Wang Wei (Chinese: 王偉; pinyin: Wáng Wěi, died 25 June 552[1]) was the chief strategist for Hou Jing, who controlled the imperial government of and briefly took over the throne of the Chinese Liang Dynasty and established his short-lived state of Han.
His ancestors were from Lüeyang Commandery (略陽, roughly modern Tianshui, Gansu), but as his father Wang Lüe (王略) served as the county magistrate of Xuchang County (許昌, Yingchuan Commandery's seat), the family remained in Yingchuan.
Xiao Yuanming was captured, and Hou lost the provinces he controlled and was forced to flee to Liang.
Subsequently, with Wang's advice, Hou surprised Emperor Wu – who had sent his son, Xiao Guan (蕭綸) the Prince of Shaoling to attack Hou – by leaving Shouyang before Xiao Guan could approach and attacked the capital Jiankang directly.
Hou was able to reach Jiankang with minimal resistance, and after capturing the outer city, put the palace under siege.
Throughout the siege, Wang continued to serve as chief advisor and propagandist as well as negotiator with Emperor Wu and his crown prince Xiao Gang.
Hou did not act against Emperor Jianwen immediately, but in autumn 551, after his campaign against Emperor Jianwen's brother Xiao Yi the Prince of Xiangdong – then the strongest remaining Liang prince – ended in disaster, he feared for his safety and wanted to seize the throne immediately.
Wang was made the prime minister, and it was at his urging that Hou built temples to worship his ancestors, pursuant to Confucian tradition.
The Prince of Xiangdong is already blind in one eye; how can the people follow him?Insulted, Xiao Yi ordered that Wang Wei be put to death in a cruel manner.