Recaps

Liu Cheng navigated court politics, married Shen Awu, and helped avert Huan Wen’s threatened march on Jiankang before joining the campaign against Zhang Yu and the Di. After the disastrous defeat at the Ying River, he rallied allies to recover captives and Xuchang, uncovered the Imperial Seal, and accompanied Huan Wen’s army into Guanzhong, where the advance reached Lantian.

• Liu Acheng exposed Xu Changshi’s fraudulent spirit messages, arranged for Wang Xizhi to offer condolences to Wang Lantian, and persuaded Zhi Daolin and Kuaiji scholars to journey north with him.
• Liu Cheng presented Huan Wen’s threat to the court and negotiated a marriage alliance between Huan Wen’s sons and Sima Yu’s daughters, securing Huan Wen’s withdrawal and a delegation led by Sun Chuo.
• Liu Acheng married Shen Awu, entrusted her with organizing the Manor, and returned to Jiankang to help negotiate with Sima Yu before resuming his duties in Jingzhou.
• When Zhang Yu’s planned defection threatened Huan Wen’s autumn campaign, Liu Cheng warned Yin Hao, Xie Shang, and Yao Xiang, then traveled with Yao Xiang as Zhang Yu rebelled.
• Liu Cheng accompanied Xie Shang and Yao Xiang on the northern campaign, but the Di routed their army at the Ying River, and Liu Cheng escorted the survivors south.
• Liu Cheng helped Yao Xiang rally troops and recover Qiang households and captives, coordinated the pursuit of Fu Xiong’s forces, and helped recover Xuchang after the fighting at Huanyuan Pass.
• Liu Cheng married Ashe, discovered the Imperial Seal in Yuan Hong’s possession, and presented it to Huan Wen, who promised him a northern command and a role in the Guanzhong expedition.
• Huan Wen’s army entered Guanzhong and advanced toward Lantian, where he sent Liu Cheng and Deng Xia forward as an envoy and escort to determine whether the Di had assembled their full force.

Liu Cheng helped Huan Wen capture Chang’an, then failed to persuade him to make Guanzhong the foundation for reunifying the realm. Sent as an envoy to Yan, Liu Cheng challenged Murong Jun’s imperial claim and brought Hebei literati south before returning to Huan Wen’s service.

• Liu Cheng fought beside Huan Wen’s forces against Fu Xiong’s Di army, helped hold the right wing together after Ying Dan fell, and was appointed Protector-General.
• Liu Cheng worked with Wang Meng and the Weibei forces to secure Chang’an, but Huan Wen rejected his plea to remain in Guanzhong and nearly killed him in anger.
• Liu Cheng said farewell to his companions and traveled north as Huan Wen’s envoy, meeting Murong Ke and arguing that Yan needed Han institutions to sustain its rule.
• Liu Cheng persuaded Murong Ke and Murong Jun to allow northern literati to leave for the South, then escaped Murong Jun’s court after the emperor threatened him over his courtesy name.
• Liu Cheng gathered thirty-one Hebei literati and reported to Huan Wen, who granted him the rank of Founding Marquis and sent him to Changsha with orders concerning Sun Anguo.
• Liu Cheng publicly escorted Sun Sheng in a cage before releasing him, then returned to Jiangling and exposed Du Buqian’s staged pheasant omen to Xi Chao.

Liu Cheng returned to Jiankang, took charge of Langya, and advanced gradual Tuduan through household surveys, political support, and estate redistribution. As renewed northern warfare approached, he arranged a meeting between Sima Yu and Huan Wen and departed for Niuzhu to prepare.

• Liu Cheng returned Sun Sheng to court custody, warned that Yin Hao would fail, and took up the Langya appointment after Yin Hao’s defeat and exile.
• Liu Cheng began population and property surveys and recruited Wang Linzhi, Fan Ning, and Chang Qu to his administration.
• Liu Cheng persuaded Guo Bi’s Qihuo Army to leave Liuhe Small City in exchange for supplies and secured Liu Shi’s release.
• Liu Cheng urged a Northern Expedition at court, celebrated A She’s safe delivery of A Weng, and secured Xie An’s written promise to enter service.
• Liu Cheng organized support for gradual Tuduan through Sun Chuo’s memorial, won Sima Yu’s approval for estate farmland transfers, and helped establish monthly court performances.
• Liu Cheng confiscated estate fields for refugees, rebuilt local administration, and increased tax revenue while warning that the Murong Clan would soon attack Duan Kan.
• Liu Cheng discussed Shen Jin’s offer of troops and supplies, then warned Sima Yu about the Prince of Wuling’s weapons preparations and urged a meeting with Huan Wen.
• Liu Cheng conveyed Huan Wen’s terms for meeting Sima Yu at Niuzhu and set out to prepare after Sima Yu agreed to restore Xie Renzu’s title and send him to Shouchun.

Liu Cheng united Huan Wen and Sima Yu, consolidated control over deserters and the Way of the Celestial Masters, and gathered political and military support for a northern campaign. He took up his post in Huainan and arrived in Shouchun as news of fresh fighting in Qing Province reached him.

• Liu Cheng helped Huan Wen and Sima Yu reach an agreement, remove the Prince of Wuling from power, and proclaim their unity to the court.
• Liu Cheng captured the Prince of Wuling’s provisioning officers, secured a military title, and cleared deserters from Jiankang while recruiting soldiers and seizing supplies from local clans.
• Liu Cheng defeated Liao Xiong, captured Yibing, and negotiated with the Northern Migrants Daoists, bringing the Way of the Celestial Masters under a new leadership structure.
• Liu Cheng learned of the Murong invasion of Qing Province and secured support from Xie An and Wang Biaozhi for his Northern Expedition, while Zhi Daolin accepted the post of Dharma Master.
• Liu Cheng declined the Danyang governorship and accepted appointments as Administrator of Huainan and Qiao Commanderies, then recruited Huan Yi and other staff for his new command.
• Liu Cheng departed north, reached Shouchun, and promised Xie Shang to defend the city and support the fighting near Luoyang.
• Huan Yi brought Liu Cheng news of Duan Kan’s defeat in Qing Province, and Liu Cheng rebuked Yuan Hong for withholding the urgent report before challenging him to take a vacant post in Qiao County.