[3] In 923, Li Cunxu, whose Jin state was then locked into a long-term military campaign against its archrival Later Liang with the Yellow River as their border, declared himself the emperor of a new Later Tang.
However, at that time, the Later Tang state was facing a number of economic and logistical problems, as well as threats from its northern neighbor Khitan Empire, such that its people were beginning to lose faith over whether it could actually prevail over Later Liang.
Meanwhile, in light of the victory, Li Cunxu, anticipating a Later Liang counterattack to try to cut off communications between Later Tang proper and Tianping's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州), positioned armies at various Later Tang-controlled forts on the Yellow River.
After a fierce battle between the two armies, Later Tang was able to hold Yangliu, allowing the supply lines to Yun to remain open.
It was said that because of his close association with the emperor, he looked down on generals with greater achievement and was in alliance with Li Cunxu's favorite performer, Jing Jin (景進).
Li Siyuan became involved in one that originally started at Yedu (鄴都, in modern Handan, Hebei) after he was sent to suppress it but was instead forced by his soldiers into joining it.
He later made Zhu the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan).
[3] In fall 927, Li Siyuan, apparently without explaining a reason, departed the capital Luoyang and headed toward Xuanwu's capital Bian Prefecture (汴州), leading to all kinds of rumors — the chief among which were that he was intending to attack Later Tang's southeastern neighbor Wu, or that he was intending to act against one the rebellious military governors to the east.