What is the fate of Cai Jinggao in history and how to evaluate these two people

Gao Qiu and Cai Jing, these two names are definitely familiar to those who have read Water Margin. They are two very famous treacherous ministers in the book. In fact, in history, they have some differences from the novel, at least not as ungrateful and unforgivable as in the novel. However, what were their respective endings in real history? What have these ‘treacherous ministers’ experienced in their lives, and what is the ultimate outcome?
In history, both the favored minister Gao Qiu and the powerful minister Cai Jing in the late Northern Song Dynasty should have had a good end.
1. Cai Jing should be a powerful minister, regarded by the people as the leader of the “Six Thieves” of the late Northern Song Dynasty, who wielded power and caused harm to the country, was greedy and abused the law, leading to the capture of the Five Kingdoms City by the Jin Dynasty and the downfall of the Northern Song Dynasty.
In history, the real Cai Jing was a powerful minister with equal merits and demerits, and perhaps his merits did not outweigh his demerits!
Cai Jing, with a solid and profound cultural background, was regarded as a successful candidate in the imperial examination during the Song Dynasty. He served as a government official and local official, and was appreciated by Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji. Emperor Huizong visited the palace many times, drinking and enjoying himself, and was regarded as a close and important minister. He rose and fell in the officialdom, was appointed as the prime minister four times, and held power over the court and the public. He held the highest official position among the Three Excellencies, and was honored with the title of Grand Preceptor of the Imperial Household Department. He was a highly respected minister.
Cai Jing held a high position of power and power, formed factions for personal gain, and was often promoted and highly valued due to his old connections. He came from a prominent family background and held high-ranking positions for three generations, unparalleled in the late Northern Song Dynasty. Being greedy for official positions and receiving excessive salaries and official silver; The “Flower Stone Gang” in Daxing has caused unbearable suffering and great resentment among the people.
When Cai Jing was in power, he also vigorously promoted the social relief system, expanded the scale of relief, set up nursing homes for impoverished elderly people throughout the country, provided free treatment to poor people who had no money to seek medical treatment in Anji Fang, and buried the poor and unable to bury in Luoze Garden. The intensity of the relief system was rare in ancient history.
Cai Jing, who presided over the “Chongning Xingxue” campaign at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, focused on promoting education, established county and state schools throughout the country, increased efforts in grassroots basic education, greatly promoted the development of education at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, and improved the social and cultural level. His contributions are indispensable.
Cai Jing, with superb calligraphy skills and great attainments, was one of the “Four Great Masters of Su, Huang, Mi, and Cai” in the calligraphy world during the Song Dynasty (Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu, Cai Jing). Later generations used his treacherous name and his calligraphy was replaced by Cai Xiang.
Cai Jing died of illness and was demoted to a local official on his way to office. Compared to other “Six Thieves of the Late Song Dynasty”, he was sentenced to death and should have had a good ending.
3. Gao Qiu, originally known as the “Little Historian” of Su Dongpo, one of the “Eight Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties” in Chinese literary history, was similar to a private secretary’s child today. He was clever and alert, with some literary knowledge, proficient in poetry, songs, and prose, and skilled in cuju, which is the predecessor of today’s football.
Gao Qiu is good at wielding guns and sticks, and can be said to be proficient in both civil and martial arts. He is a versatile person, in today’s popular words, the “artistic youth” of Ganggang!
Gao Qiao, when his old master Su Dongpo was serving as a local official, recommended him to the imperial family’s junior officer, Wang Qiao. He walked among the imperial family and thus met Prince Duan – later Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji, who greatly appreciated him.
After Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji ascended the throne, he intended to promote him, but unfortunately, he did not have a proper path through the imperial examination system. This was the primary condition for promotion and appointment, and the emperor was also hesitant; So, leveraging his expertise in guns and sticks, he was sent to the Northwest Border Defense Army of Liu Zhongwu, the father of Liu Qi, a famous anti Jin general in the Northern Song Dynasty, in order to obtain military merits and support him. This was a side sect assistant without a proper path through the imperial examination, known as “saving the country with curves”. Later, he rose to become a high-ranking official in charge of the Imperial Guard and was a favored subject.
In the novel “Water Margin”, Gao Qiu is listed as a treacherous minister and heavily portrayed, but there is no substantial wrongdoing. In fact, Gao Qiu was not among the “Six Thieves of the Late Song Dynasty”, but he was good at welcoming Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji and gaining trust. He was promoted outside of the imperial examination system, which made people unhappy. It is estimated that the author of “Water Margin”, Shi Nai’an, as a scholar who repeatedly tried but failed to become his younger brother, was indignant and portrayed him as a treacherous minister, which is a bit of venting of personal anger!
According to historical records, Gao Qiu was relatively cautious when serving as an official, unlike Cai Jing who was domineering and overbearing. During his tenure as a Grand Commandant, he only engaged in military training and used some non combat gimmicks to win favor from Emperor Huizong!
Moreover, Gao Qiu was a person who was grateful for his kindness and held a high position. After wielding great power, he provided assistance and support to the family of his former owner Su Dongpo. Liu Qi, the son of another former owner Liu Zhongwu, became a senior military commander with a large army, which was closely related to Gao Qiu’s support.
Gao Qiu, during the invasion of the Jin army to the south and fled with Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji, had a conflict with Tong Guan, one of the “Six Thieves of the Late Song Dynasty”. He returned to Kaifeng on the pretext of illness, but unfortunately passed away due to illness. He should have had a good ending!