Xiao Kui, courtesy name Renyuan, is the grandson of Liang Zhaoming Crown Prince Xiao Tong. His father Xiao Cha, initially titled as Prince of Yueyang, defended Xiangyang. Later, during Hou Jing's rebellion, Xiao Cha's elder brother Prince of Hedong Xiao Yu and uncle Prince of Xiangdong Xiao Yi had a conflict, which led to Xiao Yu's death at the hands of Xiao Yi. After Xiao Yi ascended the throne, Xiao Cha sought refuge with the Western Wei and requested them to send troops to attack Xiao Yi. Western Wei's Emperor Zhou Yutai proclaimed Xiao Cha as King of Liang and sent General Yu Jin with fifty thousand cavalry to attack Xiao Yi, leading to Xiao Yi's defeat. Xiao Cha then established his capital in Jiangling, occupying Jingzhou and the western Pingzhou, with a territory spanning over three hundred li. He then declared himself emperor, emulating the grandeur of other emperors. He also appointed a governor of Jiangling and stationed troops there.
After Xiao Cha's death, Xiao Kui inherited the throne, with the era name Tianbao. Xiao Kui was intelligent, eloquent, well-educated, and enjoyed studying Buddhist scriptures. After Emperor Zhou Wu's conquest of Northern Qi, Xiao Kui went to congratulate him. Emperor Zhou Wu was very pleased and personally played the pipa, asking Xiao Kui to dance. Xiao Kui said, "Your Majesty is playing the music personally; how could I possibly dance about like a wild beast?" Later, when Yang Jian usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, he showed even greater favor to Xiao Kui, showering him with lavish gifts: five hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, ten thousand rolls of cloth, and five hundred horses. Xiao Kui went to pay his respects to Yang Jian, who held him in high regard and ordered that Xiao Kui's seat in the court should be higher than those of other princes and ministers. Xiao Kui dressed meticulously, behaved elegantly, and the emperor valued him highly, which sparked envy among the court officials. Yang Jian bestowed countless gifts upon him, amounting to over one hundred million taels. A month later, when Xiao Kui returned to his fiefdom, Yang Jian personally escorted him to the banks of the Chan River.
Later, Yang Jian also married his daughter to Xiao Kui's son, making her the Princess of Jin, and wanted to marry Xiao Kui's son, Xiao Gui, to Princess Lanling. It can be seen that Yang Jian was increasingly trusting Xiao Kui. Empress Yang Lihua said to Yang Jian, "Prince Liang is our own family, our confidant; why do we need to guard against him?" Yang Jian agreed, so he revoked the position of Governor of Jiangling and let Xiao Kui manage his own territory. A year later, Xiao Kui went to see Yang Jian again, and Yang Jian rewarded him with ten thousand bolts of silk and many treasures. As Xiao Kui prepared to leave, Yang Jian held his hand and said, "Prince Liang, you have been in the Jingchu region for a long time and have not been able to return to the capital. You must really miss your hometown, right? I plan to lead the troops to the Yangtze River area to send you back." After thanking him, Xiao Kui left.
In May of the same year, Xiao Kui fell seriously ill. Before he died, he submitted a memorial to Yang Jian, saying, "I am foolish and incompetent, but I have received your favor, surpassing other princes. The favor I have received is greater than Mount Tai, and even my children can marry into the imperial family. I have always hoped to wear armor, charge into battle, eliminate enemies, and repay your grace. But my health is poor; I suddenly fell seriously ill, and I am about to die. I can only bid you farewell. I can no longer serve you. I feel very sad. My descendants are young, and I humbly request your favor. I hope you stay healthy, and the country remains stable. Even if I die, I will have no regrets." He also presented his gold sword that he usually wore. Yang Jian was very saddened after reading the memorial. Xiao Kui ruled for twenty-three years before passing away at the age of forty-four. The officials of the Liang Dynasty posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Emperor Xiaoming, and his temple name was Shizong. His son, Xiao Cong, succeeded to the throne. Xiao Kui also wrote "The Classic of Filial Piety," "Commentary on the Book of Changes," and "The Profound and Mysterious of Mahayana and Hinayana" in fourteen volumes, which have been handed down through the ages.
Xiao Cong was a man with a gentle and refined personality, generous and kind-hearted, possessing an imposing presence, charismatic and learned. He was also skilled in horseback archery, once had someone lie on the ground as a target while he shot arrows on horseback, hitting the target with all ten arrows, and those holding the target were not afraid. He was initially appointed King of Dongyang and later proclaimed as the Crown Prince of Liang.
After he inherited the throne, the Emperor issued a decree saying, "You bear a tremendous responsibility in governing the country; even in times of sorrow and hardship, you must rely on your own efforts. Effectively manage both internal and external relations, employ talented individuals, and continue to follow the ancestral legacy; this is our expectation of you. Your border is near the state of Chen, especially during flood seasons, you must strengthen your defenses. Although Chen has recently paid tribute, the border areas are not completely stable; you must remain vigilant and never underestimate the enemy or go unprepared. My ancestors have maintained a long-standing friendship with the state of Liang, and with our close relations, our bond is even deeper. The region of Jiangling holds high hopes for the court; for the good of the country and its people, you must practice self-discipline and serve the public, always showing compassion to the people and treating others with respect." The Emperor also issued a decree to the ministers of Liang, encouraging them sincerely.
At that time, Xiao Cong's reign title was Guangyun. Some remarked, "'Yun' means the army is retreating; is our ruler planning to flee?" That year, Xiao Cong sent General Qi Xin to lead the navy to launch an attack on Chen's defenses, but the mission failed, and they had to retreat. Later, the Emperor summoned Xiao Cong's uncle Cen to the court, appointed him as the Grand General, granted him the title of Duke Huaiyi, and kept him in the court without allowing him to return. A governor was appointed in Jiangling to oversee Xiao Cong. The general whom Xiao Cong had appointed, Xu Shiwu, secretly colluded with Chen's General Yi Huanghou Chen Ji to plot a rebellion. When the conspiracy was uncovered, Xiao Cong executed Xu Shiwu.
Two years later, the emperor summoned Xiao Cong to the capital, and Xiao Cong brought over two hundred officials to pay their respects at the capital. The people of Jiangling wept and said to one another, "Our sovereign might not return!" In response to Xiao Cong's visit, the emperor dispatched Wu Xianggong Cui Hongdu to garrison Jiangling. When the army arrived in Yezhou, Xiao Cong's uncle Yan, his brother Yuan, and others were fearful of being attacked by Cui Hongdu, so they lured the people of Chen Guo to the city, plundered the populace, and then rebelled, resulting in the fall of Liang Guo. The emperor dispatched the Left Supervisor Gao Feng to quell the rebellion, granted amnesty for all capital offenses in Jiangling, and waived taxes for the people for ten years. The two sovereigns of Liang Guo were each given ten households to guard their tombs. Xiao Cong was appointed as the pillar of the state and conferred the title of Duke of Juguo.
After Emperor Yangdi ascended the throne, he was very fond of Xiao Cong due to the empress. He was appointed as the Interior Minister, and his title was conferred as Duke of Liang. Xiao Cong's clan, from cousins and above, were promoted and employed based on their abilities, so the Xiao brothers were all over the court. Xiao Cong was unpretentious, not taking his official position too seriously, and drank after court sessions. Interior Minister Yang Yue, a colleague of Xiao Cong, was instructed by the emperor to advise and encourage Xiao Cong, and Yang Yue also privately advised him. Xiao Cong replied, "If I take everything seriously, what's the difference between me and you?" Yang Yue smiled and left.
Yang Yue's brother, Yang Su, then serving as the Minister of Personnel, observed that Xiao Cong had married his sister to Qian'er, and said to Xiao Cong, "You are of imperial lineage; you should marry a woman from a noble family. Why did you marry your sister to Qian'er?" Xiao Cong said, "I have already married my sister to Houmo Chen; is there any doubt left?" Yang Su said, "Qian'er is from the Qiang tribe, and Houmo Chen is from the Hu tribe; how can they be compared?" Yang Su implied that the Hu tribe was superior to the Qiang tribe. Xiao Cong said, "I have never heard that the Qiang tribe is lesser than the Hu tribe." Yang Su felt embarrassed and ended the conversation.
