Long ago, the emperors discovered some peculiar tribes, descendants of Chunwei and Boyu. They wore animal skins, ate meat, and drank milk, which astonished the Central Plains, revealing their origins from far-off lands. Heaven had no intention of punishing them, so their tribes grew larger and larger. Their customs were rugged, and their temperaments were wild, as noted in historical records. The Yellow Emperor was worried they would disrupt the order, so he dispatched troops to subdue them; King Wu relocated them to remote areas, akin to wild beasts. In the frigid wilderness, they watched the moon and the wind's direction, seeking opportunities to stir up trouble and invade recklessly, leaving the border cities in turmoil and the common folk without stable homes. Confucius once said, "If not for Guan Zhong, I'm afraid my hair would be disheveled, and my clothes would be open to the left." This implies that only through proper military training can order be maintained, borders secured, and peace at home achieved. Thus, the Yan Kingdom constructed a city near Zhaoyang, while the Qin Kingdom strengthened defenses in strategic locations like Lintao, crossed the Tianshan Mountains, disrupted the veins of the land, occupied Xuantu, and controlled the Yellow River, all to prevent the barbarians from disturbing the Central Plains, demonstrating their comprehensive defense measures.
Emperor Xuan of Han began to accept the surrender of the Chanyu (the title for the Xiongnu leader) of the Xiongnu, allowing him to reside in Tingzhang (a place) and assigning him the task of reconnaissance and vigilance, thus beginning to alleviate tensions with the nomadic tribes. Emperor Guangwu (Illustrious Martial) also relocated tens of thousands of households from the south to the Xihai region, and later to Wuyuan, spanning seven counties. During the rebellion of Dong Zhuo, the area around the Fen River and Jin River became desolate. Guo Qin advised Emperor Wu, and Jiang Tong advised Emperor Hui, both believing that the kingdom of Wei was encircled by nomadic tribes, with the capital city close to the border. They suggested relocating the capital city to a place far from the desert frontier, restoring the territories of the Yin, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. Jiang Tong was concerned about the various counties in Bingzhou, while Guo Qin was worried about Mengjin. Before they could finish their conversation, the Yuan Dynasty's navy had already arrived. As the saying goes, "a small error can lead to big consequences," the officials of the Jin Dynasty suffered humiliation for this reason. Yuan Cong marched eastward, occupying the land of Qi; Yuan Yao led his troops westward, crossing the Long Mountains, capturing two capital cities, and taking millions of civilians captive. The emperor could only make a stand along the Yangtze River, relying on the strategic terrain, looking back at the Central Plains, but unable to change the situation, was forced to relinquish the vast lands north of the Huai River. The nomads took advantage of the situation to cause chaos, and some Jin Dynasty officials hesitated to deploy troops because of the long distances involved, while others imitated the nomads' actions. It is said that Liu Yuanhai occupied Lishi in the first year of Emperor Hui's Yongxing reign, proclaiming himself the King of Han. This was merely the beginning. Nine years later, Shi Le occupied Xiangguo, proclaimed himself emperor, and established the state of Zhao. The Zhang family had long been the dominant power in the Hexi region, and in the thirty-sixth year following Shi Le's ascension to the throne, Zhang Chonghua also proclaimed himself the King of Liang. The following year, Ran Min proclaimed himself emperor in Ye City, establishing the state of Wei. The year after that, Fu Jian proclaimed himself emperor in Chang'an, establishing the state of Qin. The Murong family had long ruled and established dominance in Liaodong, and in the second year after Fu Jian became emperor, Murong Jun also began to proclaim himself emperor.
Thirty-one years later, Murong Chui of Later Yan captured Ye. Two years later, Murong Chong of Western Yan captured Afang Palace. In the same year, Qifu Guoren captured Fohan and declared himself king of Qin. One year later, Murong Yong founded Southern Yan in the Shangdang area. Also in the same year, Lu Guang captured Ganzhou, declared himself emperor, and established the Liang state.
