Xiao Yu

Xiao Yu (蕭譽, 519 – 22 June 550) was a member of the imperial family of the Liang dynasty during the Northern and Southern dynasties period of China. His courtesy name was Zhongsun (重孫). He was the second son of Crown Prince Zhaoming, Xiao Tong. His mother was Empress Dowager Yuan, née Gong, of Later Liang, which was founded by Xiao Cha.

Life

In 521, he was enfeoffed by his grandfather, Emperor Wu, as Duke of Zhijiang County (枝江縣開國公).

In 531, when his father, Crown Prince Zhaoming, died, Emperor Wu established Xiao Gang, Prince of Jin'an, as crown prince. Instead, all five sons of Crown Prince Zhaoming were enfeoffed as princes, and Xiao Yu was enfeoffed as Prince of Hedong Commandery (河東郡王) on 14 July of that year and granted a fief of 2,000 households. He was appointed General Who Pacifies Distant Areas (寧遠將軍) and Military Affairs of Shitou Garrison (石頭戍軍事), and was later reassigned as Administrator of Langya (琅邪太守) and Administrator of Pengcheng (彭城太守).

On 27 April 537, he was appointed Governor of Nanxu Province (南徐州刺史), and afterwards was again appointed Attendant Officer (侍中), General of the Light Chariot (輕車將軍), and Establisher of Staff Officials (置佐史).

On 10 May 548, he was appointed General of the Central Guard (南中郎將) and Governor of Xiangzhou (湘州刺史).

When the Hou Jing's Rebellion broke out, in the following year, 549, Xiao Yi, Prince of Xiangdong and Governor of Jingzhou, sent an envoy to Xiao Yu to supervise the provisions and troops for the campaign against Hou Jing, and Xiao Yu said:

After refusing three times, Xiao Fangdeng, Crown Prince of Xiangdong, requested to attack Xiao Yu first. Xiao Yi then appointed his fourth son, Xiao Fangjiu, Marquis of Nan'an, as Governor of Xiangzhou, and ordered Xiao Fangdeng to lead 20,000 elite troops to escort Xiao Fangjiu to Xiangzhou, defeat Xiao Yu, and have Xiao Fangjiu replace him as Governor of Xiangzhou. When Xiao Fangdeng's army arrived at Maxi (麻溪), Xiao Yu personally led 7,000 soldiers in a surprise attack on it. Xiao Fangdeng's army was defeated, and Xiao Fangdeng drowned. Xiao Fangjiu gathered the remnants of the defeated army and returned to Jiangling. Xiao Yi then sent Bao Quan (鮑泉) and Wang Sengbian (王僧辯) to attack Xiao Yu again. On 22 June of the following year, 550, Wang Sengbian surrounded and attacked Changsha, where Xiao Yu was, and won a great victory. After the city fell, Xiao Yu fled but was captured by Wang Sengbian and beheaded. Wang Sengbian sent Xiao Yu's head to Xiao Yi, who returned it so that it could be buried together with the body, after a funeral had been held.