According to Zhao Ling's own thoughts, if Jingtong heard this, he would probably be shocked.

However, to Zhaoling's surprise, Jingtong didn't have any big reaction after hearing it, just responded very calmly, and then said, "How many people are involved?" ”

Zhao Lingleng paused, glanced at Jingtong deeply, and seemed to understand something.

In fact, the answer is very simple, that is, Jingtong has noticed this matter.

In other words, this surrender faction does not only exist among the Zhao clan, but also exists in large numbers within the Jing clan!

In fact, this kind of psychology is also very easy to understand, generally speaking, in the face of the crisis of the collapse of the country, the resistance of the high-level will be relatively stronger than that of the middle and low-level.

Why? Because Ling Yin like Jingtong, or Shangzhu State like Zhaoling, their official positions have reached the peak of the Chu State, even if they surrender to the Zhao State, it is impossible to get a bigger position and more rights, and they may even have to worry about their lives.

But those middle-level or low-level Chu officials thought differently.

Not to mention anything else, after Zhao conquered this land, it was impossible for all of them to be taken care of by the people of Zhao State, right? It can be seen from the previous destruction of the other five countries by the Zhao State that the Zhao State generally adopted the method of Zhao State officials in charge and local surrender officials to assist, which gave the middle and low-level officials the opportunity to continue to hold their positions and powers.

More importantly, high-level surrender may be killed, but these mid- and low-level officials will definitely be able to avoid death if they surrender.

Definitely will not die, there is hope to keep power, and even in the long run, there may be a promotion and a salary increase, but it is just to change the boss of the company, such a thing is in front of you, in fact, most people's choice is obvious.

In any era, there are always a few people who can stand up and die in times of national crisis, and most people care more about their own little interests.

Otherwise, how could the Later Jin regime, with a population of only a few hundred thousand in history, completely annex the Ming Dynasty in just a few decades? In fact, most of them were just the Ming Dynasty surrendering troops to fight the Ming Dynasty Resistance Army.

Jingtong didn't know what Houjin was, but the Chu State was eight hundred years old, and the history was not much shorter than that of the Zhou Dynasty, and there were hundreds of vassal states destroyed, so he naturally understood this truth.

After a long time, Jingtong suddenly sighed and said, "Actually, there is a lot of controversy within the Jing clan about whether to surrender the city or not. ”

"What?" At this moment, Zhao Ling was really surprised.

You must know that although there are also voices of surrender factions in the Zhao clan, this is not the climate after all, and those who want to surrender are only quietly engaging in conspiracy in secret, and at present, no one dares to openly say this kind of thing in front of the patriarch of Zhao Ling.

But listening to Jingtong's meaning, the people of the Jing clan have even quarreled several times over whether to surrender?

Zhao Ling suddenly felt a chill in his body, and the eyes he looked at Jingtong were even a little wrong.

If this Jingtong has also become a capitulation faction, then wouldn't he have fallen into the net when he came here today?

Jingtong obviously sensed Zhao Ling's thoughts, and showed a wry smile: "Shangzhu Country is worry-free, I don't mean to surrender to Zhao Guoren now." ”

Zhao Ling breathed a sigh of relief slightly, and said in a deep voice: "If this is the case, then Ling Yin thinks that with the current situation, what should be done?" ”

Jingtong was silent for a while, and then said, "Actually...... I don't have a good idea. ”

What can be done?

As the top level of the three major families now, Jingtong and Zhaoling certainly have a number in their hearts about the strength comparison between the two sides.

The territory of the Zhao State is dozens of times that of the territory controlled by the three major families, the population is also dozens of times, and the military strength is also dozens of times.

Even if Pang Xuan's 150,000 people are repelled this time? Zhao Guo can still easily bring another 200,000, 300,000 or even 500,000 or 600,000 troops!

At that time, could the three major families still be able to rely on the tens of thousands of people in their hands to defend the attack of the Zhao people?

The room fell silent.

Other Chu people can deceive themselves and choose to escape, but as the two top decision-makers among the three major families today, they must face the reality and must find a way to deal with the predicament.

Although there is actually a King of Chu and a Empress Dowager Jing in Wucheng, everyone knows that those two are completely decorations, and the real power is in the hands of Jingtong and Zhaoling, or in the hands of the three major families.

After a while, Zhao Ling let out a soft breath and said, "Otherwise...... Shall I go back and arrest those traitors first, and kill a group of people to make an example? ”

Jingtong was silent for a short while, seemingly thinking carefully about this proposal.

He finally shook his head: "No. You can catch them, but if you kill them all, I am afraid it will damage the morale of the army. ”

Zhao Ling was stunned.

It seems to be a normal thing to catch a group of unstable elements and kill them to warn others when defending the city, how can it be related to damaging the morale of the army?

Zhao Ling was about to say something, but he saw Jingtong wave his hand and said in a deep voice: "Shangzhu Kingdom, have you ever thought about what will happen if the city is really broken?" ”

Zhao Ling's face changed, and then he was dumbfounded.

What else could happen? Isn't it that everyone is dying together?

Jingtong sighed and said, "If the Zhaojing Qu San clan dies because of this, we will be the biggest sinners, do you understand?" If I don't hide it from the Zhu State, I will also send people tonight to arrest all those who want to surrender to the Zhao State and strictly guard them. ”

Zhao Lingleng pondered for a while, and finally understood.

As the top level of the Chu State today, whether it is Jingtong or Zhaoling, whether it is for power or face, they actually don't have much choice, and they can only carry it to the end with the people of Zhao State.

But in this way, what if the people of Zhao get angry and directly exterminate the three families of Zhaojingqu?

This is really a matter of high probability, after all, judging from the previous Zhao State's destruction of the other five countries, it was originally a surrender to avoid death and could still be appointed, and resistance is definitely a dead end.

If all those who want to surrender to Zhao are arrested at this time and put in prison in the name of imprisonment, then after the Zhao army enters the city, these surrender factions will surely become the best leading party in the eyes of Zhao people, right?

Even if it's a bit embarrassing to say it, but at least if you do this, even if the three major families are defeated, they will still be able to find a place in the Zhao Kingdom, and they will still have a chance to make a comeback in the future.

Zhao Ling, who completely understood, took a deep breath and stood up.

"Please rest assured that after tomorrow, all those in the Zhao clan who want to surrender to Zhao will be thrown into prison!"