Lu Zongdao

Lu Zongdao ( 966 – 1029), courtesy name Guanzhi, was a high-ranking official of the Song dynasty. An honest and courageous minister, he played a key role in keeping Empress Dowager Liu's imperial ambitions in check.

Early life Lu Zongdao was orphaned during childhood, and he was raised by his maternal family. His maternal uncles were all soldiers devoted to his learning, and Lu Zongdao also studied very hard. After passing the imperial examination, Lu Zongdao was assigned to Dingyuan District (in Hao Prefecture) where he first assumed the position of a defender, later becoming the director of sea salt. To the southeast of the district was a sea harbor, but years of sediment had blocked the water flow. Lu Zongdao thus initiated a hydraulic engineering project in which laborers reconnected the harbor to the sea, and the harbor was then known as "Shore of Lord Lu".

During Emperor Zhenzong's reign After Dingyuan, Lu Zongdao successively served as the military administrative assistant of She Prefecture and assistant director of the Palace Library. Lu Zongdao had wanted to talk to the emperor about a multitude of issues, but the emperor was very annoyed by his frequent memorials. During an audience with the emperor, Lu Zongdao then said, "Did your majesty appoint me only to pretend to take advice? Personally, I feel ashamed if I receive wages but do not perform my duties. So I ask your majesty to relieve me of my post." The emperor thought about the matter for a long time. One day, missing Lu Zongdao, he wrote the characters "Honest Lu" (魯直; "Lu Zhi") on the palace wall. Lu Zongdao was further promoted to vice director of the Bureau of Revenue, while simultaneous serving as an adviser under the heir apparent (Zhao Zhen). Empress Dowager Liu fell silent.

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