Wang Zai  Wang Zai (), né Wang Yanzai (), was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, most well known for his participation in Emperor Wuzong's campaign against the warlord Liu Zhen, who ruled Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi). It is not known when Wang Yanzai was born, but it is known that he was probably the second of nine sons of his father Wang Zhixing, who was a long-time military governor ("Jiedushi") of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu). He was considered the most talented among his brothers. At an unknown point in his life, the character "Yan" was removed from his name, and he became known just as Wang Zai. One of his sons, Wang Yanshi (), was so loved by his father Wang Zhixing that Wang Zhixing adopted Wang Yanshi as his own son, so legally, Wang Yanshi became a brother to him. Wang Zai was said to be resolute in his youth, and he became an officer in the Shence Armies, then under the control of the powerful eunuchs. He was said to have participated in suppressing the plot by Emperor Wenzong and his associates Li Xun and Zheng Zhu to slaughter the eunuchs in 835 — known as the Ganlu Incident — while serving in the Shence Armies. Thereafter, he served as the prefect of Guang Prefecture (光州, in modern Xinyang, Henan). Subsequently, at the suggestion of his superior, the former chancellor Duan Wenchang the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), Wang was moved to be the prefect of Yan Prefecture (鹽州, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi). It was said that he was strict at Yan Prefecture and the people did not appreciate him. He was later promoted to be the military governor of Binning Circuit (邠寧, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi). After the campaigns against the remnants of the Huigu Khanate early in the reign of Emperor Wenzong's brother and successor Emperor Wuzong, in 843, Wang was moved to be the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan).