刘公 / Liu Gong (Eastern Han)

Overview

刘公 / Liu Gong is synthesized as a Chimei-linked Liu-family actor whose strongest current profile is protective loyalty to the fallen Liu Xuan. Hanji 679 shows him pursuing, accompanying, and then pleading for Liu Xuan when Chimei commanders want to kill the surrendered former emperor. Hanji 680 adds his concealment of Liu Xuan’s body after the later killing, while Hanji 728 preserves a late Guangwu consequence when Liu Xuan’s son Liu Li kills Liu Gong under a prince-guest network.

Current Profile

Hanji 679 places Liu Gong in a complicated loyalty field. Because Chimei have installed his younger brother Liu Penzi, Liu Gong is connected to the regime that displaces Liu Xuan; yet the same source says he leaves confinement, pursues Liu Xuan with Dingtao King Liu Zhi, and remains close enough to become the surrender mediator.

The surrender does not end the danger. Liu Penzi offers Liu Xuan a Changsha king settlement if he submits within a deadline, but Chimei commanders still move to kill him. Liu Gong pleads, says he has done all he can, and attempts suicide first; Fan Chong and others stop him, and Chimei temporarily agrees to spare Liu Xuan.

Hanji 680 records the darker sequel: Liu Xuan is eventually strangled under Chimei control, and Liu Gong hides the body before Liu Xiu orders burial through Deng Yu. Hanji 728 then shows long memory turning back on Liu Gong: Liu Li, Liu Xuan’s son, resents Liu Penzi, gathers guests, and kills Liu Gong while favored by Pei King Liu Fu.

Key Characteristics

• Chimei-linked Liu-family figure whose kinship tie to Liu Penzi does not erase loyalty to Liu Xuan.
• Protective companion and surrender mediator for a fallen ruler with dangerous residual legitimacy.
• Extreme loyalist whose suicide attempt temporarily prevents Liu Xuan’s immediate killing.
• Body-concealment actor who preserves Liu Xuan after the later Chimei killing.
• Later revenge victim whose death shows that Chimei and Gengshi grievances survive into Guangwu-era prince networks.

Evidence

• Mixed political position: Hanji 679 says Liu Gong is connected to Liu Penzi’s Chimei enthronement yet pursues Liu Xuan after Liu Xuan flees.
• Surrender mediation: Hanji 679 says Liu Gong urges Liu Xuan to surrender after Liu Penzi offers a Changsha king settlement.
• Plea and self-sacrifice: Hanji 679 says Liu Gong pleads for Liu Xuan and attempts suicide when Chimei commanders move to kill him.
• Body concealment: Hanji 680 says Liu Gong hides Liu Xuan’s body after the later strangling.
• Later revenge: Hanji 728 says Liu Li, Liu Xuan’s son, resents Liu Penzi and kills Liu Gong through a guest-backed episode tied to Pei King Liu Fu.

Qualifications

This page is not a complete biography of Liu Gong. Hanji 679 and Hanji 680 focus on Liu Xuan’s surrender, reprieve, killing, and body protection; Hanji 728 uses Liu Gong mainly as the victim whose killing exposes prince-guest risk. The kinship relationship to Liu Penzi, Dingtao King Liu Zhi’s exact role, Xie Lu’s shelter, and the Chimei command hierarchy remain source-scoped unless later notes supply stronger evidence.

What Changed

• Created this page from Hanji 679, Hanji 680, and Hanji 728 to join Liu Gong’s Liu Xuan-protection role with his later revenge-linked death.
• Framed Liu Gong as a loyalty bridge between Chimei kinship, Gengshi memory, and Guangwu-era prince-network risk.

Relationships

• 更始帝刘玄 - fallen ruler whom Liu Gong pursues, mediates for, pleads for, and later protects in death.
• 刘盆子 - Chimei figurehead and Liu Gong’s kinship connection to the regime that holds Liu Xuan.
• 赤眉 - military-political force whose commanders threaten and later kill Liu Xuan.
• 光武帝刘秀 - rival founder whose later burial order gives Liu Xuan formal posthumous treatment.
• 邓禹 - commander ordered to bury Liu Xuan after Liu Gong hides the body.
• 寿光侯刘李 - Liu Xuan’s son who later kills Liu Gong.
• 私人宾客网络风险 - concept connected through Liu Gong’s later guest-backed killing by Liu Li.
• 旧敌忠义重释 - related because Liu Gong’s loyalty to Liu Xuan remains legible inside the later Guangwu order.