Liu's father Liu Li had contact with Emperor Ping of Han's grandfather Wei, and Yuanshi was killed by Wang Mang during his years. AD 23Liu Xuan assumed the position of Emperor Gengshi and entered Luoyang. Liu Yong was named Prince of Liang and Suiyang was his capital. After hearing that Emperor Gengshi ruled chaos, Liu Yong began to act independently. Liu Yong appointed his brother Liu Fang as the auxiliary country's Grand General, his younger brother Liu Shaogong as the Secretary of the Royal History, and sealed the Shaogong Prince of Lu. Zhou Jian was appointed to recruit heroes as generals, attacking Jiyin, Shanyang, Pei, Chu, Huaiyang, and Runan Commanderies, gaining 28 cities. Liu Yong to win over the neighbors of the pack, the appointment of Xifang Jiao Jiang as rampant general, Donghai Commandery constitution for the wing Dong Han Grand General, supplemented by Qi Zhang Bu Han Grand General, the Yuzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou part of the Commandery area incorporated under the rule.
Self-proclaimed emperor
In AD 25，Emperor Gengshi was defeated by the Chimei Army，Liu Yong proclaimed himself emperor. In the summer of AD 26, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu sent Tiger Grand General Gai Yan and Emperor Gengshi to General Su Mao to fight against Liu Yong. But the second generals turned their backs and Su Mao turned to Liu Yong. Liu Yong appointed Su Mao as the minister of war and the Prince of Huaiyang. Gai Yan conquered Suiyang, Liu Yong fled to Yu. The people of Yu rebelled against Liu Yong，killed his mother and wife，Liu Yong then fled to Qiao（Pei Commandery）. Su Mao, Jiaoqiang and Zhou Jian came to rescue Liu Yong and were defeated by Gai Yan. Jiaoqiang and Zhou Jian followed Liu Yong to retreat to Huling in Shanyang Commandery. In the spring of AD 27, Liu Yong named Zhang Bu as Prince of Qi and Dong Xian as Prince of Haixi. Han Army minister of war Wu Han attacked Su Mao and Guang Lecheng, Su Mao defeated and fled Huling. Liu Yong Army once again appeared at a disadvantage. The Suiyang people opposed the Han Army to welcome Liu Yong, and Liu Yong returned to Suiyang. Wu Han, Gai Yan Army surrounded Suiyang, Liu Yong, Su Mao, Zhou Jian escaped the city with food. When they fled, Liu Yong ’s general Qing Wu killed Liu Yong and reported the death to Emperor Guangwu. Emperor Guangwu rewarded Qing Wu with a noble title.
Follow up
After Liu Yong's death, Su Mao and Zhou Jian supported Liu Yong's orphan Liu Yu to succeed Prince of Liang and continue to fight against Han. On August AD 29, Liu Yu's Tanhai Commandery was captured. He was killed by his soldiers Gao Hu, and the Prince of Liang regime was terminated by Eastern Han.
