Chapter 357

【Ranking Third: Emperor Gong of Song · Zhao Xian】

【Reign Duration: 1274–1276】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Ascended the throne at four.

Reigned for two years, the Yuan army arrived at Lin'an, the imperial family opened the city and surrendered.

Captured to the north, became a monk after reaching adulthood, a life of humiliation.】

Gu Shanhe said: "Ascended at four, couldn't even speak clearly."

"The surrender of Lin'an was the beginning of the Great Song formally losing its capital."

"He had no ability to choose resistance, only to passively bear the humiliation of the country's fall."

Liu Bang clicked his tongue: "Four years old? What can a four-year-old do? Can't even dress himself properly."

Zhao Kuangyin didn't speak.

Liu Che said: "This can't be blamed on him, but the surrender is shameful."

Liu Xiu said softly: "He had no power to choose."

The image on the Sky Screen changed.

It wasn't the tragedy of exile on the sea, it was the court.

A sallow-faced middle-aged man slumped on the dragon chair, beside him stood a fat-headed, big-eared powerful minister, officials in the court passing notes to each other, whispering, chaotic as a pot of porridge.

Zhao Kuangyin frowned.

This image looked wrong.

【Ranking Fourth: Emperor Duzong of Song · Zhao Qi】

【Reign Duration: 1264–1274】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Mediocre aptitude, weak and muddled.

During his reign, he indulged in pleasure, neglected court affairs, and handed all power to the treacherous minister Jia Sidao.

Xiangyang was besieged for years, he sat by and did not rescue.

Reigned for ten years, exhausting the last national strength of the Southern Song.】

After Gu Shanhe finished reading, Zhao Kuangyin's face was already black.

"Xiangyang was besieged for years, he sat by and did not rescue?"

His voice was not loud, but everyone on the city tower could hear it—

This tone wasn't asking, it was suppressing fire.

Liu Bang leaned over to look: "Old Zhao, your descendant, what was his name? Zhao Qi?"

"This person reigned for ten years and only did two things—indulge in pleasure, delegate power."

"If I had such an opponent back then, I would have unified the world long ago."

Liu Che snorted coldly: "Occupying the imperial throne, not thinking of guarding the land, a mediocre ruler ruins the country!"

Zhao Kuangyin's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, but he didn't refute.

Because he couldn't refute.

It was written clearly on the Sky Screen, Xiangyang was besieged for years, the court sat by and did not rescue.

What kind of place was Xiangyang?

The gateway to the Yangtze River; if Xiangyang was lost, the natural barrier of the Yangtze River was equivalent to being handed over to others.

When he fought the Southern Tang back then, the most troublesome thing was Xiangyang.

"Who is this Jia Sidao?" Zhao Kuangyin turned to ask Gu Shanhe.

"A powerful minister."

"Emperor Duzong of Song handed over all court affairs to him."

"This Jia Sidao, he's no good at fighting, but number one at corruption."

"When the Yuan army attacked, he concealed the military situation and privately sought peace."

Zhao Kuangyin's hands began to grip the railing again.

Liu Bang patted his shoulder: "Old Zhao, calm down."

"My descendants weren't promising either, weren't they usurped by Wang Mang later?"

"Did you hear me say anything? I accepted it."

Zhao Kuangyin took a deep breath and didn't speak.

Li Shimin added: "Official Zhao, this descendant of yours is indeed not very good."

Ying Zheng didn't say "not very good," he said two words: "Omen of death."

【Ranking Fifth: Emperor Lizong of Song · Zhao Yun】

【Reign Duration: 1224–1264】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Controlled by powerful ministers in his early years, he had the heart to strive at the beginning of his personal rule, allied with the Mongols to destroy the Jin, washing away the old shame of Jingkang.

But in his later years, he indulged in wine and women, neglected government affairs, and favored treacherous ministers.

The act of allying with the Mongols was short-sighted and reckless, burying the disaster of the country's fall for the Southern Song.】

Gu Shanhe said: "Ambition in the early stage, lost his original heart in the later stage."

"Allied with the Mongols to destroy the Jin was the biggest mistake of his life."

"Drove away the old opponent Jin, and brought in the fiercer Mongol."

Zhao Kuangyin didn't hold back this time and spoke directly: "Allied with the Mongols to destroy the Jin? Whose idea was that?"

Gu Shanhe said: "At that time, everyone in the court felt it was a good opportunity."

"The Jin Kingdom was about to fail, the Mongols were in full swing, allying with the Mongols to fight the Jin could both take revenge and divide the land."

"But no one thought that the Mongols were ten times stronger than the Jin."

"After destroying the Jin, the next one is you."

Zhao Kuangyin took a deep breath, and another deep breath.

Liu Bang gloated on the side: "Old Zhao, your descendant's brain doesn't work very well."