Twelve years later, Murong De occupied Huatai and founded Southern Yan. In the same year, Tufa Wugu occupied Lianchuan and established Southern Liang; Duan Ye occupied Zhangye and established Northern Liang. Three years later, Li Xuansheng occupied Dunhuang and established Western Liang. One year later, Juqu Mengxun killed Duan Ye and declared himself emperor, establishing the Liang state. Four years later, Qiao Zong declared himself emperor in Shu and proclaimed himself King of Chengdu. Two years later, Helian Bobo occupied Shuofang and established Daxia. Two years later, Feng Ba killed Li Ban, occupied Helong, and established Northern Yan.
In short, the world was falling apart, with nine out of ten regions in chaos. Various separatist forces were busy proclaiming themselves emperors and kings, establishing their own countries. Whether Han Chinese or ethnic minorities, everyone was caught up in this chaotic war. Some occupied the capital cities, some controlled several provinces, all with ambitious plans, waging battles everywhere, resulting in countless casualties. This chaotic 136-year period of warfare, Liu Yuanhai is often regarded as the main culprit!
Liu Yuanhai, a Xiongnu, was a descendant of Modu Chanyu. His name clashed with that of Han Gaozu Liu Bang, so he was commonly referred to by his courtesy name. It is said that Han Gaozu Liu Bang married a daughter of his clan to Modu Chanyu, who became a princess, and became blood brothers with him, so all descendants of Modu Chanyu adopted the Liu surname.
During the Jianwu period, Youao Jian Rizhu Wang Bi, the son of Chanyu Wuzhuliu Ruo Di, declared himself the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu and moved to Meiji in present-day Xihe, now known as Zuoguo in Lishi. That place was the royal court of the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu back then. During the Zhongping period, the Xiongnu Chanyu Qiang Qu sent his son Yufu Luo to help the Han Dynasty suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion. As a result, Qiang Qu Chanyu was killed by his own people, and Yufu Luo remained with his troops in the Han Dynasty and became the Chanyu himself. Amid the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo, Yufu Luo led his troops to attack Taiyuan and Hedong, finally stationed in Henan. After Yufu Luo passed away, his brother Huchuquan took over, and his son Bao was appointed as the Left Virtuous King; this Bao was the father of Liu Yuanhai. Cao Cao split the Xiongnu into five factions, with Bao as the leader of the Left faction, and the leaders of the other factions all had the surname Liu. During the Taikang period, the government reinstated the Commanders, with the Left faction based in Zishi in Taiyuan, the Right faction in Qixian, the Southern faction in Puzi, the Northern faction in Xinxing, and the Central faction in Lingxian. Although the Liu clan members were divided into five factions, they all lived along both sides of the Fen River in Jinyang. Bao's wife, the Huyan family, went to Longmen to pray for a child during the Weijia Ping era. Not long after, a large fish with two horns on its head, fins waving, and scales shimmering, swam to the sacrificial site and left after a while. The shamans and diviners found it odd and remarked, "This is a good omen!"
That night, Hu Yan dreamed that the fish she had seen earlier that day turned into a person, holding something in his left hand, about the size of a small egg, with a unique glow. He handed it to Hu Yan and said, "This is the essence of the sun. Taking it will allow you to give birth to a noble offspring." After waking up, Hu Yan told the dream to Leopard, who said, "This is a sign of good fortune! I studied fortune-telling with Situ Shi, the mother of Zhang Jun from Handan. She said that I would have noble descendants in the future, and after three generations, they would definitely prosper. This dream and the prediction of fortune-telling are completely in line!"
Since then, thirteen months later, Hu Yan gave birth to Yuan Hai. His name was written on the palm of his left hand, so he was named after it. Yuan Hai was exceptionally bright from a young age. When he was seven years old, his mother passed away. He cried and beat his chest in sorrow, moving the neighbors and clan members deeply. At that time, Sikong Taiyuan Wang Chang and others heard about it and sent condolences, bringing offerings for the funeral.
