As so often occurs with regards to men of the highest stature, certain of Oöka's colleagues and rivals in the City Royal envied him his close friendship with Yoshimune the Shogun, and conspired to shame him in front of his Shogun. At that time, the city of Edo was afflicted with a terrible swarm of pickpockets and thieves, such that the citizens and merchants of that great city had fallen into despair. Said one conspirator to the others, "The theivery in Edo is so firmly rooted that, if we were to charge him with finding a solution to this problem, Oöka will most certainly fail and be dishonoured."

And so the conspirators composed an elegant appeal to the Shogun, which read:

O Highest Shogun!

We beg of you to hear our plea! Edo, the greatest city of this Dominion of the Dragonfly, has long suffered under the yoke of evil men. The guild of Thieves and Pickpockets, who take what they do not deserve from honest, respectful folk, has grown of late in number and boldness, to a degree that the attentions of our officers alone can no longer keep them in check. We beg you, in your infinite wisdom, to set your own wisest administrator upon the complete annihilation of this most vulgar fraternity.

Respectfully submitted for your highest consideration.

As the conspirators had hoped, Yoshimune took the case to Oöka, his most trusted advisor. Oöka read the petition carefully, then said, "The punishment for such crimes is not severe enough. If a pickpocket risked his own execution with each reach into the purse, he would soon give up his trade."

Yoshimune was shocked. "How can I slice off a man's head for stealing a few silver coins?"

Oöka bowed his head, and answered, "Your Illustriousness, if you place this problem in my hands, I can solve it." Yoshimune then bade Oöka to solve the problem in his own way, and left him to begin his work.

Immediately Oöka posted notices throughout the City Royal that read:

To All the Pickpockets and Thieves of Edo:

It has been brought to the attention of His Honour the Shogun that members of your guild have been operating without paying their due taxes to the Shogunal Government. It is therefore decreed:

1) Every pickpocket who desires to pursue his trade will be required to carry a license.
2) The license must be purchased for two gold Ryo, and thereafter renewed each year for 3 silver bu.
3) The possession of this license allows any pickpocket to perform his duties without hinderance, and without fear from prosecution.
4) Any pickpocket apprehended in the act of theft without a license in his possession will be summarily executed.

Application may be made for these licenses at the Office of the High court at the hour of noon on the fifth day of the following moon.

Oöka Tadasuke, Machi-Bugyo.

The reactions seemed to strengthen the Guild's resolve, such that a representative of the pickpockets went boldly to visit Oöka. "There has never been a tax on cutpurses, and instituting one now would be outrageous!"

Said Oöka, calmly, "Is your trade not an ancient one? Does it not require skill, practice, and daring? If the Shogun's Law cannot surpress the pickpocket, it can in the least call him to account!"

The pickpocket returned to his guild, where a group of the guild's elders met to discuss their predicament. "This is a trick!" said one. "As soon as we appear to apply for a license, we will be apprehended and jailed!" The elders murmered and argued, until an upraised hand from the eldest among them brought them to silence.

"The Machi-Bugyo would not employ such trickery," he said. "Subterfuge is beneath his dignity, and to publish a lie is beneath his honour. We will go to the Office of the High Court on the appointed day."

And so the day came, and finally the hour, and the Office of the High Court swarmed with denizens of the Pickpockets' Guild. Oöka's officers distributed the applications, on which the pickpockets wrote their names and their residences. They took from each of the pickpockets the payment of two ryo, and swore the pickpockets to an oath that they would always carry their licenses while pickpocketing, or else forfeit their lives. Once all the pickpockets had completed their applications and sworn their oathes, Oöka had the official licenses brought out into view.

Each license was a square of laquered pine, as long on a side as a man is tall, and each bore, in large red letters, the words "Licensed Pickpocket".

The rogues saw the licenses, and realized that to carry one would make the bearer as noticeable as a three-headed dragon. They knew at once that they had been beaten, and every last one of them left Edo that same day for other provinces. None even claimed their licenses.

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