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Chapter 4 · Chaos Stratagems

關門捉賊

Guān mén zhuō zéi

Shut the Door to Catch the Thief

General Bao acting out Shut the Door to Catch the Thief
General Bao demonstrates 關門捉賊 — Shut the Door to Catch the Thief.
關門捉賊 shut · door · catch · thief

Before you strike, cut off the escape. A trapped opponent with nowhere to run is one you can finish.

Today

The clubmate who has ducked your rematch all season: this time you check their shifts with their doubles partner, book the court for their day off, and pin the sign-up sheet to the clubhouse board — then invite them, in front of everyone, with every exit already closed.

When it backfires

Corner a thief with truly no exit and they fight like one. Leave zero escape and a desperate opponent may burn the room down rather than be caught — even if the room is a friendship.