里勾外连 lǐ gōu wài lián inside and outside connections

Explanation

指内外勾结，串通一气。多用于贬义。

Refers to collusion between internal and external forces, often used in a derogatory sense.

Origin Story

话说宋江在梁山泊落草为寇，声名远扬。有一天，他收到一封密信，信中内容是京城内有人愿意里应外合，协助他攻打京城。宋江大喜，立即召集众头领商议。众头领中，吴用计谋颇多，他认为此事风险极大，必须谨慎小心。于是，他建议派人暗中调查，确认京城内是否有可靠的内应，以及他们是否真的能够在关键时刻给予支持。同时，他提醒宋江，里勾外连的行动必须保密，一旦泄露，后果不堪设想。宋江采纳了吴用的建议，暗中派遣探子前往京城，经过多方调查，终于证实了京城内确实有人与梁山泊暗中联系，并约定在某日一起发动进攻。宋江率领大军攻打京城，京城内应果然配合默契，里应外合，最终攻破京城。然而，好景不长，消息走漏，朝廷大军很快就追赶上来，宋江兵败身亡，留下千古遗憾。

huashuo songjiang zai liangshanbo lucao wei kou, shengming yuanyang. you yitian, ta shoudào yī fēng mixin, xinzhong neirong shi jingcheng nei you ren yuanyi liyingwaihe, xiezhu ta gongda jingcheng. songjiang daxi, liji zhaoshi zhong touling shangyi. zhong touling zhong, wu yong jimo po duo, ta renwei cishi fengxian ji da, bibi xunxin xiaoxin. yushi, ta jianyi pai ren anzhong diaocha, queren jingcheng nei shifou you kekao de neiying, yiji tamen shifou zhen de nenggou zai guanjian shike geiyu zhichi. tongshi, ta tixing songjiang, li gou wai lian de xingdong bibi baomi, yidan xielu, houguo bu kan shexiang. songjiang cai nage wu yong de jianyi, anzhong paichuan tanzi quanwang jingcheng, jingguo duofang diaocha, zhongyu zhengshi le jingcheng nei que shi you ren yu liangshanbo anzhong lianxi, bing yue ding zai mou ri yiqi fadao gongji. songjiang shuiling dajun gongda jingcheng, jingcheng neiying guoran peihe moqi, liyingwaihe, zhongjiu gongpo jingcheng. ran'er, haojing bu chang, xiaoxi zou lou, chao ting dajun hen kuai jiu zhuigai shang lai, songjiang bingbai shenwang, liuxia qiangu yuhan.

It is said that Song Jiang, who lived as a bandit in Liangshanpo, was widely known. One day, he received a secret letter stating that someone in the capital was willing to provide internal support and assist him in attacking the capital. Song Jiang was overjoyed and immediately summoned the leaders for consultations. Among the leaders, Wu Yong had many strategies. He believed that this matter was very risky and caution was required. Therefore, he suggested sending people to secretly investigate to confirm whether there was reliable internal support in the capital and whether they would indeed be able to provide support at a critical moment. At the same time, he reminded Song Jiang that the collusion operation must be kept secret, as the consequences of a leak would be unimaginable. Song Jiang accepted Wu Yong's suggestion and secretly dispatched spies to the capital. After extensive investigations, it was confirmed that there were indeed people in the capital secretly contacting Liangshanpo, and they had agreed to launch an attack on a certain day. Song Jiang led a large army to attack the capital, and the internal supporters in the capital indeed cooperated tacitly, supporting each other, and eventually conquering the capital. However, the good times did not last long. The news leaked, and the imperial army quickly caught up. Song Jiang was defeated and died, leaving behind an eternal regret.

Usage

作谓语、定语、宾语；指内外勾结，串通一气

zuo weiyǔ, dìngyǔ, bǐnyǔ; zhǐ nèiwài gōujié, chuāngtōng yī qì

Used as predicate, attributive, and object; refers to the collusion between internal and external forces.

Examples

• 他内外勾结，里勾外连，企图独吞这笔巨款。

  ta nei wai goujie, li gou wai lian, qitu dutun zhe bi jukuang.

  He colluded inside and outside, trying to embezzle this huge sum of money.

• 这家公司里勾外连，最终导致了破产。

  zhe jia gongsi li gou wai lian, zhongjiu daozhile pochan

  The company colluded internally and externally, which ultimately led to bankruptcy.

Related Idioms

• 内外勾结

• 通风报信

Opposite Idioms

• 光明正大

• 独立自主