Iconic stratagems and ploys
From the Empty Fort Strategy to the chained ships at Red Cliffs — stratagems organised by theme and source. This wiki distinguishes between historical record and Romance.
Fire attack at Red Cliffs 赤壁火攻
Zhou Yu and Huang Gai used feigned surrender and fire ships to destroy Cao Cao's chained fleet in 208.
Empty Fort Strategy 空城计
Zhuge Liang is said to have opened the city gates and played the zither alone, convincing Sima Yi that an ambush awaited. Literary; not in the main historical record.
Borrowing arrows from straw boats 草船借箭
In the Romance, Zhuge Liang has straw-laden boats approach the Wei camp; Cao Cao's archers fire, and the arrows are collected. Purely literary.
Gate halberd shot 辕门射戟
Lü Bu resolved a standoff between Liu Bei and Ji Ling by shooting the small branch of a halberd at the camp gate; both sides withdrew.
Feigned surrender at Red Cliffs 黄盖诈降
Huang Gai pretended to defect to Cao Cao, then led fire ships into the fleet. Historical and literary.
Killing Ma Su after Jieting 挥泪斩马谡
Zhuge Liang had Ma Su executed for losing the pass at Jieting despite their close relationship. Historical; became a symbol of upholding military law.