"When I fought the Xiongnu, I at most allied with the Western Regions, I never thought of allying with the Xiongnu's enemies to destroy the Xiongnu—because after destroying one, the one that comes is even more powerful."

Liu Che rarely agreed with Gaozu: "Allying with the weak to resist the strong is the right way. Allying with the strong to destroy the weak is seeking death."

Liu Xiu said: "Emperor Lizong of Song's decision was short-sighted."

Li Shimin looked at the middle-aged emperor on the Sky Screen and sighed: "Bright in the front, dark in the back, failed to maintain his integrity in his later years."

Ying Zheng only said one word: "Stupid."

Zhao Kuangyin's hands gripped the railing, veins bulging.

He wasn't defending Emperor Lizong of Song, he was angry—

Angry that his descendant didn't even have the most basic strategic judgment.

【Ranking Sixth: Emperor Ningzong of Song · Zhao Kuo】

【Reign Duration: 1194–1224】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Gentle personality, lacking decisiveness.

Supported the northern expedition against the Jin in the early part of his reign, intending to recover the Central Plains, but used the wrong people, and the northern expedition failed miserably.

Since then, the Song and Jin fought for years, and national strength was consumed.

Court factional strife continued, unable to balance.】

Gu Shanhe said: "Had the heart to restore the country, but couldn't turn the tide. Ambition is commendable, ability is insufficient."

Liu Bang commented: "This person has the heart, but no ability. I was like this back then—wanted to fight the Xiongnu, couldn't beat them, but I knew how to endure."

"He doesn't know how to fight but insists on fighting, and continues to fight after losing, isn't that stupid?"

Liu Che said: "If you can't beat them, you don't have to fight, wait until you are ready to fight, he is fighting blindly."

Zhao Kuangyin didn't have a black face this time, but his brows were knitted.

The northern expedition against the Jin, the matter itself was not wrong.

But continuing to consume national strength after losing, that was wrong.

【Ranking Seventh: Emperor Guangzong of Song · Zhao Dun】

【Reign Duration: 1189–1194】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Weak and suspicious, mentally unstable, afraid of his wife and unfilial. Reigned for five years, court was chaotic, finally forced to abdicate.】

When Gu Shanhe finished reading the introduction, Liu Bang laughed first—not laughing at Emperor Guangzong of Song, but laughing at Zhao Kuangyin:

"Old Zhao, your descendant, afraid of his wife to the point of abdication?"

"I was afraid of Lv Zhi back then, but I didn't abdicate!"

Zhao Kuangyin's face twitched.

Liu Che said: "Mentally unstable, this can't be blamed on him."

"But the court was chaotic for five years, he can't escape the responsibility."

Liu Xiu said: "Five years is not long, but for a dynasty, five years of chaos is enough to hurt the bones."

Li Shimin said faintly: "Incapable of the task."

The image on the Sky Screen was finally not dark.

Changing from the gloom of the previous few, the image showed a drill ground, war horses, armored soldiers.

A middle-aged emperor stood on the platform, his eyes like torches, reviewing the army.

Zhao Kuangyin's eyes brightened.

This was the Great Song Emperor he imagined.

【Ranking Eighth: Emperor Xiaozong of Song · Zhao Shen】

【Reign Duration: 1162–1189】

【Sky Screen Introduction: The most accomplished emperor of the Southern Song.

Redressed the injustice of Yue Fei, rectified officialdom, and recuperated.

Launched the Longxing Northern Expedition, striving to recover the homeland.

Although the northern expedition failed, the governance was excellent, creating the 'Rule of Qian and Chun', and the people were happy.】

Gu Shanhe said: "In the hundred years of the Southern Song, only Xiaozong was single-mindedly restoring the country and diligently loving the people."

"Excellent civil governance, regrettable military achievements, limited by the court situation and military strength, failed to complete the northern expedition."

"But his ambition and benevolent governance are enough for future generations to respect."

Li Shimin nodded: "This monarch has the bearing of a bright ruler."

"Had the heart to serve the country, unfortunately, the timing was bad."

Liu Bang was rarely serious: "This one is okay. This one is much stronger than the previous few."

Liu Che said: "Redressing Yue Fei, this was done well."

"Yue Fei's matter, I heard the Sky Screen talk about it before, it was an injustice."

Liu Xiu nodded: "Those who can create a prosperous age are not mediocre rulers."

Zhao Kuangyin finally loosened his grip on the railing a little, nodded, didn't speak, but his expression was obviously much more relaxed.

Ying Zheng glanced at the portrait of Emperor Xiaozong of Song on the Sky Screen and said: "Passable."

The Sky Screen image switched.

A middle-aged emperor sat on the dragon chair, and a man looking like a general knelt in front of him—Yue Fei.