杨师厚
The first campaign in which historical sources described Li Sizhao as himself leading an army was in 897, when Li Keyong's ally Wang Ke the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) was attacked by his cousin Wang Gong the military governor of Baoyi Circuit (保義, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, Henan), who was allied with Li Keyong's archenemy Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan). Both Li Keyong and Zhu sent forces in support of their respective allies, with Li Keyong's army commanded by Li Sizhao. The Xuanwu generals Zhang Cunjing () and Yang Shihou were initially able to defeat Wang Ke and put Huguo's capital Hezhong Municipality () under siege, but Li Sizhao was able to then defeat the Baoyi forces at Yishi () and then at Zhangdian (張店, both in modern Yuncheng) and lift the siege on Hezhong.