Chapter 109: Top Ten Tyrant Emperors – No.5: Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji!

Top Ten Tyrant Emperors – No. 5: Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji

The celestial banner shone with golden light, a new title appeared, and beside it a line of small text read "An artistic giant delayed by the emperor's career."

The image shows exquisite slender‑gold script calligraphy, courtyard‑style bird‑and‑flower paintings with far‑reaching artistic conception, juxtaposed against the war‑torn Bianjing city and rag‑clad northern hunting troops, creating a blinding contrast.

"Emperor Huizong of Song? Zhao Ji? An emperor of the Song dynasty?"

Debates across the dynasties flared again, and many turned their gaze to the known Song period, especially the Northern Song.

The Great Song, during the Kaibao era (the time of Emperor Taizu, Zhao Kuangyin).

Zhao Kuangyin was discussing state affairs with his brother Zhao Guangyi when he saw the words "Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji" and "Northern Song," and his brows immediately knit.

"Huizong? My later Song emperor?"

Zhao Kuangyin's expression turned sour, "An artistic giant delayed by the emperor's career? That appraisal… sounds terribly ominous."

Zhao Guangyi also said in a deep voice, "Elder brother, from this it seems the gentleman excels in the arts but is clumsy at governing? And he even made the fifth spot on the tyrant emperor list?"

Zhao Kuangyin felt a sudden thud in his heart; after the Chenqiao rebellion, he donned the yellow robe, relinquished military power over a cup of wine, finally ending the Five Dynasties turmoil, founding the Great Song legacy, seeking only a stable realm and the everlasting prosperity of the Zhao clan.

Could these later descendants possibly be a ruler who lost his ambition to toys?

"Now let's see how the celestial banner explains it."

Zhao Kuangyin suppressed his inner unease and said in a deep voice.

【Reason for ranking: Zhao Ji is an "artistic giant" whose career was delayed by the emperor's affairs, a top‑level aesthetic master, a low‑rank ruler of a fallen nation.】

He used a brush and a painting to sketch the map of Northern Song's downfall, worthy of being called "the most literary grave‑digger in history."】

"A literary grave‑digger? A map of destruction?"

Zhao Kuangyin's complexion grew even darker.

Literary? Grave‑digger? Putting those two together sounds awkward and carries a ridiculous sarcasm.

"A low‑rank ruler of a fallen nation…"

Zhao Guangyi inhaled a gasp of cold air,

"Could our Great Song… actually fall at this man's hands? Northern Song… seems the later dynastic name changes, but ultimately…"

Zhao Kuangyin clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

Ruler of a fallen nation!

Would his Great Song perish at the hands of a later "literary" descendant?

People from other dynasties also turned to look.

Liu Bang stroked his chin and laughed, "Yo, this time we have a cultured artist‑emperor; that sounds fresh, but this 'grave‑digging' job he does is a bit over the top."

Ying Zheng snorted, "Trifling tricks, not worth mentioning."

"A ruler should hold the heavens and command all under heaven; indulging in petty pursuits and neglecting proper duties, how could he not perish?"

Liu Che focused on the four characters "ruler of a fallen nation," his gaze toward the celestial banner growing more solemn.

Although his Great Han faced setbacks, it endured; could the Song dynasty truly suffer a ruin of the nation?

Li Shimin sighed, "Talent and governance could have complemented each other."

"But if the fundamentals are reversed, using art to harm governance, that is the path to disaster; Emperor Huizong of Song seems exactly that."

Wei Zheng said gravely, "Your Majesty! You must be diligent at all times and prioritize state affairs."

"The qin, chess, calligraphy and painting are merely for pleasure; if one drowns in them, it is like Emperor Yang of Sui's love of tours or Emperor Ling of Han's love of merchants—both omens of a fallen nation!"

(Li Shimin's inner thought: Poor baby, constantly being supervised by Wei Zheng, scolded at every turn, compared to him, I can't even… ⸝⸝ʚ̴̶̷̯̆ʚ̴̶̷̆⸝⸝)

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhu Biao, "Biao, did you see? If this emperor's mind isn't in the right place, even if he pursues 'refined arts' like qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, it can still bring disaster to the nation; indulging in toys and losing ambition—that's exactly the kind of person we're talking about."

