Wang Zongbi
In 925, Former Shu's northeastern neighbor Later Tang launched a major attack on Former Shu, seeking to destroy it. Wang Yan, however, did not initially consider this attack to be a major threat even after Wuxing Circuit (武興, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) had fallen, and Wang Zongbi and Song further assuaged him by stating that all he needed to do was to station the main Former Shu army at Li Prefecture (利州, in modern Guangyuan, Sichuan) to block the path of the Later Tang forces, Later Tang would not dare to advance deeply into Former Shu territory, as Former Shu still maintained sizable garrisons at Shannan (山南, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Sichuan) and Dongchuan (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan) Circuits. However, instead, the Later Tang forces repeatedly defeated Former Shu forces, causing Wang Yan to panic and flee from Li back to Chengdu, leaving Wang Zongbi to defend Li. He also left Wang Zongbi instructions to execute three generals who had been losing battles against Later Tang, Wang Zongxun (), Wang Zongyan (王宗儼, note different character than Wang Yan's former name), and Wang Zongyu (). As soon as Wang Yan left for Chengdu, however, Wang Zongbi abandoned Li as well and rendezvoused with Wang Zongxun, Wang Zongyan, and Wang Zongyu, informing them that it was Song who wanted them dead. They thereafter jointly considered surrendering to the Later Tang army. Wang Zongbi thereafter took his army back to Chengdu, seized Wang Yan and the imperial household, and executed Song, Jing, Li, Ouyang, and the official Han Zhao (), blaming them for Wang Yan's decadent administration, before forcing Wang Yan to surrender to Later Tang.