The Empty City Stratagem (Kong Cheng Ji)
Overview. The Empty City Stratagem (also called Playing the Qin to Repel the Army) is a classic of traditional Peking Opera, drawn from Chapter 95 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Synopsis. Zhuge Liang, having lost the strategic Jieting because Ma Su overconfidently ignored orders, faces Sima Yi's 150,000-strong army at the virtually undefended Xicheng with only elderly and weak soldiers. In this desperate moment Zhuge Liang orders the city gates flung wide, sits calmly atop the wall, burning incense and playing the qin as if nothing were amiss. Sima Yi, arriving beneath the wall and seeing the Premier serene and smiling over his zither, suspects an ambush and withdraws. When he returns to attack, Zhao Yun arrives to drive him back.
Historical note. The Zizhi Tongjian records that Zhuge Liang and Ma Su were close (Ma Su was deeply valued and consulted day and night); after the Jieting defeat Zhuge demoted himself. The opera's famous arias "I am but a carefree man from Wolonggang" and "I sit upon the city wall viewing the scenery" inspire enduring reverence for the loyal, devoted Premier.
Artistic Features. Centered on the laosheng (older male) role, the play's appeal lies in Zhuge Liang's poise under extreme danger, singing, recitation, acting, and a stillness that contrasts with the turmoil, a pinnacle of "civil" (wen) opera.
Why Watch. Performed by Yu Shuyan, Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, Yang Baosen, Xi Xiaobo and others (with slightly differing lyrics), it is a touchstone laosheng piece and a lesson in composure.
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