Now more than half Li Tsʻui’s men were from Hsiliang and he had also the assistance of the Chʻiang, or tribes beyond the border. The stories spread by Huangfu Li, that Li Tsʻui was a rebel and so were those who helped him, and that there would be a day of heavy reckoning, were readily believed and the soldiers were much disturbed. Li Tsʻui sent one of his officers to arrest Huangfu Li, but the officer had a sense of right and instead of carrying out his orders returned to say he could not be found. Chia Hsü tried to work on the feelings of the barbarian tribes. He said to them. “The Emperor knows you are loyal to him and have bravely fought and suffered. He has issued a secret command for you to go home and then he will reward you.” The tribesmen had a grievance against Li Tsʻui for not paying them, so they listened readily to the insidious persuasions of Chia Hsü and deserted. Then Chia represented to the Emperor the covetous nature of Li and asked that honours be heaped upon him now that he was deserted and enfeebled. So he was raised to the rank of President of a Board of State. This delighted him greatly and he ascribed his promotion to the potency of his wise women’s prayers and incantations. He rewarded those people most liberally. But his army was forgotten. Wherefore Yang Fêng was angry and he said to one Sung Kuo, “We have taken all the risks and exposed ourselves to stones and arrows in his service, yet instead of giving us any reward he ascribes all the credit to those witches of his.” “Let us put him out of the way and rescue the Emperor,” said Sung. “You explode a bomb within as signal and I will attack from outside.” So the two agreed to act together that very night in the second watch. But they had been overheard and the eavesdropper told Li Tsʻui. The traitorous Sung was seized and put to death. That night Yang waited outside for the signal and while waiting, out came Li himself and found him. Then a fight began, which lasted till the fourth watch. But Yang Fêng got away and fled to Hsian (Sian) in the west. But from this time Li Tsʻui’s army began to fall away and he felt more than ever the losses caused by Kuo’s frequent attacks. Then came news that Chang Chi, at the head of a large army, was coming down from the west to make peace between the two factions. Chang said he would attack the one who was recalcitrant. Li Tsʻui tried to gain favour by hastening to send to tell Chang Chi he was ready to make peace. So did Kuo Ssŭ.