Finally, the gates in the city wall were locked. The citizens were now prisoners in their own city and were unable to visit relatives in the rural areas. Only those who tilled land outside the city were allowed to pass. An imperial governor moved into the palace. The emperor himself was afraid to live in the city; he thought everybody wanted to kill him and he was right! He took refuge in a fort north of the city and hid himself from the people.

 

But the citizens had a secret weapon, which was far more dangerous than all the arrows and swords in the world. They knew how to use printing presses and some of these were moved in great secrecy to a room in an old attic. Thousands of leaflets containing rebellious propaganda were spread around the city. These encouraged the population to risk their lives in the fight for freedom and many soldiers were killed in the narrow streets.

 
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