dognovel Chapter 372 Trouble at the City Gate
Chapter 372 Trouble at the City Gate
"Open the city gates..."
"Let us out, let us out."
"We want to get out of the city! We want to get out of the city! We want to leave this place!"
"We don't want to stay in the city and wait to die..."
"Let us out..."
At this moment, at the main gate of the East City.
A group of people, dragging their belongings, were blocking the city gate and arguing with the soldiers guarding the city.
They were all clamoring for them to open the city gates and let them out.
The officers and soldiers shouted sternly, "During the epidemic prevention and control period, leaving the city is prohibited."
"Step back! All of you step back! Disperse immediately..."
"Gathering and causing trouble here is strictly prohibited. All bystanders must leave immediately..."
On one side were the clamor of the people demanding that the city gates be opened, and on the other side were the shouts of the soldiers trying to maintain order and defend the city gates.
"There's a plague in the city. If we stay here, we'll all get infected sooner or later, and then we'll all die. I don't want to stay in the city and wait to die! I want to get out, I want to get out..."
The other people joined in, shouting in unison, "Yes, we don't want to wait to die, we want a way to live, we want to get out of the city, we want to get out of the city..."
General Li, who was stationed at the city gate, raised his hands to signal and said loudly, "Please be patient! Please be patient! The imperial court has immediately isolated and controlled the epidemic area, and has dispatched a large number of imperial physicians and doctors to treat the patients."
"The decision to close the city gates is the best solution reached by the court after careful deliberation. If the people in the city are allowed to leave now, the epidemic may spread outwards, which will have irreversible consequences."
"Think carefully, everyone. When the epidemic rages, will there still be a safe place in the world?"
"The best course of action now is to stay in the city, follow the court's instructions, and wait for the epidemic to subside."
"Everyone, calm down and don't be misled by the words of those with ulterior motives..."
After hearing General Li's words, the crowd felt that there was some truth to them, and although they were still somewhat skeptical, their emotions calmed down a bit.
They whispered and murmured among themselves, clearly unsure of what to do.
Most of them were just following the crowd and causing trouble.
Just as the commotion subsided, someone in the crowd shouted loudly again.
“We are not infected with the disease and are perfectly healthy. How could we possibly spread it? On the contrary, if we continue to stay in the city, we will be at risk of contracting the disease.”
"You officials are truly heartless! You won't let healthy people like us go out. You don't care about the lives of us ordinary people!"
"You want us to suffer even when we're not sick? Are you only satisfied when we're all infected with the plague? What are you up to?"
Yes! They weren't infected with the disease, so even if they went out, they wouldn't be able to spread it.
Why can't we just let them leave!
Their departure can lighten the burden on the imperial court, as they will receive less food and medicine. Isn't that a good thing?
Hearing the man's question, the crowd's slightly calmed hearts began to stir again.
They were already worried about the risk of contracting the disease if they stayed in the city, but after being instigated by others, the scene became noisy again, with people raising questions.
"Yes! Is the imperial court trying to trap us all inside the city? What are you up to?"
"We're not infected, we're perfectly healthy..."
"We need to go out..."
"Open the city gates and let us out..."
"Open the city gates! Open the city gates!"
General Li narrowed his eyes slightly: Similar gatherings have occurred one after another at various city gates in the past two or three days.
It is obvious that someone with ulterior motives is stirring things up, using the epidemic to deliberately create chaos among the people.
Do you want to plunge the capital into chaos?
They have ulterior motives and are driven by wolfish ambitions.
"As I just said, the reason we are not allowing you to leave is to prevent the spread of the disease. Not being sick does not mean that you are not carrying the source of the disease."
"Stay in the city and follow the imperial court's arrangements. I believe the epidemic will be brought under control soon."
General Li, with a solemn expression, continued to shout loudly, "Now, please go home first and avoid gathering here. The imperial court will send people to deliver medicine and food to each family."
A man in the crowd shouted again, "You officials make it sound so easy, but who doesn't know that food and medicine are given to you high-ranking officials first? How much do you care about us ordinary people?"
"It's not like your relatives are sick and waiting to die at home. It's us poor people who are sick and dying."
"If we stay in the city, we might die at home one day and no one would even know..."
Someone in the crowd chimed in loudly, "Yes, open the city gates! We want to get out! Let us out!"
"Let us out."
The crowd, who had just calmed down, started making a ruckus again when they saw the situation.
Seeing that verbal persuasion had no effect, General Li decisively drew his sword and issued a stern warning.
"This is not a place for people to cause trouble. You shall leave immediately. If you continue to cause trouble, you will be executed on the spot..."
"Clang—Clang—"
"Shhh-"
All the soldiers guarding the city drew their swords.
"Leave immediately, or you will be executed on the spot..."
A man shouted, "This is outrageous... an official actually drew his sword and pointed it at a defenseless commoner."
"The officials want to kill people!..."
"To become an official..."
"Whoosh-"
"Pfft-"
An arrow shot from behind, abruptly silencing the man who was shouting.
The arrow pierced straight into the man's heart.
Blood spilled from his mouth, his incredulous eyes glanced at the sword in his heart, and then with a 'thud,' he fell straight to the ground.
"what……"
Those nearby gasped in shock at the sight.
"It's dead."
"Killed."
The crowd that had been causing trouble at the city gate scattered in fear upon seeing the scene before them.
Those few people who were shouting the loudest in the crowd tried to escape in the chaos after realizing the situation was not good.
"Take it."
Before long, those who had instigated the trouble were all arrested.
Xiao Han, holding a bow and arrow, rode his horse to the city gate.
Upon seeing the newcomers, General Li hurriedly led his men forward to pay their respects, bowing and saying, "This humble general greets Your Highness."
"See you, Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities..."
Xiao Han gently pulled on the reins and ordered, "Bring him up."
The six people who had been shouting the loudest in the crowd were all brought before Xiao Han.
"Let me go, let me go."
One of the bound men was still struggling to explain himself.
"We just don't want to stay in the city and get infected with the disease, is that wrong?"
"We just don't want to die, why are we being arrested?"
He glared fiercely at Xiao Han, who was riding on horseback, and questioned him sternly.
Xiao Han leaped off his horse, walked up to the man, and spoke coldly.
"Why!"
"Shh-"
Xiao Han casually drew the sword from the waist of a soldier guarding the city.
"Pfft-"
They stabbed him right through.