Phraya Rachasetthi (Thai: พระยาราชาเศรษฐี), personal name Chen Lian[1] (陳聯 pinyin: Chén Lián) or Tang Lieng (Teochew: dang5 liêng5) or Trần Liên[2] (in Vietnamese sources) was the governor of Hà Tiên from 1771 to 1773, appointed by King Taksin of Thonburi.
[3] He was also known colloquially as Chao Khrua Lian (เจ้าขรัวเหลียน) or Chiêu Khoa Liên[2] (昭科聯) and as Phraya Rachasethi Chin (พระยาราชาเศรษฐีจีน, "the Chinese governor of Hà Tiên").
[2] However, Mạc Thiên Tứ, the Cantonese ruler of Hà Tiên, managed to send forces to repel Chen Tai.
[6] The Siamese-Chinese naval forces successfully seized Hà Tiên in November 1771 with Mạc Thiên Tứ fleeing to Cochinchina under protection of the Nguyen Lord.
[6] A Vietnamese source stated that; Phi Nha Tan (Taksin) took command of 2,000 soldiers for the invasion of Hà Tiên, with Trần Thái of Bạch Mã as a guide.
During the Bangkaeo Campaign in February 1775, Taksin ordered Phraya Rachasetthi Chen Lian to lead his Chinese regiment to guard the town of Ratchaburi against the incoming Burmese invasion.
[7] In late 1775, during Maha Thiha Thura's Invasion when Taksin marched to the north to relieve the Burmese siege of Phitsanulok, he commanded Chen Lian to guard the royal supply line at Nakhon Sawan.
A Burmese map showed his house, on the eastern bank of Chaophraya opposite from Thonburi, surrounded by Teochiu communities, perhaps indicating that he had the capacity as a leader of Teochew Chinese in the city.
[3] When King Rama I moved the Siamese capital from Thonburi across Chaophraya to Bangkok on the eastern bank in 1782, he ordered Phraya Rachasetthi and the Teochew Chinese to relocate to Sampheng.