One night in July 140, the storm was as gloomy as rain. Yue Fei, the commander-in-chief of the Yue Family Army, stands in an ancient pavilion outside Yancheng, like an exquisite stone statue. Looking down from the fence, the vast and green mountains look like a herd of dark-brown wild horses, tearing toward the horizon. Wu Gou looked at the railing. It was difficult for 37-year-old Yue Fei to think.
At that time, the anti-gold cause he had devoted himself to had been going on for more than ten years. Not long ago, the gold standard was finally broken in the Yancheng and Yingchang areas. Liang Xing was forced to cross the Yellow River by his generals and swore an oath of allegiance to the Song Empire rebels in the territory. For a while, both rivers responded, and Luo Jing fell into chaos. Yue Fei thought it wouldn't be long before he went straight to Huanglong to see the two saints in the north.
How can a seven-foot-old man who has been eager to make contributions and serve the country since his boyhood calm down in the face of such great achievements throughout the ages?
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It was at this dusk that Yue Fei wrote his famous song "The River is Red" in this pavilion whose name cannot be verified. Yue Fei counted between the lines the impassioned words of "Thirty fame and fame, eight thousand miles of clouds and moons", and then wrote with an extremely sad heart: "Jingkang is a shame, it is still snowing; when will the courtiers hate it?"
For everyone in the Song Dynasty who experienced the Jingkang Incident, 1127 will be their eternal pain. A barbarian tribe that had just emerged from the old forests of Northeast China had put an end to the barbaric custom of "the wife after the death of the father becomes the mother, and the wife after the death of the brother becomes the sister-in-law". Tens of thousands of people marched straight in and destroyed the Northern Song Empire that had existed for more than a hundred years. Both Shengqinzong and Tang Taizong were captured by barbarians. The pain and heaviness of this great change, and its shadow, were so heavy and depressing in the hearts of farmers, industry and merchants in the Song Dynasty.
For every major historical event, someone must bear responsibility, not to mention the demise of an empire and the opening of a Pandora's box of disasters. Walking into Jingkang's Shame, you can vaguely see a few looming faces. In their time, these faces had noble blood and were the top successful people in that society. But as it happens, history should also slap them on their noble asses.
1. Zhao Ji: The emperor who loves elegance.
Sometimes, the reason why we can remember past historical eras is not because we are familiar with that history, but because of one or several people who lived in that era. In other words, some people live their lives just to let future generations use them as symbols to remember their era.
Song Huizong is such a symbol. Unfortunately, this symbol is a pillar of shame.
As if as a hint, in the "Three Hundred Song Ci Poems" which had a great influence on later generations, the first poet at the beginning was Song Huizong. This seems to remind us that this gravedigger of the Northern Song Dynasty was also an excellent poet and artist.
Song Huizong’s name was Zhao Ji. As a subjugated king, he must bear the main leadership responsibility for the collapse of the Northern Song Empire. However, as previous historians have expressed their doubts and feelings: "The reason for losing the country was not Hui Jin's stupidity, Sun Hao's violence, or Cao Hema's usurpation of power." - Yes, with Emperor Hui of Jin and Sun Yat-sen Compared with the subjugated kings like Hao, Zhao Ji is neither as stupid as them nor as cruel and bloody. When he was in power, there were no powerful ministers like Cao Cao and the Sima family standing under the sword. It stands to reason that he cannot constitute the essential elements for the subjugation of the country.
But he is dead after all, so we can only find the reason from him. Finally, Tuotuo, the author of "History of the Song Dynasty" and prime minister of the Yuan Dynasty, concluded: "I particularly rely on his personal intelligence, but I am biased and reject honest people. I am close to deceiving." - A little clever, but not in business. , but people are not reused, and evil people are high in temples. Can't you say that this weakness is not serious?
Although it is unofficial history, once we consider that sometimes unofficial history is more trustworthy than official history, we may be able to get a glimpse of Zhao Ji, an artist and emperor:
“This official, Talented, eloquent, a group of sheepherders, good at painting ink bamboo, able to write the book of the Three Religions, and the method of Xiao Jiuyuan. In the happy dusk, Wang Mengshu of the Jiange vaguely likes the cup, as if he likes the queen of Chen Jinling, meeting on a moonlit night. Xuantong Guan, Cai Jing; Good Time, Gao Qiu, Yang Jian.
13 steps to the imperial capital, no songs and no music every day. Shoushan and Yue are covered with precious palaces, full of strange flowers and plants, strange rocks and rare birds and animals; carved beams and painted buildings, tall buildings, pavilions and pavilions are invincible. Tens of thousands of civil servants were connected end to end from Bianliang to Suzhou and Hangzhou, and the people died of toil. Even if there are locusts every year and famine every year, a pound of gold and a bucket of millet are still enough for those who eat them, and those who eat them easily. Thirty-six people from Songjiang coaxed the state to rob the county, and thirteen bandits from Fangla set fire to it. The emperor has no worries. ”
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After being captured by the Jurchen cavalry, Zhao Ji wrote two famous quotes, one of which recalled his luxurious life when he was emperor:
"Yu Jing once recalled the prosperous China of yesterday, the home of thousands of emperors. In Qiongyu Hall, there were string instruments in the early days and sheng and handkerchiefs in the evening. When people from Huacheng go to this desolate place, spring dreams surround the lake and sand. Where are you at home? Listen to the Qiang flute blowing plum blossoms. "
In essence, Zhao Ji not only has a strong artistic temperament, but he is also a first-class artist. One of his paintings, "The Legacy of Xuanhe of the Song Dynasty", sold for 23.5 million last year RMB, the highest price for Chinese paintings, can be used as evidence.
