After Mao Zedong's death, the Central Guard Bureau under Wang Dongxing's control arrested the Gang of Four overnight at the Huirentang, testing the multiplication logic of absolute control over guards and personnel at the core of power.
After Mao Zedong died in September 1976, Hua Guofeng, together with Ye Jianying and others, smashed the Gang of Four on October 6, and was elected Chairman of the CCP Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission that same night; earlier, on April 30, Mao Zedong had written for him: "You handle it, I'm at ease."
After 1976, Hua Guofeng served simultaneously as Chairman of the CCP Central Committee, Premier of the State Council, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
In October 1976, the operation to arrest the Gang of Four inside Zhongnanhai was carried out by the Central Guard Regiment (Unit 8341), with Zhang Yaoci leading dozens of guard soldiers to carry it out; at the time Wang Dongxing concurrently served as director of the CCP Central Committee General Office and head of the Guard Bureau.