He was later placed in the Kaidao Corps (開道) of Zheng Prefecture (鄭州), which Yingze belonged to, and yet later made a soldier of the Later Liang imperial guards.
Later, when he established the two Wujie Corps (武節), he made Shi their overall commander, also carrying the honorary title of prefect of Lei Prefecture (雷州, in modern Zhanjiang, Guangdong — then ruled by Southern Han).
Shortly after, when Liu issued a number of commissions for his officers, Shi was made the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan) and the commander of infantry troops.
Soon after, when the Liao-commissioned military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), Geng Chongmei (耿崇美), was heading for Zhaoyi's capital Lu Prefecture (潞州) (which was apparently still held by subordinates of the prior Later Jin-commissioned military governor Zhang Cong'en (張從恩)), Liu sent Shi with 10,000 men to aid the Lu garrison against Geng, with the intent that Shi's troops would serve as his forward troops in his advance toward Luoyang and Daliang — as Liao's Emperor Taizong had already left the region and was on the way back to Liao proper.
Geng and other Liao generals Cui Tingxun (崔廷勳) and Zhuaila (拽剌) withdrew to Huai Prefecture (懷州, in modern Jiaozuo, Henan).
Before Liu's arrival, Shi attacked Ze Prefecture (澤州, in modern Jincheng, Shanxi), but was initially unable to capture it against the defense by the Liao-commissioned prefect Zhai Lingqi (翟令奇).
Liu, fearing that Shi's troops were too few in number, considered recalling him, despite the opposition of his staff members Su Fengji and Yang Bin.
[6] Shi approached Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang), whose military governor Wu Xingde (武行德) had already agreed to submit to Liu, and who was therefore being under siege by Cui, Geng, and Zhuaila.
It was due to Shi Hongzhao's achievement that the Emperor was able to safely advance from Jinyang [(i.e., Taiyuan)] to Luoyang and Bian [(i.e., Daliang)] without having blood on his soldiers' swords.
As part of these orders, Shi Hongzhao was moved from Zhongwu to Guide Circuit (歸德, headquartered in modern Shangqiu, Henan), but remained at the capital Daliang to serve as the overall commander of infantry and cavalry imperial guard soldiers, with Liu Zhiyuan's younger brother or cousin Liu Xin (劉信) serving as Shi's deputy as well as the military governor of Zhongwu.
[6] Liu Chengyou then formally recalled him to governmental service, and gave him the greater honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中).
They had discussed and resolved that, because of frequent Liao incursions and the inability for the circuits to coordinate their defenses, Guo Wei should be sent to Yedu (鄴都, in modern Handan, Hebei) to serve as its defender (as well as the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered at Yedu) to coordinate the defense against Liao.
Su Fengji opposed, pointing out that there had been no precedent to allow a military governor to continue to retain chief of staff title.
"[1] It was at the send-off dinner for Guo the next day, at the mansion of Dou Zhengu, that frictions within the imperial government came to the forefront.
At the feast, Shi, when toasting Guo, spoke in a harsh voice, "How could there have been opposition when we discussed this matter yesterday at the imperial gathering?
Shi responded, again in a harsh voice, "To settle the state, it takes long spears and large swords.
Later, when Guo was about to leave the capital, he went to see Liu Chengyou and stated to him:[1] The Empress Dowager had long followed the deceased Emperor, and she has experienced many things.
As far as what happens on the battlefield, I, your subject, wishes to expend all of my foolish and foolhardy efforts, hopefully being worthy of your service.Liu Chengyou showed a serious expression and thanked Guo.
The director of diplomatic protocol, Yan Jinqing (閻晉卿), was seated next to Shi, and repeatedly reminded him of what the game's rules were.
However, Shi took the comment badly — as he thought that Su was satirizing his wife Lady Yan, who was once a prostitute working in a drinking hall.
Su considered requesting an assignment as a circuit military governor, but then decided that if he left the capital, Shi could easily destroy him, and so did not.
Part of the friction came from how his close associates and relatives of the empress dowager were trying to gain power, but were being thwarted by Yang and Shi.
Further, Hou Kuangzan (後匡贊) the director of imperial stables, Guo Yunming (郭允明) the director of tea and wine, and Nie Wenjin (聶文進) the liaison officer at the office of the chiefs of staff, were all favored by Liu Chengyou, but had long not been promoted, causing them to be resentful.
When Consort Geng died, Yang opposed Liu Chengyou's wishes to have her buried with the ceremonies due an empress.
When Empress Dowager Li tried to speak again, Liu Chengyou responded angrily, "The matters of state cannot be decided in the halls of a woman!
"[1] On December 24, 950,[1][2] as the officials were arriving at the palace for the imperial gathering, a number of soldiers appeared and killed Yang, Shi, and Wang Zhang.
Subsequently, Liu Chengyou declared that they had committed treason, and stated to the chancellors and the other officials, "Yang Bin and the others viewed us as a young child.