Yuan Hai has always loved learning since he was young. He studied *The Book of Songs*, *The Classic of Changes*, and *The Book of Documents* under the guidance of his teacher Cui You, and especially enjoyed *Zuo's Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals* and *The Art of War by Sun Wu*. He almost memorized all these books. He also extensively studied *Records of the Grand Historian*, *Book of Han*, and the works of various schools of thought. He once said to his fellow disciples Zhu Ji and Fan Long, "Every time I read historical books, I always look down on generals who only know how to fight without understanding civil governance, like Sui and Lu, as well as those military leaders who lack literary skill, such as Marquis of Jiang and Guan Ying. The way to govern a country and secure the state requires a combination of civil and military skills. Not understanding any one thing is a disgrace to a gentleman. These two individuals, Sui and Lu, were unable to achieve the rank of marquis even after meeting Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang; Marquis of Jiang and Guan Ying assisted Emperor Taizong but failed to initiate the establishment of schools. What a shame!" Therefore, Yuan Hai began to learn martial arts. He was exceptionally skilled, possessed incredible strength, was good at archery, stood at a towering eight feet four inches, sporting a beard that was over three feet long, with three striking red hairs on his chest, measuring three feet six inches long.
Cui Yi of Tunliu, Gong Shi Yu of Xiangling, and others were all masters of physiognomy. When they saw Yuan Hai, they were astonished and remarked to one another, "We’ve never seen anyone like him before!" They held Yuan Hai in high regard, befriended him, and forged a deep friendship. Taiyuan's Wang Hun became friends with him and arranged for his son, Wang Ji, to study under Yuan Hai.
During the Xianxi Era, Liu Yuanhai was working in Luoyang, and Emperor Wen of Jin highly valued him. After the Taishi period, Wang Hun praised Liu Yuanhai in front of Emperor Wu of Jin multiple times. Emperor Wu summoned Liu Yuanhai, had a chat with him and was very pleased, and said to Wang Ji, "Liu Yuanhai's appearance, knowledge, and judgment are unmatched, even by Zhang Qian and Jin Midi of the Han Dynasty!" Wang Ji replied, "Liu Yuanhai's appearance, knowledge, and judgment are indeed as Your Majesty said, but his literary and martial talents are far superior to those two! If Your Majesty lets him take charge of the southeastern war and pacify the state of Wu, it would be a straightforward task." Emperor Wu agreed.
Kong Xun and Yang Yao stepped forward and said, "We think that Liu Yuanhai's talents are probably unmatched now. If Your Majesty gives him too few troops, he definitely won't be able to accomplish anything; if you give him too much power, after pacifying Wu, he probably won't return to the north. After all, he is not one of us, so he must have hidden agendas. Let him continue to command his original troops; we are privately concerned for Your Majesty! It might not be appropriate to give him a strategic location as a base!" Emperor Wu listened in silence.
Later, both Qinzhou and Liangzhou fell, and Emperor Wu began discussing countermeasures with his generals. Li Xi from Shangdang said, "If Your Majesty can mobilize the troops of the five Xiongnu tribes, give Liu Yuanhai a general's title, and lead the army westward, we could capture Liangzhou quickly!" Kong Xun said, "General Li's suggestion does not completely solve the problem." Li Xi became anxious, "With the bravery of the Xiongnu people, combined with Liu Yuanhai's military talent, and going to war with Your Majesty's decree, what could possibly go wrong?" Kong Xun said, "If Liu Yuanhai really pacifies Liangzhou and kills Shuji Neng, Liangzhou might have trouble. Once the dragon has tasted the rain, it won't be content to stay in the pond." Emperor Wu, after hearing Kong Xun's words, ultimately gave up on this idea.
Later, Wang Mi returned to Bingzhou from Luoyang, and Liu Yuanhai saw him off by the Jiuqu River. He cried and said to Wang Mi, "Wang Hun and Li Xi have a bit of a reputation in their hometown and are praising each other. Those petty people are using them to set me up, which was never my intention and only harms me. I never wanted to be an official; only you understand my difficulties. I'm afraid I might die in Luoyang and never see you again." With that, he drank and sang passionately, his voice loud, making everyone there break into tears. Sima You, Qi's Prince, was also at the Jiuqu River at the time. When he heard the news, he quickly sent someone to check it out, and upon seeing Liu Yuanhai there, he ran to tell Emperor Wu, "Your Majesty, if we don't get rid of Liu Yuanhai, Bingzhou might not last much longer!" Wang Hun came out and said, "Liu Yuanhai is an upright elder; I vouch for him. Moreover, Great Jin is currently trying to live in harmony with different ethnic groups, using kindness to influence them. How can we kill a loyal minister based on groundless suspicion? This will only show that Great Jin's virtue isn't as widespread as it should be!" Emperor Wu said, "Wang Hun is right!"
