Xianxia version of Water Margin

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The Zhao Song Dynasty joined forces with the Jin Kingdom to destroy the Liao Dynasty and retake the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Whether this decision was correct or not, even in later generations, is still the focus of debate among historians and enthusiasts.

Since Zhao Liangsi first proposed this strategy, there have been constant disputes inside and outside the Zhao Song court.

Supporters believe that Zhao Ji's move was a wise move, intended to recover lost territory and restore national prestige.

They pointed out that Zhao Ji intended to seize the God-given opportunity of the Jurchens' rebellion against the Liao Dynasty, seize the Yanyun area in one fell swoop, and establish a stable border for the Zhao Song Dynasty. The idea was correct.

You know, since the founding of the Zhao Song Dynasty, it has been repeatedly invaded by the Liao Dynasty in the south. It was not until the Liao and Song signed the "Chanyuan Alliance" that the Zhao Song Dynasty was willing to pay tribute to the Liao Dynasty every year, which temporarily stabilized the security of the northern border.

If it had been like this, Zhao Ji might not have thought of joining forces with the Jin Dynasty to destroy the Liao and retake the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

But when the Song Dynasty was about to win the war between Song and Xia, Yelu Yanxi suddenly threatened to send troops to force the Zhao Song Dynasty not to destroy the Western Xia and recover the homeland, which made Zhao Ji feel humiliated.

Zhao Ji then had the idea of ​​​​joining Jin to destroy Liao and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. He planned to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun first, then destroy the Western Xia, recover the territory separated by the Western Xia, complete the great unification, and become the most accomplished emperor of the Zhao Song Dynasty after Zhao Kuangyin.

At that time, Tong Guan was in command, the troops had been mobilized, the deployment was meticulous, and Cai Jing also helped. These three had jointly created the glory of the Qingtang victory and the defeat of the Western Xia. If they succeeded, the Zhao Song Dynasty would have added another northern barrier.

However, the sky did not fulfill people's wishes. The four bandits suddenly rose up, the southeast suddenly changed, and uprisings broke out, forcing the Zhao Song court to dispatch troops to quell the rebellion, and the Northern Expedition plan became a bubble.

Imagine, if it weren't for the sudden rise of the four bandits and the turmoil in the southeast, the elite troops of the Zhao Song Dynasty were intact and their morale was high, and the outcome of the Battle of Yanyun was unknown.

If the Song army could defeat the Liao Dynasty in one fell swoop and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, the Jin Kingdom would not dare to bully the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Next, Zhao Ji could use the power of a great victory to suppress or recruit the four bandits.

But at that time, Zhao Ji fell into an absurd logical vortex. He believed that the Jin people's consent was required to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

This was tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger.

In the end, the military operations of the Zhao Song Dynasty suffered setbacks in the land of Yanyun, and diplomatic negotiations were also restricted everywhere.

Zhao Ji is to blame here.

If Zhao Ji could abandon his fantasy at that time and attack the Liao Kingdom, which had been severely damaged by the Jin people, with all his strength, he might be able to take advantage of the opportunity and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

In this way, Zhao Ji would not be a loser, but a winner.

In that way, the elite troops of the Song army could be preserved, the Jin Kingdom might not dare to go south, and the four bandits could be solved.

However, there is no if in history.

Zhao Ji's indecision, coupled with Jiang Hongfei's cunning calculations, eventually led to the demise of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

The land of Yanyun not only failed to become a barrier for the Zhao Song Dynasty, but became the door to its tomb.

After Jiang Hongfei decisively seized the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, he closed the door and beat the dog, and the Zhao Song Dynasty gradually drifted away in the torrent of history.

In history, Zhao Ji's name is often closely linked to the failure to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. He was harshly evaluated by later generations, especially the historians of the Yuan Dynasty in "History of Song Dynasty" as "all things can be done, but can't be a king".

This judgment, like a heavy yoke, has long bound Zhao Ji's image.

In addition, the exaggeration of Ming Dynasty literary works such as "Water Margin" and "Jin Ping Mei".

Zhao Ji was portrayed as a foolish, licentious monarch, and all his important ministers were treacherous.

However, the truth of history is often more complicated.

Zhao Ji's decision to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun was actually a brave move based on strategic considerations.

At that time, the Jin Kingdom was rising and the Liao Dynasty was on the decline. For the Zhao Song Dynasty, this was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun was not only a knot in the hearts of successive emperors of the Zhao Song Dynasty, but also an urgent need for national security.

Although Zhao Ji's move was risky, it also revealed his responsibility and foresight as a monarch.

However, the wheel of history did not move forward as Zhao Ji wished.

The outbreak of the Pingzhou incident, the greed and cunning of the Jin people, and the complexity of internal relations ultimately led to the failure of the recovery, triggered the war between the Song and Jin dynasties, and accelerated the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.

This series of failures should not be entirely blamed on Zhao Ji and his important officials, such as Zhao Liangsi, Tong Guan, and Wang Fu. Although they may have made mistakes in implementing strategies, their spirit of loyalty to the country and courage to explore should not be easily erased.

