Wei Zhaodu
Encyclopedia
Wei Zhaodu (died June 4, 895), courtesy name Zhengji (正紀), formally the Duke of Qi (岐公), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong
and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong
. With imperial power dwindling, Wei's fellow chancellor Cui Zhaowei
, who associated with the warlords Li Maozhen
, Wang Xingyu
, and Han Jian
, encouraged Li, Wang, and Han to march on the capital Chang'an
, and the three warlords, once they arrived there, put Wei and fellow chancellor Li Xi
to death.
capital Chang'an
). His family was not known to be prominent, as it had no known connections to the families of other chancellors named Wei, and his grandfather Wei Shou (韋綬) and father Wei Pang (韋逄) were not listed with any offices. Wei Zhaodu passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class in 867
, during the reign of Emperor Yizong
, and thereafter entered governmental service.
-879
) of Emperor Yizong's son and successor Emperor Xizong
, Wei Zhaodu went through a series of promotions — becoming a supervisory official at one of the ministries at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), then becoming in charge of drafting edicts and being made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). When Emperor Xizong fled from Chang'an to Chengdu
in early 881
due to the attack on Chang'an by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
, Wei followed Emperor Xizong there, and once they arrived in Chengdu he was made deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) as well as chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi). In fall 881, he was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. It was said that the reason why he was made chancellor was that he was an associate of the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
, with whom he established a relationship through the Buddhist monk Shiche (釋澈). As a result, in 886
, when the warlords Wang Chongrong
, Li Keyong
, Zhu Mei
, and Li Changfu
rose against Tian (forcing Emperor Xizong to again flee Chang'an, to Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
)) and demanded Tian's death, they also demanded Wei's death, although no subsequent actions were taken against Wei, who remained chancellor. Subsequently, when the imperial guards battled Li Changfu, it was said that one of the reasons why the imperial guard soldiers were inspired was that Wei left his family members in the imperial guard camp to show his faith in their ability to defeat Li Changfu. Subsequently, the imperial guards, commanded by Li Maozhen
, was able to defeat Li Changfu, who was then killed by his own subordinate Xue Zhichou (薛知籌). After Li Changfu's defeat, Emperor Xizong gave Wei the honorific title of Taibao (太保, one of the Three Excellencies
) and also gave him the greater chancellor designation of Shizhong (侍中, head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng)). Yet later, after Emperor Xizong returned to Chang'an, he made Wei Zhongshu Ling (中書令, the head of the legislative bureau).
, and was succeeded by his younger brother Emperor Zhaozong
. During Emperor Zhaozong's period of mourning, Wei Zhaodu served as regent
. He was also created the Duke of Qi.
Shortly after, Emperor Zhaozong received petitions from Gu Yanlang
the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang
, Sichuan
) and the former imperial guard general Wang Jian, both of whom were attacking Tian Lingzi's brother Chen Jingxuan
the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu). As Emperor Zhaozong resented Tian (who was then no longer at the imperial government and evading punishment by putting himself under his brother's protection), he ordered an edict that Chen return to Chang'an to serve as an imperial guard general, while making Wei the military governor of Xichuan, still carrying the Zhongshu Ling title as an honorary title. When Chen subsequently refused to accept the order, Emperor Zhaozong stripped him of all titles and ordered Wei to oversee the operations against Chen, assisted by Gu, Wang, and Yang Shouliang
the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong). Wei subsequently put Chengdu under siege.
