Wubei Zhi (Vol. 10)

Thinking about how to mobilize the masses, he did not know what to do next. He caught sight of a man on the road who looked like a Confucian scholar. Han sent someone to summon him, prepared food for him, and asked what he had heard. The scholar then said, "Wherever Lord Liu passes, the commanderies and counties return to him. The one who has raised the title of Emperor at Handan is truly a false Liu." Han was overjoyed.

Not seeking He immediately forged a letter from Guangwu, sent a missive to Yuyang, and ordered the scholar to fast and take it to Chong, instructing him to explain everything he had heard. Han followed him inside. Chong was greatly convinced by this. Thereupon, he sent Han to lead troops to Shanggu. The various generals combined their armies and went south. Wherever they arrived, they struck and beheaded Wang Lang’s generals. When they reached Guang'a, Guangwu appointed Han as a Pian Jiangjun Lieutenant General.

After Guangwu defeated Lang, he obtained several thousand scrolls of documents from officials and commoners who had communicated with Lang and slandered him. He did not examine them. He gathered the various generals and burned them all, saying, "This is to allow those who were wavering to feel secure."