During the early Han Dynasty, after the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang was granted the kingdom of Hanzhong by Xiang Yu. As Liu Bang prepared to enter Hanzhong, his strategist Zhang Liang advised him to burn the plank roads (栈道) that connected Hanzhong to Guanzhong. This was a deliberate act to deceive Xiang Yu, making him believe that Liu Bang had no intention of returning to Guanzhong and was settling peacefully in Hanzhong, thus lowering Xiang Yu's guard.

Months later, when Liu Bang decided to reclaim Guanzhong, his general Han Xin employed a cunning strategy. He ordered some troops to openly begin repairing the burnt plank roads (明修栈道), creating a visible distraction.

This feigned effort fooled the enemy general Zhang Han (King of Yong), who underestimated Han Xin and focused his attention on the slow repair work. Meanwhile, Han Xin secretly led his main army along a different, hidden route, launching a surprise attack on Chencang (暗度陈仓), a strategic location in Guanzhong. Zhang Han was caught completely off guard, his forces were defeated, and Liu Bang's army successfully captured Guanzhong, laying a crucial foundation for his eventual victory over Xiang Yu.