Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 858: An alternative empty city plan, whoever gets fooled will know!

The clamor of the battlefield faded away like the ebbing tide, replaced by a suffocating silence. From the Chu army camp came the faint sound of metal clashing—the signal to call back the troops.

When Xiang Yu's reluctant yet deeply doubtful order to "retreat" finally rang through the gloomy air, Gao Yao, standing like a statue on the city wall, felt the strain deep within him, strained to its limit, finally loosen abruptly! A sense of exhaustion, like an electric current, instantly coursed through his body, nearly giving way to his legs and making him want to collapse.

But he can't!

Gao Yao dug his nails into his palms, using the intense pain to force himself to maintain a stern expression that showed he had everything under control. His back was straight, and his eyes were still sharp as he cast a sharp gaze at the slowly retreating Chu army below the city, as if he had already anticipated the enemy's retreat, even with a hint of disdain and mockery.

He knew that any hint of slackness, relief, or fatigue on his part would likely be spotted by the piercing King of Western Chu below the city walls! Xiang Yu was merely temporarily deceived by the "deceptive attack" and hadn't truly retreated. If he saw through his flaws and realized it was just an empty city tactic, the Chu army's ferocious offensive could strike again like a raging storm! Then, Yangping Pass would be left with no chance of survival.

Gao Yao was currently enacting a dangerous empty city plan. This strategy was similar to Zhuge Liang's classic battle during the Three Kingdoms period, where he frightened Sima Yi away at Xicheng. While the core strategy of "deception to show strength" was similar, the purpose and circumstances were fundamentally different.

Zhuge Liang's Empty City Strategy was designed to deter the enemy and buy time and space for a strategic retreat in a desperate situation where the main army had already left and the city was extremely empty. It was a brilliant cover for the "best strategy" of "running away."

Gaoyao's Empty City Strategy was designed to deter the enemy, buy breathing space for the city, and hold onto the city in a desperate situation where troops were depleted and the city's defenses were on the verge of collapse. It was a gamble in the face of a desperate struggle for survival.

The success of Zhuge Liang's Empty City Plan was not due to a single factor, but rather a perfect combination of time, place, people, and psychological warfare. Gao Yao, under Xiao He's planning, inadvertently replicated the essence of the plan:

Zhuge Liang's Empty City Strategy was based on the delicate strategic balance of the Three Kingdoms. The strategic location of Shu Han, which was easy to defend but difficult to attack, put psychological pressure on the Wei army.

Gao Yao: During the Chu-Han War, Xiang Yu, despite his strength, was not without his worries. Yangping Pass itself was a formidable pass, and the brutal attack and defense of the previous few days had left the Chu army with a psychological shadow of its formidable defense and heavy casualties. The thunderous force of black powder amplified this shadow to an extreme.

Zhuge Liang perfectly exploited Sima Yi's suspicious and cautious nature. Knowing Sima Yi's belief in his lifelong caution and his refusal to take risks, he acted in the opposite direction, opening the city gates, lowering the flags and drums, burning incense, and playing the zither, creating an unusual atmosphere of tranquility and danger. Every move seemed to say, "I have an ambush, waiting for you to enter."

Gao Yao: Xiao He's strategy also precisely targeted Xiang Yu's current psychological state. Having just suffered a severe blow from a thunderbolt, Xiang Yu's army's morale was unstable and filled with fear of the unknown. The nighttime breakout of thousands of cavalry, the sudden appearance of reinforcements from the city walls, and Gao Yao's own unwavering demeanor, both determined and composed, seemed to be telling the naturally suspicious Xiang Yu, "My reinforcements have arrived, and we are confident and ready to attack!" Gao Yao's "tranquility," like Zhuge Liang's, was a powerful psychological deterrent.

Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi: This is the most crucial yet often overlooked aspect of the Empty City Plan's success. Sima Yi wasn't completely deceived; he likely harbored suspicions that this might be a ruse. However, there were deeper reasons for his refusal to enter the city! As a user has profoundly analyzed: A fierce power struggle raged within Cao Wei, and Sima Yi, despite his high position and influence, was deeply envied by Cao clan members.

Zhuge Liang's presence was Sima Yi's most crucial excuse for maintaining his military power and position. If he had captured, killed, or defeated Zhuge Liang at Xicheng, thus eliminating Cao Wei's greatest threat, Sima Yi would likely have been immediately abandoned, losing his military power and even his life. Therefore, Sima Yi's political best interest lay in letting Zhuge Liang go. He needed Zhuge Liang as his constant rival. The Empty City Strategy gave him a legitimate reason to withdraw his troops, perfectly concealing his political calculations.

Gao Yao and Xiang Yu: Xiang Yu's situation was different. He did not have the complicated political baggage of Sima Yi, but he had practical concerns:

The morale of the army was low. The Chu army had just suffered a heavy blow and the morale was low. A forced attack on the city would be costly and the outcome would be unpredictable.

Threat from the rear: The thousands of missing cavalrymen were like a sword of Damocles hanging over his head, making him dare not attack the city with all his strength. He had to divide his troops to guard the food routes and the rear.

Is it worthwhile to continue storming this seemingly reinforced fortress? Could this be a ploy by the Southern Frontier Army to lure the enemy deeper into their territory?

Xiang Yu's retreat was based more on an assessment of tactical risks and uncertainties, and was a cautious choice.

Gao Yao's empty city plan, therefore, cleverly exploited Xiang Yu's temporary doubts, the Chu army's fear, and the uncertainty of the battlefield. It succeeded, but this success was fragile and temporary.

Gao Yao knew clearly that Xiang Yu's retreat was only a temporary measure. If the Chu scouts discovered the cavalry's whereabouts, if Xiang Yu calmed down and saw through the enemy's true intentions, or if he overcame his doubts and decided to fight at all costs... a torrential attack could come again at any time.

Every moment of his "performance" was a precious opportunity for Xiao He to mobilize the county troops for defense, buy time to repair the city walls, and give the soldiers time to recover their strength. He couldn't afford any mistakes; he had to play this empty city plan to the very end, until a real turning point appeared, or... until the city was broken and he died.

Time seemed to stand still for an eternity. Atop the city walls, Gao Yao stood like a cold, iron statue, maintaining an unfathomable, majestic presence. Inside, however, his heart was already surging with turbulent waves, and every second felt like an eternity. He channeled all his willpower into suppressing the exhaustion of his body and the pounding of his heart, fearing even the slightest hint of vulnerability.

Finally, a clear, muffled horn blast echoed from the Chu army camp below the city walls—the order for the entire army to retreat! Immediately afterwards, the vast Chu army began to retreat, like the receding black tide, with a reluctant yet orderly demeanor. The flags still fluttered, but a sense of frustration and melancholy lingered.

Xiang Yu, the King of Western Chu, a man known for his strength and bravery, ultimately failed to suppress his compulsive gamble amidst immense doubts and unknown risks. He was unwilling to stake the fate of his elite Chu army on a siege with uncertain outcomes and potentially fraught with traps. Concerns about the whereabouts of his 5,000 cavalry, speculation about possible reinforcements at Yangping Pass, and the urgent need to restore morale overwhelmed his urge to storm the pass immediately. He opted for a temporary retreat, to reassess the situation and await further intelligence.