Lü Meng is retiring to his home in Luoyang. Emperor Zhenzong sacrificed Houtu and also visited Lu Mengzheng by the way. Seeing that he was getting old, he felt pity and intended to promote his son, but Lu Mengzheng politely refused, saying that the sons could not take on this important responsibility. On the contrary, he recommended his nephew Lu Yijian to have the talent of prime minister.
Lu Yijian, born in Shouzhou, is from the Wang clan. His father, Lu Mengheng, is Lu Mengzheng's cousin. Lü Yijian was promoted to a jinshi in the third year of Xianping (1000) and served as a magistrate for 16 years.
When he was an official in Binzhou, he saw that farmers also had to pay taxes on the purchase of farm tools, so he asked for exemption from the tax on farm tools. Prime Minister Wang Dan learned of Lü Yijian and thought that he might become the prime minister. Wang Dan explained that he had learned from Lu Yijian's recital. After Emperor Zhenzong saw Lü Yijian's recital, he ordered the whole country to be exempted from the tax on agricultural instruments.
When Lu Yijian was the criminal officer, the capital built a Taoist temple, and in the harsh winter, ** forced the workers to cut down timber and transport it to the capital, and the workers died of exhaustion. Lü Yijian asked for a postponement, but was praised by Emperor Zhenzong: "This heart is for the country and loves the people!."”
He was later appointed as the governor of Kaifeng, a position usually held by members of the royal family. Lu Yijian governs Kaifeng, serious and fair.
Lü Yijian was diligent and conscientious wherever he was, and was recognized by Emperor Zhenzong and his colleagues for his reputation as "incorruptible". Zhenzong wrote his name on the screen, and it was rumored that Lü Yijian would become the prime minister.
In the first year of Qianxing (1022), Zhenzong died. At the age of 12, Zhao Zhen ascended the throne as Emperor Renzong, and was regent by Empress Dowager Liu. Lü Yijian officially became the prime minister.
In the face of Li Yuanhao's rebellion in the northwest and the Khitan claim to go south to destroy the Song Dynasty, Emperor Renzong asked Lü Yijian for advice on countermeasures. Lü Yijian thought that the Khitan was afraid of strength and cowardice, and suggested showing strength to it. Lü Yijian suggested the establishment of the capital in the Daimyofu of Hebei, which is now "Beijing", which was adopted by Emperor Renzong.
The Khitan envoy Liu Liufu went south to ask for peace and ask for land cession, with an arrogant attitude. Lü Yijian suggested setting up a banquet outside the palace to entertain the Khitan envoys, and eventually increase the annual coins to make an alliance to avoid war with the Khitan.
Lu Yijian governed the officialdom and handled personnel with sophisticated methods many times, and soon after, he was falsely accused by Empress Guo. Lü Yijian strongly persuaded Renzong to depose Empress Guo. Both the government and the opposition think he is vicious.
In the face of the defeat of the Song army at Sanchuankou and the death of the general Liu Ping, there was a belief that the eunuchs of the supervising army had no power for the commander, resulting in defeat. Renzong issued an edict to kill the eunuch Huang Dehe. Lü Yijian suggested that the prison army should not be abolished, and only suitable people should be needed. He also proposed that he should not associate with eunuchs, so that the county and others should be guilty of the same crime, and Renzong praised it.
After Lü Yijian suffered a stroke, he could not go to court, Renzong was deeply worried, and even personally cut off his beard and gave it to Lü Yijian. After his death, Renzong wrote the "Huaizhong" stele for his family. 2023.11.25.