Wang Duo

Wang Duo (died 884), courtesy name Zhaofan , formally the Duke of Jin , was a Chinese politician of the medieval Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong. After the agrarian rebel Huang Chao captured the Tang capital Chang'an in 880 and forced Emperor Xizong to flee, Wang was commissioned by Emperor Xizong to serve as the supreme commander of Tang forces in the central and eastern empire, effectively serving as viceroy with full imperial authorities to issue edicts, and Wang was instrumental in the various Tang maneuvers, including persuading Li Keyong and Zhu Quanzhong to join the Tang cause, in defeating Huang. In 884, on his way to his new post as the military governor (jiedushi) of Yichang Circuit (義昌, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei), Le Congxun the son of Le Yanzhen the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei), enticed by the group of women that accompanied Wang, ambushed Wang and killed him, taking the women captive.

Background It is not known when Wang Duo was born. He came from a prominent aristocratic family, as his uncle Wang Bo served as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Wenzong, although Wang Duo's father Wang Yan died early and therefore did not reach high positions. Wang Duo himself passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class early in the Huichang era (841–847) of Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong, and subsequently served two terms on staffs of regional governors. Early in the reign of Emperor Wuzong's uncle and successor Emperor Xuānzong, he was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as an imperial censor with the title of Jiancha Yushi , and subsequently served on the staff of the former chancellor Bai Minzhong when Bai served as the military governor (jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan).

During Emperor Yizong's reign Early in the Xiantong era (860–874) of Emperor Xuānzong's son and successor Emperor Yizong, Wang Duo was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Jiabu Langzhong , a supervisory official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu), and was put in charge of drafting edicts. He was later made Zhongshu Sheren , a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). In 864, he was made the deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Libu Shilang), and in that capacity oversaw the imperial examinations for two years. It was said that he chose the passing examinees properly and was praised for it. In 866, he was made deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and the director of finances. At that time, fellow chancellor Wei Baoheng (Emperor Yizong's son-in-law) was very powerful, and Wei honored Wang as the one who selected him when he passed the imperial examinations. However, because of this, when Wei tried to install his followers as imperial officials, Wang resisted. Subsequently, when Wang Xianzhi attacked Qi Prefecture (蘄州, in modern Huanggang, Hubei), Wang Xianzhi had Wang Liao negotiate on his behalf with the prefect of Qi Prefecture, Pei Wo . Subsequently, Pei and Wang Liao negotiated terms under which Wang Xianzhi would submit to imperial authority and receive an imperial commission. Pei thus opened the city gates and invited Wang Xianzhi and his top lieutenants, including Huang, into the city, and submitted a petition to Emperor Xizong requesting that Wang Xianzhi be given an imperial commission. Most chancellors opposed, but at Wang Duo's insistence, Emperor Xizong issued a commission naming Wang Xianzhi an officer of the imperial guards. However, Huang was angered that he did not receive a commission as well, and attacked Wang Xianzhi physically. Wang Xianzhi, in fear, turned down the commission and pillaged Qi Prefecture. Pei fled, while Wang Xianzhi and Huang parted ways and continued their campaigns against Tang forces.

In 878, the imperial general Zeng Yuanyu defeated and killed Wang Xianzhi in battle, but the agrarian rebels thereafter came under Huang's banner and continued to threaten Tang rule. In 879, Wang Duo offered to oversee the operations, so he was made the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei) and the supreme commander of the imperial forces in the southern circuits, to oversee the operation against Huang; he also carried the honorary titles of acting Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies) and Shizhong . With the Tang imperial forces converging, one of Huang's key followers, Zhu Wen, then defending Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), surrendered to Tang, and Wang commissioned him as the military governor of Tonghua (同華, headquartered at Tong Prefecture). Meanwhile, under the suggestion of the eunuch monitor of the army, Yang Fuguang, Wang also issued an edict pardoning the Shatuo chieftain Li Keyong, who had rebelled against Tang authorities prior, and commissioning Li Keyong to attack Huang's Qi state. Li Keyong accepted the commission and joined the campaign against Huang. Wang also issued an order to Zheng Congdang the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), who had not previously permitted Li Keyong to pass through his circuit, to allow Li Keyong to pass.

However, with Tang forces converging on Chang'an and with Li Keyong being the leader in the campaign against Huang, in spring 883, under Tian Lingzi's advice, Emperor Xizong suddenly relieved Wang of his supreme commander post and had him report to Yicheng Circuit, as Tian accused Wang of not being able to recapture Chang'an without accepting the Yang-suggested idea of summoning the Shatuo—i.e., crediting Yang, rather than Wang, with the victories.

Wang had often had a large group of concubines and other women accompany him. As he reported to Yichang, he went through Weibo Circuit, and the women wore grand clothing as if they were in peace time. Le Congxun, the son of Weibo's military governor Le Yanzhen, was enticed, and stationed several hundred soldiers near Weibo's capital Wei Prefecture . They ambushed Wang's procession and killed Wang and some 300 of his staff members, seizing Wang's wealth and women. Le Yanzhen submitted a report blaming bandits for Wang's death, and the greatly weakened Tang court could do nothing about it.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 164. New Book of Tang, vol. 185. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 252, 253, 254, 255, 256.