Xiao Xian - Defeat and Death

Defeat and Death

Around the same time, the Tang official Li Jing had offered 10 strategies to destroy Liang to Li Xiaogong. Li Xiaogong relayed them to Emperor Gaozu, who accepted them. In spring 621, Emperor Gaozu made Li Xiaogong the commandant at Kui Prefecture (夔州, modern eastern Chongqing) and had him build a large fleet and train sailors to prepare for the attack against Liang. He also made Li Jing Li Xiaogong's deputy.

In summer 621, the Tang general Zhou Faming (周法明) attacked Liang's An Prefecture (安州, roughly modern Xiaogan, Hubei), capturing the Liang general Ma Guiqian (馬貴遷). Soon thereafter, the Tang general Guo Xingfang (郭行方) attacked Liang's Ruo Prefecture (鄀州, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei) and captured it as well.

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 (文士弘) 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 came 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.

With Jiangling surrounded and Xiao's contact with the outside cut off, he, under suggestion by his official Cen Wenben, decided to surrender. He announced to his officials:

Heaven does not protect Liang, and we can no longer stand. If we fight all the way to being completely worn out before surrendering, it will be the people who suffer. Why do I put them in water and fire just because of myself?

After offering sacrifices to the Liang ancestors, Xiao surrendered, stating to Li Xiaogong, "Only Xiao Xian should die. The people are innocent. Please do not plunder." He did not know that more than 100,000 Liang soldiers were approaching, and after they arrived, they saw that Xiao had surrendered and surrendered as well.

Li Xiaogong delivered Xiao to Chang'an. Emperor Gaozu rebuked him. Xiao, not submitting to Emperor Gaozu's rebuke, responded:

Sui lost its deer, and the heroes sought after it. I, Xiao Xian, was not blessed by Heaven, and therefore was captured. I was merely like Tian Heng claiming a princely title, who did not rebel against Han Dynasty. If what I did is criminal, I am willing to be boiled to death.

Emperor Gaozu, angry at Xiao's refusal to submit, had him beheaded.