However, by 891
, even though Chengdu was in desperate straits, with serious famine inside the city, Wei was still unable to capture the city. With the imperial government having just been crushed in a failed attempt to defeat Li Keyong, it was running out of resources in the campaign against Chen. In spring 891, therefore, Emperor Zhaozong ordered that Chen's titles be restored, and that Gu and Wang return to their own circuits (Wang's having been made the military governor of Yongping Circuit (永平, headquartered in modern Chengdu as well). Wang, however, did not want to give up the campaign against Chen, and initially tried to persuade Wei to maintain the campaign. However, Wang then decided to intimidate Wei into returning to Chang'an so that he could take over the campaign against Chen himself. He thus provoked Gu's officers into killing Wei's subordinate Luo Bao (駱保) under accusations that Luo was corrupt, to intimidate Wei. Wei, in fear, claimed to be ill and transferred his command to Wang, returning to Chang'an by himself. Upon his return to Chang'an, he was made the defender of the eastern capital Luoyang
, no longer chancellor. (Wang was subsequently able to force Chen to surrender and seize Xichuan to be his own domain.)
In 893
, after the imperial government had been defeated in an attempt to defeat Li Maozhen (who had been made the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
) but then was no longer following imperial orders and finding ways to intimidate the imperial government) and Li Maozhen's ally Wang Xingyu
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
), Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order the chancellor Du Rangneng
, who had overseen the operations, to commit suicide. He then recalled Wei to the imperial government to serve as Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies), Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎, the deputy head of the examination bureau), and chancellor again, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. Later that year, when Wang Xingyu demanded to be given the title Shangshu Ling (尚書令), Wei secretly opposed, pointing out that it was a title that no one had held since the great early Tang emperor Emperor Taizong
did so during the reign of his father Emperor Gaozu
— and that not even the great general Guo Ziyi
had dared to accept the title. At Wei's suggestion, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed the title of Shangfu (尚父, "imperial father"), which Guo did hold late in his career, on Wang, as well as bestowing an iron certificate (鐵券), which was supposed to guarantee that he would never be put to death, to try to placate him.
However, Wang was not placated, particularly because Wei's chancellor colleague Cui Zhaowei
was secretly associating with Li Maozhen and Wang, and informing, through his cousin Cui Ting (崔鋌), who was Wang's deputy military governor, that it was Wei who opposed his commission as Shangshu Ling. In spring 895
, Wang and Li Maozhen thus submitted petitions accusing Wei of being incompetent and accusing another chancellor that Cui also resented, Li Xi
, of being wicked. Emperor Zhaozong was forced to removed Li Xi, but not even that placated Wang and Li Maozhen. In fear, Wei requested retirement, and was allowed to retire as Taifu (太傅, the emperor's teacher). Nevertheless, in summer 895, Li Maozhen and Wang, along with their colleague Han Jian
, marched on Chang'an and demanded Wei's and Li Xi's deaths. Emperor Zhaozong, even under duress, initially would not approve, but Wang nevertheless seized Wei and Li Xi and executed them. After Li Keyong defeated Wang later in the year, and Wang was killed in flight, Emperor Zhaozong ordered Wei's titles restored, that he be properly buried, and that he be given posthumous honors.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
. With imperial power dwindling, Wei's fellow chancellor Cui Zhaowei
Cui Zhaowei
Cui Zhaowei , courtesy name Yunyao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
, who associated with the warlords Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
, Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
, and Han Jian
Han Jian (Tang Dynasty)
Han Jian , courtesy name Zuoshi , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who eventually became a subject of the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty...
, encouraged Li, Wang, and Han to march on the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, and the three warlords, once they arrived there, put Wei and fellow chancellor Li Xi
Li Xi
Li Xi or Li Qi , courtesy name Jingwang , nicknamed Li Shulou , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
to death.
Background
It is not known when Wei Zhaodu was born. He was from Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the region of the Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
). His family was not known to be prominent, as it had no known connections to the families of other chancellors named Wei, and his grandfather Wei Shou (韋綬) and father Wei Pang (韋逄) were not listed with any offices. Wei Zhaodu passed the imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s in the Jinshi class in 867
867
Year 867 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* September – Basil I becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.* Macedonian dynasty is started....
, during the reign of Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
, and thereafter entered governmental service.
During Emperor Xizong's reign
In the middle of the Qianfu era (874874
Year 874 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling in Reykjavík ....
-879
879
Year 879 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Pope John VIII recognizes the Duchy of Croatia as an independent state....