After Baozi died, Yuanhai took over as General of the Left Division. By the end of the Taikang period, he was appointed as the Commandant of the Northern Region. He strictly enforced the law, forbade wrongdoing, was generous and sincere, so talented individuals from all five divisions flocked to him. Scholars and talented young people from Youzhou and Jizhou traveled from far and wide to see him. During Yang Jun's reign, he promoted Yuanhai to Jianwei General, the Grand Commander of the Five Armies, and granted him the title of Marquis of Hanguangxiang. By the end of the Yuankang period, because of a rebellion among his subordinates who fled to the frontier, Yuanhai was dismissed from his position.
Later, Chengdu's Wang Ying defended Ye City and recommended Yuan Hai to serve as General of Ning Shuo, in charge of military affairs for the five departments. When Emperor Hui lost his power and banditry surged, Yuan Hai and his clan uncle, the former Northern Commandant and Left Wise King Liu Xuan, secretly discussed: "Our ancestors were once brothers with the Han Dynasty, sharing weal and woe. Since the downfall of the Han Dynasty and the rise of the Wei and Jin dynasties, although our Chanyu still bears a title, we have lost all our land and become commoners from kings to lords. Now, with the Sima clan killing each other internally and chaos in the world, this is the perfect chance for us to restore our nation and rebuild our legacy! Left Wise King Yuan Hai is exceptional and remarkable. If heaven does not permit him to reclaim the glory of the Chanyu, it would be a true waste of his talents!" So they secretly elected Yuan Hai as the Great Chanyu.
He then sent his subordinate, Hu Yan You, to Ye City to inform Wang Ying of their plans. Yuan Hai requested to return to observe mourning, but Ying disagreed. So he allowed Hu Yan You to return first, instructing Liu Xuan and the others to gather troops from the five departments and unite with the Hu people in the Yiyang region, outwardly in response to Ying, but in reality betraying him.
Ying, the Crown Prince, appointed Yuan Hai as the Colonel of the Tunqi Battalion. Emperor Hui wanted to attack Ying, so the army was stationed in Dangyin. However, the army was defeated; Ying then promoted Yuan Hai to Champion General and appointed him as Lord of Lulu. The Governor of Bingzhou, Dongyi Gong Teng, and the Anbei General, Wang Jun, raised troops to attack Ying. Yuan Hai said to Ying, "Now these two men are so arrogant, commanding a force of over a hundred thousand. I'm afraid our Forbidden Army and the local militia near Luoyang won't be able to stop them. Your Highness, please allow me to reach out to the Five Tribes to resist the invaders together." Ying said, "Can the cavalry of the Five Tribes be mobilized? Even if they can be mobilized, the Xianbei and Wuhuan cavalry are as fast as the wind, not so easy to deal with, right? I want to take the Emperor back to Luoyang, avoid their might, and then slowly issue orders to the whole country, using a mix of kindness and strength to handle them. What do you think?" Yuan Hai said, "Your Highness is the son of the Martial Emperor, with great contributions to the royal family, high prestige; everyone in the world admires you. Who wouldn't want to go through fire and water for Your Highness? How can't the army be mobilized! That brat Wang Jun and that old fool Dongyi, how can they compete with Your Highness! Once you leave Ye City, you appear weak; will you even be able to return to Luoyang? Even if you return to Luoyang, your power no longer belongs to you. Who will listen to you if you write letters and issue proclamations? Moreover, the ferocity of the Donghu is no greater than that of the Five Tribes. I hope Your Highness can calm the soldiers and boost their morale. I will certainly lead two armies to defeat Dongyi and three to take down Wang Jun; the heads of these two will soon be on display!" Ying was very happy, appointing Yuan Hai as the Northern Chanyu and involving him in the Prime Minister's military decisions. Within twenty days, the army grew to fifty thousand, all gathered at Lishi.
General Qi Hong, dispatched by Wang Jun, led the Xianbei army to attack Ye City. As a result, Emperor Ying was defeated and fled south to Luoyang. Yuan Hai said, "Emperor Ying did not listen to my advice and fled in defeat. He is truly useless! However, I have already discussed this with him and cannot abandon him." Therefore, he ordered Right King Liu Jing of Luwang, Left King Liu Yannian, and others to lead twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to attack the Xianbei.
