Wang Chengzong
In winter 820, Wang Chengzong died, and initially, his subordinates kept his death a secret. At that time, Wang Chengzong's two sons Wang Zhigan () and Wang Zhixin () were serving as hostages at the capital Chang'an. The Chengde officers wanted one of their own to succeed Wang Chengzong, and Wang Chengzong's staff member Cui Sui () declared an order in the name of Wang Wujun's wife Lady Li, the Lady of Liang, declaring Wang Chengyuan successor to Wang Chengzong. When the officers bowed to Wang Chengyuan, Wang Chengyuan initially tearfully declined and requested a consultation with the imperial eunuch monitor of the army. The monitor arrived and also urged him to accept the officers' submission. Wang, after receiving a promise from the officers that they would be loyal to the imperial cause, accepted — but took office using his title of commander of the army rather than acting military governor. He also secretly submitted a petition to Emperor Muzong that the imperial government send a permanent replacement for him. In response, Emperor Muzong issued a number of military governor commissions involving Chengde and nearby circuits — transferring Tian Hongzheng the military governor of nearby Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) to Chengde, making Wang Chengyuan the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan), transferring Liu Wu the military governor of Yicheng to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), transferring Li Su the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) to Weibo, and making Tian Hongzheng's son Tian Bu the military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan). Wang Chengzong was also made the prefect of Yicheng's capital prefecture Hua Prefecture ().