 The conflict came to a head in 880 when, in violation of an order that Song issued that soldiers were not to cut down trees on the streets of the circuit capital Jiangling Municipality (), some of Duan's soldiers did so, and Song whipped them on the back.Duan viewed this as an insult, and he intruded into Song's headquarters and killed Song and Song's two sons.Yang then submitted a report stating that Song was overly cruel and that was why the soldiers killed him.