Wang Shizhen
After Wang Shizhen died in 809, Wang Chengzong took over control of the circuit but was initially denied imperial sanction to succeed Wang Shizhen. Wang Chengzong received such imperial sanction in 810, however, after a failed imperial campaign against him. In 816, at Wang Chengzong's request, Wang Chengyuan was made deputy governor. When the imperial government declared a general campaign against Wang Chengzong's former ally Li Shidao the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong), he advised Wang Chengzong to send 2,000 to aid the imperial campaign against Li. Wang Chengzong did not accept the advice on account of Wang Chengyuan's youth, but it was said that the army thereafter often looked to him for his opinions.