Pang Tong was an ambitious man, full of talent. Zhuge Liang recommended him to Emperor Liu Bei. However, when Liu Bei first met Pang Tong, he was put off by Pang’s unremarkable appearance and was even more displeased by his bold manner of speaking. Out of respect for Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei appointed Pang Tong as the magistrate of a small county, Leiyang.
Although Pang Tong felt resentful at being given such a minor position, he held back his frustration because of his loyalty to Zhuge Liang. After some time, complaints reached Liu Bei, claiming that Pang Tong spent his days drinking, playing, and sleeping, neglecting his duties. Liu Bei was furious and sent Zhang Fei to investigate.
Upon arriving at Leiyang with a group of attendants, Zhang Fei summoned Pang Tong and ordered him to preside over a court session the next day, saying: “I want to see your abilities! But mark my words; if you handle this poorly, don’t expect mercy from me.”
The next day, Pang Tong convened the court. Zhang Fei presented a case: “This morning, someone stole my five pounds of beef. Only these two men, Li Si and Wang Er, were present, but neither of them admits to the crime.” Li Si then accused Wang Er: “He’s the one who ate the beef!” Zhang Fei continued: “And my prized spear has also gone missing. These eight men here were responsible for guarding my weapons, but none of them will confess.”
Hearing this, Pang Tong, with a serious expression, ordered Li Si and Wang Er to stand in the center of the court. He then shouted: “Bring the executioner! Cut open their bellies and find out who ate the beef!” The executioner raised his blade, and in fear, Li Si cried out: “I confess! I ate the beef!” Pang Tong ordered that Li Si be flogged, but Zhang Fei intervened, saying: “Wait until you’ve solved the case of my spear.”
Pang Tong smiled and said: “That case is even easier. I have a magic piece of paper here. Whoever stole the spear will find the paper lengthened when they hold it.” He then cut the paper into eight identical strips and handed one to each of Zhang Fei’s attendants, instructing them to walk around the court before returning the strips. One of the attendants, Zhao Da, who was guilty, secretly tore part of his paper, fearing it might lengthen.
When the men returned, Pang Tong compared the strips and pointed at Zhao Da. “You are the thief!” Zhao Da protested: “Not me; my paper didn’t grow!” Pang Tong replied: “It seems you need a serious beating before you confess.” Terrified, Zhao Da fell to his knees and admitted: “Yes, I stole the spear, but it was on General Zhang Fei’s orders!”
Pang Tong laughed, and even Zhang Fei couldn’t help but admire his cleverness. Upon returning to Liu Bei, Zhang Fei recounted the story in detail, and only then did Liu Bei realize Pang Tong’s brilliance. He personally apologized and promoted Pang Tong to military advisor.
The case judged by Magistrate Ge Qingtian
Magistrate Ge Jianchu of Changzhou County was known for his wisdom and fairness, earning him the nickname “Ge Qingtian” (Ge, the Clear Sky).
One day, an elderly woman came to the court with a complaint. She explained that she lived alone and earned her living by weaving. She had saved 1,200 coins she carried in a basket to buy cotton. On her way to the city, she stopped to use a restroom, leaving the basket on a stone outside. When she returned, the basket had been stolen.
After hearing her story, Magistrate Ge ordered an investigation of the stone where the basket had been placed. He had his officers carry the stone into the court and announced publicly that the stone would be interrogated at a specified time and day, posting this news on a notice board outside the courthouse.
This strange announcement piqued the curiosity of the townspeople, and on the day of the “trial,” a large crowd gathered to watch. The court was packed with people from the entrance to the main hall. Once everyone had entered, Magistrate Ge ordered the doors shut and addressed the crowd: “Citizens should mind their business and not enter the courthouse without reason. This is no place for sightseeing.” He fined each person one coin, citing their ignorance, and released them.
The fines amounted to seven or eight thousand coins — far more than the elderly woman had lost. Magistrate Ge gave the entire sum to the woman, allowing her to buy cotton and continue her livelihood. He then said: “This will ease her immediate burden. Meanwhile, I will investigate and go after the true thief.” Later, through subtle investigation, Magistrate Ge captured the culprit and used the recovered money to help the poor.
These stories reflect the wisdom and fairness of these magistrates, illustrating how justice, when tempered with insight and creativity, can not only solve conflicts, but also restore balance to society. Their brilliance reminds us that true leadership is not just about power, but about understanding the human spirit and finding ways to uplift all.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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