"You may not know this, but the Jurchens have overthrown the Liao Dynasty and are now gathering a massive army to attack Tokyo. When we left, news was already spreading that the Jurchens have reached Taiyuan Prefecture," the coachman said as he bought a handful of pancakes, some salt, and large grains of rice and loaded them onto the cart.
"They have reached Taiyuan Prefecture? Then isn't Tokyo in imminent danger?" Sun Licheng asked with a face full of shock.
"Exactly. But alas, many people don't believe it," the coachman replied as he prepared to leave. His wife, children, and old mother all sat on the cart with tired expressions.
Seeing them about to leave, Sun Licheng hurriedly asked, "Where are you all planning to go?"
The coachman replied, "I have a relative in Jiankang who trades there. We plan to seek refuge with him."
Sun Licheng questioned several other coachmen, and they all said the same thing—they were evacuating to avoid the disaster.
He looked blank.