Tian Jun
However, another event would (for the time being) save Du. Tian Jun, who was the military governor of Ningguo at the time under Yang, had long wanted to expand his territory but was repeatedly curbed in that ambition by Yang, and therefore began to resent Yang. Li, seeing this, had warned Yang about Tian and urged Yang to react preemptively, but Yang refused, pointing out that Tian had great contributions and that acting against him first would destroy the army morale. In fall 903, Tian and An Renyi () the military prefect of Run Prefecture (潤州, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) rose against Yang. In light of Tian's rebellion, Yang ordered Li to withdraw from Wuchang and attack Ningguo. Fearing that Du would attack him from the rear, Li announced to his soldiers that he was heading west to seize Jingnan, and only after he was out of E Prefecture's vicinity did he inform the soldiers of Tian's rebellion and their actual mission.