When Li Di returned to Beijing, he was full of confidence and even planned to overthrow Lu Yijian and make a big move to realize his ambitions. Unfortunately, no one expected that he would leave faster. In just a few months, Li Di was plotted by Lu Yijian and shot himself in the foot. The appointment letter not only failed to convict Lu Yijian, but instead became evidence that he made friends with Zhao Yuanyan.

Although Zhao Zhen trusted Li Di very much, the evidence now is conclusive. When the news spread, Li Di immediately became a laughing stock in the court. After all, he was too ruthless by Lu Yijian, so Li Di was so angry that he fell seriously ill. Finally, he took the initiative to resign. Zhao Zhen considered that Li Di was ridiculed in the capital, so he temporarily removed his original position, but let him work in Bozhou.

Li Di also wanted to leave the capital immediately at this time, so after receiving the appointment, he ignored his illness and even left the capital with his family without even notifying others. When Li Zhang learned the news, he couldn't help but sigh.

In fact, the reason why Li Di ended up like this is because he was too impatient and did not understand Zhao Zhen's intention to summon him back to Beijing. If he devoted himself to handling government affairs after returning to Beijing and was not so deliberately targeting Lu Yijian, Zhao Zhen would definitely entrust important tasks in the future and even support him to become Lu Yijian's opponent in the court. After all, for the emperor, he also needed to balance the power in the hands of the ministers.

However, although Li Di left, someone in the court must be able to check and balance Lu Yijian. This is not because Zhao Zhen does not believe in Lu Yijian, but because he cannot let a minister take over power. This is also the way to be a king. Therefore, Zhao Zhen quickly turned his attention to another person, and this person's background is even greater than that of Li Di.

On that day, Li Zhang entered the palace again, and Zhao Zhen asked him to discuss the matter of Dangxiang in the northwest. When he came here, he found that Lu Yijian and others were also there. After seeing Li Zhang in, Zhao Zhen also handed over the information that had just been sent back from the northwest to Li Zhang.

After reading it, Li Zhang realized that most of the wing troops mobilized in the past had arrived in Xingzhou and had also started farming. The effect was pretty good. After the spring, Zhao Zhen also sent cavalry led by Guo Zun to harass the Dangxiang people who fled to Heishan. Spring is not only a season for farming, but also a season for nomadic people to grazle. In particular, many livestock are estrus-breeding in spring. If spring is missed, the attack on the nomadic tribes will be extremely severe.

The Dangxiang people were soldiers, which means that their army could not escape production. In contrast, the Song army had no such restrictions at all, and they were fighting on the enemy's territory. They were even more scruples. They immediately escaped after a burst of burning and killing. When the Dangxiang people realized that they wanted to intercept them, they had already run away.

"General Zhao did not disappoint His Majesty's instructions. As long as he took turns to harass the cavalry in the north, it might take less than two years to defeat Dangxiang!" Li Zhang couldn't help but say excitedly after reading this information.

"Your Majesty, my Song Dynasty has always been benevolent and righteous. Now that the army allows the army to burn, kill, loot the Dangxiang people, will it betray our Song Dynasty's name of benevolence and righteousness?" At this time, the political affairs officer Song Shou stepped forward and spoke. Song Shou was the deputy of Lu Yijian. The biggest advantage of this person is that he is good at writing articles. When Liu E was tyrannical, he also spoke for Zhao Zhen many times, so after Liu E's death, he was quickly reused.

"The Song Dynasty's words are not bad. The sage said that he should repay his grievances with righteousness and virtue. When Dangxiang invaded the border, burned, killed, looted, and countless people were abducted and slaves. When Zhao Zhen conquered Xiping Prefecture, there were tens of thousands of efforts to rescue him alone, and the Han people who died at the hands of Dangxiang people were countless. Now that our Song Dynasty is strong, we naturally have to fight tooth for tooth!" Li Zhang was the first to stand up against Song Shou at this time.

"Li Duwei said it well. In fact, there is no need to worry too much about these details. The main purpose of our Song Dynasty to send troops to harass Dangxiang is to try to weaken Dangxiang's strength. How can we weaken the other party without killing or setting fire?" Lu Yijian also expressed support for Li Zhang at this time.

When others saw Lu Yijian's statement, they also agreed with Li Zhang's words. In fact, Song Shou was still a little scholarly, so he said such words. If it were in normal times, no one would have made any mention, because everyone agreed to what the Song army did.

When Song Shou saw that everyone opposed him, he did not insist anymore. In fact, he had just taken office, so some things were not very familiar with, and it was normal to make mistakes.

"Zhao Zhen and his team did a good job. The first time they sent troops to harass the enemy, they achieved good results. In addition, the garrisons from Huanqing and other routes also marched northward and occupied the area south of the Great Wall. However, Li Chengyu, who had been holding troops recently, suddenly led his troops to retreat westward and attacked Yusiluo. I heard that Maoniu City has been captured and ordered the Tubo people in the city to be slaughtered. What do you think about this?" Zhao Zhen said again at this time.

