kōng chéng jì: 空城计 - The Empty Fort Strategy; A Bluff

• Keywords: kong cheng ji, 空城计, Empty Fort Strategy, Empty City Stratagem, Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Thirty-Six Stratagems, Chinese stratagem, psychological warfare, how to bluff in Chinese, Sānshíliù Jì
• Summary: The 空城计 (kōng chéng jì), or “Empty Fort Strategy,” is one of China's most famous historical stratagems. Originating from the classic novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, it describes a high-stakes bluff where a vastly outnumbered defender deceives a powerful enemy into retreating by projecting an aura of calm and readiness for an ambush. In modern Chinese, it's used to describe any clever act of psychological deception where one feigns strength from a position of extreme weakness.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kōng chéng jì
• Part of Speech: Noun (Chengyu / Idiom)
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A strategy of using an audacious bluff to deceive and deter a stronger, suspicious enemy.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine you're cornered by a fearsome opponent. You have no weapons and no backup. Instead of panicking, you calmly open your doors, invite them in for tea, and act as if you have an army of assassins hiding in the shadows. Your opponent, knowing you're clever, gets spooked by your confidence and retreats, fearing a trap. That's the 空城计. It's the ultimate psychological victory achieved by turning your vulnerability into an apparent strength.

• 空 (kōng): Means “empty,” “hollow,” or “void.” Think of an empty room (空房间 - kōng fángjiān).
• 城 (chéng): Means “city” or “fortress,” specifically one with walls. Think of the Great Wall (长城 - Chángchéng).
• 计 (jì): Means “strategy,” “plan,” or “stratagem.” Think of a plan (计划 - jìhuà).

Together, 空城计 literally translates to “the empty city strategy,” a perfect description of the tactic.

The story of the 空城计 is a cornerstone of Chinese folklore and a testament to the cultural value placed on wisdom (智 - zhì) over brute force. The most famous telling comes from the 14th-century novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. The brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮) is defending a small city with only a handful of soldiers. He learns that his arch-rival, the cautious and cunning Sima Yi (司马懿), is approaching with an army of 150,000. Trapped and with no hope of winning a direct fight, Zhuge Liang orders his soldiers to hide. He then throws open the city gates, orders a few old men to sweep the entrance, and calmly ascends the city wall to play his zither. When Sima Yi arrives, he is baffled. Seeing the open gates and Zhuge Liang's serene confidence, he suspects a massive ambush. Knowing Zhuge Liang's reputation for never taking unnecessary risks, Sima Yi believes a trap must be waiting. He orders a full retreat, and Zhuge Liang's city is saved.

• Comparison to Western Culture: The closest Western concept is a “bluff,” especially in poker. However, the 空城计 is far more specific and culturally significant. A poker bluff is a standard part of the game; the 空城计 is a legendary, life-or-death gambit that relies on the established reputation of the bluffer and the paranoia of the opponent. It's not just about deception; it's about weaponizing your enemy's own intelligence against them. It highlights a key theme in Chinese strategy: the best victory is one won without fighting.

While its origins are military, 空城计 is a very active idiom in modern life, especially in business and negotiations. It's used to describe situations where someone puts on a brave face to hide a weak position.

• In Business: A startup with very little funding might spend lavishly on a beautiful office and marketing materials when meeting with investors. They are “singing the Empty Fort Strategy” (唱空城计 - chàng kōng chéng jì) to project success and scare away doubts or competitors.
• In Negotiations: If you're in a weak bargaining position, you might act completely nonchalant and be willing to walk away from the deal. This can make the other party nervous, fearing they've misjudged your position, and cause them to offer better terms.
• In Daily Life: A student who didn't study for an oral exam might answer the one question they know with extreme confidence, hoping the teacher assumes they are well-prepared and doesn't ask any more questions.

The connotation is generally one of cleverness and resourcefulness. It's seen as a smart, if risky, move.

