There were a bailiff and a robber in Haozhao district, Anhui province. They both were noted¹ for being skillful users of spear.

 

The robber threatened that he would kill the bailiff upon encounter.

 

One day, the bailiff strolled outside the city and happened to come across the robber in the market. Both with spear in hand and staring at each other, none of them dared to make the first move. The watching crowd circled them in the center. A stratagem² occurred to the bailiff. He said to the robber, "The xianwei is here, both of us are outstanding people. Do you dare to have a fight with me before the xianwei?" The robber never gave a damn to the government soldiers. He agreed to the proposal without any hesitation³. The bailiff stroked him when he was unprepared and killed him with the spear. Thus saved his own life.

 

安徽濠州境内有一名捕快和一名强盗，俩人都以擅长用矛著称。

 

强盗扬言说，一旦遇见捕快，必定让其死于长矛之下。

 

一天，捕快信步走到城外，恰好与强盗在集市上相遇。俩人手持长矛，虎视眈眈地盯着对方，谁也不敢先出手。围观的人群像墙一样，将二人紧紧圈在里面。捕快心生一计，对强盗说：“县尉来了，你我都是英雄，你敢同我一起在县尉的马前比试吗？”强盗从不将官军放在眼里，一口答应下来。捕快趁着强盗分神的空隙，用矛将强盗刺死，救了自己一命。

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