Li Shaohong
In spring 923, Li Cunxu, then at Wei Prefecture (魏州, in modern Handan, Hebei, renamed Xingtang () shortly after), declared himself the emperor of a new Later Tang (as Emperor Zhuangzong). He commissioned Guo Chongtao and a senior eunuch, Zhang Juhan, as chiefs of staff (now with the title changed to "Shumishi"). (The new emperor also summoned Li Shaohong back from Lulong, but with the ambitious Guo not wanting Li Shaohong, whom he had previously served under, becoming chief of staff again (since Li Shaohong would effectively be more senior than he was), Guo dissuaded Emperor Zhuangzong from making Li Shaohong chief of staff and recommended Zhang instead; this incident caused Li Shaohong, who was instead made the director of palace affairs, resentful of Guo.) Meanwhile, the official Kong Qian, who had long been overseeing the responsibility of supplying the Jin forces, wanted to be the director of material pricing (i.e., overseeing the three financial agencies in charge of taxation, treasury, and salt and iron monopolies), but the other officials opined that Kong lacked a lengthy career and came from low birth, and so Guo recommended the senior official Zhang Xian () instead, having Kong made Zhang Xian's deputy; this also displeased Kong.