Liu Bing (劉秉) (433–477), courtesy name Yanjie (彥節), was a high-level official of the Chinese Liu Song dynasty and a member of Liu Song's imperial clan, who near the end of the dynasty made a futile attempt to prevent the general Xiao Daocheng from gaining sufficient power to take the throne. Background Liu Bing was born in 433. His father Liu Yizong (劉義宗), as a son of the dynasty founder Emperor Wu's brother Liu Daolian (劉道憐) the Prince of Changsha, was the Marquess of Xinyu. In 444, Liu Yizong died, and initially, Liu Bing's older brother Liu Jie (劉玠) inherited the title, but after Emperor Wen was assassinated by his crown prince Liu Shao in 453, Liu Shao, because he particularly disliked his cousins from Liu Daolian's line, had a number of them, including Liu Jie, put to death under a false accusation that they conspired with the official Wang Sengchuo (王僧綽) to overthrow him. Because Liu Jie was sonless, after Liu Shao was defeated and killed by his brother Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling, who took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu, Liu Bing was created the Marquess of Xinyu to inherit his father's and brother's title. Service before the reign of Emperor Ming and under Emperor Ming Little is known about the chronology of Liu Bing's subsequent activities until the reign of Emperor Ming, his second cousin, but he was promoted in rank throughout the years. After Emperor Ming became emperor in 465 after his violent and arbitrary nephew Emperor Qianfei of Liu Song (Emperor Xiaowu's son) was assassinated, Liu Bing continued to be promoted. Because the imperial Liu clan then lacked people with talent, because Liu Bing was himself not particularly talented but was known for his studiousness and virtues, Emperor Ming favored him. By the end of Emperor Ming's reign, he was a powerful provincial governor. Service under Emperor Houfei After Emperor Ming died in 472 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Houfei, initially, the governmental matters were in the hands of Yuan Can and Chu Yuan. Late in 472, Yuan and Chu promoted Liu Bing to join them in making important decisions, because it was considered appropriate to incorporate a member of the imperial clan into the decision-making process. During the rebellion of Emperor Houfei's uncle Liu Xiufan (劉休範) the Prince of Guiyang in 474, Liu Bing was given a general title as well,