田承嗣
It was also said that, by this point, An began to be apprehensive of what would happen once Emperor Xuanzong died—as he remembered how he had refused to bow to Li Heng—and he began to plan an eventual rebellion, which was further encouraged by his observation that the heart of the empire was without defenses. He selected some 8,000 soldiers among the surrendered Khitan, Xi, and Tongluo () tribesmen, organizing them into an elite corps known as the "Yeluohe" (), which meant "the brave". He retained Gao Shang (), Yan Zhuang (), Zhang Tongru (), and Sun Xiaozhe () as his strategists; and Shi Siming, An Shouzhong (), Li Guiren (), Cai Xide (), Niu Tingjie (), Xiang Runrong (), Li Tingwang (), Cui Qianyou (), Yin Ziqi (), He Qiannian (), Wu Lingxun (), Neng Yuanhao (), Tian Chengsi, Tian Qianzhen (), and Ashina Chengqing () as his generals.