Are all bandits evil? Not necessarily. Few people take to banditry by choice; most are driven by desperation, like the heroes of Liangshan who turned to the hills when life gave them no other option. Even they sought amnesty, for banditry is no lasting path—unless the world is in chaos and no government exists.
Wang Yan of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period knew this well. A native of Xuzhou, he became a notorious bandit during the turmoil of the late Tang. Later, he joined the army and rose through the ranks. When Emperor Guo Wei of the Later Zhou appointed him military governor of his hometown, it was a homecoming of honor.
Returning, Wang found his old comrades still living as bandits. He could have crushed them with force, but instead, he summoned them, gave them silver, feasted them, and spoke from the heart: "This land has bred great bandits, and I was once one of you. But tell the others: if anyone robs again, I will wipe out his entire clan."
With one meal and a few words, the banditry in Xuzhou vanished overnight. The grateful people erected a monument to him. This was true homecoming—not through bloodshed, but through wisdom and mercy.
Life wisdom: True strength lies not in overpowering others, but in resolving conflicts with understanding and compassion.