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 HàTiên from 1771 to 1773,appointed by King Taksin of Thonburi. He was a Teochew Chinese [3] general of the Thonburi Kingdom,formerly known as Luang Phiphit (หลวงพิพิธ) [4] and Phraya Phiphit (พระยาพิพิธ). [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 HàTiên").
Nidhi Eoseewong proposed that Chen Lian was originally Khun Phiphit Wathi [4] (Thai :ขุนพิพิธวาที),a minor Chinese official serving under Ayutthaya who joined the forces of Phraya Tak during the latter's journey from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi in 1767. Chen Lian was then one of the original followers of Phraya Tak,who was also of Teochew Chinese descent. Khun Phiphit Wathi commanded the Chinese regiment during Phraya Tak's battle against the local resistance in Rayong in 1767. Sakurai and Kitagawa proposed that Chen Lian was the Teochew Chinese merchant-pirate by the name of Chen Tai (陳太pinyin:Chén Tài) or Trần Thái. [2] Chen Tai gathered his forces at Mount Bạch Mãto attack the port-city of HàTiên. [2] However,Mạc Thiên Tứ,the Cantonese ruler of HàTiên,managed to send forces to repel Chen Tai. Chen Tai fled to Chanthaburi and joined Phraya Tak under the name of Chiam (เจียม). [2]
Regardless of his origin,Chen Lian partook with Phraya Tak when he led his fleet from Chanthaburi to reconquer Central Siam in October 1767. Phraya Tak sent his two generals Phraya Phiphit Chen Lian and Phraya Phichairacha as vanguard to attack the Burmese garrison at Phosamton to the north of Ayutthaya under the Mon commander Thugyi. After the victory at Phosamton,Phraya Tak enthroned himself as King Taksin of the newly founded Thonburi kingdom. Taksin appointed Phraya Phiphit Chen Lian to be the acting Phrakhlang [4] [5] or Kosathibodi,the minister of Trade and Treasury,without actually assuming the title of Phrakhlang. De Fels proposed that the full title of Phraya Phiphit was Phraya Phiphit Phokhakorn the governor of Trat. [2] When Zheng Rui,a Qing Chinese delegate,arrived to investigate the events at HàTiên in 1768,Chen Lian's name appeared as one of the followers of Phraya Tak in the report of Zheng Rui. [6]
In 1769,Taksin sent Phraya Kosa Chen Lian to lead the Siamese forces to attack Cambodia through Prachinburi. Phraya Kosa managed to temporarily seize Battambang. [7] However,the campaign was not successful. [8] In the same year,in 1769,Mạc Thiên Tứsent a HàTiên navy under Trần Hầu (Trần Đại Lực) to attack Chanthaburi. [2] The Siamese defender of Chanthaburi was Trần Lai,whom Sakurai and Kitagawa proposed to be the same person as Trần Liên and Trần Thái. [2] He defeated the HàTiên navy and forced them to retreat. [9]
In late 1771,King Taksin conducted his campaigns to invade and conquer HàTiên. He sent Phraya Phiphit Chen Lian ahead as the admiral and another Chinese Phraya Phichai Aisawan (พระยาพิชัยไอศวรรย์),personal name Yang Chin-chong or Yang Jinzong (楊進宗),as vanguard. [6] The Siamese-Chinese naval forces successfully seized HàTiên in November 1771 with Mạc Thiên Tứfleeing to Cochinchina under protection of the Nguyen Lord. [2] Taksin then made Phraya Phiphit Chen Lian the new governor of HàTiên with the title of Phraya Rachasetthi. [2] Phraya Phichai Aisawan Yang Jinzong was made to succeed Chen Lian as the acting Phrakhlang. [5] In Thai sources,Chen Lian was known by the epithet Phraya Rachasetthi Chin "the Chinese governor of HàTiên",in contrast to Mạc Thiên Tứwho was known as Phraya Rachasetthi Yuan (พระยาราชาเศรษฐีญวน) "the Vietnamese governor of HàTiên".
Next year in 1772,Mạc Thiên Tứsent reports to the Qing court about the downfall of his city;