Liu Xuan and others strongly advised, "The Jin Dynasty is tyrannical and enslaves us. Therefore, Rightful King Meng is furious. The Jin Dynasty's rule has not completely collapsed yet. If we act rashly, it will not end well. Rightful King Meng will suffer defeat again, which will be a disgrace to the Chanyu. Currently, the Sima family is killing each other, which indicates that heaven disapproves of the Jin Dynasty and has given us an opportunity. Chanyu, you have accumulated virtue and are deeply respected by the people of the Jin Dynasty. Now is the time to uplift our nation and revive the legacy of Chanyu Huhanye. The Xianbei and Wuhuan can be our allies. Why help the enemy? Heaven has granted us this opportunity, and we must seize it. Defying the will of heaven brings misfortune, and opposing the people's will leads to failure. If we fail to seize the opportunity granted by heaven, we will face consequences. I hope Chanyu does not hesitate."
Yuan Hai said, "Yes. Just like building tall hills and steep mountains, how can we waste time on piling up small mounds of earth! There's no logic to how emperors come to power. Dayu was a Western Rong person, King Wen of Zhou was an Eastern Yi person, the key is that their virtues were recognized by heaven. Now I have over a hundred thousand troops under my command, each one can take on ten soldiers from Jin. As long as we advance with our troops, we can defeat the Jin army, just as easy as snapping a dry twig. The best outcome would be to achieve greatness like Emperor Gaozu of Han, and the worst would be like the state of Wei. Of course, the people of Jin might not support me. The Han dynasty ruled for a long time, their kindness and virtues are deeply rooted in the people's hearts. Therefore, even though Liu Bei only controlled one province, he could contend with the whole world. I’m also a nephew of the Han and have agreed to be brothers with them. It is only natural for the younger brother to inherit when the older brother dies, right? We can also claim to be Han and pay respects to the late Emperor Liu Shan in order to win the people's hearts." So Yuan Hai moved his capital to Zuoguo, and many people from afar came to pledge allegiance, reaching tens of thousands in number.
In the first year of the Yongxing era, Yuan Hai set up an altar in the southern suburbs, declared himself emperor, and became King of Han. He proclaimed, "In the old days, our ancestors, Emperor Gaozu, established a great foundation through his martial prowess; Emperor Xiaowen governed with benevolence and virtue, making the Han dynasty more prosperous; Emperor Xiaowu expanded the territory, defeated external enemies, and the land was even broader than the Tang dynasty; Emperor Xiaoxuan selected talents, and the court was brimming with talent. The merits of our ancestors surpass those of the Three Kings and the Five Emperors, so our dynasty has lasted longer than the Xia and Shang dynasties, and a longer rule than the Zhou dynasty. However, later Emperor Yuan was inept, Emperors Ai and Ping had short reigns, and the treacherous Wang Mang seized power from the Han dynasty."
Later, our ancestor Emperor Guangwu, with his talent and military power, restored the glory of the Han Dynasty, offered sacrifices to heaven and earth, preserved the old systems of the Han Dynasty, and brought back the brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars, thus restoring the rule of the Han Dynasty. Emperors Xiaoming and Xiaozhang continued the achievements of their predecessors, further strengthening the Han Dynasty. However, after Emperor He, imperial authority gradually declined, the country faced increasing difficulties, and there were several changes in political power. The Yellow Turban Rebellion swept the country, eunuchs held power, Dong Zhuo rebelled, and Cao Cao and his son continued their nefarious activities one after another. As a result, Emperor Min was forced to relinquish his throne, and Emperor Zhao fled to the Shu region, hoping to one day restore the Han family and return to Luoyang. However, fate played its hand, and later emperors suffered humiliation. Since the fall of the Han Dynasty, the ancestral temples have not been worshipped for forty years.
Today, heaven has finally changed its mind, allowing the Sima family to kill each other, causing the people to suffer and have nowhere to seek justice. I have been elected by everyone to inherit the legacy of our ancestors and rebuild the Han Dynasty. I am acutely aware of the heavy burden and my anxiety. But with national disgrace still unavenged and no ruler in sight, I can only grit my teeth and strive to fulfill everyone's expectations." He then issued a general amnesty, changed the reign title to Yuanxi, posthumously honored Liu Shan as Emperor Xiaohuai, and established ancestral altars for the Three Ancestors and Five Clans of Han Gaozu and below for worship. He appointed his wife, Lady Huayuan, as empress, established various officials, appointed Liu Xuan as prime minister, Cui You as Grand Minister of Justice, and Liu Hong as Grand Commandant, among other appointments.
