Qiu Shiliang
By this point, however, even though Zheng and Li Zongmin were recommended by Wang Shoucheng, Emperor Wenzong, who had long been resentful of the powerful eunuchs, was discussing with them what to do about the eunuchs — particularly because they, due to their association with Wang, would not draw the suspicions of the eunuchs. They thereafter began planning how to slaughter the eunuchs. At Zheng's and Li Xun's suggestion, Emperor Wenzong diverted some of the military power from Wang by giving command of one of the Shence Armies to Wang's enemy, the eunuch Qiu Shiliang, while demoting three other powerful eunuchs, Wei Yuansu (), Yang Chenghe (), and Wang Jianyan (), to circuit eunuch monitor positions. Eventually, Emperor Wenzong ordered the three to commit suicide. Meanwhile, Li Xun and Zheng mapped out a three-step plan for Emperor Wenzong to pacify the empire — first eliminate the eunuchs, then recover the lands lost to Tufan, and then wiping out the warlords north of the Yellow River, with details. Emperor Wenzong was impressed and trusted them even more.