Take Tong Guan as an example. He could have enjoyed his old age with his past military exploits, but he still cared about the country and devoted himself to the great cause of recovering Yanyun.

This spirit is actually worthy of recognition.

Imagine that if the plan to ally with Jin to destroy Liao and recover Yanyun was successful, Zhao Ji and his team would undoubtedly write a glorious chapter in history.

But there is no if in history, and the reality of failure has created another scene.

Fortunately, in this world, Zhao Ji failed again in recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. The difference is that due to the birth of Jiang Hongfei, this did not turn into a national disaster.

To be fair, Zhao Ji keenly perceived the changes of the times and the opportunities given by history.

However, this keen insight did not translate into firm actions and wise decisions.

On the contrary, his series of misjudgments and actions, like dominoes, fell one by one, and eventually pushed him and the Zhao Song Dynasty into an abyss of no return.

The most fatal blow was his rash abdication of the throne to his son Zhao Huan.

This decision, Zhao Ji thought, would calm the offensive of the Yuan army and win a respite for the Zhao Song Dynasty.

However, reality ruthlessly shattered his fantasy.

Zhao Huan, a monarch blinded by power and lacking political wisdom and decisiveness, not only failed to save the crisis, but also accelerated the demise of the Zhao Song Dynasty. He wavered between advocating war and advocating peace, like a small boat in the wind and waves, and was eventually swallowed by the huge waves of history.

After Zhao Ji abdicated, although he was imprisoned in Longde Palace, his heart was not really at peace.

He reflected on his mistakes and regretted his past rashness and incompetence.

He realized that he not only lost the throne, but also lost control of the future of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

He saw Zhao Huan's weakness and incompetence, and also saw that the Zhao Song Dynasty was declining step by step in Zhao Huan's hands.

This pain and disappointment tortured Zhao Ji's heart like a knife.

However, fate did not seem to intend to let Zhao Ji go.

After Zhao Huan, the appearance of Zhao Gou did not bring a turning point to the Zhao Song Dynasty.

On the contrary, Zhao Gou was also a monarch blinded by the desire for power.

He was afraid that Zhao Ji would restore the throne and take away the throne, but he was powerless to fight against the iron hoof of the Yuan Empire.

Under the rule of Zhao Gou, the last hope of the Zhao Song Dynasty was completely extinguished.

Zhao Gou's stupidity and incompetence made Zhao Ji completely despair of the future of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

In despair, Zhao Ji began to re-examine his past and present.

He admitted that his failure was not entirely due to the fact that the Zhao Song Dynasty was not blessed by God, nor was it simply due to personal extravagance and vanity.

He deeply realized that the mistakes and short-sightedness of himself, Zhao Huan, and Zhao Gou were the fundamental reasons for the demise of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

They failed to seize the opportunities given by history, but made frequent mistakes at critical moments, and finally pushed the Zhao Song Dynasty into the abyss of destruction.

In reflection and summary, Zhao Ji also saw Jiang Hongfei's cunning and cruelty.

This truly great emperor seized almost every mistake and opportunity made by the three of them, and turned it into the most favorable outcome for the Yuan Empire.

Zhao Ji deeply admired Jiang Hongfei's wisdom and decisiveness, but he was helpless.

He knew that even if he had made a different choice, it might not change the fate of the Zhao Song Dynasty, because Jiang Hongfei's existence itself was a historical necessity that could not be ignored.

"Extraordinary wisdom, extraordinary strategy, and both literary and military strategies are superior to the ancients. He selects talents, not limited to private parties, and employs people based on their talents, and each one does his best. He makes decisions decisively, follows good advice, and can distinguish right from wrong when facing major events. Such a person is hard to find in the ages, and there is only him!"

Zhao Ji thought about it carefully and was terrified. He felt that even if he was given another chance, he could not defeat Jiang Hongfei.

Facing such a terrible enemy like Jiang Hongfei, Zhao Ji felt regretful, but he also knew that it was meaningless to blame his two useless sons.

In other words, Zhao Ji not only reconciled with himself, but also forgave his two unpromising sons, at least he let the matter go.

During his reign, Zhao Ji cared deeply for the royal family and clan, and thus won the hearts of the people and had outstanding prestige.

When Tokyo Bianliang fell, Zhao Ji showed extraordinary magnanimity and responsibility, and wanted to sacrifice his life for the country. Although he failed in the end, his determination moved everyone.

The fall of the Zhao Song Dynasty and the suffering of the clan, the royal family and clan of the Zhao Song Dynasty were blamed on Zhao Huan and Zhao Gou.

If Zhao Ji was not there, the royal family and clan of the Zhao Song Dynasty would fall into chaos.

Moreover, there are also rivers and lakes in Wanguo City.

Without Zhao Ji, how could the Zhao family gain a foothold? Not to mention dominating Wanguo City?

Therefore, although Zhao Ji had made many mistakes before, the royal family and clan of the Zhao Song Dynasty all followed his lead.

Therefore, Zhao Huan was spared from being liquidated, and Zhao Gou also managed to save his life.

Under the protection of Zhao Ji, although the royal family and clan of the Zhao Song Dynasty could not severely punish the two, the royal family and clan of the Zhao Song Dynasty never stopped accusing them of their faults.

