Li Xiaogong
In winter 621, Tang launched a major assault on Liang, with Li Xiaogong, assisted by Li Jing, in command of the forces overall. With Yangtze River's water high and treacherous at that time, Xiao did not expect an attack from Tang, and he was caught by surprise. Li Xiaogong defeated the Liang general Wen Shihong () and approached Jiangling. As Xiao had earlier reduced his armed forces, he only had a few thousand men in Jiangling, and he issued emergency orders to the troops in the other parts of the empire, ordering them to come to Jiangling's aid at once. Nevertheless, Xiao's counterattack was initially successful, although Li Xiaogong and Li Jing soon defeated Liang forces again and put Jiangling under siege. Under Li Jing's suggestion, Li Xiaogong floated the captured Liang ships down the Yangtze River, empty, to confuse Liang forces into believing that Jiangling had fallen. The Liang forces were indeed confused and slowed down.