A psychological stratagem, specifically designed to demoralize an enemy by making them feel isolated or by playing familiar songs from their homeland to evoke homesickness and despair.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Chu-Han Contention, after Xiang Yu captured the Qin capital, his actions of burning, killing, and plundering caused great resentment among the populace.
Liu Bang, the King of Han, seized this chance to challenge Xiang Yu, who was planning a triumphant return home. Liu Bang's forces encircled Xiang Yu at Gaixia.
They then employed the 'Songs of Chu from all sides' (四面楚歌) stratagem.
Hearing familiar melodies from his homeland played by the Han army, Xiang Yu mistakenly believed that Chu territory had already fallen to the Han. Convinced that fate was against him, he drank wine, sang sorrowful verses, and ultimately took his own life.