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Liu Chengyou

Liu Chengyou, also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Yin of Later Han (後漢隱帝), was the second and last emperor of the Later Han dynasty of China, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He reigned from 948 until his death in 951.

Background
Liu Chengyou was born in 931 at Yedu (鄴都, in modern Handan, Hebei), at the house of his father Liu Zhiyuan. His father was a trusted officer under the general Shi Jingtang, son-in-law of then-reigning emperor Li Siyuan (Emperor Mingzong) of Later Tang. His mother was Liu Zhiyuan's wife, Lady Li. He also 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 (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). The 10-year-old Liu Chengyou was given the title of an overseer of the circuit headquarters. == Reign ==
Reign
Initial months Liu Chengyou's young administration immediately had to deal with a potential rebellion on the border with Later Shu, to the west. Before Liu Zhiyuan died, he had sent the Imperial Guard general Wang Jingchong with an army to visit Jinchang (晉昌, headquartered in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) and Fengxiang (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) Circuits, then governed by Zhao Kuangzan () and Hou Yi () respectively. Both Zhao and Hou had previously submitted to Later Han, then changed their minds and submitted to Later Shu, and finally resubmitted to Later Han. Liu 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. If instead they had not left for Kaifeng and were watching for developments, he should kill them. When Wang reached Jinchang, Zhao had already set out for Kaifeng. Wang merged his army with Zhao's and continued to Fengxiang. While he was on the road to Fengxiang, Liu Zhiyuan died and Liu Chengyou took the throne. When Wang reached Fengxiang, Hou had not left for Kaifeng, and Wang's associates suggested that he follow Liu Zhiyuan's instructions and execute Hou. However, Wang hesitated because Liu Chengyou was not aware of the secret instructions Liu Zhiyuan had given him. Hou heard of this and immediately left for Kaifeng without informing Wang. Hou made many accusations of overstepping against Wang Jingchong, as revenge for Wang's considering killing him. When Wang heard that Hou had been made the acting mayor of Kaifeng, he became concerned. Meanwhile, the imperial attendant Wang Yi () was sent to Fengxiang to recall Zhao's soldiers to Kaifeng. This caused anxiety among the soldiers, including the officers Zhao Siwan () and Chang Yanqing (). Wang Jingchong encouraged their anxiety, with the result that Zhao and Chang considered a mutiny. When Wang Yi and the army reached Chang'an (capital of Jinchang, now renamed Yongxing (), Zhao led the soldiers in mutiny and occupied the city. He conscripted the young men of the city, resulting in a total force of 4,000 men, and prepared for battle. At the same time, Wang Jingchong was encouraging the people of Fengxiang to submit petitions for him to be retained at Fengxiang as military governor. This led to concern at court that he too would rebel. The governing officials issued an edict moving Wang Shou'en (), the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) to Yongxing, and Zhao Hui () the military governor of Baoyi Circuit (保義, headquartered in Sanmenxia, Henan) to Fengxiang. Wang Jingchong was made the acting military governor of Jingnan. However, this did not satisfy Wang. "The Son of Heaven is in danger. You, Lord, are his close relative. You should take your guards to go protect him, and also request that he find a chance to come to my camp." However, when Song tried to go to the imperial tent, there were confused soldiers in the way and he did not dare to advance. Towards the end of the day more and more of the imperial army surrendered to Guo's. Murong abandoned the imperial army and fled back to Taining's capital Yan Prefecture () with only a handful of his guards. Liu Chengyou stayed in his tent that night with three chancellors (Su Fengji, Su Yugui, and Dou) and fewer than 100 attendants. ==Family==
Family
• Father • Liu Zhiyuan, Emperor Gaozu of Later Han • Mother • Empress Li • Wife • Lady Zhang, daughter of Zhang Yancheng () • Major Concubine • Consort Geng (d. 950?) Ancestry ==References==
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