Li Maozhen wants to add Shannan West…

Li Maozhen wants to add Shannan West to his territory, so he requests to be Shannan West's military governor, fully expecting that Emperor Zhaozong will allow him to retain both Fengxiang and Shannan West.

Instead, Emperor Zhaozong issues an edict making him the military governor of Shannan West and Wuding (headquartered in modern Hanzhong) Circuits, while making the chancellor Xu Yanruo the military governor of Fengxiang.

Despite the misgivings of the chancellor Du Rangneng, Emperor Zhaozong launches a campaign against Li Maozhen, with Du in charge of the logistics and Li Sizhou the Prince of Qin in command of the imperial guards, which Emperor Zhaozong has rebuilt with new recruits.

The imperial army has low morale and little battle experience, however, and when Li Sizhou sets out to engage Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu's experienced armies, the army collapses.

Li Maozhen approaches Chang'an, demanding Du's death.

Emperor Zhaozong capitulates, ordering Du to commit suicide and allowing Li Maozhen to retain Fengxiang, Shannan West, Wuding, and Tianxiong.

It is said that after this point, Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu, in alliance with the chancellor Cui Zhaowei, were heavily influencing imperial governance, such that the emperor would not dare to carry out any measures that they opposed.