Li Siyuan subsequently arrived at Luoyang and claimed rightful succession as emperor.
Late in the year, he commissioned Li Congrong the military governor (jiedushi) of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) and gave Li Congrong the honorary chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
Li Siyuan wanted to put those associates to death, but An advocated merely stern rebuke.
[9] In summer 928, Li Siyuan made a series of transfers of key military governors.
When Feng was subsequently recalled to the imperial government to serve as the director of palace affairs, he warned the key officials in charge of government that Li Congrong had a harsh character and was acting frivolously, and needed good counsel.
[5] Li Congrong liked writing poetry, and he gathered a number of poets, headed by Gao Nian (高輦), to serve on his staff.
Another brother-in-law, Shi Jingtang, did not want to be involved in the court scene in this atmosphere, particularly because his wife Princess Yongning was born of Empress Cao and had long had poor relations with Li Congrong, and therefore, in late 932, volunteered to be the military governor of Hedong.
The chancellors, however, feared Li Congrong, and did not dare to commission a teacher for him without his agreement, and therefore suggested to him that he recommend one himself.
This proposal offended the emperor, who believed that designating a crown prince would render he himself obsolete, but felt compelled to have the chancellors discuss it.
Li Congrong himself was also displeased, as he incorrectly believed that this was an attempt by Fan and Zhao to strip him of his military command.
After his commission as generalissimo, Li Congrong gathered elite troops to serve as his guards, and was always escorted by them wherever he went.
He had his staff members author for him a declaration against Later Tang's southeastern neighbor Wu, stating his intent to conquer it.
Li Siyuan initially refused, in anger, believing that they were abandoning him, but eventually agreed; they were replaced by Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun.