Wang Lin (general)

Meanwhile, also not recognizing Emperor Xuan was Wang Sengbian, who was then at Jiankang and who, along with his lieutenant [[Chen Baxian]], controlled the eastern provinces. Wang Sengbian welcomed the only surviving son of Emperor Yuan, [[Emperor Jing of Liang|Xiao Fangzhi]] the Prince of Jin'an to Jiankang, declaring him the [[Liang (realm)|Prince of Liang]] and preparing to next declare him emperor. However, after [[Northern Qi]] attacked, Wang Sengbian, fearing further Northern Qi attacks, accepted [[Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi]]'s proposal to make Emperor Yuan's cousin [[Xiao Yuanming]] the Marquess of Zhenyang emperor, declaring Xiao Yuanming emperor in fall 555. Wang Lin recognized Xiao Yuanming as emperor, although he remained relatively independent in his military actions. Meanwhile, Emperor Yuan's seven-year-old grandson [[Xiao Zhuang]] the Prince of Yongjia—the son of his deceased oldest son Xiao Fangdeng (蕭方等), had been hidden by the [[Buddhist]] nun Famu (法幕) and subsequently delivered to Wang Lin. Wang Lin further delivered him to Jiankang.

Meanwhile, also not recognizing Emperor Xuan was Wang Sengbian, who was then at Jiankang and who, along with his lieutenant [[Chen Baxian]], controlled the eastern provinces. Wang Sengbian welcomed the only surviving son of Emperor Yuan, [[Emperor Jing of Liang|Xiao Fangzhi]] the Prince of Jin'an to Jiankang, declaring him the [[Liang (realm)|Prince of Liang]] and preparing to next declare him emperor. However, after [[Northern Qi]] attacked, Wang Sengbian, fearing further Northern Qi attacks, accepted [[Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi]]'s proposal to make Emperor Yuan's cousin [[Xiao Yuanming]] the Marquess of Zhenyang emperor, declaring Xiao Yuanming emperor in fall 555. Wang Lin recognized Xiao Yuanming as emperor, although he remained relatively independent in his military actions. Meanwhile, Emperor Yuan's seven-year-old grandson [[Xiao Zhuang]] the Prince of Yongjia—the son of his deceased oldest son Xiao Fangdeng (蕭方等), had been hidden by the [[Buddhist]] nun Famu (法幕) and subsequently delivered to Wang Lin. Wang Lin further delivered him to Jiankang.

In fall 555, Chen, displeased over Wang Sengbian's declaration of Xiao Yuanming as emperor, made a surprise attack on Jiankang, killing Wang Sengbian and deposing Xiao Yuanming, instead declaring Xiao Fangzhi emperor (as Emperor Jing). This move drew attacks from several generals loyal to Wang Sengbian, as well as from Northern Qi. During this time, Wang Lin appeared to recognize Emperor Jing as emperor, but at the time was distancing himself from Chen. He also continued fighting with both Western Wei and Emperor Xuan, but after Hou Ping rebelled against him in 556, he felt he was unable to conduct war on all sides. He made nominal submissions to Northern Qi, Western Wei, and Emperor Xuan, suing for peace on all sides. He also sought the return of his wife Lady Cai and [[heir apparent]] Wang Yi (王毅), who had been taken captive by Western Wei when Jiangling fell. [[Emperor Gong of Western Wei]] created him the Duke of Changsha, and returned his wife and children in 557. When Northern Qi summoned him to its capital [[Ye, China|Yecheng]], Wang Lin refused to go, but did not formally break with Northern Qi. He also refused Emperor Jing's edict to report to Jiankang and instead prepared to attack Chen. Chen therefore sent his generals [[Hou Andu]] and [[Zhou Wenyu]] to attack Wang, accusing Wang of being a renegade.

In fall 555, Chen, displeased over Wang Sengbian's declaration of Xiao Yuanming as emperor, made a surprise attack on Jiankang, killing Wang Sengbian and deposing Xiao Yuanming, instead declaring Xiao Fangzhi emperor (as Emperor Jing). This move drew attacks from several generals loyal to Wang Sengbian, as well as from Northern Qi. During this time, Wang Lin appeared to recognize Emperor Jing as emperor, but at the time was distancing himself from Chen. He also continued fighting with both Western Wei and Emperor Xuan, but after Hou Ping rebelled against him in 556, he felt he was unable to conduct war on all sides. He made nominal submissions to Northern Qi, Western Wei, and Emperor Xuan, suing for peace on all sides. He also sought the return of his wife Lady Cai and [[heir apparent]] Wang Yi (王毅), who had been taken captive by Western Wei when Jiangling fell. [[Emperor Gong of Western Wei]] created him the Duke of Changsha, and returned his wife and children in 557. When Northern Qi summoned him to its capital [[Ye (Hebei)|Yecheng]], Wang Lin refused to go, but did not formally break with Northern Qi. He also refused Emperor Jing's edict to report to Jiankang and instead prepared to attack Chen. Chen therefore sent his generals [[Hou Andu]] and [[Zhou Wenyu]] to attack Wang, accusing Wang of being a renegade.

Before Hou and Zhou could engage Wang's forces, however, in winter 557, Chen had Emperor Jing yield the throne to him, establishing the [[Chen Dynasty]] as Emperor Wu. Having lost the rationale for attacking Wang, Hou and Zhou's forces suffered from low morale, and Wang defeated and captured them, along with most of their forces. He thereafter moved his headquarters from Changsha to Jiangxia. His subsequent campaigns to take over the modern [[Jiangxi]] region, however, were indecisive, preventing him from making a decisive attack on Chen. In spring 558, he sought aid from Northern Qi and also requested that Northern Qi return Xiao Zhuang (whom Chen Baxian had sent to Northern Qi as part of a hostage party in 555) to continue the Liang lineage. In spring 558, Northern Qi returned Xiao Zhuang, after Wang had sent his nephew Wang Shubao (王叔寶), along with sons or brothers of the 10 provincial governors under him, to Yecheng as hostages. He declared Xiao Zhuang emperor, and he served as Xiao Zhuang's prime minister, with the capital at Jiangxia.

Before Hou and Zhou could engage Wang's forces, however, in winter 557, Chen had Emperor Jing yield the throne to him, establishing the [[Chen Dynasty]] as Emperor Wu. Having lost the rationale for attacking Wang, Hou and Zhou's forces suffered from low morale, and Wang defeated and captured them, along with most of their forces. He thereafter moved his headquarters from Changsha to Jiangxia. His subsequent campaigns to take over the modern [[Jiangxi]] region, however, were indecisive, preventing him from making a decisive attack on Chen. In spring 558, he sought aid from Northern Qi and also requested that Northern Qi return Xiao Zhuang (whom Chen Baxian had sent to Northern Qi as part of a hostage party in 555) to continue the Liang lineage. In spring 558, Northern Qi returned Xiao Zhuang, after Wang had sent his nephew Wang Shubao (王叔寶), along with sons or brothers of the 10 provincial governors under him, to Yecheng as hostages. He declared Xiao Zhuang emperor, and he served as Xiao Zhuang's prime minister, with the capital at Jiangxia.