趙桓(宋(song)(song)欽(qin)(qin)宗(zong)(zong)(zong))即(ji)位后,升李(li)(li)綱(gang)為尚(shang)書(shu)右(you)丞,就任(ren)(ren)親(qin)征行(xing)營使(shi),負(fu)責(ze)開封(feng)的(de)防(fang)御。李(li)(li)綱(gang)率領開封(feng)軍民(min)及時(shi)完成防(fang)御部署,親(qin)自登城督戰(zhan),擊退金(jin)(jin)兵(bing)。金(jin)(jin)帥(shuai)完顏(yan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)望見(jian)開封(feng)難(nan)以(yi)(yi)強攻,轉而施行(xing)誘降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)之計,宋(song)(song)廷(ting)彌漫了屈辱投(tou)降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)的(de)氣氛。李(li)(li)綱(gang)因堅(jian)決反(fan)對(dui)向金(jin)(jin)割地求和,被(bei)(bei)(bei)宋(song)(song)欽(qin)(qin)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)罷官(guan)。由于開封(feng)軍民(min)憤怒示威,迫(po)使(shi)宋(song)(song)欽(qin)(qin)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)收回成命(ming),李(li)(li)綱(gang)才(cai)又(you)被(bei)(bei)(bei)起(qi)用(yong)。完顏(yan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)望因無(wu)力攻破開封(feng),在(zai)(zai)宋(song)(song)廷(ting)答應(ying)割讓河(he)北三(san)鎮之后,遂于靖康(kang)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))二月(yue)(yue)撤兵(bing)。開封(feng)守衛(wei)戰(zhan)在(zai)(zai)李(li)(li)綱(gang)組(zu)織下獲(huo)得(de)勝利。金(jin)(jin)兵(bing)撤離之后,李(li)(li)綱(gang)即(ji)遭到宋(song)(song)廷(ting)投(tou)降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)派(pai)的(de)排(pai)斥和誣(wu)陷。靖康(kang)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))五月(yue)(yue),宋(song)(song)廷(ting)強令李(li)(li)綱(gang)出(chu)任(ren)(ren)河(he)東、河(he)北宣(xuan)撫(fu)使(shi),驅趕他(ta)(ta)出(chu)朝(chao)。李(li)(li)綱(gang)就任(ren)(ren)后,宋(song)(song)廷(ting)又(you)事事加以(yi)(yi)限制,使(shi)宣(xuan)撫(fu)使(shi)徒具空名(ming),無(wu)節(jie)制軍隊(dui)之權。李(li)(li)綱(gang)被(bei)(bei)(bei)迫(po)于靖康(kang)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))九(jiu)月(yue)(yue)辭職,旋又(you)被(bei)(bei)(bei)加上(shang)“專(zhuan)主戰(zhan)議,喪師費財”的(de)罪名(ming),先責(ze)建昌(chang)軍(今江西(xi)南城)安(an)置,再謫夔州(zhou)(今重慶奉節(jie)白(bai)帝(di)城)。李(li)(li)綱(gang)被(bei)(bei)(bei)貶不久,金(jin)(jin)兵(bing)再次兩路南下圍攻開封(feng)。宋(song)(song)欽(qin)(qin)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)在(zai)(zai)被(bei)(bei)(bei)俘前(qian)夕又(you)想起(qi)用(yong)李(li)(li)綱(gang),任(ren)(ren)命(ming)他(ta)(ta)為資政(zheng)殿大學(xue)士(shi)、領開封(feng)府事,但已無(wu)濟于事。南宋(song)(song)建立后,他(ta)(ta)主張(zhang)堅(jian)決抗(kang)(kang)金(jin)(jin)及反(fan)對(dui)投(tou)降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)活動,卻為宋(song)(song)高(gao)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)及汪伯彥、黃(huang)潛(qian)善所不容。因此,他(ta)(ta)們(men)又(you)設(she)法(fa)驅逐李(li)(li)綱(gang)。首先,調李(li)(li)綱(gang)任(ren)(ren)尚(shang)書(shu)左仆(pu)射兼門下侍郎(左相),另(ling)委黃(huang)潛(qian)善接(jie)任(ren)(ren)右(you)仆(pu)射兼中書(shu)侍郎,以(yi)(yi)牽制李(li)(li)綱(gang)。接(jie)著,又(you)罷免張(zhang)所、傅(fu)亮,撤銷河(he)北招撫(fu)司及河(he)東經制司,蓄意(yi)破壞李(li)(li)綱(gang)的(de)抗(kang)(kang)金(jin)(jin)部署,迫(po)使(shi)李(li)(li)綱(gang)辭職。李(li)(li)綱(gang)主政(zheng)僅七十五天(tian),建炎元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1127年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))八(ba)月(yue)(yue)十八(ba)日便(bian)遭罷相,為觀文殿大學(xue)士(shi),提(ti)舉杭(hang)州(zhou)洞霄宮(gong)。一生為國,卻不得(de)愿。