Wear A Charm Carrier Is A Good Choice

By Author: kinhomchan
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Sang Yi, the Senior Commander of the Palace Guard, was the Military Inspector of the Yongan District when he was just one of the Commanders in the Guard. Towards the end of the reign of Mingdao (A.D. 1032-1033) in the Song dynasty, the western district of the capital was plagued by drought, locusts, and twenty-three vicious robbers. The Bureau of Military Affairs summoned Sang Yi to the capital and gave him the names of the robbers."When the robbers know that I am after them," said Sang, "they will scatter and lie low, because they are afraid of my reputation. It is better to give them an impression of cowardice at first." When he arrived at his destination, he closed the gate of the camp and gave strict orders that not one soldier was allowed to go out. After a few days, his men, having no idea what he was doing, repeatedly asked permission to go out and round up the robbers. They were forbidden to do so. In the night, he and several soldiers dressed themselves like robbers and looked for the robbers' usual haunts. They entered a house which was deserted except for an old woman who served them food and drink and treated them ...
... as if they Were robbers. Sang Yi returned to the camp and locked the gate for three days. Then he went to the old woman's house again, bringing with him food and utensils. He ate and drank and gave wine to the old woman to drink. She thought they were really robbers so she drew near them and was willing to tell them some news of the robbers."They heard that Commander Sang is coming and everyone fled. Recently they heard that the Commander locked his gate and stayed inside the camp, so they know that there was nothing to be afraid of. They are all back now and so-and-so is staying at a certain place and others are living in another place."Again Sang went back in three days, bringing expensive gifts for the old woman and told her the truth. "I am Commander Sang. Observe the robbers for me and do not let anyone know you are working for me. I will be back in three days' time." When he returned in three days, the old woman told him the exact whereabouts of all the robbers. The following day, Sang divided his soldiers into several groups and they captured all the robbers. Sang himself rode to apprehend the more aggressive ones of the gang.