[1] While serving at Li Jing's headquarters, Feng Yanji and Feng Yanlu had often advocated reversing the ban disallowing people from selling their sons and daughters into servitude, but Li Bian, agreeing with the advice of the official Xiao Yan (蕭儼) that that effectively would enslave the children of the poor in favor of the rich, disapproved.
Shortly after Li Jing took the throne, Feng Yanlu was promoted from his-then position of Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎, low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Libu)) to be Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人, a mid-level position at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng)) and imperial scholar at Qinzheng Hall (勤政殿).
When the governor Du Changye (杜昌業) heard this, he lamented: "The state uses offices and honors to encourage its subjects.
Feng Yanji questioned him, "If you are diligent and proper at your job, you will surely gain the emperor's favor and honors already.
However, Min's traditional capital Fú Prefecture (福州, in modern Fuzhou, Fujian, note different tone) was still in the hands of the warlord Li Hongyi, who was paying nominal allegiance to both Southern Tang and its northern neighbor Later Jin.
He was initially successful in defeating Li Hongyi's general Yang Chongbao (楊崇保), and the Southern Tang forces soon put Fú under siege.
Li Jing put the senior general Wang Chongwen (王崇文) in charge of the siege, while making Feng and Wei monitors of the army.
[5] Li Hongyi subsequently sought aid from Southern Tang's southeastern neighbor Wuyue, which dispatched a fleet commanded by Yu An (余安) to try to lift the siege.
Feng allowed them to land so that, in his mind, the Southern Tang forces could defeat them, after which Li Hongyi would feel compelled to surrender, despite opposition by the general Meng Jian (孟堅).
After the senior chancellor Song Qiqiu requested punishment for himself as well for having recommended Chen to go see Li Hongyi, Li Jing, apparently relenting, ordered that Feng Yanlu be exiled to Qi Prefecture (蘄州, in modern Huanggang, Hubei) and Chen be exiled to Shu Prefecture (舒州, in modern Anqing, Anhui).
This drew objections from Xu Xuan (徐鉉) and Han Xizai, pointing out that Chen and Feng Yanlu deserved death and that, apparently, Li Jing was sparing them due to intercession by Song and Feng Yanji, such that army discipline would be lost, but Li Jing did not listen to Xu and Han.
)[1] At a subsequent point, after Li Jing had declared a general pardon, Feng Yanlu was recalled to the imperial government to serve as the director of palace supplies (少府監, Shaofu Jian).
[1] In 953, when Li Jing were to send several officials to survey and comfort the various prefectures in his realm, Feng was one of the ones set to be sent out.
When the Song emperor asked for elaboration, Feng responded:[10] Li Chongjin's messenger stayed at the house of your subject.
Earlier, when the emperor had just received the throne from the prior dynasty, when the people were not yet firm in their heart, and when there was a rebellion at Shangdang [(上黨, in modern Changzhi, Shanxi, where the general Li Yun had unsuccessfully risen against Song several months earlier)], you chose not to rise then.
Because of this, Li Chongjin, lacking support, was defeated.The Song emperor continued to threaten to cross the Yangtze to attack Southern Tang.
Feng responded:[10] Li Chongjin considered himself to be more ferocious and capable than others, but when Your Imperial Majesty appeared with your holy might, he was defeated before he could turn his heels.
If you march forward but cannot capture cities, and there is no food supply route to the rear, you should be concerned.The Song emperor laughed and responded, "I am merely toying with you, sir, not intending on hearing your persuasive speech.
[1][2][13] He died shortly after, after having possibly been made the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Chang Prefecture (常州, in modern Changzhou, Jiangsu).