Liu Chengyou

Liu Chengyou (Chinese: 劉承祐) (28 March 931 – 2 January 951), 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.

Liu Chengyou was only 16 years old when he succeeded his father Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu), who died abruptly. His 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.

There is a reference to Liu Chengyou as "Liu Chenghan" in the epitaph of Liu Zhiyuan, son of his cousin Liu Yun. Liu Chengyou may thus have changed his name on his accession as emperor.

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 had two brothers, Liu Chengxùn (劉承訓), who was nine years older than him, and Liu Chengxūn (劉承勳, note different tones), who was younger. It is not known whether his brothers were Lady Li's sons. 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. 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. His older brother Liu Chengxùn was given more substantive responsibilities, including overseeing Taiyuan while Liu Zhiyuan advanced south to take over the central parts of former Later Jin territory. He became mayor of Kaifeng after Liu Zhiyuan successfully took the Later Jin capital as his own.

In late 947, Li Chengxùn died. This greatly affected Liu Zhiyuan's health, and by spring of 948 he was on the edge of death. He summoned the chancellor Su Fengji, the chief of staff (Shumishi) Yang Bin, the Imperial Guard commander Shi Hongzhao, and the deputy chief of staff Guo Wei, and told them "My remaining time is short, and I cannot speak much. Chengyou is still young and weak, so I entrust to you what happens after my death." He also told them to guard against the retired general Du Chongwei. After he died, the four did not immediately announce his death but instead issued an edict in his name putting Du to death. They also issued an edict in his name making Liu Chengyou the Prince of Zhou and giving him the title of Chancellor (同中書門下平章事, Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi). Shortly thereafter, they announced that the emperor had died, and Liu Chengyou took the throne at the age of 17. He honored his mother Empress Li as empress dowager.

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 (趙匡贊) and Hou Yi (侯益) 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 was exceedingly rich, and on arriving in Kaifeng managed to repair his political situation by giving many gifts to the chancellors and to Shi Hongzhao. He was made acting mayor of Kaifeng and given an honorary chancellor title.