initially, emperor an continued to follow empress dowager deng's policies, including leaving members of her clan in important advisory positions. however, his own close circle of associates, including jiang, li, wang, and empress yan, were ready to act. late in 121, he stripped members of the deng clan of their posts and fiefs, and many of them committed suicide, probably under duress. later, he relented and allowed some of the survivors to return, but by that time the deng clan had been decimated.