Chapter Twenty-Five: Luring the Snake Out of Its Lair

Tongfu Inn—situated in the Qunxian Quarter in the western part of Chang’an, is a bustling establishment, renowned as one of the finest among its peers. Its thriving business is hardly coincidental; first, the inn enjoys a prime location adjacent to Chang’an’s Western Market, a nexus for merchants and travelers with money to burn—an advantage of geography. Second, the true owner behind Tongfu Inn is none other than Ji Wen, the Metropolitan Governor—a man of considerable power. With such a figure at the helm, crowds flock to support the establishment, some even bestowing silver for free.

At midday, the inn’s main hall is packed to the rafters, with not a single vacant seat. In the northwest corner, three young men sit together: one is small and thin, his head shaven, with skin so pale it suggests years without sunlight; the second is slightly plump, his skin soft and white, marked with wrinkles from frequent immersion in water; the third is handsome, with keen eyes that mark him as intelligent. The trio eat and drink, ears pricked to catch the talk around them.

The inn draws a diverse crowd, people from all walks of life, making it a hub of information. Whether state affairs or neighborhood gossip, all can be heard within these walls. Sure enough, around noon, a guest bursts into the hall, shouting, “Everyone, big news! The God of Wealth, Wang Yuanbao—his twenty chests of gold and jewels, and eighty-one pieces of glassware, have all been recovered!”

“What? Who found them? Were the thieves caught?” comes the cry.

“It’s absolutely true. I saw Wang’s servants carrying dozens of large chests into the mansion myself. One chest dropped and split open—inside, nothing but gold and jewels! They say it was the newly appointed Commander of Miscreants, Li Zhao, who led the search. Wang Yuanbao is overjoyed, hosting a banquet to celebrate at home. As for the thieves, they haven’t been caught yet—but it shouldn’t be long now.”

“Li Zhao—isn’t he that young prodigy from the imperial clan, the one who can compose poetry in seven steps? The Metropolitan Governor couldn’t solve the case, but he did—his prospects are boundless!”

“That’s him. Lucky fellow—this time he’ll make a fortune!”

The guests buzz with discussion. Some praise Li Zhao’s talents, declaring him destined for greatness; others envy him, saying he’ll receive a tenth of Wang Yuanbao’s wealth and never want for food or drink again. Some caution, however, that sudden riches for a young man may not be a blessing—recalling the old saying: ‘A commoner may be blameless, but the one who holds a treasure invites trouble.’

Meanwhile, the three men in the corner turn pale, losing all appetite. They summon the waiter to settle their bill and retreat to their room, locking doors and windows before whispering among themselves.

“What now? All our hard work is gone?”

“That can’t be—our plan was flawless, we left no trace, and the stash was hidden so well. How could the Miscreants have found it? Is the news fake?”

“Someone saw it firsthand—the report must be true!”

Indeed, these three were the thieves who robbed Wang’s treasury. The handsome one is Du Sheng, twenty-six, clever and skilled in disguise, adept at impersonating anyone, earning the nickname ‘Thousand-Faced Rat.’ The small, pale one is Song Wei, twenty-seven, a tomb robber versed in geomancy and digging, known as ‘Earth-Burrowing Rat.’ The plump, fair one is Cao Yu, twenty-eight, a water bandit who can part waves and retrieve needles underwater, dubbed ‘River-Turning Rat.’

Each originally worked alone, but by chance they met and, finding kindred spirits, became sworn brothers, sharing life and death. Though thieves by trade, their nature is not evil—they rob the rich to aid the poor and uphold justice, famous as chivalrous bandits of Guanzhong’s greenwood.

Small jobs no longer satisfied them. They set their sights on Wang Yuanbao’s treasury for one grand heist.

First, Du Sheng, the Thousand-Faced Rat, disguised himself as a vegetable deliveryman to infiltrate Wang’s mansion, learning the treasury’s exact location and defenses. Next, Song Wei, the Earth-Burrowing Rat, spent over a month digging a tunnel hundreds of yards long, straight to the vault’s foundation. After extracting the gold, jewels, and glassware, Cao Yu, the River-Turning Rat, hid them in a safe spot within Dragon-Leaping Temple, then, at Du Sheng’s suggestion, all three lay low in Tongfu Inn.

After the theft, Metropolitan Governor’s agents searched all of Chang’an for the culprits, overturning the city. But they never imagined the thieves would hide right in the inn owned by Ji Wen himself—a classic case of hiding in plain sight.

