Wang Rong
By 920, Wang Rong had recalled Wang Deming back to Chengde to command his guard corps, while sending another officer, Fu Xi (符習), to replace him as the commander of the Zhao forces accompanying Li Cunxu. That year, Wang Rong, who had become accustomed to luxurious living, alienated his army by spending too much time at his vacation home in the mountains west of Zhao's capital Zhen Prefecture (鎮州). The soldiers mutinied and killed Wang Rong's favorite eunuch Shi Ximeng (石希蒙), and in response, Wang Rong killed the eunuch Li Honggui (李弘規) and the officer Li Ai (李藹), whom he blamed for inciting the mutiny, and slaughtered Li Honggui's and Li Ai's families. He transferred Li Honggui's and Li Ai's authorities to his son Wang Zhaozuo and Wang Deming. Wang Rong continued to pursue those whom he considered to be Li Honggui's and Li Ai's associates, and many were killed. Wang Deming, who by this point had formed the ambition to overthrow his adoptive father, falsely informed the guards that Wang Rong was intending to slaughter them all, causing a general panic in the guard corps. In spring 921, the guards mutinied and killed Wang Rong. They offered the leadership of the circuit to Wang Deming. Wang Deming accepted, and changed his name back to Zhang Wenli. He then slaughtered Wang Rong's clan, sparing only Wang Zhaozuo's wife (who was a sister of Zhu Zhen's and who carried the Later Liang title of Princess Puning), hoping that this would open the possibility of Later Liang assistance.