Liu Cong (simplified: 刘琮, traditional: 劉琮, pinyin: Liú Cóng) was the younger son of Liu Biao and succeeded him as Governor of Jing Province in 208. His mother Lady Cai and the Cai clan had persuaded Liu Biao to favour him over his elder brother Liu Qi. When Liu Biao died, Liu Cong succeeded. Cao Cao was then marching south with a large army. Liu Cong’s advisers (including Kuai Yue) urged surrender; Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were not consulted and learned of the surrender only when they had already left. Liu Cong surrendered Jing Province to Cao Cao. Liu Bei fled south with his followers; Wen Pin and others joined Cao Cao. Cao Cao enfeoffed Liu Cong and later appointed him to a post in Qing Province. Sun Quan reportedly compared Liu Biao’s son (Liu Cong) to “a pig or dog” for surrendering without a fight. Liu Cong’s surrender gave Cao Cao control of much of Jing and set the stage for the Battle of Red Cliffs.
Biography
Succession and surrender
When Liu Biao died in 208, Liu Cong was in control at Xiangyang. Cao Cao’s army was advancing. The court debated resistance; the surrender faction (Kuai Yue and others) argued that resistance was futile. Liu Cong agreed and sent a surrender offer. He did not inform Liu Bei, who was stationed at Fan and learned of the surrender only when it was done. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang led their forces and many refugees south. Liu Cong was received by Cao Cao and enfeoffed; he was later made Inspector of Qing Province or given another nominal post.
Legacy
Liu Cong is remembered as the son who surrendered Jing Province to Cao Cao without a fight, enabling Cao Cao’s push south and forcing Liu Bei’s flight—and thus as a catalyst for the alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan that led to Red Cliffs.