Li Xiannian
Because Zhao had risen to power through his work in the provinces, he never enjoyed strong connections among the Party leadership in Beijing. Because he had led the Communist Youth League in the 1950s, Zhao often relied on its former members for support, and Zhao's enemies accused him of promoting a "Communist Youth League faction" within the CPC. Among Beijing's Party elders, Chen Yun and Li Xiannian were notably critical of Zhao and his policies.