and received Du Zeng's surrender. However, Du Zeng refused to answer a summoning from Tao Kan, which caused Wang Gong to panic. Fearing punishment, Wang Gong joined with Du Zeng and attacked Tao Kan, greatly routing him to the point that Tao Kan was demoted to a commoner for a brief while. In 314, Du Zeng sent his general Wang Zhen (王眞) to attack Tao Kan at Linzhang (林障, in present-day Hanyang District, Hubei). Tao was defeated and retreated to Shezhong (灄中, in present-day Pujiang County, Zhejiang) but when reinforcements from Zhou Fang arrived, they drove Wang Zhen back. The following year, Emperor Min of Jin sent Diwu Yi (第五猗) to Jingzhou, so Du Zeng welcomed him and made diplomatic ties by marrying his nephew to Diwu's daughter. Together, they occupied the area around the Han River. The same year, Tao Kan had defeated the powerful rebel Du Tao, and he set his target to defeating Du Zeng as well. Tao Kan attacked Du Zeng at Shicheng despite warnings from his Marshal Lu Tian (魯恬). Du Zeng once again defeated Tao Kan with his cavalries. After the battle, Du Zeng's generals gathered at Shunyang (尋陽, in present-day Xunyang, Jiangxi) where they saluted Tao Kan before leaving. Du Zeng then attacked Xun Song (荀崧) at Wancheng to follow up his victory but through the heroics of Xun Song's 12-year-old daughter, Xun Guan, Zhou Fang arrived with reinforcements, forcing Du Zeng to lift the siege. Later, Du Zeng pretended to ask Xun Song for permission to clear bandits around Dan River. Despite Tao Kan's warning, Xun Song allowed him. Du Zeng attacked Jin in Xiangyang instead, but was repelled. Wang Yi replaced Tao Kan in campaigning against Du Zeng later that year. Many of Tao Kan's generals were unhappy because of this and defected to Du Zeng. Together, they defeated Wang Yi on numerous occasions. In 317, the Jin commander, Wang Dun sent Zhao You (趙誘) and Zhu Gui (朱軌) to help Wang Yi. Tao Kan's former generals were considering surrender at this point, a sentiment shared by Du Zeng. Thus, Du Zeng pledged to Wang Yi that he would defeat Diwu Yi to clear his name. However, after killing Diwu Yi, he later went to Yangkou (揚口, in present-day Qianjiang, Hubei) and placed Wang Yi under siege. Zhao You and Zhu Gui fought Du Zeng at Lake Nüguan (女觀, in present-day