• Example 1:
  • 诸葛亮巧用空城计，吓退了司马懿的大军。
  • Pinyin: Zhūgě Liàng qiǎo yòng kōng chéng jì, xià tuì le Sīmǎ Yì de dà jūn.
  • English: Zhuge Liang cleverly used the Empty Fort Strategy to scare away Sima Yi's massive army.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the original, historical context. It's a common way to reference the story.
• Example 2:
  • 我们公司现在资金紧张，只能唱一出空城计，希望能唬住竞争对手。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī xiànzài zījīn jǐnzhāng, zhǐ néng chàng yī chū kōng chéng jì, xīwàng néng hǔ zhù jìngzhēng duìshǒu.
  • English: Our company is short on funds right now; we can only perform an Empty Fort Strategy and hope to intimidate our competitors.
  • Analysis: A classic business usage. “唱一出 (chàng yī chū)” means “to perform” or “put on a show,” which fits perfectly with the theatrical nature of the bluff.
• Example 3:
  • 别看他表面镇定，我猜他是在跟我们玩空城计。
  • Pinyin: Bié kàn tā biǎomiàn zhèndìng, wǒ cāi tā shì zài gēn wǒmen wán kōng chéng jì.
  • English: Don't be fooled by his calm appearance; I guess he's playing the Empty Fort Strategy with us.
  • Analysis: This shows how you can use the term to call out someone else's potential bluff.
• Example 4:
  • 面对客户的质疑，他摆出了空城计，假装我们早就有了解决方案。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì kèhù de zhìyí, tā bǎi chū le kōng chéng jì, jiǎzhuāng wǒmen zǎo jiù yǒu le jiějué fāng'àn.
  • English: Facing the client's doubts, he put on an Empty Fort Strategy, pretending we already had a solution.
  • Analysis: “摆出 (bǎi chū)” means “to assume a posture” or “to present,” which works well here.
• Example 5:
  • 没钱付房租了，他只好对房东使出空城计，说钱马上就到。
  • Pinyin: Méi qián fù fángzū le, tā zhǐhǎo duì fángdōng shǐ chū kōng chéng jì, shuō qián mǎshàng jiù dào.
  • English: He had no money to pay rent, so he had to use the Empty Fort Strategy on his landlord, saying the money was on its way.
  • Analysis: A more informal, everyday life example. The stakes are lower, but the principle of bluffing from weakness is the same.
• Example 6:
  • 你这招空城计对我没用，我知道你根本没准备好。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhè zhāo kōng chéng jì duì wǒ méi yòng, wǒ zhīdào nǐ gēnběn méi zhǔnbèi hǎo.
  • English: This Empty Fort Strategy of yours won't work on me; I know you're not prepared at all.
  • Analysis: Here, “这招 (zhè zhāo)” means “this move” or “this trick,” framing the strategy as a specific tactic.
• Example 7:
  • 我们的防线其实很薄弱，现在全靠空城计在支撑。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de fángxiàn qíshí hěn bóruò, xiànzài quán kào kōng chéng jì zài zhīchēng.
  • English: Our defensive line is actually very weak; right now we're relying entirely on an Empty Fort Strategy to hold on.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes being in a state of bluffing. The strategy is the only thing supporting the situation.
• Example 8:
  • 老师突然提问，我什么都不会，只能硬着头皮演一出空城计了。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī tūrán tíwèn, wǒ shénme dōu bù huì, zhǐ néng yìngzhe tóupí yǎn yī chū kōng chéng jì le.
  • English: The teacher suddenly asked a question, and I knew nothing, so I had to brace myself and perform an Empty Fort Strategy.
  • Analysis: “硬着头皮 (yìngzhe tóupí)” means “to bite the bullet” or “force oneself to do something,” which captures the courage required for such a bluff.
• Example 9:
  • 这家公司发布会开得这么隆重，但据说他们已经快破产了，完全是空城计。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī fābùhuì kāi de zhème lóngzhòng, dàn jùshuō tāmen yǐjīng kuài pòchǎn le, wánquán shì kōng chéng jì.
  • English: This company's launch event is so grand, but I heard they're close to bankruptcy. It's a total Empty Fort Strategy.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using the idiom to describe corporate posturing.
• Example 10:
  • 有时候，在谈判中，摆出空城计的姿态反而能让你获得意想不到的优势。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu shíhòu, zài tánpàn zhōng, bǎi chū kōng chéng jì de zītài fǎn'ér néng ràng nǐ huòdé yìxiǎngbùdào de yōushì.
  • English: Sometimes in a negotiation, assuming the posture of an Empty Fort Strategy can unexpectedly gain you an advantage.
  • Analysis: This sentence speaks to the philosophy behind the strategy, making it a useful piece of advice.

• Not Just Any Lie: A common mistake is to think 空城计 means any kind of bluff or lie. It's a very specific type of bluff that only works under certain conditions:

1. You are in a position of significant weakness.

  2.  Your opponent is much stronger but also cautious and suspicious.
  3.  Your opponent respects your intelligence and is prone to overthinking.
  You can't use it on a reckless opponent who would just charge in anyway.
*   **False Friend: "Bluffing"**: While "bluffing" is the closest English equivalent, it lacks the cultural depth. "Bluffing" can be used in a casual card game. 空城计 implies a high-stakes, life-or-death situation with deep psychological roots. Using it to describe telling your friend you have a royal flush in poker would be overly dramatic.
*   **Incorrect Usage:**
  *   `他用空城计骗我说他完成了作业。 (Tā yòng kōng chéng jì piàn wǒ shuō tā wánchéng le zuòyè.)`
  *   **Why it's wrong:** This is just a simple lie. The power dynamic is equal, and the stakes are low. There's no element of a stronger, suspicious opponent being deceived. A simple word like `骗 (piàn)` (to deceive) or `撒谎 (sāhuǎng)` (to lie) is appropriate here.

• 三十六计 (Sānshíliù Jì) - The Thirty-Six Stratagems. 空城计 is the 32nd stratagem in this famous collection of political and military tactics.
• 诸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) - The brilliant Shu Han strategist who famously employed this tactic. His name is synonymous with genius in China.
• 三国演义 (Sānguó Yǎnyì) - Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The historical novel that popularized this story and many other famous Chinese idioms.
• 虚张声势 (xū zhāng shēng shì) - To make an empty show of strength; to bluff. This is a more general term for bluffing and can be used in situations where 空城计 would be too specific or dramatic.
• 兵不厌诈 (bīng bù yàn zhà) - “All's fair in war”; literally, “in warfare, there is no aversion to deceit.” This is the underlying principle that justifies tactics like 空城计.
• 心理战 (xīnlǐ zhàn) - Psychological warfare. The modern term for the type of conflict embodied by the Empty Fort Strategy.
• 出其不意 (chū qí bù yì) - To take someone by surprise; to do the unexpected. This is a key element of the 空城计's success.