The Empty City Stratagem

"The Empty City Stratagem" is a classic Beijing Opera piece based on an episode from the historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Set during the tumultuous Three Kingdoms period of ancient China (220-280 CE), it showcases the legendary military strategist Zhuge Liang's famous "Empty Fort Strategy."

In the story, Zhuge Liang finds himself in a precarious situation when he is left with only a small force to defend the city of Xicheng against the approaching army of Sima Yi. With most of his troops away on other missions and reinforcements days away, Zhuge Liang employs a daring psychological tactic.

Instead of preparing for battle, he orders the city gates to be thrown wide open and positions himself visibly on the city wall, calmly playing his guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) while burning incense. Suspecting a trap due to Zhuge Liang's reputation for cunning, the enemy general Sima Yi orders a retreat, thus saving the city without a single arrow being fired.

This performance highlights the cerebral nature of Beijing Opera, where wit and psychological warfare are portrayed with as much dramatic weight as physical battles. Our veteran performer Master Gao Feng brings decades of experience to the role of Zhuge Liang, capturing the strategist's legendary composure and intelligence.