Their plan: remain in the inn for a month or two, wait for the heat to die down, then slowly move the treasure out, distributing it to the poor bit by bit.

But now, the sudden news claims the gold, jewels, and glassware have been recovered by the Miscreants. How could this be?

After discussing, they agree their hiding place is too secret for anyone to find, and even if found, impossible to retrieve—the report must be false.

Still, they decide to check the stash tonight, just in case. Otherwise, the worry will keep them sleepless.

Night falls. After the curfew drum, people return to their quarters, doors shut and lights extinguished. The once lively Chang’an is silent.

Seeing their chance, the ‘Three Rats’ don black nightclothes and, shielded by darkness, slip out of Tongfu Inn using ropes, winding through streets and alleys toward Dragon-Leaping Temple, where their loot is hidden in a most secret spot.

At the hour of the first watch, they arrive at the temple, surrounded only by the chirping of insects. After confirming the coast is clear, they boldly head for Dragon-Leaping Pool.

Du Sheng and Song Wei wait by the shore, while Cao Yu, the River-Turning Rat, dives into the water, swimming to the bottom—after the successful theft, they sank all the gold, jewels, and glassware in the pool.

The pool’s hidden location and deep water make it almost impossible for the agents to find, let alone retrieve any treasure—a perfect stash. This idea, naturally, came from Du Sheng, the brains of the trio.

A splash.

“Second brother, what did you find?”

“I checked—the whole lot’s still at the bottom of the pool, not a single piece missing!”

Cao Yu surfaces, holding a beautiful glass cup to prove his words.

But a new question arises: if the treasure is untouched, why did Wang’s people declare it recovered and stage such a spectacle?

What was their intent?

“Not good—this is a trap to lure us out. We must flee!”

Du Sheng, the sharpest of the three, senses danger and tries to drag his brothers to safety—but it’s too late.

From the shadows, dozens emerge, swiftly closing in. Leading them is Li Zhao, his handsome face sporting a mischievous smile—it was all his scheme.

The thieves vanished, the loot hidden—finding either was like searching for a needle in the sea.

Li Zhao, after consulting with Wang Yuanbao, spread false news that all the lost treasures were found, staging a show of moving chests into Wang’s mansion—all empty, of course.

The purpose: to stir the thieves into action, luring them out.

Imagine—a man told his wallet is missing will instinctively check if it’s still there.

Likewise, upon hearing the treasure was found, the thieves’ first reaction would be to inspect their hiding place.

Li Zhao, with hundreds of Miscreants, lay in wait near Dragon-Leaping Temple, ready for the thieves to walk into the trap—a triumph of intelligence.

“Let’s fight our way out!”

“Ouch… splash!”

“Go! Don’t mind me—just get out!”

As the Three Rats attempt escape, Li Zhao flings a three-pronged dart, striking Song Wei, the Earth-Burrowing Rat, in the thigh. He collapses with a cry.

Du Sheng and Cao Yu refuse to abandon their brother, returning to help him. Together, they try to break through, but it’s hopeless.

Jiang Hao’s men surround them; after a brief struggle, the Three Rats are captured and tightly bound.

“So, you hid the loot at the bottom of the pool? Clever, but wasted on crime. You were born with talent—why become thieves?”

“Bah, you dog of an official! We’re not thieves—we’re chivalrous bandits, robbing the rich to help the poor and uphold justice!”

“Uphold justice? Such bold words. Tell me your names and origins.”

“Bah, dog official! Do what you will—we’ll be heroes again in eighteen years!”

The Three Rats are defiant, refusing all questions, calling the officials ‘dogs’—Jiang Hao is furious and wants to punish them, but Li Zhao intervenes.

With stubborn types like these, brute force isn’t enough—intelligence is required.

“Now I’ll ask questions—if you don’t answer, I’ll stab him once. If two refuse, two stabs—until his blood runs dry.”

Li Zhao draws his military dagger, pressing it against Du Sheng, then questions Song Wei.

“Name, age, birthplace?”

“Song Wei, twenty-seven, from Hedong.”

“Good. What was your profession?”

“Tomb robber.”

“So, you dug the tunnel?”

“Yes.”

For men of honor, threatening their brothers is more effective than threatening themselves. In the time it takes to eat a meal, Li Zhao learns everything.

Now, the question remains: what fate awaits the Three Rats?