Chapter 358

【Ranking Ninth: Emperor Gaozong of Song · Zhao Gou】

【Reign Duration: 1127–1162, founding emperor of the Southern Song】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Escaped by luck after the Jingkang Incident, established the Southern Song, continued the Song family line.

Displaced in his early years.

Had merits and crimes: settled in the south, had no heart for northern expedition, reused Qin Hui, unjustly killed Yue Fei, and paid tribute to the Jin Kingdom.】

When Gu Shanhe said the four words "unjustly killed Yue Fei," the square exploded.

The commoners didn't know Yue Fei, but they knew the weight of the four words "unjustly killing a loyal official."

Someone among the civil officials in the front row recognized Yue Fei's name, whispered a few words to the person next to them, and the person's face changed.

On the city tower, Zhao Kuangyin's face wasn't black, it was iron-blue.

"Kill his own general? Submit to the Jin Kingdom?"

His voice was very low, but every word sounded like it was squeezed out from between his teeth.

Liu Bang stood on the side, not joking, not laughing.

He looked at the emperor named Zhao Gou on the Sky Screen, was silent for a few seconds, and then said:

"Old Zhao, this person... I'm not saying it, he doesn't deserve your Zhao family name."

Liu Che's voice was very cold: "I have fought the Xiongnu all my life, and I hate those who seek survival and peace the most."

"Submit to foreign races? That word doesn't exist in my dictionary."

Liu Xiu said: "Merit in continuing the state, but killing loyal officials to seek peace, this crime is hard to forgive."

Li Shimin sighed: "He killed Yue Fei, this point, cannot be whitewashed."

Ying Zheng only said one sentence: "Treacherous ministers in power, loyal and good not surviving, this is the monarch's fault."

Zhao Kuangyin's hands were trembling.

It wasn't fear, it was anger.

He looked at the descendant named Zhao Gou on the Sky Screen, his lips trembled a few times, and finally said one sentence:

"Among my descendants, how did such a person appear?"

The image on the Sky Screen turned into a sea of fire.

The city wall of Bianliang City was broken, the Jin cavalry rushed into the city, burning, killing, and looting.

Two people wearing dragon robes were escorted by Jin soldiers, kneeling on the ground.

Zhao Kuangyin's pupils shrank.

Those two dragon robes—were the dragon robes of the Great Song Emperor.

【Ranking Tenth: Emperor Qinzong of Song · Zhao Huan】

【Reign Duration: 1126–1127】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Took office in a crisis, took over the precarious Northern Song.

Weak personality, indecisive in war and peace, listened to slander, dismissed main-war ministers.

Bianjing fell, captured by Jin soldiers along with his father, Emperor Huizong of Song, historically known as the Jingkang Shame.】

When Gu Shanhe read the four words "Jingkang Shame," the expressions of everyone on the city tower changed.

Ying Zheng's face was so cold it could freeze people to death.

What did he hate most? He hated national humiliation most.

When he destroyed the six states back then, he hadn't humiliated the monarchs of the six states like this.

Jin soldiers taking two emperors as captives, this matter, he couldn't accept.

Liu Bang put away all joking expressions, looked at the two kneeling figures on the Sky Screen, and was silent for a long time.

Then he said: "I was chased by Xiang Yu back then, and I never knelt."

Liu Che pressed his hand on the sword hilt, his voice very deep: "A ruler who is afraid of war and bends his knees, how can the country exist!"

Liu Xiu lowered his eyes: "Jingkang Shame, seen with my own eyes today, only then do I know how painful it is."

Li Shimin closed his eyes: "Two emperors captured, the humiliation of China."

Zhao Kuangyin's body swayed.

He held the railing, his fingernails almost embedded in the wood.

He looked at the two kneeling emperors on the Sky Screen—his descendants, and said word by word: "I, Zhao Kuangyin, founded the country and set the tripod, just so that my descendants would not suffer this humiliation."

"You are good, you knelt down yourselves."

His voice was not loud, but everyone on the city tower heard the anger and pain.

The Sky Screen image switched.

This time it wasn't a battlefield, it was a study.

A middle-aged man in a dragon robe was painting, painting flowers and birds, the brushwork fine, lifelike.

