In 678, Tang forces commanded by the chancellor Li Jingxuan, suffered a major defeat at the hands of Tufan's general Gar Trinring Tsendro ("Lun Qinling" (論欽陵) in Chinese), and the major general Liu Shenli (劉審禮) was captured.
In 681, Guo was made the Mishu Shaojian (秘書少監), deputy head of the archival bureau as well as acting Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau.