Even though Chao Tian had been captured alive, he remained iron-spined and unyielding. On the grounds that his family was still in Zhaoge and might be implicated, he swore to die rather than submit to Xiqi.
Seeing this, Jiang Ziya stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, and a plan immediately formed in his mind.
He promptly gave an order, having Chao Lei brought before him, then instructed him in a gentle voice:
"You should return to Zhaoge first and secretly bring every one of your wife, children, and elders to Xiqi.
Once your family is safely reunited, you can submit to Zhou together. Then General Chao Tian's so-called excuse of having family in the capital will collapse without a single attack."
With that said, Jiang Ziya ordered someone to loosen Chao Lei's restraints and let him return to Zhaoge.
As for Chao Tian, he was still detained in the Xiqi camp for the time being as a hostage, to keep Chao Lei in check and also make sure Chao Tian did not dare act rashly.
Outside Zhaoge City, the night was black as ink, with only a few sparks of fire swaying along the official road.
Chao Lei quietly slipped back into the capital, his figure hidden in the shadows, not daring to alert any of the guards. This return of his was under the pretense of "bringing his family to submit to Zhou," and he acted with the utmost secrecy.
But none of this could possibly be hidden from Wen Zhong, who held command in the Grand Preceptor's Mansion, his divine sense covering the entire city.
He sat upright in the tent, fingertips lightly tapping the table, while a cold light that saw through everything lay hidden in his eyes.
Though he had clearly long since known