In the Song Dynasty, there was no law or order.

In recent days, the ministers in the morning court found something strange.

The emperor of the Song Dynasty, who was always gentle and easy-going, had a stern face when he went to court these days.

He looked at every minister with a sullen face, as if he was looking at an enemy.

I don’t know who has offended the emperor, but he is still angry. Sometimes he even scolds the ministers for a small matter in the ministry without mercy.

So when the court officials report their official business, they are more careful and even speak in a much lower voice.

"What's wrong with your majesty? He has been angry for a few days. Before, it was because of the Criminal Court, and today it was because of the Silver Platform. They are all small mistakes. Is it necessary to be so angry?"

After the morning court ended, the officials left the palace and couldn't help but start to talk about it.

Someone said, "You don't understand this, right? Prime Minister Lu is deeply loved by the emperor. Look at Fan Zhongyan, who was the acting governor of Kaifeng Prefecture, but was demoted to the position of secretary."

"You mean that His Majesty is angry about Prime Minister Lu?"

"Of course not. Otherwise, there has been no major event in the court recently, and it is not the impeachment of Prime Minister Lu."

"It seems to be the truth."

"Of course, Prime Minister Lu is the emperor's teacher. How could he be easily impeached by Fan Xiwen?"

"Prime Minister Lu is worthy of being Prime Minister Lu. He is a veteran of two dynasties and remains standing."

Everyone sighed.

The major event that happened in the court recently was the impeachment of Lu Yijian.

It's strange.

A few days ago, Fan Zhongyan impeached Lu Yijian, and then Fan Zhongyan's friends wrote letters to impeach Lu Yijian.

For example, Secretary Yu Jing, Prince Zhongyun Yin Zhu, Works Langzhong Wu Zunlu, Library Proofreader Ouyang Xiu, Cai Xiang, Longtu Pavilion Direct Scholar Li Hong, Jixian Proofreader Wang Zhi, etc., all expressed their views on this matter.

On the contrary, the powerful Prime Minister Lu almost did not move. None of the many Imperial Censors and Censors promoted by his men stood up to help Lu Xiang refute, and the entire Lu Party was as quiet as a calm lake.

Only Yin Zhu's friend, Censor Gao Ruone, rebelled and rebuked those who impeached him on behalf of Lu Yijian.

For a time, there were many rumors in the court. Many people thought that the prime minister Lu Yijian had fallen to this point. Is he really going to fall?

As a result, in just three days, Fan Zhongyan was demoted to Secretary Shaojian, and Longtu Pavilion Waiting System Zhang Yi was replaced as the acting governor of Kaifeng Prefecture.

After Fan Zhongyan was removed from office, he became much quieter. He stayed at home every day and did not continue to write letters to impeach Lu Yijian. He seemed to have accepted his fate, which was surprising.

But this matter seemed to have passed just like that. It seemed that everything happened, and nothing happened.

So that many people looked back on it afterwards and could not help but admire him deeply.

Prime Minister Lu is worthy of being Prime Minister Lu.

Let you attack from all directions, I will remain unmoved.

The Holy Heart is in my hands.

There is no need to fight back, just watch coldly, and your Majesty will help.

It seems that Prime Minister Lu's position is still as stable as Mount Tai!

"Lord Xiwen, what's wrong with you?"

In the hall of Fan's house in Liangmen Daguan Lane, the outer city of Bianjing, Ouyang Xiu complained to Fan Zhongyan: "It was you who put up the "Hundred Officials Chart", and it was you who asked us not to impeach Lü Yijian. What on earth were you thinking?"

"Yes, Xiwen, you told us that Lü Yijian was powerful and appointed people based on personal connections. You decided to impeach him and you were not afraid of being demoted. That's why we stood firmly on your side. But after you started the fight, you immediately stopped. Why is that?"

"I just don't understand. Even though Lü Yijian is in a high position and has great power. Xiwen, you have always been fearless of power. How come you changed your mind immediately after His Majesty summoned you to the palace? Could His Majesty still threaten to kill you? "

"Humph, if His Majesty dares to set a precedent for killing scholars and officials, I am afraid that even Lü Yijian will have to persuade him. Besides, Xiwen is willing to die, but I don't understand, Xiwen, what are you afraid of!"

"Fan Xiwen, please say something."

Yin Zhu, Yu Jing, Wu Zunlu and others sat on the armchair, and they didn't even have time to drink tea. They all looked at Fan Zhongyan and slammed the table to question.

It's too outrageous.

It was Fan Zhongyan who took the lead in impeaching Lü Yijian.

When these good friends heard that their brothers were going to do something big, they immediately rolled up their sleeves and went to do it together.

As a result, the brother who took the lead betrayed the revolution in a blink of an eye and stopped.

It's like when there were two gangs of children in the village when they were young, the two leaders had a dispute, and immediately called their friends to prepare for a fight.

When Ouyang Xiu and his friends picked up iron bars and benches and rushed over to fight, they looked back.

Oh my goodness, their boss ran away.

What does that mean?

Are you playing a trick on them?

Ouyang Xiu, who was only 30 years old this year, looked at Fan Zhongyan like a little cock in a fight, as if he would not leave today if he did not give a reason.

Fan Zhongyan, who was sitting there, looked a little dazed, as if he did not see that his friends were angry.

"Bang!"

Ouyang Xiu had a bad temper, and he slammed the table and said, "Lord Xiwen, didn't you hear what everyone was saying?"

This voice woke Fan Zhongyan up all of a sudden.