"Li Chengyu and Li Yuanhao are both tigers and wolves. However, he was defeated by Li Yuanhao, so he had no choice but to contact our Song Dynasty. He hoped to use our Song Dynasty to restrain Li Yuanhao. Now that Li Yuanhao is defeated, he must be afraid, and he is unwilling to surrender to our Song Dynasty, so he had to flee west!" Lu Yijian immediately told his judgment when he heard this.

Li Zhang nodded secretly when he heard this. His views were almost exactly the same as those of Lu Yijian. Li Chengyu had contacted the Song Dynasty before and even showed his intention to surrender. However, this surrender was actually only nominal, and the most important military power was still in his hands, and the Song Dynasty had little influence on him.

However, now that Li Yuanhao is defeated, the Song Dynasty also occupied the territory south of the Great Wall. In this way, the sphere of influence between the Song Dynasty and Li Chengyu had a border. If Li Chengyu surrendered to the Song Dynasty, he had to hand over military power. If he did not hand over, the Song Dynasty would not tolerate another armed force of the Dangxiang army around him, so he had to flee westward.

"I think so too, but what do you think about Li Chengyu should do? Lu Xiangke?" Zhao Zhen nodded at this time, and then asked again. Although Li Chengyu was crippled by Li Yuanhao, after two years of rest, there are now tens of thousands of soldiers to fight and a population of tens of thousands. Is this force big or small? After all, Li Jiqian rose up with a small group of party members, so no one is sure whether Li Chengyu will become the second Li Jiqian in the future?

"Report to Your Majesty, I think I can contact Xiaosi Luo. He has always been close to my Song Dynasty. I have also given him a lot of support before. This time, Li Chengyu sent troops to capture his Maoniu City, and he must have a grudge. Moreover, Xiaosi Luo's strength has grown rapidly in recent years. As long as he gives him some support, he may not be Li Chengyu's opponent!" Lu Yijian said again immediately.

Lu Yijian's suggestion was also supported by other ministers. In fact, the Tubo people led by Ye Silu have always been bullied by the Dangxiang people. For this reason, he has always been close to the Song Dynasty and relied on the support of the Song Dynasty to resist the Dangxiang people. He has also achieved some results before. However, this time Li Cheng sent troops too suddenly, and Ye Silu was unprepared, so he lost the military city of Maoniucheng.

Zhao Zhen didn't know much about Li Siluo, so he also asked Lu Yijian about Li Siluo. Only then did he realize that the other party was not a small Tubo tribe as he imagined, but a Tubo tribe alliance with strong strength. The reason why Lu Yijian wanted to use Li Chengyu was also to weaken Li Siluo's strength.

After the discussion on Li Chengyu was completed, Zhao Zhen took out a few more things related to the Northwest, and everyone expressed their opinions. Li Zhang did not express many opinions, mainly because he would only speak a few words when Zhao Zhen asked him.

However, at the end of the discussion, Zhao Zhen suddenly looked at Lu Yijian and others, and then said again: "The Three Sessions Commander Xue Kui is seriously ill and has been unable to attend court recently. Although I allow him to handle official duties at home, his health is not as good as before. Therefore, I have resigned several times. I pity him for his old age and have already allowed him to sue for his resignation. But who should take his place as soon as he leaves?"

As soon as Zhao Zhen said, all the ministers below showed a look of indecision. Xue Kui was not only the three envoys, but also served as the chief political affairs officer. He was also the deputy prime minister with Song Shou. His position was now empty. I wonder how many people in the court want to take this opportunity to rise to power?

"Your Majesty, I recommend someone to replace Xue Jixiang!" At this moment, Song Shou stepped forward again and spoke, but Lu Yijian next to him frowned slightly when he saw Song Shou, and his face seemed a little unhappy. After all, he is the prime minister. The candidate for the replacement of Xue Kui is so important, so he naturally has to speak first, but Song Shou is ahead of him.

"Who do Song Qing want to recommend?" Zhao Zhen asked with a smile at this time.

"Your Majesty, I recommend the Grand Secretary of Zhaowenguan, Wang Zeng, the current governor of Zhangde Army!" Song Shou stepped forward and spoke. As soon as Wang Zeng's name came out, everyone in the hall focused on Lu Yijian, and a trace of unnatural flashed across Lu Yijian's face, but then he was calm and composed.

Compared to Li Di, Wang Zeng is a very big-name man. He is a talented man from Sanyuan and the first generation of the wise prime minister Wang Dan. Ding Wei was powerful in the court and the country, but he was still beaten by Wang Zeng. Later, Wang Qinruo was also suppressed by Wang Zeng. When Wang Zeng became prime minister, Lu Yijian was just a rising star who had just made a name for himself.

In addition, the reason why Wang Zeng was demoted was because he firmly crowded Zhao Zhen, so he was demoted from the capital by Liu E. It can be said that Wang Zeng was an absolute imperial party. In contrast, Lu Yijian seemed a little unsteady and tried not to offend Liu E, otherwise he would not be appointed as prime minister by Liu E.

It can be said that in terms of qualifications, credit, trust, etc., Lu Yijian was defeated by Wang Zeng. If Wang Zeng returned to the capital, then can he, as the prime minister, really be firmly in his position?
Chapter completed!