Chapter 359

【Ranking Fifteenth: Emperor Renzong of Song · Zhao Zhen】

【Reign Duration: 1022–1063, the longest-reigning emperor of the Northern Song】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Recognized as a benevolent emperor in history.

Gentle and kind, compassionate to the people.

During his reign, economy and culture reached their peak, with many famous ministers: Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Bao Zheng, Han Qi, etc.

Forty years of prosperous rule, historically known as the 'Rule of Renzong'.

But military strength was weak, compromising externally, seeking peace with tribute.】

After Gu Shanhe finished reading, applause rang out on the square.

Not the kind of fanatical applause, but the kind of heartfelt applause with respect.

Commoners didn't understand what three redundancies and two accumulations were, didn't understand what reform and factional strife were, what they knew was—

This emperor reigned for forty years, and the commoners lived well.

Empress Zhangsun said softly: "Kind-hearted, treating all people well, indeed a rare benevolent ruler."

Li Shimin said: "Rule of Renzong, prosperous culture, many famous ministers."

"Although military strength was weak, being able to maintain forty years of peace is not easy."

Liu Bang: "This one is okay."

"Although I don't like weakness, I respect those who are good to the people."

Liu Che also said: "Benevolent governance to nourish the people, this is not wrong, but military preparation cannot be lost."

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the portrait of Emperor Renzong of Song on the Sky Screen, his mouth twitched.

Forty years of peace.

What he, Zhao Kuangyin, fought for and wanted his descendants to guard was this.

Emperor Renzong of Song guarded it.

【Ranking Sixteenth: Emperor Zhenzong of Song · Zhao Heng】

【Reign Duration: 997–1022】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Diligent in the early stage, created the 'Rule of Xianping'.

The Chanyuan Alliance brought a hundred years of peace, but also opened the precedent of exchanging peace for tribute.

In his later years, he was addicted to Fengshan sacrifices, exhausting the national treasury.】

Gu Shanhe said: "Had merits and faults."

"The Chanyuan Alliance had both pros and cons, peace was real, but the Great Song's martial spirit also began to be lost from here."

Liu Bang didn't tease Zhao Kuangyin this time, but evaluated directly:

"Exchanging peace for tribute?"

"I married a princess to the Xiongnu back then, at least that was marriage."

"You directly give money, what's the difference from paying protection money?"

Liu Che was more direct: "Giving money to buy peace, can buy it for a while, can't buy it for a lifetime."

"I fought the Xiongnu, spent decades, but after fighting, the Xiongnu never dared to come again."

"You Great Song give money every year, the Liao Kingdom comes to ask every year, isn't this drinking poison to quench thirst?"

Zhao Kuangyin's face was not so good-looking again.

The Chanyuan Alliance, he knew.

After his brother Zhao Guangyi's northern expedition failed, the Great Song had been on the defensive against the Liao.

But to the point of giving money, he couldn't accept it.

"Tribute."

He recited this word, as if chewing a bitter medicine.

"I was a soldier for Chai Rong back then, the monthly pay was only a few strings of cash."

"I never thought that one day the Great Song would send money to others."

The image on the Sky Screen changed to someone Zhao Kuangyin was most familiar with—his brother, Zhao Guangyi.

【Ranking Seventeenth: Emperor Taizong of Song · Zhao Guangyi】

【Reign Duration: 976–997】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Younger brother of Emperor Taizu of Song, second emperor of the Northern Song.

After ascending the throne, unified the south, ending the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.

Expanded the imperial examination, raised the status of scholars.

But two northern expeditions against the Liao failed miserably, gave up recovering Yanyun.

Suspicious of military generals, deepened the national policy of valuing civil over military.】

Zhao Kuangyin looked at his brother's portrait on the Sky Screen, his expression complex to the extreme.

Liu Bang asked on the side: "Old Zhao, this is your brother?"

Zhao Kuangyin nodded.

"Is he..."

Liu Bang didn't continue, but everyone understood that look—is he the one who snatched your throne?

Zhao Kuangyin didn't pick up the topic.

Gu Shanhe spoke at the right time, his voice steady: "Zhao Guangyi completed the great cause of unification, had merits in civil governance."

