38 Facts About Liu Chengyou

Liu Chengyou, known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Yin of Later Han, was the second and last emperor of the Later Han dynasty of China, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Liu Chengyou reigned from 948 until his death in 951.

Liu Chengyou was only 16 years old when he succeeded his father Liu Zhiyuan, who died abruptly.

Liu Chengyou's reign was marked by the arbitrary killing of his important ministers, which eventually led to his downfall.

When he killed the entire family of general Guo Wei without Guo in 951, Guo's army attacked the capital, and Liu Chengyou was killed in the chaos.

Liu Chengyou was born in 931 at Yedu, at the house of his father Liu Zhiyuan.

Liu Chengyou's father was a trusted officer under the general Shi Jingtang, son-in-law of then-reigning emperor Li Siyuan of Later Tang.

Liu Chengyou had two brothers, Liu Chengxun, who was nine years older than him, and Liu Chengxun, who was younger.

Liu Chengyou had an adoptive brother, Liu Yun, the biological son of his uncle Liu Chong, whom Liu Zhiyuan favored and adopted as a son.

In 941, after Shi Jingtang overthrew Later Tang and established his state of Later Jin, Liu Zhiyuan acted as the military governor of Hedong Circuit.

The 10-year-old Liu Chengyou was given the title of an overseer of the circuit headquarters.

In 947, after Later Jin was destroyed by the Khitan Liao dynasty, Liu Zhiyuan declared himself emperor of the new state, Later Han and Liu Chengyou was given the title of General.

Liu Chengyou is still young and weak, so I entrust to you what happens after my death.

Shortly thereafter, they announced that the emperor had died, and Liu Chengyou took the throne at the age of 17.

Liu Chengyou honored his mother Empress Li as empress dowager.

Liu Chengyou Zhiyuan had given Wang secret instructions that if Zhao and Hou had already left for Kaifeng to pay homage to the emperor by the time that he arrived, then he was not to act against them.

However, Wang hesitated because Liu Chengyou was not aware of the secret instructions Liu Zhiyuan had given him.

Liu Chengyou conscripted the young men of the city, resulting in a total force of 4,000 men, and prepared for battle.

Liu Chengyou proposed that the chief of staff positions should be entrusted to Su Fengji and Su Yugui.

Liu Chengyou therefore believed he could entice the army to defect to him.

Liu Chengyou's government sent a force to attack the three rebellious circuits, but it foundered due to conflicts among the commanding generals.

Liu Chengyou decided that he needed a senior general to oversee the operation, and commissioned Guo Wei to do so.

Liu Chengyou spent time with the director of imperial stables, Hou Kuangzan, and the director of tea and wine, Guo Yunming, often in inappropriate conversations.

The northern circuits needed better coordination in their response, and Liu Chengyou's officials decided to post an overall commander in the north to oversee the defenses.

Liu Chengyou thanked Guo, but the tension between the officials continued.

However, Liu Chengyou was tired of the control his senior officials had over his government, partly because he was unable to offer powerful positions to his close associates and relatives of the empress dowager.

When Liu Chengyou wanted to make his favorite concubine, Consort Geng, Empress, Yang opposed it, considering this move to come too soon after his mourning period for Liu Zhiyuan.

Yang and Shi embarrassed Liu Chengyou by telling him to "be quiet" during a discussion of matters of state.

Liu Chengyou therefore became resentful toward them, and his close associates falsely accused Yang and the other senior officials of plotting against him.

Liu Chengyou then plotted with Li Ye, Nie, Hou, and Guo Yunming to kill Yang and the others.

Meanwhile, Liu Chengyou had summoned several prominent generals to the capital, including Liu Zhiyuan's half-brother Murong Yanchao, Gao Xingzhou, and Fu Yanqing.

Murong immediately went to Kaifeng, and Liu Chengyou put him in charge of the imperial army.

Liu Chengyou sent the Imperial Guard general Yuan Yi and Liu Chengyou Chongjin, the former military governor of Weisheng Circuit, to rendezvous with Hou, Wu, and Zhang and prepare to engage Guo.

Liu Chengyou withdrew, but lost more than 100 of his soldiers.

Liu Chengyou stayed in his tent that night with three chancellors and fewer than 100 attendants.

When he got there Liu Chengyou had already left, attempting to return to the palace.

Liu Chengyou was intercepted by Guo's soldiers at Zhao Village.

Liu Chengyou dismounted and tried to hide in a civilian's house, but was killed there.