Zhu Hongzhao
At that time, the court scene was controlled by Li Conghou's chiefs of staff Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun. They suspected the powers held by Li Conghou's older adoptive brother Li Congke the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) and brother-in-law Shi Jingtang the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). Li Congke's oldest son Li Chongji (李重吉) was then a commander of the imperial guards, and they did not want him to hold such a command. They therefore sent him out of the capital to serve as military prefect of Bo Prefecture (亳州, in modern Bozhou, Anhui). In addition, they forced Li Congke's daughter Li Huiming (李惠明), who had become a Buddhist nun at then-capital Luoyang, to live in the palace, believing that this would give them greater control on her father. As a result, Li Congke became fearful.