Dong Yun dispatched General Nie Xuan to engage in battle, but his army was defeated at the Battle of Daling. Dong Yun, fearing for his safety, fled with over twenty thousand households from Bingzhou to Shandong, where they wreaked havoc. Yuan Hai then sent his General Liu Yao to attack Taiyuan, Xuanshi, Tunliu, Changzi, and Zhongdu, all of which fell to Liu Yao.
Two years later, Teng sent Sima Yu, Zhou Liang, and Shi Xian to fight, and they encountered General Liu Qin of the Wu Ya, who was leading six armies sent by Yuan Hai, near Lishi Fen City. They fought four battles, all of which Sima Yu lost, before Liu Qin took his troops back. That year, Lishi faced a severe famine, so they moved to Liting, hoping to survive on the local food supplies. At the same time, they left General Liu Hong and Guard Commander Ma Jing to defend Lishi, and sent the Grand Minister Bu Yu to transport food over. Later, Yuan Hai sent General Liu Jing to lead a campaign against Liu Kun, the governor of Bingzhou, at Banqiao. Liu Kun defeated Liu Jing and subsequently took over Jinyang.
Yuan Hai's advisors Liu Yin and Wang Yu urged him, "Your Highness, it has been almost a year since you raised your troops, but you have been staying in remote areas without establishing your reputation. If you can send generals to attack everywhere, take a bold risk, defeat Liu Kun, take over Hedong, declare yourself emperor, then march south, capture Chang'an and establish your capital, and then use the troops in Guanzhong to take over Luoyang, wouldn't that be a straightforward endeavor? Just as Emperor Gaozu did in founding his empire, establishing a great dynasty and overcoming the formidable Chu state!" Yuan Hai was delighted to hear this and said, "This is exactly what I have in mind!" So he marched into Hedong, captured Puban and Pingyang, and finally entered Puzi City, with Hedong, Pingyang, and the surrounding counties surrendering to him.
At that time, Jisang led a rebellion in Zhao and Wei, and the leaders of four Xianbei tribes in Shangjun, Lu Zhuyan, the leader of the Di tribe, Da Shanyu Zheng, King Mi of Donglai, and Shi Le, all surrendered to Yuan Hai, who granted them titles and nobility.
In the year 308 AD, Yuan Hai declared himself emperor, granting a general amnesty and renaming the era Yongfeng. He promoted General Liu He to Grand Marshal and granted him the title of Prince of Liang; he promoted Prefect Liu Huanle to Grand Tutor and granted him the title of Prince of Chenliu; and he promoted Imperial Secretary Huyan Yi to Grand Minister of Works and granted him the title of Duke of Yanmen County. Members of the imperial family and their relatives were granted various princely titles based on their closeness to the emperor, while non-relatives were given the titles of dukes and marquises according to their merits. Grand Historian Xuan Yuxiu advised Yuan Hai, "Though you have suddenly ascended to the throne in a blaze of glory, the Eastern Jin Dynasty has not yet been eliminated, the imperial palace is still quite shabby, and the remnants of the Eastern Jin Dynasty linger in the Forbidden City! Within three years, the Eastern Jin Dynasty will definitely be able to reach Luoyang. The terrain here is rugged and unsustainable in the long run! Pingyang is known for its auspicious purple energy and was the ancient capital during the era of Yao and Shun. Your Majesty should relocate the capital there to align with celestial signs and geographical advantages!" As a result, Yuan Hai moved the capital to Pingyang.
