Original Text
Governor Yu Chenglong, while inspecting his jurisdiction, arrived at Gaoyou. It happened that a wealthy family was about to marry off their daughter, with a lavish dowry, but during the night thieves stole everything. The magistrate of Gaoyou was at his wit's end. Governor Yu ordered all city gates closed, leaving only one open for passage, and stationed officials to strictly inspect all items carried by those entering or leaving. He also issued a proclamation for all citizens to return home and await a thorough search the next day to locate the stolen goods. Secretly, he instructed the gatekeepers: if anyone passed through the gate multiple times, they should be arrested. By midday, two men were caught; aside from their clothes, they carried nothing. Governor Yu declared, "These are the true thieves." The men vehemently denied it. He ordered their clothes removed for inspection, revealing that beneath their outer garments, they wore two sets of women's attire, all part of the dowry. It turned out the thieves, fearing the next day's extensive search, had tried to hastily move the loot, but finding it too bulky to carry out at once, they had secretly worn the garments and repeatedly passed through the gate.
On another occasion, when Yu Gong was serving as a magistrate, he traveled to a neighboring county. Early one morning, passing outside the city walls, he saw two men carrying a sick person on a bed, covered with a large quilt. From the pillow, a woman's hair emerged, adorned with a phoenix hairpin, as she lay on her side. Three or four robust men followed closely, taking turns to tuck the quilt under the patient's body, as if fearing the wind might blow in. After a short while, they set the bed down by the roadside to rest, then two others took over the carrying. Yu Gong passed by and sent a servant back to inquire. They replied that it was their sister, gravely ill, being sent back to her husband's home. After traveling another two or three li, Yu Gong again dispatched a servant to follow and see which village they entered. The servant trailed them to a house in a village, where two men came out to welcome them in. The servant returned and reported to Yu Gong. Yu Gong asked the magistrate of that county, "Has there been any robbery in the city?" The magistrate replied, "None." At that time, official evaluations were very strict, and both officials and commoners dared not mention bandits; thus, even if someone was robbed or murdered, they endured the pain and dared not report it. After Yu Gong lodged at the inn, he instructed his attendants to investigate carefully, and indeed, a wealthy family had been broken into by bandits, who tortured the master to death with hot irons. Yu Gong summoned the victim's son and questioned him about the incident. At first, the son refused to admit anything. Yu Gong said, "I have already captured the bandits for you; I have no other intentions." Only then did the son kowtow and weep bitterly, begging Yu Gong to avenge his father. Yu Gong then sought an audience with the magistrate, sent strong constables out of the city at the fourth watch, and they arrived at that village house, capturing eight men. Upon interrogation, they confessed immediately. When asked who the sick woman was, the bandits admitted, "That night, we were together at a brothel, so we conspired with the prostitute. We placed the stolen gold on the bed, let her lie there, and carried her to our den to divide the loot." Everyone admired Yu Gong's divine insight. Someone asked how he had solved the case. Yu Gong said, "It was very simple; people just do not pay attention. How could a young woman lying in bed allow men to reach under the quilt? Moreover, they frequently changed carriers, the burden seemed heavy, and they guarded both sides, so I knew something was hidden within. If it were truly a sick woman returning unconscious, there would surely be women at the door to greet her. Yet I saw only men, who showed no surprise and asked no questions, thus I concluded they were bandits."
Commentary
This tale presents two crime-solving stories, each with a distinct narrative style and fresh artistic conception, possessing unique characteristics that read like Western detective novels, showcasing Yu Chenglong's wit and competence.
The first story describes how Yu Chenglong captured the thieves after the crime was committed. "All gates were closed, leaving only one gate open for pedestrians to pass through" was a deliberate opening, specifically allowing the thieves to exit. "Each person returned to their own residence, awaiting the next day's inspection and search, to ensure the stolen goods were located" was a tactic to force the thieves to leave quickly. "If anyone was seen entering and exiting the city gate twice, they were to be seized" provided the identifying characteristic of the thieves for capture.
The second story recounts how, during the course of a criminal investigation, Yu Chenglong astutely identified the thieves. At the tale's conclusion, Yu explained his reasoning, saying: "This was very easy to discern, but only because others failed to pay close attention. How could a young woman lie in bed and allow a hand to reach beneath the covers? Moreover, they carried the burden alternately, and its weight was considerable; they guarded it with clasped hands, thus I knew there must be something within. If a sick woman had arrived in a dazed state, there would surely have been a woman at the door to welcome her, yet only men were seen, and not a single word of surprise was uttered—by this, I was certain they were thieves."