Wang Xianzhi
Late in 876, Wang, through the Tang official Wang Liao (王鐐), the cousin or brother of the chancellor Wang Duo, and Pei Wo (裴偓) the prefect of Qi Prefecture (蘄州, in modern Huanggang, Hubei), was negotiating a peaceful submission to Tang authority. Under Wang Duo's insistence, Emperor Xizong commissioned Wang Xianzhi an officer of the imperial Left Shence Army (左神策軍) and delivered the commission to Qi Prefecture. However, Wang Xianzhi's ally Huang Chao angrily objected, causing the rebel army to turn against the peace agreement. Wang Xianzhi, fearing the wrath of his own army, turned against Pei and pillaged Qi Prefecture. However, afterwards, the rebel army broke up into two groups, with one group following Wang Xianzhi and Shang Junzhang, and one group following Huang. Presumably, Shang Rang continued to follow Wang Xianzhi and his brother Shang Junzhang at this point, although soon thereafter, Shang Rang joined forces with Huang at Mount Chaya.