During the Later Han Dynasty (947-950), Yunzhou’s leading commander, Murong Yanchao, was celebrated for his exceptional wit and knack for capturing thieves. His reputation was unparalleled.
A thriving pawnshop under the midday sun
In the heart of Yunzhou City, there stood a bustling pawnshop of considerable size, renowned for its flourishing business and impeccable reputation. One sweltering midday, with the scorching sun high above and the streets deserted, the shop’s attendant, weary from the heat, struggled to keep his eyes open. As he dozed off, the unmistakable sound of footsteps approached. He looked up to find a lavishly dressed young man entering the shop. From his pocket, the youth produced two gleaming large silver ingots and explained: “I am in urgent need of cash. Can I pawn these here and redeem them in a few days?”
Seeing the size and sheen of the silver, the attendant was taken aback. By his estimation, they were worth at least 100,000 coins. Such a hefty sum warranted the attention of the shop owner. After understanding the situation, the owner readily agreed. The silver was weighed and valued at 200,000 coins. The shop issued a pawn ticket and paid the young man 100,000 coins. Gratefully, the youth departed, promising to return and redeem the silver within 10 days.
A turn of events
Ecstatic about the seemingly profitable deal, the owner shared the news with his wife. Curious, she decided to inspect the silver, but accidentally dropped one ingot. To their horror, a portion of its shiny exterior chipped off, revealing a dark, non-silver core inside. Panicking, the owner immediately reported the deception to the authorities.
Murong Yanchao’s brilliant plan
After hearing the pawnshop owner’s account, Murong Yanchao swiftly devised a plan. Soon, Yunzhou’s streets bore a notice, stating that the pawnshop had unfortunately been robbed, with valuable collateral items stolen. It implored the public to assist in capturing the thief and report any suspicious activities.
Days later, the very same youth, hoping to cash in once again, confidently returned to the pawnshop with his ticket, demanding the redemption of his silver. Recognizing the scammer, the attendant cried out, leading to his immediate apprehension. Brought before the officials, he confessed his crimes.
As it turned out, Murong Yanchao had used this deceptive tactic successfully in many places. In Yunzhou, after seeing the notice about the pawnshop’s “robbery,” he was overjoyed, thinking he could make an additional profit. With the fake silver supposedly stolen, there was no evidence against him, and with the pawn ticket valuing the silver at 200,000 coins and having only received half, he assumed the pawnshop would have to repay the rest. Little did he know he’d walked straight into Murong Yanchao’s ingenious trap.
Translated article
