Zhuge Liang, Strategist and Daoist Wizard

On the Jan 25th entry at The Pragmatic View, is a short article about the brilliant Chinese strategist from the Three kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang.

When Zhuge Liang joined the faction he supported during the Three Kingdoms period, it was little more than a small band of warriors trying to not get wiped out. Under his direction, at the time of his premature death, his faction controlled the Kingdom of Shu, one of the three kingdoms which strived to rule all of China.

Here is one story about him: Zhuge Liang was known for his painstaking planning and preparation. He was once inspecting a city with a small band of guards, when a large enemy army was seen approaching. He didn't have enough troops to fight, and he didn't want to run away and leave the city for the invaders.

What he did was hide his troops, throw open the city gates, and made himself conspicuous on the city ramparts apparantly relaxing and playing his lute.

The enemy general stopped in his tracks. Knowing Zhuge Liang's reputation, he expected a trap; turned around, and marched off.

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