【Ranking Eleventh: Emperor Huizong of Song · Zhao Ji】

【Reign Duration: 1100–1125】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Genius artist, muddled emperor.

His calligraphy, painting, and poetry were the best of his time, created the Slender Gold script.

But he was a mess at governing the country, favored treacherous ministers, extorted taxes, and led the Jin soldiers south.

When the national disaster came, he hurriedly abdicated, and finally became a captive.

Capable of everything, except being an emperor.】

After Gu Shanhe finished reading, Zhao Kuangyin's face didn't know what color it was.

Liu Bang spoke first: "Old Zhao, your descendant, paints quite well."

"I want a painting just looking at it."

Zhao Kuangyin ignored him.

Liu Che said: "An artist as emperor, isn't that nonsense?"

Liu Xiu said softly: "Capable of everything, except being an emperor. This sentence is too heavy."

Li Shimin shook his head: "Talent shocks the world, but the crime is hard to escape."

Ying Zheng said: "Muddled emperor."

Zhao Kuangyin finally spoke.

He looked at Zhao Ji, who was painting flowers and birds on the Sky Screen, his voice as deep as if it came from underground:

"Painting? Can painting save the country?"

"When the Jin soldiers attacked, could your Slender Gold script block arrows?"

He paused, his voice lower: "You are Zhao Ji?"

The Sky Screen didn't answer.

But everyone knew the answer.

【Ranking Twelfth: Emperor Zhezong of Song · Zhao Xu】

【Reign Duration: 1085–1100】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Young emperor, promising in his youth.

After taking personal rule, he picked up the reform again, defeated Western Xia, and expanded the territory by a thousand miles.

Unfortunately, he died young, at only twenty-five.】

Gu Shanhe said: "Has sharpness, has means, has ambition."

"He is a rare bright ruler in the late Northern Song."

"Heaven did not grant him years, it is the regret of the Great Song."

Li Shimin nodded: "Died young, a pity."

"If he could have lived another twenty years, the Northern Song might not have fallen."

Liu Bang said: "This one is okay, this one is really okay."

"At twenty-five, he could beat Western Xia to the ground; I was still mixing in Peixian at twenty-five."

Liu Che also nodded: "Expanding territory by a thousand miles, has the style of his ancestor."

Liu Xiu said: "Heaven did not grant years, the four words are the most painful."

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the young portrait of Emperor Zhezong of Song on the Sky Screen, his eyes complex.

Twenty-five.

Among his descendants, not many had this ability.

But he died early.

【Ranking Thirteenth: Emperor Shenzong of Song · Zhao Xu】

【Reign Duration: 1067–1085】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Had great ambitions, determined to reform and strengthen the country.

Fully supported Wang Anshi in implementing the Xining Reform, trying to reverse the 'three redundancies' dilemma.

The reform had both pros and cons, and the factional strife between the new and old parties became increasingly fierce from then on.】

Gu Shanhe said: "An idealist monarch who was determined to reform."

"Had the heart to change the weak state of the Great Song, but the reform touched the interests of many parties, and the resistance was heavy."

"He worked hard for half his life, but the problems remained."

Liu Bang said: "Reform, I understand."

"I thought about changing back then, but didn't change it clearly; at least he dared to change."

Liu Che said: "Reform is not a problem, but changing it halfway without being thorough, and creating factional strife, that's trouble."

Liu Xiu said: "Heart but no power, not his fault."

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the portrait of Emperor Shenzong of Song on the Sky Screen, was silent for a while, and said: "Having the heart is already rare."

【Ranking Fourteenth: Emperor Yingzong of Song · Zhao Shu】

【Reign Duration: 1063–1067】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Reigned for only four years, weak and sickly.

Gentle by nature, continued the good policies of the previous dynasty.

No merits, no faults, mediocre and conservative.】

Gu Shanhe said: "An ordinary monarch in a peaceful age, living a stable life, no merits, no faults."

Liu Bang glanced at Zhao Kuangyin: "This one is no problem."

"Mediocre but didn't make mistakes, Old Zhao, this descendant of yours can pass."

Zhao Kuangyin didn't comment.

The image on the Sky Screen became peaceful.

Commoners came and went on the streets, scholars recited poetry in restaurants, and the sound of reading was loud in schools.