Because Yang Fuguang was considered to have military capabilities, he served several successive terms as eunuch monitor of armies.
Subsequently, when the chancellor Wang Duo was put in overall command of the operations, Yang served as the eunuch monitor of his army.
[2] By 880, when Wang Xianzhi had already been killed in battle but Huang Chao had in turn become the most powerful agrarian rebel figure, Yang Fuguang was serving as the eunuch monitor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), when, in the absence of a military governor (Jiedushi), he commissioned the officer Song Hao (宋浩) to oversee the circuit's affairs.
Subsequently, Yang was made the eunuch monitor at Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan).
[2] Late in 880, Huang Chao captured the imperial capital Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee to Chengdu.
Yang pointed out that he needed to do what he could to persuade Zhou back to the Tang imperial cause and should do so despite dangers to himself, and so attended the feast.
Yang suggested that they enlist the aid of the Shatuo chieftain Li Keyong—who had previously rebelled against Tang and been branded a renegade.
Li Keyong agreed, and he joined forces with Yang and Wang Chongrong, preparing to again attack Chang'an.