as alluded to above, while still under gengshi emperor, emperor guangwu married his childhood sweetheart yin lihua. later, in 24, while he was on his expedition north of the yellow river, he entered a political marriage with guo shengtong (郭聖通), the niece of a regional warlord, liu yang (劉楊) the prince of zhending. in 25, guo bore him a son, liu jiang (劉疆).