Prince of Yan
Du Hongjian himself was said to be intelligent and studious. After he passed the imperial examination, he was made a military advisor to Emperor Xuanzong's son Li Bin () the Prince of Yan. Later, at the request of An Sishun, the military governor ("Jiedushi") of Shuofang Circuit (朔方, headquartered in modern Yinchuan, Ningxia), he became An's secretary.