"Sima Yi knows I am careful," Kongming replied, setting his instrument aside. "I used his own intelligence against him. He could not believe I would be so bold, so he convinced himself I was being clever."
Sima Yi rode to the front, squinting at the tower. He knew Kongming was a man of extreme caution who never took unnecessary risks. He listened to the music; it was steady, flawless, and devoid of any agitation.
Fearing a massive counter-attack hidden within the city's alleyways, Sima Yi ordered a total retreat. The 150,000 soldiers turned and marched away in a cloud of dust. 2 : Kongming Uses a Stratagem
This became known as the —the ultimate victory of psychological warfare over physical might.
"There is an ambush," Sima Yi whispered, his brow furrowed. "Kongming is a master of traps. This silence is a lure to draw us into the city where his hidden 'millions' await." "Sima Yi knows I am careful," Kongming replied,
When Sima Yi’s vanguard arrived, they stopped in their tracks. Instead of a rain of arrows, they saw four open gates and a few elderly men sweeping the dust. Above them, the legendary strategist sat alone, plucking a serene, elegant melody.
He ordered his soldiers to dress as civilians and sweep the streets in front of the four gates, acting as if the city were merely waking up for a quiet morning. Then, Kongming donned his simple Taoist robe and climbed to the highest point of the gate tower. He sat down, lit a stick of incense, and placed his guqin (zither) across his lap. He knew Kongming was a man of extreme
Approaching him was , leading a massive force of 150,000 elite troops. To fight was suicide. To flee was impossible.
