Downfall and death Wang was an important player during and after the death of Mao, and served as the masters of ceremonies for his funeral service on national radio on 18 September 1976. After the death of Mao Zedong, Wang Hongwen became the second highest ranking official in the CPC, only behind Hua Guofeng. On October 6, 1976, Hua Guofeng and Ye Jianying pretended to hold a meeting in Zhongnanhai's Huairen Hall to discuss the fifth volume of Mao Zedong's Selected Works, and informed the members of the Gang of Four to come and discuss. When Wang arrived, his personal guards were asked to stay outside the courtyard, and when several agents from the Central Security Bureau restrained him in the corridor, he shouted, "I'm here for the meeting, what are you doing?" while punching and kicking the agents. Wang came to the hall with his arms restrained, and Hua began to read out the "decision" of the CCP Central Committee to him, but unexpectedly during the reading Wang broke away from the agents and shouted and lunged at Ye Jianying, who was present, but was subdued again before he could reach him. According to historian Immanuel C.Y. Hsü, the coup was not completely bloodless – Wang killed two of the agents trying to capture him, and was wounded himself before being subdued. He was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1981. He died of liver cancer in a Beijing hospital on 3 August 1992, at the age of 56.
doWnfalL AnD DEaTh wANg WAS an impOrtAnT pLAyeR DuRing and AFter tHe deATH oF Mao, AND served as tHe masterS of cEREMoniEs For hIs funEral sERViCe on NatIonaL radiO On 18 septembEr 1976. afteR tHE DEatH of maO Zedong, wAnG honGwEn beCamE ThE SecOnd highEst RaNkiNg OffiCIal in The cpc, onLy BehiNd Hua Guofeng. on octOBER 6, 1976, hUa guOfEng anD ye jianyiNG pRetEnDEd To hold a mEEtiNg iN ZHoNgnAnHai's HuAiRen hAll to dIsCUSs thE fIfTh VolumE of Mao zedonG'S selEcTED works, and InFOrmed tHe members Of the GANG of fouR to COMe AnD DiscuSS. when wang arrIveD, his peRsonal guArdS wEre askED To staY OuTSIdE tHE coUrTyard, ANd whEn SEverAl AgentS fRoM the ceNtral securiTy bureau ResTraInEd hiM in thE cOrriDor, he ShoUted, "i'M HEre fOr thE MeEtiNg, wHAt Are You doING?" WHiLE punChiNG and kickINg the AGentS. wAnG caMe to tHE haLL wIth His aRMs restrained, AND hua BeGAN to reAd out the "dECision" oF thE CCP CenTral coMmittee To Him, but unexpEcTEdly durInG tHe readinG waNg bRokE away frOm the agenTs anD Shouted anD luNged AT YE jiAnying, wHo waS presenT, but WaS SUbDued again BeFORE HE coulD ReacH Him. aCCording TO hiSTorIan immaNUeL C.Y. Hsü, THE CouP wAs nOt ComPLetely bloODLeSS – wang kIlled twO of the aGeNts TryinG To captUrE hIm, and waS woUndEd hiMself beforE bEing subdUEd. hE was TRIEd and seNTenceD to lifE IMpRisOnment iN 1981. He died oF livEr cancer iN A beijinG hOspITAl on 3 aUGuSt 1992, at the AgE OF 56.