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In 896, while Emperor Zhaozong was at Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi) due to another attack by Li Maozhen on the capital, the warlord Qian Liu the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海, headquartered in modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang) defeated and killed fellow warlord Dong Chang the military governor of Weisheng Circuit (威勝, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang) (who had declared himself the emperor of a new state of Dayue Luoping (大越羅平) but then disavowed the declaration), thus taking over control of Weisheng. Emperor Zhaozong, apparently in an attempt to take back control of Weisheng, commissioned Wang as the military governor of Weisheng, still carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi designation as an honorary title. However, Qian, not willing to cede control of Weisheng, encouraged the people of Zhenhai and Weisheng Circuits to submit petitions to have Qian be the military governor of both circuits. Emperor Zhaozong, bowing to the pressure, recalled Wang to serve as chancellor again, as well as the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu), while naming Qian the military governor of both circuits. After Emperor Zhaozong created his son Li Yu, Prince of De Crown Prince in 897, Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 261. Wang Tuan suggested that a general pardon be issued to show the importance of the creation. Emperor Zhaozong thereafter gave Wang the titles of You Pushe (右僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), as well as Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies). He also created Wang the Duke of Lu.
Death
Meanwhile, by spring 900, Cui Yin had become the most powerful official at the imperial court. Cui had already previously intensely plotted with Emperor Zhaozong in considering whether to slaughter the eunuchs. Wang, fearing that such plotting would lead to an explosive confrontation between imperial officials and eunuchs, urged caution. Cui, who had earlier already accused Wang of working in concert with the eunuch directors of palace communications Zhu Daobi (朱道弼) and Jing Wuxiu (景務脩), had previously suspected Wang Tuan of squeezing him out of the chancellorship in 899, and further despised Wang after he was, in spring 900, sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Qinghai Circuit (清海, headquartered in modern Guangzhou, Guangdong). Before he left the capital, he renewed the accusations against Wang. Subsequently, Cui's ally Zhu Wen the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan) submitted a petition urging that Cui be returned to the chancellorship and accusing Wang of collaborating with the eunuchs. Emperor Zhaozong recalled Cui to Chang'an to serve as chancellor again, while demoting Wang to be the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang). Within a few days, Wang was further demoted to be the prefect of Xi Prefecture (溪州, in modern Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan), then to be the census officer at Yai Prefecture (崖州, in modern Haikou, Hainan). The same day that the exile to Yai Prefecture was announced, Wang was forced to commit suicide (as were Zhu Daobi and Jing), and Wang died at Lantian Station (藍田驛, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi).
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