In Where Winds Meet, Zhao Guangyi is the Prefect of Kaifeng, the highest local authority in the city. On the outside, he seems calm and careful, always thinking before he speaks, ready to take the blame for tough decisions. You will encounter him during the Kaifeng quests, including political disputes, investigations, and the Jinming Pool story. He stands out in his purple robes and has the alias Jin Zhongyuan. He’s based on a real historical figure who became Emperor Taizong, the second ruler of the Northern Song Dynasty.
When things go sideways, people point fingers at Zhao Guangyi. Tough policies, harsh crackdowns, strange new rules—he catches the heat for everything. He rarely argues back, and the game doesn’t hand you easy answers. Instead, it leaves you wondering: Is he doing what needs to be done? Is he hiding something? Or is he just trying to survive in a city that’s always ready to turn on him?
Zhao Brothers and Their Identities
Zhao Guangyi’s elder brother, also known as “Big Zhao,” is Zhao Kuangyin, the founder and first emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty. In the game, Zhao Kuangyin keeps a low profile, blending in with common folks and observing problems firsthand instead to parade around like royalty. The leader walks among the people, pretending to be another face in the crowd, which explains why he is so pro-government even when facing obvious injustice.
Zhao Guangyi, the younger brother, governs Kaifeng in his stead. Where Winds Meet places him in an uncomfortable position as he enforces imperial policy, but his brother gets to keep the moral high ground. Chinese players are completely hooked on this character thanks to the interesting history and the complicated relationship between the two Zhao brothers.
There’s a lot of history included in Where Winds Meet, like the story of “灼艾分痛” (sharing the pain of moxibustion). When Zhao Guangyi got seriously ill and had to go through a strong acupuncture treatment, Zhao Kuangyin went through it too, only to show his brother he wasn’t alone in the pain. They had each other’s backs, no matter what.
Why Zhao Guangyi Became the Villain in Public Eyes
Zhao Guangyi’s story turns very exciting when you take a look at how he dealt with the major Tang coin problem. Southern Tang flooded the market with worthless iron coins, which led to serious inflation, and everyone in Kaifeng was stuck with money that barely bought anything. Due to this, the Song’s economy was on the verge of a crash.
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin had to ban the coins as there was no other way to keep the economy from falling apart. However, doing so would make people furious since it meant stealing from their pockets. Zhao Kuangyin was aware of the danger but also understood reputation. If the emperor orders the purge, public trust in the throne will collapse.
So Zhao Guangyi stepped up to take the fall for his brother. He pushed the policy through, enforced the coin ban, knowing full well people would hate him for it. He wasn’t blind to the anger or the unfairness. He simply accepted being the villain to protect his ruler brother’s reputation and keep the state’s prosperity.
Zhao Guangyi’s Appearance in the Jinming Pool Quest
You’ll meet Zhao Guangyi in the Jinming Pool campaign quest, which unlocks at level 32 after you’ve reached Kaifeng. The quest triggers when you visit the area north of Jadewood Court and end up on the third floor of Baojin Tower. Although Jinming Pool focuses mainly on espionage, foreign envoys, and Murong Yuan’s schemes, Zhao Guangyi grounds all the political drama.
You’ll work with Murong Yuan to investigate suspicious activity involving foreign envoys. Zhao Guangyi appears at the banquet when you are tasked to deliver invitations to guests from Shu and Tang. Once the banquet ends, you’ll have a conversation with Murong Yuan and Zhao Guangyi before moving to Jinming Pool for the real meat of the investigation.
Guangyi arrives during big moments that reinforce his role as Kaifeng’s political gatekeeper. He is aware of the threats forming under ceremonial diplomacy and supports a covert investigation rather than open confrontation. His cooperation means he knows Kaifeng’s stability depends on intelligence and quiet intervention. The quest gets intense as you’ll sneak around, follow envoys across rooftops, board a massive warship, Quintadent Warship, and eventually fight Murong Yuan, and all this reveals Kaifeng’s political intrigue.
