When Song realized what Zhou was doing, however, he became resentful that Zhou would take this initiative, and instead took the stand of opposing it, arguing that the time was not appropriate, yet. He further requested that Zhou be executed as an apology to the emperor. As a result, Xu Zhigao demoted Zhou out of the headquarters to serve as the deputy military prefect of Chi Prefecture (池州, in modern Chizhou, Anhui). Later, though, when other officers Li Jianxun and Xu Jie also suggested that Xu Zhigao quickly take the throne, Xu Zhigao summoned Zhou back to headquarters, and thereafter began to distance himself from Song. Indeed, later in the year, Xu Zhigao summoned Song back to Jinling to serve as his deputy in his position as the supreme commander of all circuits, but gave him no real responsibilities. When Song thereafter asked to retire, Xu Zhigao gave him a garden as a gift. In 936, after Xu Zhigao assumed the greater title as generalissimo, he made Xu Jingtong deputy generalissimo, and made Song and Xu Jie deputies to Xu Jingtong. Song, however, continued to take the stand of opposing the coming imperial transition. When Xu Zhigao had the senior generals Li Decheng (Li Jianxun's father) and Zhou Ben submit petitions for such a transition, to further try to put on a display that this transition was the result of a consensus, Song commented to Li Jianxun, "Your honored father was a great contributor to Taizu [(i.e., all Wu rulers' father Yang Xingmi, whose conquests established the foundation for the Wu state)], and now his reputation is dumped on the ground." Still, around this time, Xu Zhigao did agree to a suggestion of Song's — to establish friendly relations with Khitan, to plan a possible invasion of the Central Plains (then ruled by Later Jin). Xu Zhigao thus sent beautiful women and jewels to Khitan, and Khitan's Emperor Taizong thereafter sent emissaries to Wu as well. In late 937, Yang Pu did, under Xu Zhigao's pressure, issue an edict yielding the throne to Xu Zhigao, ending Wu. It was said that the only well-known Wu official who did not then sign a petition urging Xu Zhigao to take the throne was Song. Xu Zhigao took the throne, establishing Southern Tang (as its Emperor Liezu).