He was still thinking about the reforms in a few years, and suddenly remembered that Ouyang Xiu and his friends had come to his door and asked him to give an explanation.

Now it seems that he still has to appease his friends first.

Fan Zhongyan had no choice but to say: "We all misunderstood Lü Yijian. Your Majesty took me to the inner hall and told me everything about the abolition of the empress. He said that he instructed Lü Yijian to do it, so it was not Lü Yijian who interfered in the harem, but your Majesty."

"Even so, it is true that Lü Yijian has great power in the court and controls the appointment of officials. This has always been the thing that you, Fan Xiwen, dislike the most, and you impeached him for this reason by making the "Hundred Officials Chart". What's the matter?"

"Yes, how should you explain this? Even if Lü Yijian did not interfere in the affairs of the harem, most of the people in the court now come from his school. Isn't he managing the government?"

Ouyang Xiu, Yin Zhu, Yu Jing and others are all upright people, otherwise they would not play with Fan Zhongyan.

Now that Fan Zhongyan has backed down, they are naturally unhappy and speak out.

But Fan Zhongyan also has his own difficulties.

He was not afraid of Lü Yijian, but Zhao Zhen obviously intended to protect Lü Yijian, and Zhao Jun's words supported Lü Yijian, so it was not easy for him to defeat Lü Yijian from the top.

Another thing was the Qingli New Deal.

Compared with bringing down Lü Yijian, Fan Zhongyan was obviously more interested in the Qingli New Deal.

If he kept making a fuss about this matter, then he would oppose Zhao Zhen at the critical moment when Zhao Zhen was about to die to protect Lü Yijian, and at the same time it would intensify the conflict between him and the Lü Party.

The Lü Party was powerful in the government and the country. If he could not get their support, how could the new deal go on?

So Fan Zhongyan had to consider this factor.

However, he could not let go of the matter of Lü Yijian. Facing the questioning of the crowd, Fan Zhongyan said in a deep voice: "I am naturally aware of these things. Let's put it one by one. Lü Yijian may not have interfered with the harem, but it is also a fact that he has power. It's just that His Majesty is now clearly trying to protect him. I think this matter should be handled with wisdom and cannot be forced."

"Use wisdom?"

Ouyang Xiu asked: "How to use wisdom?"

Fan Zhongyan said: "I recently met a master who may have a way. You wait for my news at home. I will ask him tomorrow."

"Master?"

Everyone was confused. Yin Zhu wondered: "How high?"

Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "According to the master, it is as high as several floors, which is more powerful than all the wise men in the Song Dynasty."

More powerful than all the wise men in the Song Dynasty?

Ouyang Xiu couldn't help but say: "Lord Xiwen, you were not deceived by some street people."

"No."

Fan Zhongyan shook his head: "It was a master beside His Majesty. I was only demoted to the Jiying Palace. I was able to stay in Bianliang because of the master's words. Otherwise, Lü Yijian was favored by the emperor, and I was afraid I would have been demoted to Lingnan."

"Is there really such a master?"

Everyone was surprised.

Fan Zhongyan said: "Everyone go back first and wait for my news tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, it's not impossible to wait."

"Then according to Xiwen's opinion, should we continue to write a letter to impeach Lü Yijian now?"

"Don't do it yet, let Xiwen give us a reply tomorrow."

Several people discussed it.

Fan Zhongyan also said: "Yes, I have to think about this matter and see how to use the power of that expert to defeat Lu Yijian. Now I probably won't be demoted, and I may even move to the northwest to govern Shaanxi in the next few years. If I can defeat Lu Yijian before that, it will be a good thing."

"Really?"

Ouyang Xiu said happily: "Duke Xiwen is going to govern Shaanxi?"

"Yes."

Fan Zhongyan nodded: "Now your majesty has allowed me to be with that expert. The expert said that in a few years, Zhao Yuanhao will definitely become emperor and then attack the Song Dynasty to establish national prestige. He said that only I can resist Zhao Yuanhao's offensive, so he strongly recommended me. If I hadn't written a letter to impeach Lu Yijian before, I'm afraid I would have gone this year."

"So that's it."

Everyone nodded without doubt.

Ouyang Xiu then said: "Okay, then congratulate Duke Xiwen first, we will go back first and wait for news from Duke Xiwen tomorrow."

"Yes."

Fan Zhongyan said: "I'll see you off."

At that moment, he comforted a few friends and sent them out.

After returning, Fan Zhongyan went to the study alone and began to think.

Although Zhao Jun meant that Lü Yijian was a good official.

But it was an indisputable fact that Lü Yijian controlled the government, so Fan Zhongyan was naturally opposed to him in terms of position, otherwise the whole court would be full of Lü's party, how could this be?

But the emperor was now desperate to protect Lü Yijian, and Zhao Jun also said that in history he was demoted to the south after impeachment, and it would not be until next year when Lü Yijian and Wang Zeng fought internally that the two prime ministers and two deputy prime ministers were both dismissed.

Now that Zhao Jun said it, Wang Zeng might not fight with Lü Yijian again, so the task of countering the Lü party would naturally fall on himself.

So, how to defeat Lü Yijian?

Fan Zhongyan sat behind the desk, tapping the table lightly, looking deeply at the window on the right, the window was open, and the ripples of the courtyard pond swayed with the wind.

The pond was clear to the bottom, and golden carp swam around in the pond, and the willow branches on the shore hung down and fell into the pond.

Hmm...

Fan Zhongyan pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

Since the water is not muddy.

Let's make it a little muddy, so that we can fish better.