) of Emperor Yizong's son and successor Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
, Wei Zhaodu went through a series of promotions — becoming a supervisory official at one of the ministries at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), then becoming in charge of drafting edicts and being made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). When Emperor Xizong fled from Chang'an to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
in early 881
881
Year 881 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Charles the Fat is crowned Western Emperor.* Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu: Louis III of France routs Norman pirates....
due to the attack on Chang'an by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
, Wei followed Emperor Xizong there, and once they arrived in Chengdu he was made deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) as well as chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi). In fall 881, he was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. It was said that the reason why he was made chancellor was that he was an associate of the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi , courtesy name Zhongze , formally the Duke of Jin , was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang...
, with whom he established a relationship through the Buddhist monk Shiche (釋澈). As a result, in 886
886
Year 886 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, when the warlords Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong , formally the Prince of Langye , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Hezhong Circuit...
, Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
, Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei was a warlord of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Disillusioned with Emperor Xizong and the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi, he tried to support Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun the Prince of Xiang as the new emperor, but was soon thereafter killed by his own officer Wang Xingyu.-...
, and Li Changfu
Li Changfu
Li Changfu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Fengxiang Circuit from 884 to 887...
rose against Tian (forcing Emperor Xizong to again flee Chang'an, to Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
)) and demanded Tian's death, they also demanded Wei's death, although no subsequent actions were taken against Wei, who remained chancellor. Subsequently, when the imperial guards battled Li Changfu, it was said that one of the reasons why the imperial guard soldiers were inspired was that Wei left his family members in the imperial guard camp to show his faith in their ability to defeat Li Changfu. Subsequently, the imperial guards, commanded by Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
, was able to defeat Li Changfu, who was then killed by his own subordinate Xue Zhichou (薛知籌). After Li Changfu's defeat, Emperor Xizong gave Wei the honorific title of Taibao (太保, one of the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
) and also gave him the greater chancellor designation of Shizhong (侍中, head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng)). Yet later, after Emperor Xizong returned to Chang'an, he made Wei Zhongshu Ling (中書令, the head of the legislative bureau).
During Emperor Zhaozong's reign
Emperor Xizong died shortly after arriving in Chang'an in spring 888888
Year 888 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* January 13 – With the death of Charles the Fat, the Frankish kingdom is split again, and this time permanently...
, and was succeeded by his younger brother Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
. During Emperor Zhaozong's period of mourning, Wei Zhaodu served as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
. He was also created the Duke of Qi.
Shortly after, Emperor Zhaozong received petitions from Gu Yanlang
Gu Yanlang
Gu Yanlang was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Dongchuan Circuit from 887 to his death in 891 as its military governor .- Background :...
the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang
Mianyang
Mianyang is the second largest prefecture-level city of Sichuan province in Southwest China. Its administrative area includes the city proper of Mianyang, with 985,586 inhabitants in the built up area , the county-level city of Jiangyou, and six counties, covering an area of over and a population...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
) and the former imperial guard general Wang Jian, both of whom were attacking Tian Lingzi's brother Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese...
the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu). As Emperor Zhaozong resented Tian (who was then no longer at the imperial government and evading punishment by putting himself under his brother's protection), he ordered an edict that Chen return to Chang'an to serve as an imperial guard general, while making Wei the military governor of Xichuan, still carrying the Zhongshu Ling title as an honorary title. When Chen subsequently refused to accept the order, Emperor Zhaozong stripped him of all titles and ordered Wei to oversee the operations against Chen, assisted by Gu, Wang, and Yang Shouliang
Yang Shouliang
Yang Shouliang , né Zi Liang , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Shannan West Circuit from 887 to 892. He was initially an agrarian rebel under Wang Xianzhi, but later came to serve under the imperial eunuch general Yang Fuguang, becoming Yang Fuguang's...
the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong). Wei subsequently put Chengdu under siege.
However, by 891
891
Year 891 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Arnulf of Carinthia defeats the Normans at the Battle of Leuven....
