 Zhu agreed.In 899, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed the honorary chancellor title of "Zhongshu Ling" (中書令) on Zhao Kuangning.In 903, when an ally of Zhu's, Cheng Rui the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), was trying to, at Zhu's request, aid another ally of Zhu's, Du Hong the military governor of Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan, Hubei) against the siege by Yang Xingmi's general Li Shenfu, Lei Yanwei the military governor of Wuzhen Circuit (武貞, headquartered in modern Changde, Hunan) and Ma Yin the military governor of Wu'an Circuit (武安, headquartered in modern Changsha, Hunan) jointly attacked Cheng's capital Jiangling Municipality, sacking it and pillaging it of its wealth and population.