Officers and soldiers chased hotly from behind.
Then followed a horde of refugees disguised as common folk, scrambling wildly through streets and alleys, some even breaking into people's homes to snatch food.
A few refugees barged into the medical hall. Tongzi's pupils constricted, and he hastily pushed, reaching for the door.
"Let us in! You dogs are living good lives in the city, and you won't leave us a way to survive."
"You confine us like dogs, and we won't let you live good lives either."
The few people were so filthy their original colors were indistinguishable, their clothes tattered, and some were practically naked.
Ajiu's eyes stung from the grime, but she didn't care about anything else and rushed to help Tongzi push the door.
"Daddy, help quickly..."
Ajiu was indeed a refugee, but while refugees were pitiable, too many of them were beyond sympathy.
She stepped forward to help Tongzi hold the door, blocking the refugees outside, but the two of them were clearly outmatched.
What's more, several more refugees rushed up, madly trying to force their way into the medical hall.
Large numbers of refugees on the street had already infiltrated people's homes without restraint, plundering wantonly. Chaos erupted, and screams filled the air.
Seeing this, the officers and soldiers were helpless. They drew their long sabers and took the life of one person. The effect of killing one to warn a hundred was not obvious; instead, it escalated the riot.
"Get out of the way!" Meng Shaode's broad shoulders slammed against the door.
The few refugees who had charged in immediately tumbled onto the street. One person's leg was directly crushed by the hooves of a galloping horse.
Meng Shaode scooped up six door panels, blocking the clamor outside.
Ajiu gasped for breath, Tongzi's eyes bloodshot.
"How could it have erupted into a riot?" Meng Shaode muttered to himself.
"Daddy doesn't know yet. Outside the city, the gladiatorial arena housed tens of thousands of refugees. Refugees from several cities near our Menghua City have all rushed here."
Ajiu wearily rubbed her face.
"I initially thought Nanming City's order was stable and that the situation could be controlled. I didn't expect the city to be breached by refugees before any war."
"Bang!"
The sound of a heavy object falling echoed from the courtyard.
Ajiu's scalp tingled. "Daddy, hurry and check! Did a refugee climb over the wall and get in?"
Father and daughter went into the courtyard one after another.
They saw Tuoba Yan rushing forward anxiously, saying, "Little sister Ajiu, are you alright? All the refugees from the gladiatorial arena have escaped."
Meng Shaode stared, looking Tuoba Yan up and down in his imposing military uniform, a long saber hanging from his waist. When did this brat join the army?
However, he seemed to recall this brat mentioning being under someone's command. Could it be that he was actually some leader in Nanming City?
"I'm fine. It's so chaotic outside, you shouldn't go out anymore," Ajiu said calmly.
Fortunately, they had her sister-in-law's medical hall to take refuge in. Otherwise, if they had been left to wander outside, they would have been captured by the authorities long ago, let alone persecuted by refugees.
"That won't do. Little sister Ajiu, you don't know how dangerous it was today. After a rain, all the refugees in the gladiatorial arena went mad and seized the soldiers' weapons, killing over a dozen soldiers in total."
Tuoba Yan patted his chest, a smile on his face that was out of place in this world.
"Fortunately, I was clever and didn't fight with them. I quickly ran to check on your situation."
"So that's what happened." Ajiu pondered and understood. The day before yesterday, she saw the officers and soldiers distributing dry rations. No one would give refugees precious water.
After the rain, the desperate refugees naturally had water to drink.
With newfound strength, who would be willing to be confined in the gladiatorial arena?
"Little sister Ajiu, you shouldn't go out again recently. The higher-ups have already dispatched troops for support. By then, they might have to kill many refugees as a warning."
Tuoba Yan's consideration was right this time.
"You shouldn't go out either," Ajiu said sternly, looking at Tuoba Yan.
Tuoba Yan scratched his head like a child. "Then I'll listen to little sister Ajiu."
"Alas... it's chaotic wherever we go," Meng Shaode sighed helplessly. He had been hoping to settle down, earn money, and take care of his family.
To make up for what he owed his daughter in the past.
"Daughter, daughter, come here."
A sliver of the door to Ajiu's room opened, and Cai Lihua's head poked out quite far.