)[2] At some point, Sun Wo passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi (進士) class, and served in a number of prominent offices—although the list is lost to history.
[3] In late 895—during a campaign featuring the imperial government, under Emperor Zhaozong, and Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) on one side, and Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) and Wang Xingyu the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) on the other—Emperor Zhaozong made Sun Wo, who was then the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the region of the imperial capital Chang'an) the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
Li Maozhen and another ally, Han Jian the military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), then outwardly submitted to the imperial government.
Emperor Zhaozong and the imperial officials decided to flee Chang'an, initially resolving to head to Hedong.
[4] Soon thereafter, Han falsely accused two close associates of Emperor Zhaozong's—the astronomer Ma Daoyin (馬道殷) and the physician Xu Yanshi (許巖士) of crimes and had them executed.
Later in the year, Sun was demoted and exiled to be the military advisor to the prefect of Nan Prefecture (南州, in modern Chongqing).