 When speaking as Jesus, Xiao was able to reprimand even Hong Xiuquan, as Jesus necessarily possessed greater authority than even Hong.During that summer of 1848, Xiao entered into a sworn brotherhood with Hong Xiuquan, Feng Yunshan, Yang Xiuqing, Wei Changhui, Shi Dakai, and Jesus Christ.Xiao acted as one of the principal military commanders of the Taiping forces in the early days of the Taiping Rebellion and was named commander in chief of the Taiping's Front Army Corps on January 11, 1851.