Strange Dark Objects

In the capital city, the high officials had led their subordinates to quickly evacuate the populace. Although the people were puzzled by the scene unfolding before them, they trusted these officials and followed them.

This trust was a testament to the previous emperor's success in enhancing the reputation of the bureaucrats in the eyes of the people. Otherwise, the citizens really would not have followed, and many lives would have been lost.

They did not possess guns for self-defense, so fleeing was the prioritized option. Why were there no guns when there were explosives?