In the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a minister, his name was Lu Zongdao, who was famous for his uprightness and outspokenness. He had a resolute personality, was not afraid of the powerful, and often expressed his opinions in the court, which made many of his colleagues fear him. Therefore, people jokingly call him "fish head participating in politics", not only because his surname is Lu, and the upper part of the Lu character resembles a fish, but also because his character is like a fishbone with thorns, daring to stab the sore spot of the powerful.
In the first year of Tianxi (1017), Lu Zongdao was promoted to the right Zhengyan because of his outstanding talent and upright character. He took advantage of his position to discuss many important matters in the imperial court, and although Emperor Zhenzong was sometimes tired of him, he always adhered to his principles and was not afraid of power. Once, when Zhenzong summoned him, he took the opportunity to say bluntly: "Your Majesty uses me, is it just to hunt for the false name of Na Zhi? I myself am ashamed of the corpse vegetarian meal, so please dismiss me." Although Zhenzong was displeased with his outspokenness, he finally chose to appease him. Soon after, Zhenzong wrote the words "Lu Zhi" on the walls of the palace, expressing his appreciation for Lu Zongdao's upright character, and conferred on him as a member of the household department and a right priest.
After Zhenzong's death, Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, and due to his young age, the power of the court was in the hands of Empress Dowager Liu. Although Empress Dowager Liu promoted Lu Zongdao to be the governor of the government, that is, the deputy prime minister, Lu Zongdao did not obey Empress Dowager Liu because of this. He still adheres to his principles, only admits reason, not feelings.
At that time, Empress Dowager Liu had the heart to be the emperor, and she once asked Lu Zongdao tentatively: "What kind of monarch is Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty?" Lu Zongdao replied without hesitation: "Wu Zetian is a great sinner in the Tang Dynasty, and she almost ruined the great power of the Tang Dynasty." Seeing that his attitude was so clear, Empress Dowager Liu didn't say more. Later, in order to curry favor with the Empress Dowager Liu, some ministers requested that seven temples be built for the seven generations of ancestors of the Liu family, which was obviously to persuade the Empress Dowager Liu to become the emperor. Empress Dowager Liu asked the ministers to express their stance on this matter, and the other ministers were afraid of offending the Empress Dowager Liu and remained silent, only Lu Zong said solemnly: "If the Liu family builds seven temples, then what is the status of Renzong?" This sentence directly pointed out the political crisis that the Empress Dowager Liu might bring about by becoming the emperor, so that the Empress Dowager Liu finally dispelled the idea of becoming the emperor.
Throughout his life, Lu Zongdao adhered to his principles and beliefs, and he used his actions to interpret what true loyalty and integrity are. His uprightness and outspokenness not only won the respect and praise of future generations, but also set a model worthy of learning for the Northern Song court.