Late Northern Song Dynasty: Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and the "Jingkang Incident" * Background: Emperor Huizong of Song was obsessed with art, neglecting state affairs and favoring a group of treacherous officials whose core values were "flattery and extravagance." * Key Figures: * Cai Jing: Used the guise of "reform" to form cliques and pursue personal gain, implementing the wasteful "Flower and Stone Tribute." * Tong Guan: Eunuchs controlled the military, falsely reported border achievements, and misjudged the strategies of the Liao and Jin dynasties. * Gao Qiu, Wang Fu, etc.: Rampant corruption led to chaos in the court. * Consequences: Popular uprisings broke out (such as the Fang La Rebellion), the defense system collapsed when the Jin army marched south, resulting in the "Jingkang Incident" and the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty. * Deeper Logic: The combination of artistic imperial power and the complete corruption of the bureaucratic system led to the paralysis of both national governance and defense systems. (Please, have mercy!)