China's Top 10 Greatest Military Strategists
This list expresses our opinion on who we think is China's greatest strategist ever. While you are voting and posting new names, keep in mind that we are not talking about:1. Only commanders like Guan Yu, Bai Qi, Yue Fei, Wang Jian, Sun Ce, etc.
2. Warriors like Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Xian Ji, Wang Dayang, Ma Chao, etc.
3. Rulers and emperors like Liu Bang, Liu Bei, Sima Zhao, Liu Yuan, Murong Jun, Tuoba Gui, Qin Shihuang, etc.
4. Religious figures like Confucius.
We are focusing on military strategists and, if possible, those who were also commanders. If not, then only military strategists.
For me, the greatest strategist of China by all means is Zhuge Liang. He is famous for his nickname "The Sleeping Dragon." He joined Liu Bei at the age of 27 and presented him with the Long Zhong Plan, which described how the land could be split into three kingdoms.
Despite Liu Bei having no land to call his own and there being six stronger kingdoms in the realm, Zhuge Liang's plan was a success. Thanks to his genius, the combined forces of Liu and Wu, with an army of 100,000 men, were able to defeat Cao Cao's one-million-strong army using the Chain Strategy and setting their ships aflame. As a result of his strategies, Liu Bei's forces were able to capture Jing Province and Ba Shu. With this, Liu Bei finally had his own kingdom named "Shu," and the land was split among the three forces: Shu, Wu, and Wei.
Zhuge Liang also invented the "Wooden Ox," which is famous today as the wheelbarrow. After Liu Bei's death, he was the only man who kept Shu on its feet. He was able to trap the Wei general Sima Yi (who is believed to be the person who founded the Jin Dynasty) in his supply depot, where he set all of Shu's army supplies on fire just to kill Sima Yi and his trusted generals. Unfortunately, after eight months of drought, rain began to pour, and Zhongda (Sima Yi's style name) was able to escape alive. If it wasn't for his bad luck and the incapable generals who didn't want to follow his orders, he would have subdued Wei before he died. Zhuge Liang is a hero for me who died on the same date that I was born, the 23rd of August.

One of the greatest commanders in military history. He was the first to write a book on the conduct of war, not just a recording.
Cao Cao was the best in everything, period. Sima Yi single-handedly faced Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, and many more Shu strategists. He also faced Wu's best strategists, such as Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and the two Zhangs. Sima Yi ended up outsmarting everybody in Wei after Cao Cao and Cao Pi died, thus claiming the throne and establishing the Jin dynasty. Under his dynasty, China was unified by his lineage. If Sima Yi had been younger, he would have been even more brilliant. He was a very brilliant defensive strategist and won every single Northern campaign that Zhuge Liang proposed against him. This truly is no contest. Sima Yi > Zhuge Liang.
Zhang Liang was crucial to Liu Bang's victory over Xiang Yu, and he was the major strategist for Liu Bang along with Chen Ping. Without Zhang Liang, Liu Bang would have died at the Feast at Hongmen Gate.
Han Xin was the greatest general and strategist in the early Western Han Dynasty and one of the greatest strategists in China's history. He won major battles such as the Ambush on Ten Sides and the Chu Song from Four Sides and took over major states such as Qi, Zhao, and Yan. He suggested to Liu Bang to use the stratagem Appearing to Repair the Gallery Roads While Making Secret Advances through Chencang to escape out of Hanzhong. He was made one of the Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty and was promoted to become the King of Chu.
Sun Bin was one of the great strategists in the history of China. He served King Wei of Qi to defeat King Hui of Wei twice and also his arch-enemy Pang Juan.
Sun Bin was originally born in Qi and was crucial in the success of their campaigns against the State of Wei both times. He used the stratagem Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao to rescue Zhao from Wei. At Guiling, Pang Juan was severely defeated by an ambush prepared by Sun Bin. The second time, he feigned retreats and reduced the number of cooking pots to create the impression that his troops were decreasing in size. Pang Juan was overjoyed and quickly went forth to attack Sun Bin. As a result, at Maling, he was ambushed by Sun Bin again. The Wei forces suffered a heavy defeat, and Pang Juan committed suicide.
Zhou Yu eclipses Zhuge Liang in reality. Luo Guangzhong (writer of Romance of the Three Kingdoms) only hyped him up and downplayed Zhou Yu in the story. Zhou Yu was the real genius behind Cao Cao's crushing defeat at Chibi and was able to beat Wei most of the time when he was in control of Wu's army.
Zhou Yu is historically superior to Zhuge Liang. He needs more respect, as they praise Zhuge Liang for achievements that were only seen in the novel. He accomplished less in actual history.
Guo Jia was how Cao Cao became big. Cao Cao lamented that he would have never lost the Battle of Red Cliffs if Guo Jia was still alive.
The Newcomers
This guy's tactics and ability to predict future outcomes and the importance of these outcomes made him shine more than any other strategist in his era.

