Xu Wen continued to maintain control of the Wu governance. This led to resentment by a number of Wu's senior generals — Liu Wei () the military governor of Zhennan Circuit, Tao Ya () the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of She Prefecture (歙州, in modern Huangshan, Anhui), Li Yu () the governor of Xuan Prefecture (宣州, in modern Xuancheng, Anhui), and Li Jian () the prefect of Chang Prefecture (常州, in modern Changzhou, Jiangsu) — each of whom had greater accomplishments and had higher standing in the army than Xu did when Yang Xingmi was alive. Li Yu was particularly unhappy, often stating, Who is this Xu Wen? I do not even remember his face, and now he is ruling the state! On an occasion when the officer Xu Jie was on a diplomatic mission to Wu's southeastern neighbor Wuyue, Xu Wen had Xu Jie stop by in Xuan Prefecture to try to persuade Li Yu to show submission by going to Guangling to pay homage to Yang Longyan. Li Yu initially agreed, but Xu Jie inadvertently stated, If you, Lord, do not do so, people will say that you are committing treason. Li Yu angrily responded, You, sir, are saying that I, Li Yu, am treasonous. Is it not more treasonous to murder the Shizhong [(i.e., Yang Wo)]? When Xu Wen heard this, he became angry and sent the general Chai Zaiyong (), with Xu Wen's adoptive son Xu Zhigao serving as Chai's deputy, to attack Li Yu at Xuan. Li Yu's initially was able to hold against Chai's attacks, but Xu Wen put Li Yu's youngest son, who was serving as an officer at Huainan headquarters, under arrest, and had him displayed at the army. Xu Wen then sent the official He Rao () to, in Yang Longyan's name, state to Li Yu: If you, Lord, are planning on rebelling, please execute He Rao to show yourself. Otherwise, follow him out of the city. Li Yu thus surrendered. Xu Wen had Chai kill Li Yu and slaughter his household, and it was said that after this event, all the generals were fearful of Xu and did not dare to resist him further.