Huang is besieging Bo Prefecture (in modern Bozhou, Anhui) in spring 878, when Wang Xianzhi is crushed by Zeng at Huangmei (in modern Huanggang, Hubei) and killed.

Shang Rang takes the remnants of Wang's army and joins Huang at Bo Prefecture, and he offers the title of king to Huang.

Huang, instead, claims the title of Chongtian Dajiangjun ("Generalissimo Who Charges to the Heavens") and changes the era name to Wangba, to show independence from the Tang regime.

He then captures Yi and Pu Prefectures again, but subsequently suffers several defeats by Tang forces.

He thus writes the new military governor of Tianping, Zhang Xi, asking Zhang to request a Tang commission on his behalf.

At Zhang's request, Emperor Xizong commissions Huang as a general of the imperial guards, but orders him to report to Yun Prefecture to disarm before he reports to the capital Chang'an.

Faced with those conditions, Huang refuses the offer.

Instead, …

…Huang attacks Song and Bian (in modern Kaifeng, Henan) Prefectures, then …

…attacks Weinan (in modern Puyang, Henan), then …

…Ye (in modern Pingdingshan, Henan) and …

…Yangzhai (in modern Xuchang, Henan).

Emperor Xizong thus commissions troops from three circuits to defend the eastern capital Luoyang, and further orders Zeng to head to Luoyang as well.

With the Tang forces concentrating on defending Luoyang, Huang marches south instead.

Huang Chao crosses the Yangtze River south and captures several prefectures south of the Yangtze—Qian (in modern Ganzhou, Jiangxi), …

…Ji (in modern Ji'an, Jiangxi), …

…Rao (in modern Shangrao, Jiangxi), and Xin (in modern Shangrao).

…heads further southeast to attack Zhedong Circuit (headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang) in winter 878, then, …

…via a mountainous route, Fujian Circuit (headquartered in modern Fuzhou, Fujian).

However, during this march, he is attacked by the Tang officers Zhang Lin and Liang Zuan, who are subordinates of Gao Pian the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit (headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) and defeated several times.

As a result of these battles, a number of Huang's followers, including Qin Yan, Bi Shiduo, Li Hanzhi, and Xu Qing, surrender to the Zhenhai troops.

As a result, Huang decides to turn further south, toward the Lingnan region.