Therefore, Yan Shu and Lu Yijian had a very good relationship.

Even the History of the Song Dynasty records that Yan Shu's son-in-law Fu Bi once angrily cursed "Yan Shu is treacherous and evil, and he colluded with Lu Yijian to deceive Your Majesty", which shows that the two of them were also in a clique.

Now that Lü Yijian is in trouble, Yan Shu has no choice but to help.

He was very clever and quick-witted. Almost at that moment, he came up with an idea and said to Zhao Zhen, "Sir, I have a plan."

Zhao Zhen didn't want to lose Lü Yijian, so he quickly asked, "What can I do with my uncle?"

"Ask Zhao Jun when you're in doubt!"

Yan Shu said.

"Zhao Jun? How do you ask? Should I ask him that I want to promote Fan Zhongyan to the post of Transport Commissioner of Shaanxi Road, and he just happened to be on the Chart of Officials, and I don't want to dismiss Lu Gong?"

Zhao Zhen laughed at himself. This was something that had never happened in history. What was the difference between that and Zhao Jun openly saying that he was in the Song Dynasty?

Yan Shu said in a deep voice, "I think Zhao Jun's opinion of Prime Minister Lu is quite good. Why don't we tell Fan Zhongyan about Zhao Jun's background and take him to Fan Zhongyan to hear Zhao Jun's opinion on this matter? If Zhao Jun thinks Fan Zhongyan is wrong, Fan Zhongyan should also accept it."

Wang Zeng couldn't help but say, "You said earlier that Zhao Jun thought Fan Zhongyan was stubborn. Even if Fan Zhongyan could accept Zhao Jun's opinion, he's already on the Chart of Officials. Can he take it back?"

Yan Shu said, "I think if Fan Zhongyan accepts the offer, we can demote him first. Then Prime Minister Lu can recommend him as the Transport Commissioner of Shaanxi Province. Fan Zhongyan can just write a letter saying that he wrongly accused Prime Minister Lu. Wouldn't that be a clear proof that Prime Minister Lu appoints people based on merit, not personal connections?"

Song Shou also said, "That's indeed the truth. The only way is to make Fan Zhongyan realize that he is wrong and let him withdraw his impeachment. Even if he is demoted temporarily, and Prime Minister Lu promotes him in the future, it will be enough to silence the people's gossip."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen was overjoyed and said, "Uncle Tong is indeed intelligent since childhood. He has passed on the teachings of Lü Yijian and Fan Zhongyan."

"The biography of Lü Yijian and Fan Zhongyan."

At that moment, the eunuch Wang Shouzhong went out and called Lu Yijian and Fan Zhongyan, who were in the left and right inner halls, to the back hall.

In the back hall, Zhao Zhen was sitting on the dragon throne, with several people standing below.

Although Fan Zhongyan didn't understand why the emperor wanted him to discuss the matter in the inner hall, he was not afraid to continue the confrontation with Lü Yijian. He walked in with a dignified manner and saluted: "Your Majesty."

Zhao Zhen looked at him seriously, then suddenly sighed and said, "Duke Xiwen, you and Prime Minister Lu are both my trusted aides, so why are you fighting among yourselves?"

Fan Zhongyan held his head high and said, "I am not looking for internal strife, but to criticize the treacherous officials to prevent them from ruining the country!"

"Then let me ask you, how is Prime Minister Lu a traitor?"

Zhao Zhen asked back.

Fan Zhongyan replied, "Lü Yijian has immense power in the government and appoints people based on personal connections. He is a treacherous minister!"

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Duke Xiwen, if, I mean if, there were a person a thousand years from now who was familiar with our history and knew the fate of all of us, would you believe what he said?"

"Your Majesty, this is ridiculous," Fan Zhongyan said, shaking his head firmly. "I absolutely do not believe it."

"But there is indeed such a person. He was found in the imperial palace's backyard a few days ago. I don't know how he came to the Song Dynasty from a thousand years ago."

Yan Shu said, "He told me this morning that Fan Zhongyan was good in every way except for his stubborn temper. He was involved in hundreds of official assignments, which led to his embarrassing demotion. He also wrote the "Spiritual Crow Fu," in which he included the line, "I would rather die with a cry than live in silence." When I heard about this, I hurried to the Chuigong Palace, but I was still a step too late."

Lingwu Fu?

Fan Zhongyan was completely confused. He naturally didn't know that this was something he wrote after he was demoted to Raozhou the next year. However, the sentence "I would rather die with a voice than live in silence" was indeed a sentence he could write, which moved him deeply.

"Until now, only I and a few of the prime ministers knew about this matter. Did you know that I originally intended to appoint you as the Shaanxi Road Transport Commissioner? This was because someone said that Zhao Yuanhao would soon launch a rebellion. However, the Shaanxi Road Transport Commissioner, Fan Yong, was incompetent in military affairs and mismanaged his command, leading to the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Sanchuankou."

Zhao Zhen looked at him seriously and said, "Later, I sent Xia Song as the General Manager and Pacifier of Shaanxi, with Han Qi and you as deputy envoys. As a result, a dispute arose between you and Han Qi, leading to the defeat at Haoshuichuan. The other person said that Han Qi didn't understand military affairs and the situation on the northwestern frontier, and that he rashly ordered his soldiers to attack, resulting in a disastrous defeat. Only you understood the root cause of the local problems, so you defended firmly and resisted Zhao Yuanhao's attack."

"That is why Your Majesty intended to eliminate the trouble before it could cause any internal strife. He appointed you as the Transport Commissioner of Shaanxi Road, in charge of military and civil affairs in the northwest, so that the Sanchuankou and Haoshuichuan incidents, as well as the subsequent defeat at Dingchuan Village, would not have occurred."

Lu Yijian added the last sentence, his old face did not fluctuate at all, but his tone was full of blame.

If Fan Zhongyan hadn't made the Chart of Officials, would he have been in such a mess?

Fan Zhongyan was silent for a long time, then asked, "Your Majesty, I still find this matter absurd and unbelievable. I believe this may be a fraud, or an insider sent by the enemy."

Zhao Zhen waved his hands, feeling a little tired, and gestured to Yan Shu, "Tell him everything that happened."

"yes."

Yan Shu then began to tell Fan Zhongyan about Zhao Jun's background, including all his personal belongings.