Unwilling to serve the Khitans, Guo—who was the commander-in-chief of the Ying Prefecture cavalry—left his hometown and moved south to Later Jin territory in 937.
[1] In January 947, the Khitans (Liao dynasty) destroyed the Later Jin, but their rule in the conquered territory proved short-lived.
In March 947, Liu Zhiyuan, the military governor of Hedong Circuit based in Taiyuan, declared himself emperor.
This edict arrived just as Guo Wei and Wang Jun's families were all massacred in the capital, along with other ministers victimized by Liu Chengyou's purge.
On December 31, 950, Guo Wei's forces met the loyalist army, commanded by Murong Yanchao, right outside of Daliang.
Empress Dowager Li, the nominal regent, sent Guo Wei to take his army north to resist the Khitan invasion.
The next morning, thousands of his soldiers—fearful that they would be punished for having sacked the capital if another Liu became emperor—made a commotion, supporting Guo Wei as emperor.
Only after Feng Dao exited and spoke with him did he enter, where he met with a teary-eyed Liu Yun who nervously gripped his hands.
After Guo Chongwei exited the city, Dong Yi (董裔), a loyal adviser, immediately said to Liu Yun: Dong Yi asked Liu Yun to quickly summon Zhang Lingchao (張令超), the commander of the army sent to protect him, and persuade him to attack Guo Chongwei's cavalry at night.
[5] In 960, general Zhao Kuangyin usurped the imperial power from the 5-year-old Guo Zongxun to found the Song dynasty.
The messenger returned to report that Guo Chong spent his days drinking and playing chess with his retinues in a pavilion by the pond, and his domain was peaceful.