Zhu Biao nodded, "Father, you speak truly; a ruler's single thought concerns the world, one must not indulge private desires and neglect the state's foundation."

【Netizen's sharp comment: Others say 'a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier'; he is 'an emperor who doesn't want to be a painter isn't a good prisoner.'】

"An emperor who doesn't want to be a painter isn't a good prisoner?"

Zhao Kuangyin was stunned for a moment, then savored the ultimate sarcasm, his face turning green with anger.

"Scoundrel! How dare later generations mock my Zhao descendants like this!"

"Prisoner? He… could he have been captured as well?"

Zhao Guangyi was also fuming; this netizen's sharp comment was practically rubbing the Zhao‑Song royal face on the ground.

"Hahaha! What a prisoner!"

Liu Bang burst out laughing, "These later netizens have something—insulting without profanity, yet still so cutting!"

"Artist, prisoner—the contrast is perfect!"

Ying Zheng's mouth twitched slightly; the comment was indeed sharp.

Liu Che frowned, "The disgrace of being a prisoner is worse than death. If truly captured, it would be a king's extraordinary shame and a great humiliation for the nation."

Li Shimin shook his head with a wry smile, "This remark, though humorous, still expresses helplessness and sorrow. To be an emperor yet end as a prisoner—how tragic."

Three Kingdoms plane.

Cao Cao, drinking with his strategists, saw the comment and clapped his hands, laughing loudly:

"Brilliant! Brilliant! An emperor who doesn't want to be a painter isn't a good prisoner—this phrase resonates deeply with me!"

"A ruler without great talent and strategy, merely sitting on the throne, is merely waiting to be a lamb for slaughter."

"Emperor Huizong of Song seems like a sheep that walked into a tiger's mouth, yet still complains his wool isn't pretty enough."

Guo Jia laughed, "Lord, this man seems to have been born in the wrong womb. Had he been born into an ordinary wealthy family, he might have become a generation‑defining art master, his name etched in history. But being born into royalty, he misleads himself and the nation, leaving only a laughingstock."

Liu Bei, together with So we will have: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang, watched and also sighed.

Zhuge Liang waved his fan and said, "Thus, while destiny may exist, human affairs are more crucial. Even inheriting great authority, if virtue does not match the position and talent is insufficient, no matter the ancestors' lingering glory, one cannot escape disaster. Emperor Huizong of Song is a clear proof."

So we will have: Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix‑like eyes disdainfully, "Indulging in petty pursuits, losing power and disgracing the nation—how is that any different from Liu Biao, Liu Zhang and the like?"

"Having a foundation but lacking ambition, they deserve this fate."

Zhang Fei shouted: "Big brother, if that old emperor falls into my hands, I'll poke a hole through him with one spear thrust, so I won't lose face!"

Liu Bei waved his hand: "Third brother, be quiet."

"This person is indeed inadequate, yet he also serves as a warning for posterity; we ought to take him as a lesson, support the Han court, and must not be lax."

【One: Misplaced "Artist".】

If history had a "Best Crossover Award", Song Huizong would surely be nominated.

He was truly a peerless talent in the art world, yet unfortunately he was born into an imperial family.

His reason for being on the list is extremely ironic: he used top-tier aesthetics to produce the worst governance.

With one hand he created the "Slender Gold script" and the "Academy painting"; with the other he pushed the entire dynasty into the abyss.

The heavenly display showed the Slender Gold script's iron lines and silver hooks, the slender and vigorous calligraphy, as well as the Academy paintings' exquisite elegance and profound artistic conception; they truly deserve to be called artistic treasures.

But what followed immediately was the sight of conscripted laborers struggling desperately under the Flower and Stone Fleet, while Jin cavalry's iron hooves shattered the land—a harrowing scene.

"Slender Gold script? Academy painting?"

Zhao Kuangyin looked at those truly exquisite calligraphies and paintings, his feelings complex.

It is good for descendants to have talent, but when that talent is misapplied, it actually becomes the cause of a kingdom's downfall.