Li Cunxu, in anger, told his secretary Feng Dao to draft a declaration stating that he was going to leave the command of his main army to someone else and return to Hedong's capital Taiyuan by himself.
Khitan forces were initially successful in advancing deep into Jin territory, going through Lulong and Yiwu (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding, Hebei) Circuits, and most generals suggested to Li Cunxu that Khitan forces were too difficult to combat with on their own; instead, they suggested abandoning the siege on Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture (鎮州) and withdrawing completely back from the region back to Hedong.
[7] When Jin forces subsequently captured Zhen Prefecture, Li Cunxu sent Guo to gather the contents of the Chengde treasury.
He commissioned Guo Chongtao and a senior eunuch, Zhang Juhan, as chiefs of staff (now with the title changed to Shumishi).
[8] Despite the declaration of himself as emperor, Emperor Zhuangzong was actually facing some difficult times at that time—it was said that due to frequent Khitan pillaging incursions, Lulong lacked sufficient food supplies; meanwhile, a recent Later Liang counterattack had caused Later Tang to lose Wei Prefecture (衛州, in modern Puyang, Henan, not the same Wei Prefecture where Emperor Zhuangzong was at that time) to Later Liang; further, Li Jitao the military governor of Anyi Circuit (安義, i.e., Zhaoyi, as he was the son of Emperor Zhuangzong's deceased cousin Li Sizhao and the circuit was therefore renamed to observe naming taboo for Li Sizhao) had also rebelled and submitted to Later Liang.
However, Emperor Zhuangzong's adoptive brother Li Siyuan advocated for the plan, believing that to break the stalemate with Later Liang, a risky move was necessary.
[8] In reaction, Later Liang's emperor Zhu Zhen relieved Dai of his command and replaced him with Wang Yanzhang, who immediately launched an attack on the Later Tang city of Desheng (德勝, in modern Puyang), whose two parts straddled the Yellow River, capturing the southern city of Desheng.
Guo, however, foresaw this situation and advised Emperor Zhuangzong to immediately build another fort at Majiakou (馬家口, also in modern Liaocheng) to allow another crossing point, while distracting Wang by sending other forces to harass his army.
Emperor Zhuangzong agreed and did so, sending Guo to build the fort and defend it, and meanwhile, Yangliu's defenses were holding under the capable Later Tang general Li Zhou (李周).
[8] Despite the victory at Majiakou, the Later Tang army's military supplies were low, and there were rumors of an impending major Khitan attack to the north.
Li Shaohong advocated negotiating a peace accord with Later Liang—exchanging Tianping for Wei Prefecture and Liyang, with the two states formally setting their boundary at the Yellow River.
Under Duan's plan, he himself would cross the Yellow River north to Chan Prefecture (澶州, in modern Anyang, Henan), and then the Later Liang army would launch in four different prongs:[8] Wang's assault on Yun, however, was repelled by Li Siyuan, causing Wang to retreat to Zhongdu (中都, in modern Jining, Shandong).
After Doulu subsequently arrived, Emperor Zhuangzong gave Guo the chancellor designation of Shizhong (侍中) and also made him the military governor of Chengde—but kept him at the central government to continue to serve as chief of staff.
It was said that Guo was, at that time, in charge of both governmental and military matters, and that he was faithful and diligent in offering opinions and recommendations on policy and personnel.
It was at Guo's suggestion that Emperor Zhuangzong shortly after began to issue new commissions to the Later Liang military governors and prefects who had submitted to him.
Meanwhile, Kong Qian, wanting to become the director of material pricing, suggested to Guo that Xingtang required a capable senior official to defend it and that Zhang Xian would be appropriate, but his plan was foiled when Guo, while recommending Zhang to become the defender of Xingtang, recommended that Doulu take over the director of material pricing office as an additional office.
[8] In 924, Kong made another attempt to be director of material pricing, by stating to Guo that due to Doulu's busyness as chancellor, the financial matters were being overlooked.
(Yet later, after Wang suffered a stroke, Kong, due to efforts by Emperor Zhuangzong's favorite performer Jing Jin (景進), was able to become the director of material pricing.
He was also drawing resentment from army officers who had contributions in Later Liang's destruction, as he, encouraged by Doulu to associate his own bloodline with that of the great Tang general Guo Ziyi, looked down on those who had low births despite their battlefield accomplishments.
With resentment against him piling up, Guo became fearful and considered requesting to be relieved from the chief of staff post and head for Chengde to serve as military governor there.
Emperor Zhuangzong agreed, and wanted to give Guo the commission of military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered at Bian Prefecture (汴州), i.e., Daliang) instead.
(Shortly after, he had his son Wang Chengban (王承班) greet Li Jiji and Guo, offering them gifts and requesting to be the military governor of Xichuan.
Once the Later Tang army arrived at Chengdu, Wang Yan carried out a formal traditional surrender testimony, wearing white, tying a rope around his neck, and holding jade in his mouth to show submission.
As a result, Guo recommended Dong to be the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan), to separate him from Li Shaochen.
Li Shaochen, who believed that he deserved the Dongchuan command, met with Guo and tried to dissuade him—offering, as an alternative, Ren Huan, who was capable in both civilian and military matters.
Further, the former Former Shu officials were giving both him and his son Guo Tinghui (郭廷誨) bribes, hoping for positions in the new Later Tang administration.
[1] Meanwhile, Guo Chongtao had promised Wang Zongbi the post of military governor of Xichuan, but did not actually made the recommendation to Emperor Zhuangzong.
However, Ma privately met with Empress Liu, and pointed out that he would have no opportunity to request Emperor Zhuangzong to review the situation given the distance between Luoyang and Chengdu.
Meng, while lamenting that this situation would create a disaster, did not outwardly disobey the order, but decided to trail Ma quickly thereafter as well.
[1] Meanwhile, Emperor Zhuangzong's trusted eunuchs and performers were also making similar accusations against another major general, Li Jilin the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi).