Wang Sengbian Wang Sengbian ( 王僧辯 ) ( died 555 ) , courtesy name Juncai ( 君才 ) , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Liang Dynasty . He came to prominence as the leading general under Emperor Yuan ( Xiao Yi ) ' s campaigns against the rebel general Hou Jing and other competitors for the Liang throne , and after Emperor Yuan was defeated by Western Wei in 554 and killed around the new year 555 became the de facto regent over the remaining provinces of Liang . He made Xiao Yuanming the Marquess of Zhenyang , a cousin of Emperor Yuan and a candidate for the throne favored by Northern Qi , emperor , but four months later , his subordinate Chen Baxian carried out a coup , killing him and deposing Xiao Yuanming . Early career . Wang Sengbian ' s father Wang Shennian ( 王神念 ) was originally from Northern Wei ' s Taiyuan Commandery ( 太原 , roughly modern Taiyuan , Shanxi ) . When he was Northern Wei ' s governor of Yingchuan Commandery ( 潁川 , roughly modern Xuchang , Henan ) , he , along with Wang Sengbian and his brothers , surrendered to Liang Dynasty . ( It is not known when this happened , but it must have happened between 502 , when Liang was founded , and 511 , when the Northern Wei official Lu Chang ( 盧昶 ) ' s submission to Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei referred to Wang Shennian as a Liang general . ) Wang Shennian was created the Marquess of Nancheng , and became successively the governor of several commanderies and eventually a provincial governor . Wang Sengbian was Wang Shennian ' s second son . He had one known older brother , Wang Zunye ( 王遵業 ) and three known younger brothers , Wang Senglüe ( 王僧略 ) , Wang Sengzhi ( 王僧智 ) , and Wang Sengyin ( 王僧愔 ) . In his youth , Wang Sengbian was known for being studious , particularly of the " Zuo Zhuan " . He was also well - versed in military strategy , although he was noted for not being physically strong for a soldier . When Xiao Yi , then the Prince of Xiangdong , was made the governor of Jiang Province ( 江州 , modern Jiangxi ) by his father Emperor Wu in 540 , Wang Sengbian served on his military staff , and in 542 , when a member of Ancheng Commandery ( 安成 , roughly modern Ji ' an , Jiangxi ) , Liu Jinggong ( 劉敬躬 ) rebelled , Xiao Yi sent Wang and Cao Ziying ( 曹子郢 ) against Liu . Wang captured Liu , and also suppressed the aborigines of the region , and thereafter became well - known . When Xiao Yi was made governor of Jing Province ( 荊州 , modern central and western Hubei ) in 547 , Wang followed him to Jing Province and was made the governor of Jingling Commandery ( 竟陵 , roughly modern Jingmen , Hubei ) . As Xiao Yi ' s general during the Hou Jing Disturbance . In 548 , when Hou Jing , formerly an Eastern Wei general , rebelled against Emperor Wu and quickly put the capital Jiankang under siege , Xiao Yi did not personally lead forces to aid Jiankang ; rather , he sent his heir apparent Xiao Fangdeng ( 蕭方等 ) and Wang Sengbian . They arrived in Jiankang ' s vicinity in spring 549 , and accepted command , as did the generals of the other provincial forces , of the general Liu Zhongli ( 柳仲禮 ) . However , Liu , after a battle in spring 549 where he was nearly killed , became hesitant to engage Hou ' s forces , and Hou was able to continue sieging the palace , where Emperor Wu ' s own forces had been forced to defend themselves . When the palace fell in summer 549 , allowing Hou to take Emperor Wu and his crown prince Xiao Gang hostage , and Hou subsequently forced Emperor Wu to issue an edict disbanding the provincial troops under Liu ' s command , Wang and Pei Zhigao ( 裴之高 ) suggested Liu to make one last stand against Hou , but Liu took no action , and the provincial forces , including Xiao Fangdeng ' s , largely returned to their home provinces , although Wang , along with Liu and several other generals , surrendered to Hou . Hou ' s strategist Wang Wei suggested to Hou that Wang Sengbian should be detained , but Hou decided against it and allowed Wang Sengbian to return to Jingling . Once Wang Sengbian returned to Jingling , he again was under Xiao Yi ' s command . Soon thereafter , Xiao Yi was in a dispute with his nephew Xiao Yu ( 蕭譽 ) the Prince of Hedong and governor of Xiang Province ( 湘州 , modern Hunan ) , who refused to follow his orders . Initially , he sent Xiao Fangdeng against Xiao Yu , but Xiao Fangdeng was defeated and killed in battle . He then ordered Wang Sengbian and Bao Quan ( 鮑泉 ) to attack Xiao Yu and further ordered them to leave immediately . Wang , who was then at Xiao Yi ' s headquarters in Jiangling , wanted to wait for Jingling Commandery troops to arrive , and so he and Bao personally visited Xiao Yi to request a delay . Xiao Yi , suspecting Wang of not committing to his cause , rebuked Wang and unsheathed his sword , cutting Wang in the thigh and then imprisoning him . Wang ' s mother immediately visited Xiao Yi , crying and blaming herself for not disciplining her son correctly , asking for Xiao Yi ' s forgiveness . Xiao Yi calmed down and gave her medicine for healing wounds , and she used the medicine to help her son recover , but Xiao Yi still kept Wang imprisoned . Bao , in fear , did not persist in his request and left to attack Xiao Yu immediately . In fall 549 , with Bao putting Xiao Yu ' s headquarters at Changsha under siege but unable to capture it , Xiao Yu ' s brother Xiao Cha the Prince of Yueyang , trying to save his brother , attacked Jiangling from his headquarters at Xiangyang . Xiao Yi , in fear , sent messengers to consult with Wang , still in prison , on how to deal with Xiao Cha . Wang made several suggestions , and Xiao Yi released him and made him the commander of Jiangling ' s defense forces . Wang was able to repel Xiao Cha ' s attacks , and when Xiao Cha ' s general Du An ( 杜岸 ) defected and attacked Xiangyang , Xiao Cha was forced to withdraw . Xiao Yi subsequently sent Wang to replace Bao as the commander against Xiao Yu , and Wang , when taking over command from Bao , was compelled to lock Bao in chains , despite his friendship with Bao , to avoid an appearance of disobeying Xiao Yi , although Xiao Yi later released Bao . In summer 550 , Changsha finally fell . Wang captured Xiao Yu and beheaded him , delivering his head to Xiao Yi , who subsequently returned the head to Changsha for burial . Wang took Xiao Yu ' s general Zhou Tiehu ( 周鐵虎 ) captive , and was about to execute Zhou , who had defeated Xiao Fangdeng , by boiling him to death . When Zhou yelled , " Hou Jing has not yet been destroyed . Why kill a brave soldier ? " Wang was impressed by Zhou and released him , making him a key subordinate . In fall 550 , with Xiao Yi ' s older brother Xiao Guan ( 蕭綸 ) the Prince of Shaoyang reorganizing his forces at Jiangxia ( 江夏 , in modern Wuhan , Hubei ) and planning to attack Hou , Xiao Yi was displeased because he saw Xiao Guan as a potential competitor for the throne . He therefore sent Wang and Bao toward Jiangxia , claiming to be merely welcoming Xiao Guan and making Xiao Guan the governor of Xiang Province . As Wang approached Jiangxia , Xiao Guan sent Wang a rebuke that stated , " You are a general who killed a man ' s nephew previously for him , and now you are killing his brother for him . If you use these methods to gain power , you will be rejected by the people . " Wang forwarded the letter to Xiao Yi , who ordered him to launch an attack on Xiao Guan . Xiao Guan , instead of engaging him , abandoned Jiangxia and fled . Wang took Ying Province ( 郢州 , modern eastern Hubei ) . In summer 551 , Xiao Yi commissioned Wang with a substantial force to have him attack Hou . After Wang departed from Jiangling , however , news was received that Hou ' s forces under the general Ren Yue ( 任約 ) had captured Jiangxia , and Ren and Hou were approaching Jiangling . Wang stopped at Baling ( 巴陵 , in modern Yueyang , Hunan ) and fortified it against a possible Hou attack . When Hou arrived , he put Baling under siege , and Wang each time repelled Hou , who became impressed at his bravery . Eventually , Hou ' s food supplies ran out , and Ren was captured , forcing Hou to flee . Wang advanced to Jiangxia , putting it under siege . When Hou ' s general Song Zixian ( 宋子仙 ) , whom Hou left in charge at Jiangxia , offered to surrender the city with the condition that Wang allowed him to retreat , Wang agreed and prepared ships for Song , but as soon as Song left the city , Wang attacked and captured him and Ding He ( 丁和 ) , who were delivered to Jiangling and executed . Wang continued to advance east , and in fall 551 , he joined forces with Chen Baxian , who had advanced north from Guang Province ( 廣州 , modern Guangdong ) . Wang and Chen , by Xiao Yi ' s orders , stopped at Xunyang ( 尋陽 , in modern Jiujiang , Jiangxi ) to wait for the rest of the troops . Xiao Yi also made Wang the governor of Jiang Province . When Wang heard the news that Hou had killed Xiao Gang , who had succeeded Emperor Wu after Emperor Wu ' s death in summer 549 ( as Emperor Jianwen ) , he submitted a petition to Xiao Yi , asking Xiao Yi to take the throne , but Xiao Yi did not accept it . ( In winter 551 , Hou further deposed Emperor Wu ' s great - grandson Xiao Dong and declared himself the Emperor of Han . ) In spring 552 , by Xiao Yi ' s orders , Wang and Chen continued east against Hou . Before they left Xunyang , they built an altar at which they swore allegiance to Liang . They quickly advanced on Jiankang , defeating Hou ' s general Hou Zijian ( 侯子鑒 ) . When Hou Jing himself attacked them , they defeated him , and he fled . They entered Jiankang . Records indicate that Wang ' s forces were lacking in military discipline , and they pillaged the people of Jiankang , stripping them of wealth and clothes . Further , soldiers set the Taiji Palace ( 太極殿 ) ablaze — although Wang blamed this incident on Wang Lin , leading to Xiao Yi eventually putting Wang Lin under arrest . He sent the general Hou Tian ( 侯瑱 ) to pursue Hou Jing , while burying Emperor Jianwen with proper ceremony . He requested again that Xiao Yi return to Jiankang to take the throne , but Xiao Yi again declined , effectively putting Wang in charge of the eastern empire , and Wang in turn put Chen in charge of the important city Jingkou ( 京口 , in modern Zhenjiang , Jiangsu ) . Soon , Hou Jing , in flight , was killed by his own guards , and his body was delivered to Jiankang . Wang delivered Hou ' s head to Jiangling and delivered his hands to Eastern Wei ' s successor state Northern Qi . Xiao Yi created Wang the Duke of Changning . In light of Hou ' s defeat , Northern Qi seized nearly all of the formerly Liang territory north of the Yangtze River , and Wang and Chen had to fend themselves against Northern Qi attacks . Once they did , however , Wang , not wanting to aggravate Northern Qi , did not counterattack , and further , when the provincial gentry from those lost provinces requested that he attack because they did not want to be under Northern Qi rule , he rejected their requests , although when the people of Guangling ( 廣陵 , in modern Yangzhou , Jiangsu ) claimed to be ready to rise against Northern Qi , he permitted Chen to advance to Guangling , putting it under siege . Subsequently , Northern Qi agreed to return Guangling and Liyang ( 歷陽 , in modern Chaohu , Anhui ) , and the campaign ended . During Emperor Yuan ' s reign . In winter 552 , Xiao Yi declared himself emperor ( as Emperor Yuan ) , but stayed in Jiangling rather than returning to Jiankang . He made Wang Sengbian the governor of Yang Province ( 揚州 , modern southern Jiangsu and southern Anhui ) . Meanwhile , after Emperor Yuan put Wang Lin under arrest , Wang Lin ' s soldiers rebelled at Xiang Province , under the command of Wang Lin ' s lieutenant Lu Na ( 陸納 ) , and Lu ' s forces were initially successful , capturing not only Xiang Province but other surrounding territories . Emperor Yuan summoned Wang Sengbian to rendezvous with his cousin Xiao Xun ( 蕭循 ) the Marquess of Yifeng to attack Lu . Wang and Xiao Xun were subsequently able to defeat Lu and put Changsha under siege , but were unable to capture it quickly . With Emperor Yuan ' s brother Xiao Ji the Prince of Wuling also having claimed imperial title and attacking him from the west , Emperor Yuan pardoned Wang Lin , and Lu surrendered to Wang Lin . ( Subsequently , Emperor Yuan ' s forces , no longer divided on two fronts , defeated and killed Xiao Ji , who had earlier killed Wang Sengbian ' s brother Wang Senglüe when Wang Senglüe tried to persuade him not to claim imperial title . ) Wang subsequently arrived at Jiangling to meet Emperor Yuan . In fall 553 , Emperor Yuan returned him to his post at Jiankang and returned Chen Baxian , whom Wang had left in charge of Jiankang in his absence , back to Jingkou . Later in fall 553 , Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi prepared for an operation where he would try to impose Emperor Yuan ' s cousin Xiao Tui ( 蕭退 ) the Marquess of Xiangtan as Liang ' s emperor . Emperor Yuan ordered Wang to head to Gushu ( 姑孰 , in modern Ma ' anshan , Anhui ) to defend against the attack . When Hou Tian subsequently defeated the Northern Qi general Guo Yuanjian ( 郭元建 ) , Northern Qi forces withdrew , and Wang returned to Jiankang . In fall 554 , when Western Wei launched an attack on Jiangling , Emperor Yuan summoned Wang from Jiankang . Wang readied his troops to come to Jiangling ' s aid , but before Wang could do so , Jiangling fell . Western Wei forces took Emperor Yuan captive and , around new year 555 , put him to death , creating Xiao Cha , who had become a Western Wei vassal , as emperor instead . After Emperor Yuan ' s death . After hearing of Emperor Yuan ' s death , Wang Sengbian and Chen Baxian did not recognize Xiao Cha as emperor ; instead , they welcomed Emperor Yuan ' s 12 - year - old son Xiao Fangzhi the Prince of Jin ' an , who was then the governor of Jiang Province , to Jiankang , and had him formally take imperial powers with the title Prince of Liang , although not yet with imperial title . Meanwhile , Northern Qi seized Ying Province , and Wang sent Hou Tian to attack Ying Province . Northern Qi ' s Emperor Wenxuan again wanted to create a puppet Liang regime , and he created another cousin of Emperor Yuan , Xiao Yuanming the Marquess of Zhenyang , who had been an honored captive since 547 when he was captured after failing in his mission to aid Hou ' s rebellion against Eastern Wei , emperor , and sent his brother Gao Huan ( 高渙 ) the Prince of Shangdang to escort Xiao Yuanming with an army . Wang initially resisted Northern Qi ' s overtures , but Gao Huan quickly defeated several generals . Wang began to shake in his position , and in summer 555 , he agreed to have Xiao Yuanming become emperor . He sent his son Wang Xian ( 王顯 ) , nephew Wang Shizhen ( 王世珍 ) , and Wang Xian ' s mother Lady Liu ( probably his concubine ) to Northern Qi as hostages and , after extracting a promise from Xiao Yuanming that he would create Xiao Fangzhi crown prince , accepted Xiao Yuanming as emperor . Subsequently , Hou Tian was recalled from his attack on Ying Province , although Northern Qi returned Ying Province eventually anyway , as Northern Qi now saw Liang as a vassal . Chen , however , was displeased with the situation , despite his deep friendship with Wang , as Wang repeatedly rejected his advice against welcoming Xiao Yuanming . Wang Sengbian ' s son Wang Yi ( 王顗 ) suspected of Chen ' s intentions and advised Wang Sengbian to watch out for potential attack from Chen , but Wang Sengbian , trusting Chen deeply , did not see Chen as a threat . Chen , indeed , was planning a coup . Meanwhile , news came that Northern Qi was preparing an attack , and Wang Sengbian sent his secretary Jiang Gan ( 江旰 ) to Jingkou to alert Chen . Chen , instead , detained Jiang while preparing his forces . He launched a surprise attack on Wang ' s headquarters at the fortress of Shitou . Wang was caught defenseless , and was forced to surrender . Chen told Wang , " I am surprised that you did not prepare for an attack . " Wang ' s response was , " I entrusted the northern gate to you . How can you say that I did not prepare ? " That night , Chen strangled Wang Sengbian and his son Wang Wei ( 王頠 ) to death . He subsequently deposed Xiao Yuanming and took over the regency over Xiao Fangzhi , whom he declared emperor ( as Emperor Jing ) , but subsequently seized the throne from Emperor Jing in 557 , establishing Chen Dynasty .