孟知祥
In or around 919, Li Cunxu wanted to make Meng Zhixiang chief of staff (中門使, "Zhongmenshi") of the recently captured Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei). However, as that position was a thankless position, and several prior chiefs of staff had been executed due to accusations of wrongdoing, Meng was fearful and declined the position. When Li Cunxu asked him for an alternative recommendation, he recommended the officer Guo Chongtao, whom Li Cunxu subsequently made chief of staff. Because of this recommendation, Guo, whose career would be greatly bolstered by this commission, became thankful to Meng later. Meng himself was thereafter made the discipline officer at Hedong. At one point, Li Cunxu awarded one of his own concubines, a Lady Li, to Meng Zhixiang, and she gave birth to Meng Zhixiang's third son Meng Renzan, in 919.