Zhao Ji loves art, romance, fantasy, women, poetry and wine. But if we look at the history of China, we will find a shocking discovery. . Most emperors who have great achievements in art will bring disastrous consequences to the country and his people. The reason is that literati are emperors, and governing a country requires rationality. It is something that poets cannot control at will.
Zhao Kuangyin, the ancestor of Zhao Ji, once lamented after killing Li Yu, the king of lyrics: "If Li Yu devoted his efforts in poetry and poetry to governing the country, where would he become my prisoner?" "After wiping out Meng Chang, the monarch of Shu who was famous for establishing Furong City, Zhao Kuangyin saw among the trophies a chamber pot used by Meng Chang, decorated with various gems. Zhao Kuangyin smashed it with a hammer. Shattered and sighed: "It's strange that it is so luxurious that it will not destroy the country."
The ancestor Zhao Kuangyin lamented two things. Unexpectedly, more than a hundred years later. , they were repeated in his descendant Zhao Ji.
Zhao Ji's artistic talent is beyond doubt. He was good at poetry writing, studied calligraphy by Xue Ji in the Tang Dynasty, and created "Slimming Method". His painting achievements are unparalleled in the world. During his reign, he established a special Royal Painting Academy, and painters enjoyed considerable treatment, which led to the emergence of the court painting school in the history of Chinese painting.
At the same time, due to his scholar-official spirit. , Zhao Ji has a strong interest in plants and flowers. Shi said: "When I was here, I only liked reading and painting, which was very detailed. What I like are ancient things and rocks, unlike kings. ”
It is not a bad thing for a person to have a hobby, especially an artistic hobby. If Zhao Ji was not the only emperor in the world, his achievements would make subsequent artists envious. Unfortunately, Fate ordained that this artistic genius would become the emperor.
“The King of Chu had a thin waist and many people in his palace died of starvation. "As the emperor, any of his hobbies may bring him unexpected consequences, let alone confuse his hobbies with governing the world like Zhao Ji?
First of all, Zhao Ji did not choose courtiers based on them. Cai Jing is a first-class calligrapher. From people who like his works to reusing him, Zhao Ji even knows that he is a treacherous minister. He forgave him again and again. This is really incredible.
As for Gao Qiu, he was appreciated for his ability to kick balloons and rose from a bankrupt to the position of Qiu, which made the world's literary writers chill. story, but it also provides us with some imaginable details,
"Gao Qiu had to do his best to flatter the king. In that capacity, the balloon appears to be glued to the body. Duan Daxi was willing to let Gao Qiu return home, so he stayed in the palace for one night. Besides, King Duan had been staying in the palace to eat since he got Gao Qiu's company. From then on, Gao Qiu became king and followed him every day, never leaving. However, less than two months after entering the palace, Zhezong arrived, but there was no prince. After discussion among the civil and military officials, they established King Duan as the emperor and named Huizong the emperor. This person was the leader of Yuqing, Emperor Miao Daojun.
After he ascended the throne, he always had nothing to do. Suddenly one day, I said to Gao Qiu: 'I want to give you a compliment, but you must have some merit to be promoted. Teach the Privy Council to become famous with you first, just be a person who moves with you. "Later, half a year later, I flattered Gao Qiu and let him serve as a Taiwei in Shuaifu Temple."
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Secondly, readers must remember that "Rare Bird Photos" The protagonist Yang Zhi in "Picture" was originally a descendant of Yang Jiye, the great hero of the Song Dynasty. Because the bodyguard Hua Shigang had an accident, the road in life became narrower and narrower. Later, he had to stay in Liangshan as a loyal man and join the rebel army.
The so-called Shihua Gang was an ominous figure in the Zhao Ji era. In the fourth year of Chongning, Zhao Ji ordered the establishment of a harvest bureau in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Its responsibility was to collect exotic flowers and stones from the south of the Yangtze River and transport them to Bianliang, Tokyo through the Grand Canal and Bianhe River. These ships are continuous, with ten ships in a class, called "Huashi Class".
If you just transport some flowers, plants, trees and stones, as the king of a country, there is nothing wrong with it. But once this imperial leisure becomes a major function of government through the state machinery, the consequences will be more serious than most of us can imagine. The official in charge of Huashigang is called Zhu Cuo. Under his serious and responsible work, "Every stone and tree in every scholar's home is a little tricky. He just invites a strong soldier directly into his home, seals it with a yellow seal, and refers to it as Let him take care of the things before him. If he is not careful, he will be accused of being very disrespectful and will be removed from the century-old wall of the house. Unfortunately, there is a small difference between people. Ominous, I’m afraid it’s not far away.”
The greatest skill of a traitor is to be good at using the spirit from the top, and then use it as an excuse and opportunity to legally frame others and seek benefits. Zhu Cuo is naturally an expert in this field. When he was looking for flowers and stones in the south of the Yangtze River, he once fell in love with a gentry whose family had a lot of money but little political power, so he declared that a certain stone or potted flower in their family was favored by the Holy Spirit and was to be requisitioned.
After that, he will not rush to take away the stones or flowers, but will wait for a while. It is estimated that the stones or flowers and trees are slightly different from their original shapes - for example, the flowers are gone, or the stones are covered with moss due to rain, then he will ask for them in the name of the current holy need. Its purpose is to accuse the owner of not taking good care of it, resulting in the loss of royal things, which is a great disrespect for the current sacred objects. The considerate master could only eat money to avoid disaster, and Zhu Xu's income came from this.