Stupid, ungrateful, stubborn...

Cowardly, selfish, relying on treacherous people, not knowing the loyal, blind...

All kinds of bad reputations are endless.

Listening to the evaluation of Zhao Huan and Zhao Gou by the royal family and clan of the Zhao Song Dynasty, Zhao Ji couldn't help thinking: "If Jiang Hongfei was my son..."

Zhao Ji then smiled bitterly and said self-deprecatingly: "What virtue and ability do I have to raise this son who is so heroic, so powerful, so powerful, so virtuous and so powerful, and so powerful that he can rule the world and bring peace to the world for all generations?"

Son-in-law?

This son-in-law is not bad, but he is a bit of a burden to his mother-in-law!

Zhao Ji also heard about Jiang Hongfei humiliating Zhao Gou and punishing Zhao Gou.

Zhao Ji was also very sad about this!

Right?

Wrong?

Who is right?

Who is wrong?

Zhao Ji couldn't tell the difference, and he didn't want to dwell on such things.

Let alone Zhao Gou, who in Wanguo City, including him, was not like this?

Moreover, Zhao Gou had only a few concubines and daughters. He got married at the age of seventeen. There were 143 women with titles, and 504 women without titles. In his heyday, there were more than 10,000 women in the harem.

Later, after Zhao Huan ascended the throne, he released all the older ones from the palace.

The rest were finally taken over by Jiang Hongfei.

Jiang Hongfei also took in all his daughters, many granddaughters, granddaughters, nieces, and nieces.

In terms of the damage suffered in this regard, how could Zhao Gou compare with him?

But unlike Zhao Gou who still couldn't let go and Zhao Huan who was deceiving himself, Zhao Ji really let go.

Now he has shed the glory of the dragon robe, and his eyes no longer have the magnificent waves of the country, but a kind of detached tranquility.

He strolled in a corner of Wanguo City, with bluestone slabs paved by the years under his feet, and ancient trees on both sides that have experienced wind and frost but are still upright, as if every leaf is whispering about the prosperity and vicissitudes of the past.

"Letting go is not forgetting, but turning the smoke and clouds of the past into a touch of indifference in the heart."

Zhao Ji whispered to himself, and although his voice was light, it revealed an indescribable open-mindedness. He knew that he was once the most dazzling star of that era, but stars also fall, and the real wise man can still find inner tranquility and peace after the light fades.

In Wanguo City, the seasons change, and people and things have changed. Only he seems to have traveled through the long river of time and space and stood at the intersection of history and reality.

In the dead of night, Zhao Ji sat alone in his study, picking up his pen and writing, with the fragrance of ink everywhere. He was not writing a chapter of history, nor was he describing the scenery in his heart.

He was creating.

Zhao Ji wanted to paint a "Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" for Jiang Hongfei.

Zhao Ji certainly did not please Jiang Hongfei for no reason. He wanted to use his talent and respect for Jiang Hongfei in exchange for a glimmer of hope for his Zhao family.

To put it bluntly, Zhao Ji wanted to ask Jiang Hongfei to let them leave Wanguo City, even if they were just poor people.

At the very least, he asked Jiang Hongfei to let one or two of his descendants leave Wanguo City, like ordinary people, get married and have children, and continue the incense.

The moonlight shines through the window lattice, sprinkling on the silk cloth in a mottled manner, interweaving with the ink to form an unfinished dream.

Zhao Ji's brushstrokes are delicate and profound, and each stroke seems to carry his memories of past glory and his expectations for the unknown future.

The "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" he conceived in his mind is not only a magnificent depiction of the vast territory, but also his deep yearning for freedom and hope.

In the painting, the mountains and rivers are endless, the clouds and mists are lingering in between, and the river water is long, as if it can wash away all the dust in the world.

Zhao Ji skillfully used his artistic talent to integrate the majesty and softness of nature, trying to show the unimprisoned world in his heart in this small space.

However, under the brushstrokes, there is also a bit of subtle sorrow and helplessness, which is the worry about the fate of the family and the emotion about personal fate.

As the scroll slowly unfolds, Zhao Ji's thoughts also drift away. He recalled the several confrontations and confrontations with Jiang Hongfei. Although the once powerful overlord was cold and ruthless, he also had unknown tenderness and ambitions.

Zhao Ji knew that if he wanted to convince Jiang Hongfei, it was far from enough to just paint a picture. He also needed a deeper emotional resonance and exchange of interests.

Zhao Ji looked at the starry night sky outside the window, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

At this moment, he seemed to be integrated with the world and all things, reaching an unprecedented spiritual realm.

At the same time, Zhao Ji's brush was flying.

The picture was meticulous, and the vast rivers and rolling mountains formed a beautiful Jiangnan landscape. The static scenes of fishing villages, wild markets, waterside pavilions, thatched huts, water mills and long bridges were interspersed with dynamic scenes such as fishing, sailing, playing, and going to the market. The combination of movement and stillness was just right. The characters are depicted in great detail, with lifelike expressions. The birds are painted with a light touch of the brush, and they seem to spread their wings and soar...

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