In the Da Qing Qianlong Realm, outside the Qianqing Palace.
Hongli, clad in dragon robes, lowered the teacup in his hand. His hair was as white as snow, and his eyes, gazing at the golden scroll, gradually grew hazy.
“An artist, huh… this golden scroll sure knows how to judge people!”
“Though it’s true, Song Huizong may have been a failure as a ruler, but his calligraphy and paintings were truly remarkable, even I cannot compare!”
Hongli sighed wistfully, a hint of helplessness in his expression.
He Shen, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly. He hurried forward, exclaiming:
“Your Majesty, what are you saying? Even if Song Huizong excelled in calligraphy and painting, he couldn’t compare to Your Majesty in governing the state!”
“Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have rectified the government, revitalized the dynasty, pacified the Dzungar and smaller Hojo in Xinjiang, stabilized the Tibetan region, and quelled the Great and Small Jinchuan campaigns, achieving unparalleled martial feats known as the ‘Ten Great Victories’!”
“The Da Qing’s territory now surpasses all previous dynasties, and we are in the midst of a golden age!”
“Which of these accomplishments doesn’t surpass that of the fallen monarch Song Huizong?”
Upon hearing He Shen’s words, Hongli smiled and nodded in agreement, clearly pleased.
To be honest, Song Huizong’s love for calligraphy and art was shared by him. He himself was passionate about poetry, songs, and ancient artifacts from past dynasties!
Throughout his life, he had penned countless poems, and his calligraphy and painting works, adorned with his personal seal, were as numerous as stars in the sky. He had even placed his seal on some of Song Huizong’s works.
That’s why Hongli had admitted that he couldn’t compare to Song Huizong in calligraphy and painting!
But now, hearing He Shen’s words, Hongli was elated!
So what if his artistic abilities were inferior? His Da Qing was invincible, and in terms of governing the state, Song Huizong was far inferior to him!
…
【The盘点 of foolish rulers and treacherous officials has concluded. It is hoped that monarchs of all eras will prioritize state affairs and refrain from indulging in frivolous pursuits.】
【Next, we will盘点 the three reasons for the downfall of the Song Dynasty – the膨胀 of officials and the 桎梏 of the system!】
【Due to the inextricable link between the 膨胀 of officials and the 桎梏 of the Song Dynasty’s system in its later years, we will盘点 both aspects today.】
…
In the Da Qin Realm of the First Emperor, outside the Xianyang Palace.
“This is the third reason?”
Ying Zheng was slightly surprised, but a deep sense of worry predominated!
The Northern Song was ranked twelfth on the list, supposedly the easiest to conquer. Yet, four out of fifteen reasons for its downfall have already been revealed:
Factionalism, foolish rulers and treacherous officials, the 膨胀 of officials, and the 桎梏 of the system!
And this is just the last ranked dynasty!
If this pattern continues, as the rankings rise, the difficulties would increase, and the number of contributing factors would likely multiply. How challenging must the dynasty ranked first be?
Could all fifteen reasons be present in their entirety?
At this thought, Ying Zheng gasped in astonishment!
Somehow, alongside the shock, a flicker of anticipation arose in his heart!
If the Da Qin could achieve the top ranking, even if it could not endure for ten thousand generations, Ying Zheng would die with no regrets!
He just wondered if the Da Qin in the future could achieve this…
…
In the Da Han Gaozu Realm, outside the Weiyang Palace.
“膨胀 of officials? I knew it! How else could the Song Dynasty have experienced factionalism? Clearly, the officials had already swelled in power!”
Liu Bang wore a knowing smile and nodded continuously.
“Your Majesty is absolutely right. And the fact that they grouped the 桎梏 of the system with the 膨胀 of officials clearly shows that the factionalism in later years was inseparable from the Song Dynasty’s ancestral system.”
Xiao He stroked his beard and chuckled.
“Ancestral system? Does that mean our Da Han needs to be cautious as well?”
Liu Bang raised an eyebrow, surprised.
He was the founding emperor of the Da Han, and the rules he established were also the ancestral system. If the Da Han in later years also encountered endless problems due to his ancestral system, his responsibility would be immense!
“Hahaha! Your Majesty, don’t worry. While the ancestral system is important, there’s no need for our Da Han to rush into anything.”
“Besides, isn’t our Da Han’s system already quite refined?”
Xiao He laughed and looked at Liu Bang, who was taken aback.
Yes, wasn’t the Da Han’s system already refined?
The Han succeeded the Qin!
When Liu Bang led his forces into Xianyang, unlike many other generals who only cared about plundering gold, silver, treasures, and beautiful women, Xiao He went straight to the Da Qin’s archive, without hesitation, rescuing countless Da Qin documents from the warehouse!
These records included the household registers of all counties across the land, as well as all the Da Qin’s codes and regulations!
After the Da Han was established, they essentially adopted the Da Qin’s system, which they have continued to use until now.
Thinking about this, Liu Bang chuckled wryly, “Yes, Xiao He is right. Our Da Han’s system is already refined, there’s no need for me to establish any new ancestral system…”
While he said this, Liu Bang understood that the Da Han’s system was far from perfect!
Internally, the government was controlled by a group of meritorious officials, and externally, princes held power over their own territories. How could such a Da Han system be called refined?
But for now, Liu Bang couldn’t think of a better solution. He could only agree with Xiao He, smiling along.
…
In the Da Jin Taikang Realm, before the Taiji Palace.
“膨胀 of officials?”
Sima Yan narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning cold.
“Your Majesty, don’t worry. The officials in our Da Jin don’t have such power.”
He Shao stepped forward and offered his advice.
Sima Yan nodded slightly.
This was true. To ensure his foolish son could securely ascend the throne, he had made meticulous arrangements both inside and outside the court!
Within the court, there were the Yang family relatives, and outside the court, there were the various Sima princes. No matter what, the officials wouldn’t be able to stir up any trouble.
But Sima Yan’s worry wasn’t about that, but about the powerful families mentioned in the fifteen reasons for downfall!
After all, the influence of aristocratic families in the Western Jin was immense. If they united, their power would far surpass that of the officials!
In other words, could the current Western Jin be considered a case of aristocratic family 膨胀?
…
In the Da Sui Kaiping Realm, outside the Xingqing Palace.
“膨胀 of officials? 桎梏 of the system? What kind of ancestral system did the Song Dynasty establish to allow the officials to become so powerful?”
Yang Jian couldn’t comprehend it.
After a century of turmoil in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, which dynasty hadn’t been overthrown by military officials who held control of the army?
How could officials ever seize power?
However, the Northern Song seemed different from his understanding. This couldn’t help but arouse Yang Jian’s curiosity. What kind of ancestral system could have led to such 膨胀 of officials in the Song Dynasty, even to the point of igniting factionalism?
…
In the Da Tang Zhenguan Realm, outside the Da Ming Palace.
“These two reasons for downfall are truly unexpected!”
The moment the fifteen reasons for downfall appeared, Li Shimin had discussed them with his ministers!
Everyone agreed that, aside from foolish rulers and treacherous officials, and natural disasters that were uncontrollable, the rest could be alleviated or avoided through proper systems.
The last two reasons were the most perplexing. 膨胀 of officials, how could one define 膨胀? Even if they were 膨胀, what kind of waves could they create?
桎梏 of the system, could it be that even ancestral systems could lead to the downfall of a dynasty?
If so, wouldn’t the rules established by the founding emperors of every dynasty be at risk?
…
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