 In 759, after the Xiang Prefecture (襄州, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei) army officers Kang Chuyuan () and Zhang Jiayan () rebelled and attacked Jingnan's capital Jing Prefecture, Du abandoned Jing Prefecture and fled.As a result, the surrounding prefectures were thrown into panic, and the officials from five surrounding prefectures also fled their posts, into the valleys.The rebellion was eventually put down later in the year by Wei Lun () the prefect of Shang Prefecture (商州, in modern Shangluo, Shaanxi).