, even though Chengdu was in desperate straits, with serious famine inside the city, Wei was still unable to capture the city. With the imperial government having just been crushed in a failed attempt to defeat Li Keyong, it was running out of resources in the campaign against Chen. In spring 891, therefore, Emperor Zhaozong ordered that Chen's titles be restored, and that Gu and Wang return to their own circuits (Wang's having been made the military governor of Yongping Circuit (永平, headquartered in modern Chengdu as well). Wang, however, did not want to give up the campaign against Chen, and initially tried to persuade Wei to maintain the campaign. However, Wang then decided to intimidate Wei into returning to Chang'an so that he could take over the campaign against Chen himself. He thus provoked Gu's officers into killing Wei's subordinate Luo Bao (駱保) under accusations that Luo was corrupt, to intimidate Wei. Wei, in fear, claimed to be ill and transferred his command to Wang, returning to Chang'an by himself. Upon his return to Chang'an, he was made the defender of the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, no longer chancellor. (Wang was subsequently able to force Chen to surrender and seize Xichuan to be his own domain.)
In 893
893
Year 893 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Council of Preslav: Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as prince of Bulgaria; the capital is moved from Pliska to Preslav....
, after the imperial government had been defeated in an attempt to defeat Li Maozhen (who had been made the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
) but then was no longer following imperial orders and finding ways to intimidate the imperial government) and Li Maozhen's ally Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order the chancellor Du Rangneng
Du Rangneng
Du Rangneng , courtesy name Qunyi , formally the Duke of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
, who had overseen the operations, to commit suicide. He then recalled Wei to the imperial government to serve as Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies), Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎, the deputy head of the examination bureau), and chancellor again, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. Later that year, when Wang Xingyu demanded to be given the title Shangshu Ling (尚書令), Wei secretly opposed, pointing out that it was a title that no one had held since the great early Tang emperor Emperor Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
did so during the reign of his father Emperor Gaozu
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned...
— and that not even the great general Guo Ziyi
Guo Ziyi
Guo Ziyi , formally Prince Zhongwu of Fenyang , was a general during the Tang Dynasty who ended the An Shi Rebellion, and participated in expeditions against the peoples of Huihe and Tubo...
had dared to accept the title. At Wei's suggestion, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed the title of Shangfu (尚父, "imperial father"), which Guo did hold late in his career, on Wang, as well as bestowing an iron certificate (鐵券), which was supposed to guarantee that he would never be put to death, to try to placate him.
However, Wang was not placated, particularly because Wei's chancellor colleague Cui Zhaowei
Cui Zhaowei
Cui Zhaowei , courtesy name Yunyao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
was secretly associating with Li Maozhen and Wang, and informing, through his cousin Cui Ting (崔鋌), who was Wang's deputy military governor, that it was Wei who opposed his commission as Shangshu Ling. In spring 895
895
Year 895 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The seven tribes of the Magyars settle in the Carpathian Basin under the leadership of Árpád...
, Wang and Li Maozhen thus submitted petitions accusing Wei of being incompetent and accusing another chancellor that Cui also resented, Li Xi
Li Xi
Li Xi or Li Qi , courtesy name Jingwang , nicknamed Li Shulou , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
, of being wicked. Emperor Zhaozong was forced to removed Li Xi, but not even that placated Wang and Li Maozhen. In fear, Wei requested retirement, and was allowed to retire as Taifu (太傅, the emperor's teacher). Nevertheless, in summer 895, Li Maozhen and Wang, along with their colleague Han Jian
Han Jian (Tang Dynasty)
Han Jian , courtesy name Zuoshi , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who eventually became a subject of the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty...
, marched on Chang'an and demanded Wei's and Li Xi's deaths. Emperor Zhaozong, even under duress, initially would not approve, but Wang nevertheless seized Wei and Li Xi and executed them. After Li Keyong defeated Wang later in the year, and Wang was killed in flight, Emperor Zhaozong ordered Wei's titles restored, that he be properly buried, and that he be given posthumous honors.