2026-01-18 03:24:45

The story of the crypto world is like the battlefield of the Three Kingdoms.

Zhuge Liang used the empty city stratagem to scare away Sima Yi, opening the city gates, burning incense, and playing the zither—yet the 100,000-strong army dared not enter. On the exchange charts, this move becomes a classic trap set by the market makers.

First, let’s see how the "empty city" is fabricated. Those suddenly released positive news, collective media hype, and the continuous shouting of "buy" in the community—these form a false illusion of prosperity. On the K-line, perfect breakouts appear one after another; but in reality? They are all manufactured by the market makers to create anxiety among retail investors, making them "regret and slap their thighs." What if you miss it? Chase after it. That’s how they hook you.

Then, they start "burning incense and playing the zither." The market oscillates, but the overall upward trend remains unchanged, giving the illusion of guaranteed profit. Uncertain chips are gradually washed out, leaving behind confident, continuously adding to their positions—those chasing the high. At this point, the market makers have already set the trap—holding enough chips and having enough trapped retail investors.

The final move: smashing the market. A sudden plunge causes all those who bought at high levels to be instantly trapped. Some cut losses and escape, others stubbornly hold on. Throughout this process, the market makers’ goal has been achieved—the real victims of this "empty city stratagem" are always those following the trend.

Having been in the crypto space for 6 years, I’ve seen too many cycles like this. To stay clear-headed, you need to learn how to recognize these routines. Don’t just focus on short-term rises and falls; understand the psychological game behind them. Build positions gradually, hold your chips firmly, maintain your mindset, and wait for the real opportunity—by 2026, the chance will still be there, but the key is whether you still have bullets in your gun when the moment comes.

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MemeKingNFT

· 10h ago

It's the same old story, talking as if it's real... but it really hits home, especially that "slapping the thigh in regret" point. Honestly, I was washed out like this in 2021, and now looking at on-chain data, I have a bit of PTSD. The harshest was still the line "Do you still have bullets in your hand?" No matter how many bullets people have, they've used them all up and are still waiting for the right moment. But when will retail investors learn not to chase highs... That's why I now only focus on long-term accumulation signals of blue-chip projects; I don't look at short-term K-line charts.

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LiquidatedThrice

· 10h ago

Well said, it's always the same routine, I got caught again. Bro, your six-year summary is really eye-opening. I'm just that kind of sucker who buys in at high prices. The Empty City Strategy metaphor is so damn fitting; retail investors are always the last victims. 2026? Let's survive this round of dumping first, brother. Damn, I just remembered how it felt to be trapped last time. I haven't even broken even yet. Talking about building positions in batches sounds easy, but when it comes to chasing highs, your mind goes blank. In the crypto world, it's like the Three Kingdoms, we're just cannon fodder. Recognizing this early can make it a bit easier. Holding steady is not easy, and getting addicted to cutting losses is real. Seeing through the routines and avoiding them are two different things; even knowing about them, you can't escape.

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MeaninglessGwei

· 11h ago

It's the same story again, but those who truly survive are the ones who don't read these articles.

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OneBlockAtATime

· 11h ago

That was harsh, but it really hits the heart. I am the kind of retail investor who got washed out. --- Six years, man, surviving through all that is really not easy. Now I understand, chasing highs is suicide. --- 2026 is still far away, first I have to survive 2025. --- The part about burning incense and playing the zither was written perfectly, that's how they deceive. --- The key is knowing the tricks and actually not getting caught is two different things. I understood but still took the bait. --- I've heard a hundred times about building positions gradually, but when it comes to action, it's still all in. Who can I blame? --- This last sentence sounds a bit desperate. Will there still be bullets left by 2026... Many people have already run out of them now.

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