In the Fen River, they found a jade seal with the words "You Xin Bao" engraved on it, from the Wang Mang era. The finder of the jade seal then engraved the words "Quan Hai Guang" on it. Yuan Hai saw this as a heavenly omen and declared another amnesty, changed the reign title to He Rui, and appointed his son Yu as King of Qi and Long as King of Lu. Later, Yuan Hai ordered his sons Cong and Wang Mi to lead troops to attack Luoyang, with Liu Yao and Zhao Gu joining them. King Yue of Donghai sent Generals Cao Wu, Song Chou, and Peng Mo to resist, but the royal army was defeated. Cong and his troops pressed forward and reached Yiyang. General Chunyu Ding and Lv Yi of Pingchang sent troops from Chang'an to suppress them, but were also routed at Yiyang. Cong, overconfident from his string of victories, let his guard down and failed to prepare for defense. The Prefect of Hongnong, Yuan Yan, pretended to surrender, mounted a nighttime surprise attack, and Cong's army was defeated and fled. Yuan Hai, dressed in plain clothes, went to meet the fleeing soldiers.
In winter, Liu Cong sent out a large number of troops, with Wang Cong, Wang Mi, Liu Yao, and Liu Jing leading 50,000 elite cavalry to attack Luoyang, followed by Hu Yan Yi with infantry. They defeated the Jin army in Henan and set up camp near the West Ming Gate of Luoyang. Jin's guard Jia Yin launched a surprise attack at midnight, resulting in a clash near Daxia Gate, where Jia Yin killed Liu Cong's general, Hu Yan Hao, leading to Liu Cong's army's retreat. Liu Cong retreated south to camp by the Luo River, then moved on to Xuan Yang Gate. Liu Yao was stationed at the East Gate, Wang Mi at Guangyang Gate, and Liu Jing attacked Daxia Gate. Liu Cong personally prayed at Mount Song and Mount Taihang, leaving his generals Liu Li and Hu Yan Lang in charge of the army.
King Sima Yue of Donghai sent the military officer Sun Xun, General Qiu Guang, and Lou Pou to lead three thousand elite soldiers to attack Hu Yanlang from the direction of Xuanyang Gate, resulting in Hu Yanlang's death. Upon hearing this news, Liu Cong quickly led his army to retreat. Liu feared Liu Cong would blame him, so he threw himself into the river and committed suicide. Wang Mi advised Liu Cong, "We have already failed. Luoyang City is still very strong. Your Highness should retreat first and think of a plan later. I will stay in Yanzhou and Yuzhou, recruit soldiers, recruit cavalry, stockpile food, and wait for your command to act." Xuan Yu Xiu also advised Liu Yuanhai, "This year is Xinwei; we should be able to take Luoyang. But now the Jin Dynasty's power remains strong. If the main army fails to return, we will definitely fail." Liu Yuanhai quickly sent the Huangmen Lang Fu Xun to summon Liu Cong and his men back. Wang Mi came out of Huan Yuan Mountain, and Sima Yue sent Bo Sheng to pursue Wang Mi. The two sides fought in Xinji, and Wang Mi's army was defeated. So, Wang Mi withdrew to Pingyang and was tasked with guarding Puban.
Later, Liu Yuanhai appointed Liu Huanle as Grand Tutor, Liu Cong as Grand Minister of State, Liu Yannian as Grand Minister of Works, and Liu Yang as Grand Marshal, and issued a general amnesty. He also appointed Dan Shi as Empress, his son Liu He as Crown Prince, and his son Liu Yi as King of Beihai. Liu Yuanhai became gravely ill and began to contemplate his succession. He appointed Liu Huanle as Grand Chancellor, Liu Yang as Grand Tutor, Liu Yannian as Grand Protector, Liu Cong as Grand Marshal and Grand Chanyu, and involved them in government affairs. He also established the Chanyu Platform in the west of Pingyang City and appointed his son Liu Yu as Grand Minister of State. Liu Yuanhai was seriously ill and called Liu Huanle, Liu Yang, and others to the palace to receive the posthumous edict to assist the new emperor. In the fourth year of the Yongjia era, Liu Yuanhai passed away after a six-year reign. He was posthumously honored as Emperor Guangwen, with the temple name Gaozu, and his tomb was named Yongguang Tomb. His son Liu He succeeded to the throne.
He was the son of Han Xian Emperor Liu Xie, whose courtesy name was Xuantai. He stood eight chi tall, with a strong and imposing presence, dignified and impressive. He loved studying from a young age and excelled in his studies, mastering the "Book of Songs," "Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals," and "Zheng's Book of Changes." When he became the Crown Prince, many people in the palace were suspicious of him, and he was not particularly kind to his subordinates. After the death of the Han Xian Emperor, he inherited the throne.