Xiao Cong, although living in a different place, never grovels before the wealthy and noble families of the North. He had a deep friendship with He Ruobi, and after He Ruobi was killed, there was a nursery rhyme saying, "Xiao Xiao will rise again." The emperor became jealous of him, deposed him at home, and soon passed away, posthumously granting him the title of Left Guanglu Doctor. His son, Xiao Xuan, served as the Commander of Xiangcheng. Later, Xiao Cong's grandson, Xiao Ju, was made the Duke of Liang. Xiao Ju's nickname was Zang, and Emperor Yang of Sui loved him very much, making him a Qian Niu, allowing him to accompany Yuwen Hu in and out of the court. Every time the emperor feasted, Xiao Ju followed along, getting involved in numerous scandalous activities in the palace. During the Jiangdu Uprising, he met his end at the hands of Yuwen Hu.
Shen Qinwen, who was smart and talented since childhood, excelled at writing. He became the Jingzhou Governor in the Liang Dynasty and earned a solid reputation. Later, when Cui Hongdu led troops to Yuezhou, Shen Qinwen was frightened and fled to the Chen Dynasty alongside his uncle Shen Yan. The Chen Dynasty emperor appointed him as the Shizhong, General of Andong, and Governor of Wuzhou. He was adept at managing political affairs and was held in high regard by the local populace. The elders in the Sanwu region praised him, saying, "Shen Qinwen is our gentleman!"
After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, the people of Wudi chose Shen Qinwen as their leader. Seeing that the emperors of the Liang Dynasty, Emperor Wu, Emperor Jianwen, and brothers Xiao Cha and Xiao Kui, all ascended the throne as the third generation of imperial succession, and he himself was the third son of Xiao Kui, he became increasingly proud and arrogant. At that time, there was a man named Xie Yi who had a deep understanding of historical cycles. During the transition period between the Liang and Chen Dynasties, his predictions all came to pass, and the people of Jiangnan respected him greatly. After the Chen Dynasty emperor was captured, Xie Yi sought refuge with Shen Qinwen, which further solidified his support.
Duke Bao of Baoguo, Yuwen Shu, led his troops to attack Shen Qinwen. Shen Qinwen assigned Wang Ai to defend Wuzhou and personally commanded his troops to confront Yuwen Shu. Yuwen Shu dispatched troops to launch a surprise attack on Wuzhou via an alternate route. Wang Ai, fearing for his safety, disguised himself in Taoist robes, abandoned the city, and fled. Upon hearing this news, Shen Qinwen's army lost their morale and suffered defeat in battle against Yuwen Shu. Shen Qinwen and a few confidants escaped to Taihu Lake, seeking refuge in the homes of ordinary citizens, but were ultimately captured and delivered to Yuwen Shu, where they were ultimately executed in Chang'an. He was just twenty-one at the time.
His younger brother Shen Jing became a court official; his younger brother Shen Yang held positions as the Minister of Guard, Secretary of the Secretariat, and Marquis of Taoqiu; his younger brother Shen Yu served as the Minister of the Interior and Prefect of Hechi. Historical records indicate that the wise rulers of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties were adept at long-term planning. In states where uncles and nephews hold power, they seldom wield significant authority, and families tied by blood seldom meet a good end. The rise and fall of dynasties was a common occurrence from the Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty, all because once they attained power, they often disregarded established norms, leading to their swift downfall. If the power of the Dugu family was as great as Empress Lü and Huo Guang, they would likely have faced failure before Renshou; if the power of the Xiao family was as strong as the Liang and Dou families of the Liang Dynasty, they would certainly not have been able to maintain their great achievements! Some families today have managed to retain their ancestral foundations, and some families are even more prosperous than their ancestors. Isn't this a result of their adherence to the right path and their avoidance of power struggles and greed?