"But suffered setbacks in military affairs, setting the tone for the Great Song's conservative stance toward the outside world later."

"The national policy of valuing civil over military was completely solidified in his hands."

Li Shimin said: "Completed unification, this merit is not small."

"But giving up recovering Yanyun, the price is too high."

Liu Che said: "The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, that is the barrier to the north of the Central Plains."

"Losing Yanyun is equivalent to the Central Plains having no defense."

"You Great Song were suppressed and beaten by the north for hundreds of years, the root is here."

Liu Xiu said softly: "Enough for maintaining, insufficient for pioneering."

Ying Zheng said: "A monarch who set the policy, merits and faults are half and half."

Zhao Kuangyin looked at his brother's portrait, his lips moved a few times, and finally said one sentence:

"Guangyi, I handed the country to you, not for you to give up."

Finally, the last one.

The text on the Sky Screen changed to Zhao Kuangyin's name.

In the image, a middle-aged general stood in front of the camp at Chenqiao Station, and soldiers draped a yellow robe over him.

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the image and was stunned.

That was himself.

【Ranking Eighteenth: Emperor Taizu of Song · Zhao Kuangyin】

【Reign Duration: 960–976, founding emperor of the Northern Song】

【Sky Screen Introduction: Rose from the ranks, Chenqiao Mutiny, yellow robe draped, ended the chaos of the Five Dynasties.

Released military power with a cup of wine, peacefully gathered the power of military generals.

Treated the previous dynasty's imperial family and meritorious officials well, treated people with kindness.

Set the basic national policy of the Great Song, created a three-hundred-year foundation.

Only regret: died young, failed to recover Yanyun.】

Gu Shanhe's voice raised a bit, spreading throughout the square:

"Eighteen emperors of the Great Song, all ranked."

"Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, used martial arts to stabilize the world, used benevolence to govern the country."

"Future monarchs inherited the national policy, but gradually went astray—valuing civil too much, military preparation abandoned."

"Thus, for hundreds of years, the Great Song was weak externally and repeatedly bullied."

"But until the country fell at Yamen, one hundred thousand soldiers and civilians died for the country, and the seven-year-old young emperor went to the sea."

"Only then did the world see clearly—this dynasty, which had been scolded for hundreds of years as 'cowardly,' never lost the backbone of China in its bones."

"Monarchs have muddled rulers, courts have treacherous ministers, but the righteousness of the country, the spirit of preferring death over surrender, has always been engraved in the blood of the Song people."

"A dynasty has mediocre rulers, humiliation, prosperity, and tragedy."

"And that jump at Yamen is the last dignity the Great Song left between heaven and earth."

On the square, tens of thousands of commoners bowed in unison.

Not kneeling, but bowing.

Like facing an elder worthy of respect, solemnly bending their waists.

On the city tower, the six emperors had their own feelings.

Ying Zheng put away his cold color and nodded slightly.

Liu Bang sighed and clapped his hands.

Liu Che's eyes were intertwined with fighting spirit and admiration.

Liu Xiu said softly, "The rise and fall of the country's destiny depends on the monarch."

Li Shimin sighed: "The strength of a dynasty lies in governance, the survival of spirit lies in the heart."

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the entire Sky Screen, looked at the name of the child who jumped into the sea at seven, looked at the names of his muddled descendants, looked at his own name, and said nothing.

After a long time, he turned around and cupped his hands toward the tens of thousands of commoners on the square.

"I thank you all on behalf of the three hundred years of emperors of the Great Song."

Crying rose again on the square.

The golden light of the Sky Screen slowly converged, and the image of the Battle of Yamen flashed one last time—

The moment the seven-year-old child fell into the sea, there were no tears on his face.

The image froze for a second, then disappeared into the horizon.

The wind of Bianliang City blew over the Xuande Tower, blew over the heads of tens of thousands of people on the square, blew over Zhao Kuangyin's veins-bulging hands gripping the railing.

No one spoke.

The wind was loud, as if sobbing for the one hundred thousand soldiers and civilians who threw themselves into the sea.

It was also as if telling everyone for that seven-year-old child—the Great Song is not weak.