Wang Zai

Wang Zai , né Wang Yanzai , was a general of the Chinese Tang dynasty, most well known for his participation in Emperor Wuzong's campaign against the warlord Liu Zhen, who ruled Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi).

Background It is not known when Wang Yanzai was born, but it is known that he was probably the second of nine sons of his father Wang Zhixing, who was a long-time military governor (jiedushi) of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu). He was considered the most talented among his brothers. At an unknown point in his life, the character "Yan" was removed from his name, and he became known just as Wang Zai. One of his sons, Wang Yanshi , was so loved by his father Wang Zhixing that Wang Zhixing adopted Wang Yanshi as his own son, so legally, Wang Yanshi became a brother to him.

Early career Wang Zai was said to be resolute in his youth, and he became an officer in the Shence Armies, then under the control of the powerful eunuchs. He was said to have participated in suppressing the plot by Emperor Wenzong and his associates Li Xun and Zheng Zhu to slaughter the eunuchs in 835—known as the Ganlu Incident—while serving in the Shence Armies. Thereafter, he served as the prefect of Guang Prefecture (光州, in modern Xinyang, Henan). Subsequently, at the suggestion of his superior, the former chancellor Duan Wenchang the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), Wang was moved to be the prefect of Yan Prefecture (鹽州, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi). It was said that he was strict at Yan Prefecture and the people did not appreciate him. He was later promoted to be the military governor of Binning Circuit (邠寧, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi).

Campaign against Zhaoyi Soon after Wang Zai's commission as military governor of Zhongwu, Emperor Wuzong declared a general campaign against Liu Zhen, who had seized control of Zhaoyi Circuit after the death of his adoptive father (and biological uncle) Liu Congjian, who was previously military governor, without imperial sanction. Initially, Zhongwu was not one of the circuits mobilized against Zhaoyi. However, He Hongjing the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei)—one of the circuits that Emperor Wuzong did mobilize—who had been governing Weibo in de facto independence from the imperial government, had been trying to intercede on Liu Zhen's behalf, and had not launched his own troops against Zhaoyi. In order to pressure He Hongjing, Emperor Wuzong ordered Wang Zai to mobilize his troops and cut through Weibo to attack Zhaoyi's Ci Prefecture (磁州, in modern Handan). When He Hongjing heard of Wang's orders, he became apprehensive that if Zhongwu forces entered Weibo that his soldiers could rebel against him; he thus launched his troops in a hurry to attack Ci Prefecture.

After campaign against Zhaoyi Late in 844, Emperor Wuzong made Wang Zai the military governor of Hedong Circuit. In 845, when Zhaoyi soldiers mutinied against the new military governor, Lu Jun , Emperor Wuzong ordered Wang, Shi Xiong (then the military governor of Heyang), and Wei Gongfu the military governor of Hezhong to launch their troops to cut off potential escape routes of the mutineers, but after Lu was subsequently able to persuade the mutineers to surrender, Wang, Shi, and Wei stood down. to have his office at the eastern capital Luoyang. He died while there, although the time of his death is not recorded.

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