His Guard Commander, Prince Xichang Liu Rui, and the Director of the Imperial Clan, Hu Yan You, were dissatisfied because they were not involved in the government. They advised Liu Xie, stating, "Before the late Emperor died, he did not consider the urgency of the situation. Instead, he let the three princes command heavy troops stationed in the capital, while the Grand Marshal controlled one hundred thousand elite soldiers stationed outside the city. Your Majesty is just a puppet now. This danger is unpredictable, and we hope Your Majesty will make plans early." Liu Xie and Hu Yan You were uncle and nephew, and he agreed with Hu Yan You's words. He then summoned his army leader Liu Sheng, as well as Liu Qin, Ma Jing, and others, to discuss.
Liu Sheng said, "The late Emperor is still in the funeral palace, and the four princes haven't shown any signs of rebellion. If we suddenly start killing each other, I'm afraid no one will support Your Majesty anymore. The world has not yet been settled, and the great cause has just begun. I hope Your Majesty will focus on building upon the late Emperor's legacy and not listen to these arrogant words. As the Book of Songs says, 'How can there be others, not as good as me with the same father?' Since Your Majesty does not trust your brothers, who else can you trust?" Liu Rui and Hu Yan You angrily said, "There's no room for discussion about today’s decision." They then ordered the guards to kill Liu Sheng. Ma Jing, in fear, said, "As long as it's Your Majesty's command, we will execute it even if we die, but I am afraid it will not succeed." So the group swore an oath in the East Hall, with Liu Rui and Ma Jing attacking Liu Cong, while Hu Yan You leads Liu Anguo to attack Liu Yu, the Attendant Liu Cheng and the Guard Liu Qin attacking Prince Lu Liu Long, and the Secretary Tian Mi and the Guard Liu Xuan attacking Prince Beihai Liu Yi.
Tian Mi, Liu Xuan, and others sent someone to sever the city gate and fled to Liu Cong. Liu Cong ordered his men to don armor and wait for them. Liu Rui realized that Liu Cong was ready, so he hurried back and, along with Hu Yan You, Liu Cheng, and others, launched an attack on Liu Long and Liu Yu. Hu Yan You and Liu Cheng feared that Liu Anguo and Liu Qin had ulterior motives, so they killed them. On that day, both Liu Yu and Liu Long met their end. Liu Cong launched an assault on the Ximing Gate and breached it. Liu Rui and others fled into the Southern Palace, while Liu Cong's vanguard closely pursued them and killed Liu Xie in the Guangji West Chamber. Liu Rui and Hu Yan You hung Liu Xie's head in the market to display to the public.
Liu Xuan, also known by his courtesy name Shi Ze, was an honest, reserved individual who preferred not to speak, but he was particularly studious and well-groomed. He studied under Sun Yan, a teacher from Lean, dedicated himself to his studies, and had a particular fondness for the Book of Songs and the Zuo Zhuan. Sun Yan would often sigh and remark, "If Liu Xuan met Emperor Wu of Han, his achievements would definitely surpass Jin Riduan's!" After Liu Xuan finished his studies, he remained at home for several years, seldom venturing out. He often read the Book of Han, and when he read the biographies of Xiao He and Deng Yu, he would often recite them and declare, "If I were to meet Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu like Xiao He and Deng Yu, I would ensure they didn't take all the credit!"
The Governor of Bingzhou, Wang Guang, informed Emperor Wu of Han about Liu Xuan's situation. Emperor Wu then summoned Liu Xuan. He was very impressed by Liu Xuan's eloquence and responses, and said, "I have never seen Liu Xuan before, and I thought Wang Guang was just boasting. Now that I have seen Liu Xuan and observed his demeanor and speech, he is truly as gentle as jade and as proper as a jade tablet. From what I can see of his character, he is fully capable of managing his jurisdiction." Therefore, Emperor Wu appointed Liu Xuan as the Right General and granted him a red military flag and a splendid umbrella. Liu Xuan served with honesty and integrity, and his subordinates all respected him. Later, when Yuan Hai declared himself king, it was Liu Xuan who suggested it, so Yuan Hai held him in high regard. No noble minister could match him, and both the military and civilians obeyed him.
