Wang became an administrator in the Later Jin imperial government, and later was put in charge of food supplies at the transit city Heyang (河陽, in modern Luoyang, Henan).
He made Wang Zhang the acting director of the three financial agencies (taxation, treasury, and salt and iron monopolies).
[7] After Liu was able to capture Luoyang and Daliang later in the year (from the Liao troops which were evacuating the region), he made Wang the permanent director of those agencies.
Wang persuaded Liu to cut back on unnecessary expenditures to allow the military to be properly maintained, and was able to make sure that the treasury was not depleted.
[8] Liu Chengyou bestowed on Wang Zhang the additional titles of chancellor (同中書門下平章事, Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi)[9] and acting Taiwei (太尉, one of the Three Excellencies).
It was said that Wang capably managed the imperial government's finances such that the military operations against the three circuits (overseen by Guo Wei) did not lack anything, and that even after the campaign, the treasury was not depleted.
Both Wang and Yang, with whom Wang was particularly close because they were both from Tianxiong, disliked the learned people, such that, for supplies given as civilian officials' salaries, they gave second-grade supplies that were considered not military-grade material, referring to such materials as "items of miscellany" and giving them overly high assessed values.
The chancellor Su Fengji opposed, pointing out that there had been no precedent to allow a military governor to continue to retain chief of staff title.
"[1] It was at the send-off dinner for Guo the next day, at the mansion of another chancellor, Dou Zhengu, that frictions within the imperial government came to the forefront.
At the feast, Shi, when toasting Guo, spoke in a harsh voice, "How could there have been opposition when we discussed this matter yesterday at the imperial gathering?
Later, when Guo was about to leave the capital, he went to see Liu Chengyou and stated to him:[1] The Empress Dowager had long followed the deceased Emperor, and she has experienced many things.
As far as what happens on the battlefield, I, your subject, wishes to expend all of my foolish and foolhardy efforts, hopefully being worthy of your service.Liu Chengyou showed a serious expression and thanked Guo.
The director of diplomatic protocol, Yan Jinqing (閻晉卿), was seated next to Shi, and repeatedly reminded him of what the game's rules were.
However, Shi took the comment badly — as he thought that Su was satirizing his wife Lady Yan, who was once a prostitute working in a drinking hall.
Su considered requesting an assignment as a circuit military governor, but then decided that if he left the capital, Shi could easily destroy him, and so did not.
Part of the friction came from how his close associates and relatives of the empress dowager were trying to gain power, but were being thwarted by Yang and Shi.
When Consort Geng died, Yang opposed Liu Chengyou's wishes to have her buried with the ceremonies due an empress.
When Empress Dowager Li tried to speak again, Liu Chengyou responded angrily, "The matters of state cannot be decided in the halls of a woman!
"[1] On December 24, 950,[1][2] as the officials were arriving at the palace for the imperial gathering, a number of soldiers appeared and killed Yang, Shi, and Wang Zhang.
Subsequently, Liu Chengyou declared that they had committed treason, and stated to the chancellors and the other officials, "Yang Bin and the others viewed us as a young child.