Liu Zong
Encyclopedia
Liu Cong was the second son of the warlord Liu Biao
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
.
, Shandong
). He was the second son of Liu Biao
, the Governor of Jing Province (荊州; covering present-day Hubei
and Hunan
). He was a descendant of Liu Yu (劉餘), Prince Gong of Lu. He had a older brother named Liu Qi, who, like him, was also born to Liu Biao's first wife. Liu Qi and Liu Cong's mother died early.
. Due to this, the Cai clan was naturally inclined to support Liu Cong, and they often spoke ill of Liu Qi in front of Liu Biao. Liu Qi fell out of his father's favour and heeded Zhuge Liang
's suggestion to leave Jing Province's capital Xiangyang
and travel to Jiangxia. On the other hand, Liu Biao loved Liu Cong deeply and wanted to let his younger son succeed him as Governor of Jing Province. A rift developed between Liu Cong and Liu Qi as a consequence.
In 208, Liu Biao became seriously ill, and Liu Qi returned from Jiangxia to visit his father. Lady Cai's younger brother, Cai Mao
, and Cai Mao's nephew Zhang Yun
were worried that Liu Biao might change his decision after meeting Liu Qi, so they denied Liu Qi entry and refused to let him see his father. Liu Biao died shortly afterwards and Liu Cong became the new Governor of Jing Province.
About a month later, the northern warlord Cao Cao
led an army to invade Jing Province. Liu Cong's advisors Kuai Yue, Han Song (韓嵩) and Fu Xun (傅巽) urged him to surrender to Cao Cao. Liu Cong initially desired to put up resistance but was eventually persuaded by Fu Xun to dismiss the idea. When Cao Cao's army reached Xiangyang, Liu Cong surrendered Jing Province to him. Cao Cao appointed Liu Cong as Inspector of Qing Province (青州刺史) and granted him the title of a marquis. On Cao Cao's recommendation, Liu Cong was later promoted to Counsellor Remonstrant (諫議大夫) and Army Advisor (參軍事).
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Liu Cong was born to Liu Biao's second wife Lady Cai
. Lady Cai detested Liu Qi and plotted with her brother Cai Mao
to have Liu Qi killed. Liu Qi evaded danger by leaving Xiangyang and traveling to Jiangxia. Liu Cong succeeded Liu Biao as Governor of Jing Province after the latter died.
When Cao Cao invaded Jing Province, Liu Cong surrendered immediately and yielded the province to Cao. Liu Qi, however, defended Jiangxia and allied with the warlords Liu Bei
and Sun Quan
to resist Cao Cao. Liu Cong was appointed as Inspector of Qing Province by Cao Cao after his surrender. However, Cao Cao later sent his general Yu Jin
to lead soldiers to kill Liu Cong and Lady Cai while they were traveling to Qing Province.
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Family background
Liu Cong's ancestral home was in Gaoping, Shanyang (present-day ZouchengZoucheng
Zoucheng is a county-level city in the south of Shandong province in China. Historically, the name Zouxian, in a variety of transcriptions, was used for the city as well....
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). He was the second son of Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
, the Governor of Jing Province (荊州; covering present-day Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
and Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
). He was a descendant of Liu Yu (劉餘), Prince Gong of Lu. He had a older brother named Liu Qi, who, like him, was also born to Liu Biao's first wife. Liu Qi and Liu Cong's mother died early.
Biography
Liu Biao initially favoured his older son Liu Qi because the latter resembled him in appearance. Liu Cong later married the niece of Liu Biao's second wife, Lady CaiLady Cai
Lady Cai was the second wife of the warlord Liu Biao, who was in charge of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history....
. Due to this, the Cai clan was naturally inclined to support Liu Cong, and they often spoke ill of Liu Qi in front of Liu Biao. Liu Qi fell out of his father's favour and heeded Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
's suggestion to leave Jing Province's capital Xiangyang
Xiangyang
Xiangzhou District is a district of Xiangyang, Hubei, China. The district itself was formerly known as Xiangyang. It was a city famous for the Siege of Xiangyang by invading forces of the Mongol-founded Yuan Dynasty...
and travel to Jiangxia. On the other hand, Liu Biao loved Liu Cong deeply and wanted to let his younger son succeed him as Governor of Jing Province. A rift developed between Liu Cong and Liu Qi as a consequence.
In 208, Liu Biao became seriously ill, and Liu Qi returned from Jiangxia to visit his father. Lady Cai's younger brother, Cai Mao
Cai Mao
Cai Mao was a military general specializing in naval warfare during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He was from Xiangyang in Jing Province and originally served the warlord Liu Biao before joining Cao Cao's forces. He gained his status when his sister married Liu Biao.Cai Mao initially...
, and Cai Mao's nephew Zhang Yun
Zhang Yun
Zhang Yun was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Biao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was Cai Mao's maternal nephew and specialized in naval warfare like his uncle...
were worried that Liu Biao might change his decision after meeting Liu Qi, so they denied Liu Qi entry and refused to let him see his father. Liu Biao died shortly afterwards and Liu Cong became the new Governor of Jing Province.
About a month later, the northern warlord Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
led an army to invade Jing Province. Liu Cong's advisors Kuai Yue, Han Song (韓嵩) and Fu Xun (傅巽) urged him to surrender to Cao Cao. Liu Cong initially desired to put up resistance but was eventually persuaded by Fu Xun to dismiss the idea. When Cao Cao's army reached Xiangyang, Liu Cong surrendered Jing Province to him. Cao Cao appointed Liu Cong as Inspector of Qing Province (青州刺史) and granted him the title of a marquis. On Cao Cao's recommendation, Liu Cong was later promoted to Counsellor Remonstrant (諫議大夫) and Army Advisor (參軍事).
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Liu Cong was born to Liu Biao's second wife Lady Cai
Lady Cai
Lady Cai was the second wife of the warlord Liu Biao, who was in charge of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history....
. Lady Cai detested Liu Qi and plotted with her brother Cai Mao
Cai Mao
Cai Mao was a military general specializing in naval warfare during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He was from Xiangyang in Jing Province and originally served the warlord Liu Biao before joining Cao Cao's forces. He gained his status when his sister married Liu Biao.Cai Mao initially...
to have Liu Qi killed. Liu Qi evaded danger by leaving Xiangyang and traveling to Jiangxia. Liu Cong succeeded Liu Biao as Governor of Jing Province after the latter died.
When Cao Cao invaded Jing Province, Liu Cong surrendered immediately and yielded the province to Cao. Liu Qi, however, defended Jiangxia and allied with the warlords Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
and Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
to resist Cao Cao. Liu Cong was appointed as Inspector of Qing Province by Cao Cao after his surrender. However, Cao Cao later sent his general Yu Jin
Yu Jin
Yu Jin was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He joined Cao in the early years of the civil wars that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty...
to lead soldiers to kill Liu Cong and Lady Cai while they were traveling to Qing Province.