Liu Cong () ( 207–208) was a Chinese politician who lived during the late

Eastern Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...

of China. He was the younger son of

Liu Biao Liu Biao () () ( 151 – September 208), courtesy name Jingsheng, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He is best known for serving as the governor of Jing Province (coveri ...

, the Governor of

Jing Province Jingzhou or Jing Province was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China referenced in early Chinese texts such as the ''Yu Gong, Tribute of Yu'', ''Erya'', and ''Rites of Zhou''. Jingzhou became an administrative division during the reign of E ...

Life

Liu Cong's ancestral home was in Gaoping, Shanyang (present-day

Zoucheng Zoucheng () is a county-level city in the south of Shandong province, China. Before it was incorporated as a city in October 1992, it was known as Zou County (邹县) or Zouxian. Zoucheng is located about 20 km south of the city of Qufu, an ...

Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...

). He was the second son of

, the Governor of

(荊州; covering present-day

Hubei Hubei is a province of China, province in Central China. It has the List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP, seventh-largest economy among Chinese provinces, the second-largest within Central China, and the third-largest among inland ...

and

Hunan Hunan is an inland Provinces of China, province in Central China. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the Administrative divisions of China, province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to the east, Gu ...

). He was a descendant of Liu Yu, Prince Gong of Lu. He had an elder brother, Liu Qi, who was also born to Liu Biao's first wife Lady Chen. Their mother died early. Liu Biao initially favoured his elder son Liu Qi because the latter resembled him in appearance. Liu Cong later married the niece of Liu Biao's second wife, Lady Cai. Due to this, the Cai family 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 () (181September or October 234), also commonly known by his courtesy name Kongming, was a Chinese statesman, strategist, and inventor who lived through the End of the Han dynasty, end of the Eastern Han dynasty ( 184–220) and t ...

's suggestion to leave

's capital

Xiangyang Xiangyang is the second-largest prefecture-level city by population in northwestern Hubei province, China. It was known as Xiangfan from 1950 to 2010. The Han River (Hanshui), Han River runs through Xiangyang's centre and divides the city n ...

and travel to

Jiangxia Commandery Jiangxia Commandery ( zh, 江夏郡) was a Chinese commandery that existed from Han dynasty to Tang dynasty. Its territories were located in present-day eastern Hubei province. History Jiangxia Commandery was established during the reign of Emper ...

. On the other hand, Liu Biao loved Liu Cong deeply and wanted to let his younger son succeed him as the Governor of Jing Province. As a consequence, a rift developed between Liu Cong and Liu Qi.''

Book of the Later Han The ''Book of the Later Han'', also known as the ''History of the Later Han'' and by its Chinese name ''Hou Hanshu'' (), is one of the Twenty-Four Histories and covers the history of the Han dynasty from 6 to 189 CE, a period known as the Lat ...

'', 74:2423 In 208, Liu Biao became seriously ill, and Liu Qi returned from Jiangxia Commandery to visit his father. Lady Cai's younger brother Cai Mao and Liu Biao's maternal 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.''Book of the Later Han'', 74:2424 About a month later, the warlord

Cao Cao Cao Cao (; ; ; 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power during the end of the Han dynasty (), ultimately taking effective control of the Han central government. He laid the foundation f ...

, who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead

Emperor Xian Emperor Xian of Han (2 April 181 – 21 April 234), personal name Liu Xie (劉協), courtesy name Bohe, was the 14th and last emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty of China. He reigned from 28 September 189 until his abdication and subsequent end ...

, led an army to invade Jing Province. Liu Cong's advisers Kuai Yue, Han Song (), and Fu Xun 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 to him. Cao Cao appointed Liu Cong as the Inspector () of Qing Province and granted him the title of a marquis. On Cao Cao's recommendation, Liu Cong was later promoted to a Counsellor Remonstrant () and an Army Adviser ().

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

In the 14th-century historical novel ''

Romance of the Three Kingdoms ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' () is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 184 AD and ...

'', Liu Cong is born to Liu Biao's second wife Lady Cai. Lady Cai detests Liu Qi and she plots with her brother Cai Mao to have Liu Qi killed. Liu Qi evades danger by leaving Xiangyang and travelling to Jiangxia. Liu Cong succeeds his father as the Governor of

after the latter's death in 208. When Cao Cao invades Jing Province later in 208, Liu Cong surrenders immediately and yields Jing Province. Liu Qi, however, defends Jiangxia and allies with the warlords

Liu Bei Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a China, Chinese warlord in the late Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty who later became the founding Emperor of China, emperor of Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms of ...

and

Sun Quan Sun Quan (; 182 – 21 May 252), courtesy name Zhongmou (), posthumous name, posthumously known as Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu, one of the Three Kingdoms of China. He inherited control of the warlord regime established by hi ...

to resist Cao Cao. Cao Cao appoints Liu Cong as the Inspector of Qing Province and orders his soldiers to escort Liu Cong and his mother there. Unknown to Liu Cong, Cao Cao secretly instructs

Yu Jin Yu Jin (died September 221), courtesy name Wenze, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He joined Cao Cao in 192 around the start of the civil wars leading to the collapse o ...

to lead his men to kill Liu Cong and Lady Cai while they are on their way to Qing Province.''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', 41:266

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Cong 2nd-century births 3rd-century deaths Government officials under Cao Cao Political office-holders in Shandong

Life

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

See also

Notes

References