Liu Zhiyuan
During the meantime, though, Liu Zhiyuan died and was succeeded by his son Liu Chengyou. (Liu Chengxun was older, but had died earlier.) When Wang arrived at Fengxiang's capital Fengxiang Municipality, Hou had not yet left for Kaifeng. Wang quickly had the imperial guard soldiers under him take control of the city gates, and he considered, as his staff members suggested to him, killing Hou. However, he hesitated because the instructions he had were given by Liu Zhiyuan, without Liu Chengyou's knowledge, and that if he killed Hou, Liu Chengyou might believe that he had killed Hou wrongfully. Meanwhile, though, Hou had heard rumors that Wang might kill him, and therefore slipped out of the city and headed for Kaifeng. This upset Wang for not having anticipated Hou's action.