Wang Tingcou (王廷湊 or 王庭湊; died 834), formally the Duke of Taiyuan (太原公), was a general of the Chinese Tang dynasty who, in 821, during the reign of Emperor Muzong, took over control of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) and thereafter ruled it in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government.
His ancestors were of the Huigu Abusi (阿布思) tribe, which had been submissive to the Tang dynasty Protectorate General to Pacify the East.
[4] Then-reigning Emperor Muzong transferred Tian Hongzheng the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) to Chengde and transferred Wang Chengyuan to Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan).
The director of finances, Cui Ling (崔倰), however, did not realize the seriousness of the situation and rejected Tian's request.
He forced the eunuch monitor of the army, Song Weicheng (宋惟澄), to submit a request on his behalf to be made military governor.
He subsequently took his own soldiers and those of his ally Zhu Kerong (who had seized Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing)) and put Shen Prefecture under siege.
[6] The imperial troops soon tried to attack Wang Tingcou from three directions — Pei Du the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) from the west, Tian Bu from the south, and Wu Chongyin the military governor of Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei) from the east.
With Shen Prefecture in dire straits, Emperor Muzong was forced to commission Wang Tingcou the military governor of Chengde.
Wang accepted the commission, but refused to lift the siege on Shen Prefecture, even when the imperial official Han Yu was sent to urge him.
Both Wang and Zhu Kerong sent arrogantly worded offers to contribute troops to repair the long-ruined palaces and governmental offices at Luoyang, offers that Emperor Jingzong declined, and Emperor Jingzong subsequently abandoned the plan to visit Luoyang, at the urging of the senior chancellor Pei Du.
Emperor Wenzong was forced to order the troops from Yicheng and Heyang (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang, Henan) to aid Weibo.