What is the main conflict in Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov?

It was Hari Seldon who foresaw the current conditions of the Galaxy, including the fall of the Empire. Seldon, in an effort to lessen the time of barbarism that is bound to follow the fall, created two Foundations - one at each end of the Galaxy. The idea was that the two would eventually mesh, forming a new, stronger Foundation - the Second Foundation. The series, known as the Empire series, is about the generations on those worlds, their lives, battles and victories.