This fable tells of using psychological warfare to deceive the enemy with an empty city.
Sānguó shíqī Sīmǎ Yì shuàilǐng dàjūn jìngōng Xīchéng
三国Sānguó🔊时期shíqī🔊，司马懿Sīmǎ Yì🔊率领shuàilǐng🔊大军dàjūn🔊进攻jìngōng🔊西城Xīchéng🔊。
Zhūgě Liàng shēnbiān zhǐyǒu shǎoshù lǎoruò shìbīng
诸葛亮Zhūgě Liàng🔊身边shēnbiān🔊只有zhǐyǒu🔊少数shǎoshù🔊老弱lǎoruò🔊士兵shìbīng🔊。
Tā què mìnglìng dǎkāi chéngmén zìjǐ zài chénglóu shàng tánqín
他tā🔊却què🔊命令mìnglìng🔊打开dǎkāi🔊城门chéngmén🔊，自己zìjǐ🔊在zài🔊城楼上chénglóu shàng🔊弹琴tánqín🔊。
Sīmǎ Yì huáiyí yǒu máifú bù gǎn jìnchéng xiàlìng tuìbīng
司马懿Sīmǎ Yì🔊怀疑huáiyí🔊有yǒu🔊埋伏máifú🔊，不敢bù gǎn🔊进城jìnchéng🔊，下令xiàlìng🔊退兵tuìbīng🔊。
Zhūgě Liàng yòng kōngchéngjì bǎozhù le Xīchéng
诸葛亮Zhūgě Liàng🔊用yòng🔊空城计kōngchéngjì🔊保住了bǎozhù le🔊西城Xīchéng🔊。
English Translation:
During the Three Kingdoms period, Sima Yi led a large army to attack Xicheng. Zhuge Liang had only a few old and weak soldiers around him. Yet he ordered the city gates opened and played the lute on the city tower. Sima Yi suspected an ambush, dared not enter the city, and ordered a retreat. Zhuge Liang used the Empty City Stratagem to save Xicheng.