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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.