As soon as the news broke, the refugees gathered on the streets erupted into chaos once again. Thousands of able-bodied refugees congregated in the city, protesting, nearly clashing with the city guards.
"Don't believe him! The State Mansion only craves merit—they won't properly resettle us. They'll just sort out the sick and slaughter them all. Once all the sick are killed, the epidemic will be contained. If you don't want to die, don't trust them."
"Yes, don't trust them! Back then, we trusted the State Mansion when they promised to resettle us, so we came to Yangzhou. And what happened? They kept us locked outside the city gates—my sister and mother starved to death right in front of me."
"Every day, thousands die outside the city. Their bodies lie unburied, and rotting corpses over many miles have spawned this epidemic. I've caught the disease—I won't survive. But I'll drag you Yangzhou people down with me, buried together in death."
