Wang Duo
Wang Duo (王鐸) (died 884),
Background
It is not known when Wang Duo was born. He came from a prominent aristocratic family, as his uncle
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 (駕部郎中), 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 (中書舍人), 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.[1]
In 870, by which time Wang was referred to as the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and the director of the salt and iron monopolies, Emperor Yizong made him the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.[3] 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.[2] As a result, due to Wei's efforts, in 873, Wang was sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), still carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title.[3]
During Emperor Xizong's reign
Before Huang Chao's occupation of Chang'an
Emperor Yizong died later in 873 and was succeeded by his young son
Later in 876, Wang Xianzhi captured Ru Prefecture (汝州, in modern Pingdingshan, Henan) and took Wang Duo's younger brother Wang Liao (王鐐) captive.[3][4] 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 (裴偓). 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.[3]
In 877, while the campaigns against Wang Xianzhi and Huang continued, Wang Duo and fellow chancellor
In 878, the imperial general Zeng Yuanyu (曾元裕) 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
During Huang Chao's occupation of Chang'an
Late in 880, with Gao unable or unwilling to make an effort to stop Huang, Huang attacked Chang'an and captured it, declaring himself as the emperor of a new state of Qi. Emperor Xizong fled to Xichuan Circuit. Wang Duo followed Emperor Xizong to Xichuan, and in spring 881 was again made chancellor with the titles of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, Menxia Shilang, and acting Situ, and soon thereafter was also made Shizhong. Wang, seeing that Gao, while serving as titular supreme commander, was taking no actions against Huang, again offered to oversee the operations against Huang. In spring 882, Wang was made the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan) and the supreme commander of the imperial forces as well as the director of taxation. The general Cui Anqian was made his deputy. Wang was also apparently given the authority to issue edicts in Emperor Xizong's name, and thereafter frequently did so as part of the operations. Wang also soon led the armies of Xichuan, Dongchuan (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan), and Shannan West (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) forces and approached Chang'an, rendezvousing with other Tang imperial generals to encircle the Chang'an region, intending to recapture it.[6] 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.[7]
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.[7] Still, for Wang's accomplishments, he was created the Duke of Jin.[1]
After Huang Chao's occupation of Chang'an
Subsequently, Chang'an was recaptured, and Huang left the region and fled back east. As part of the continued operations against Huang (who was later killed in early 884 by his own nephew Lin Yan (林言)) Zhu Wen (whose name had been changed to Zhu Quanzhong by this point) was made the military governor of nearby Xuanwu Circuit. As Wang had previously commissioned Zhu, he thought he could depend on Zhu's assistance, and initially Zhu did assist Wang in maintaining the defenses of Yicheng Circuit. However, by fall 884, Zhu, himself more and more secure at Xuanwu by this point, was growing arrogant in his contacts with Wang, and Wang came to see that Zhu could not be depended on. Fearing that his own defensive position was threatened by Zhu, Wang requested to return to the imperial government (which had returned to Chang'an). Instead, however, he received an order transferring him to Yichang Circuit.[8]
Wang had often had a large group of
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d e Old Book of Tang, vol. 164.
- ^ a b New Book of Tang, vol. 185.
- ^ a b c d e f Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 252.
- ^ The Zizhi Tongjian, while discussing Wang Liao's capture, referred to Wang Liao as Wang Duo's cousin, rather than brother, but both Wang Duo's biographies in the Old Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang referred to Wang Liao as Wang Duo's brother. Compare Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 252 with Old Book of Tang, vol. 164 and New Book of Tang, vol. 185.
- ^ a b c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 253.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 254.
- ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 255.
- ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 256.
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 164.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 185.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 252, 253, 254, 255, 256.