Luo Kong's sudden departure dealt an enormous shock to the emperor and the Dukes and Ministers.
One shock followed another, without end.
The emperor and those Dukes and Ministers who had clung to a shred of hope sank into profound despair.
For on second thought, they could guess that Luo Kong had slipped away so quickly because he must have feared the Taiping Army.
Although the Western Regions Army had suffered heavy losses, once reorganized, it would still be a fighting cavalry force rarely matched in All Under Heaven. Provided it did not encounter the Taiping Army's main force, it could go wherever it pleased.
That was what had given Luo Kong the confidence to deceive the emperor and the Dukes and Ministers earlier.
Some ministers from prominent clans who had never intended to pack their valuables immediately arranged for their younger clansmen to flee to Guanzhong, Shu, and Jingzhou for refuge.
The Dukes and Ministers themselves, however, could not flee. Many of them were not staying out of a desire to die loyally for the emperor, but because they were court officials. No one could object if the Marquis of Unshuang went to Chang'an, or even returned to the Western Regions, but they could not do the same.
Many of those fleeing toward Guanzhong also had Shu as their ultimate destination.
Families with women, in particular, had fathers and brothers lead them in flight, terrified that they might fall into the Taiping Army's hands.
For everyone knew that whether officials or bandits entered the city, the result would be the same: women with any beauty were certain to suffer misfortune. And by the principle that beautiful women gathered in the upper ranks, women from prominent clans were generally above average in looks.
Cai Yong now felt only profound relief-relief