Li Shou was initially known for lenience and thriftiness—the same virtues commonly associated with Li Xiong—but later imitated the ruling style of Shi Hu, the emperor of Later Zhao, by ruling harshly and extravagantly, greatly inflicting burdens on the people and damaging the Cheng-Han state.
In a campaign in 332 and 333, he further led a Cheng-Han army to conquer the Jin possession Ning Province (寧州, modern Yunnan and Guizhou) -- which Cheng-Han forces had previously been unable to conquer, further solidifying his reputation as a general.
Therefore, whenever he had to visit the capital Chengdu, he had his subordinates submit false report of attacks by Later Zhao, so that he could then return to his defense post.
In 338, Li Shou consulted the hermit Gong Zhuang (龔壯), who advised him to rebel and to declare himself a Jin vassal.
Li Shou then further planned an attack with his advisors Luo Heng (羅恆) and Jie Siming (解思明).
In spring 339, Cheng-Han lost Ning Province—which Li Shou himself had captured several years earlier—to Jin.
In 340, Later Zhao's emperor Shi Hu wrote to Li Shou, seeking an alliance against Jin.
Li Shou agreed and began to build a fleet and store food supplies, ready to attack, despite opposition by Jie.