Qin and Han · Prince of Zhending

Liu Yang 劉揚

First attested AD 23; died AD 26

Passages: 12
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Liu Yang was a prince of Zhending.

Life and dates

Death

AD 26 建武二年春
Executed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 198

Attested activity

AD 26 建武二年春
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 189, 191
AD 23 to AD 24 真定王劉揚起兵
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 144

Family

Kin of Empress Guo (郭后)
niece 甥 · maternal line · Through Mother of Empress Guo
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 145
Kin of Liu Xi (劉細)
elder cousin 從兄
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 197
Sibling of Mother of Empress Guo
sister 姊妹 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 24, passage 145
Sibling of Liu Rang (劉讓)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 197

Kinship Role sons · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 200

Career and standing

Prince of Zhending 真定王
Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 144, 189

Places and affiliations

Polity Wang Lang regime 王郎 · Relation Allied with
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 144

Works and attributed material

Letter · Author · With Geng Chun (耿純)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 195
Prophecy · Author · Mode allegation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 189

Events and relationships

Forged prophecies and colluded with Mianman bandits
Political · Conspirator
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 189-190
Raised troops to join Wang Lang
AD 23 to AD 24 王郎起 · Military · Commander · With Wang Lang (王郎)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 144
Supported advance taking Handan and pacifying Hebei
AD 23 to AD 24 拔邯鄲 · Military · Ally · At Handan 邯鄲
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 146
Surrendered to Guangwu
AD 23 to AD 24 王郎起 · Political · Submitter · With Emperor Guangwu (世祖)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 144

Assessments and attributes

had a goiter (癭)
Illness
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 189-190

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 142

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

Book of Later Han, Chapter 24Volume 21: Biographies of Ren, Li, Wan, Pi, Liu, Geng · 12 passages

時真定王劉揚起兵以附王郎，眾十餘萬，世祖遣植說揚，揚乃降。 The Prince of Zhending, Liu Yang, had thrown in with Wang Lang at the head of more than a hundred thousand men; Guangwu sent Liu Zhi to parley, and Liu Yang yielded.

世祖因留真定，納郭后，後即揚之甥也，故以此結之。 Guangwu lingered at Zhending and married the future Empress Guo—Liu Yang's niece—thereby cementing the alliance.

乃與揚及諸將置酒郭氏漆裏舍，揚擊築為歡，因得進兵拔邯鄲，從平河北。 Guangwu then feasted Liu Yang and the generals at the Guo residence in Qili. Liu Yang played the zhu in celebration; Guangwu was thereby able to advance and capture Handan, and Liu Zhi accompanied him in pacifying Hebei.

時真定王劉揚復造作讖記雲：『赤九之後，癭揚為主。』 The Prince of Zhending, Liu Yang, was circulating forged prophecies: "After the house of the Red Ninth, the goitered Yang shall rule."

揚病癭，欲以惑眾，與綿曼賊交通。 Liu Yang had a goiter and played on it to sway the crowd, while he colluded with the Mianman bandits.

建武二年春，遣騎都尉陳副、遊擊將軍鄧隆征揚，揚閉城門，不內副等。 In the spring of Jianwu 2, Guangwu sent Cavalry Commandant Chen Fu and Roaming-Attack General Deng Long to summon Liu Yang; Liu Yang shut the gates and refused to admit them.

密敕純曰：『劉揚若見，因而收之。』 His secret instruction: seize Liu Yang if he agrees to a meeting."

揚稱病不謁，以純真定宗室之出，遣使與純書，欲相見。 Liu Yang pleaded illness but, knowing Geng Chun's Zhending roots, sent a letter asking for a private meeting.

純報曰：『奉使見王侯牧守，不得先詣，如欲面會，宜出傳舍。』 Geng Chun answered that envoys must wait on princes and governors, not the reverse—if Liu Yang wanted to talk, he should come to the station.

時，揚弟臨邑侯讓及從兄細各擁兵萬餘人，揚自恃眾強而純意安靜，即從官屬詣之，兄弟並將輕兵在門外。 Liu Yang's brother Rang, marquis of Linyi, and cousin Xi each commanded ten thousand men; confident in his numbers, Liu Yang thought Geng Chun harmless and walked in with a light escort while his brothers waited outside with picked troops.

揚入見純，純接以禮敬，因延請其兄弟，皆入，乃閉閤悉誅之，因勒兵而出。 Liu Yang entered; Geng Chun greeted him with elaborate courtesy, invited the brothers inside, then bolted the doors and cut them all down before leading his men into the street.

帝憐揚、讓謀未發，並封其子，復故國。 The emperor noted that Liu Yang and Liu Rang had not yet openly rebelled, so he enfeoffed their sons and restored their old titles out of mercy.