. Therefore, in essence, Sima Yi's attitude and political considerations are the key to the success of Zhuge Liang's empty city plan. The success of the plan is not in his own hands. It seems that Zhuge Liang is not particularly powerful. In the long run, Sima Yi left Zhuge Liang as a talented opponent. After Zhuge Liang left Qishan six times, the Northern Expedition brought a lot of benefits to Sima Yi's officialdom, and it also dealt a huge blow to the cronies of the Cao Group. During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, Sima Yi regained military power again and again, which also created conditions for Sima Yi to successfully control the overall situation. It can be seen that Zhuge Liang is just a pawn for Sima Yi to highlight his importance and gain power. It is a fact that Sima Yi is superior in skills.
No matter which angle you look at it, Sima Yi is the key to the empty city plan, and Sima Yi is the real profiteer of the empty city plan. It can also be said to be a win-win situation, but Sima Yi has more benefits, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he has won for the time being.
