Xiao Ji, courtesy name Shixun, known by his princely title of Prince of Wuling, was an imperial prince and pretender to the throne of the Chinese Liang Dynasty.
21 Facts About Xiao Ji
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Xiao Ji was the youngest son of the dynasty's founder Emperor Wu, and he governed the modern Sichuan and Chongqing region.
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In 552, believing that he was destined to be emperor, he declared himself as such and advanced east to try to take the throne, but in 553, with Western Wei forces attacking his domain from the rear under the instigation of his brother Emperor Yuan, Xiao Ji's advancing forces were defeated by Emperor Yuan's, and he was killed in battle.
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Xiao Ji was born in 508, as the eighth and youngest son of Emperor Wu.
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Xiao Yi, apprehensive of Xiao Ji's intentions, made Xiao Yuanzhao the governor of Xin Province and ordered him to halt at Baidicheng and not advance any further.
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Xiao Ji refused and imprisoned Yang's sons Yang Chongyong and Yang Chonghu.
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In winter 550, Xiao Ji departed Chengdu with his forces and headed east on the Yangtze River.
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In summer 551, an event would cause the already uneasy relationship between Xiao Yi and Xiao Ji to grow even more strained.
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Xiao Yi became suspicious of him, and Xiao Yi bestowed him a general title.
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Xiao Ji Xun disagreed with the decision, believing that cession to be without reason, but received no response from Xiao Ji Yi.
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Meanwhile, he summoned Xiao Xun's assistant Liu Fan, intending to make Liu Fan a member of his staff, but Liu refused and insisted on returning to Xiao Xun, and Xiao Ji finally relented and did so.
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Xiao Ji therefore led his forces and departed from Chengdu, planning to confront Hou.
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Xiao Ji left Xiao Hui and his son Xiao Yuansu the Prince of Yidu in charge of Chengdu.
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Xiao Ji sent captives from Hou's army to Xiao Ji to show that Hou had already been destroyed.
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However, Xiao Yuanzhao detained Xiao Yi's messengers and continued to feed his father incorrect information, and Xiao Ji speeded up his troops.
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Xiao Yi, fearful of what Xiao Ji might do, requested Western Wei to attack Xiao Ji from the rear, and Yuwen, believing that Yi Province could be taken, sent his nephew Yuchi Jiong with an army to attack Yi Province.
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Xiao Ji sent Qiao Yan to head back to Chengdu to try to lift the siege, and by now, he became aware that Hou had been destroyed.
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Xiao Ji rebuked Xiao Yuanzhao, but nevertheless decided to continue to head east to attack Xiao Yi, notwithstanding his soldiers' wishes to return to Chengdu to save it.
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Xiao Ji was initially successful against Xiao Yi's general Lu Fahe, and he fought through to the Three Gorges.
20.
Xiao Ji Yi wrote him, proposing peace and promising to let him keep his domain and effectively act as emperor over that domain.
21.
Xiao Ji refused, but soon, hearing that Chengdu was in the danger of falling, and now with his forces stalled by Xiao Yi's, then tried to accept peace.