Liu Futong was recruited by the northern Chinese White Lotus sectarian leader Han Shantong in 1351.
Liu Futong successfully recruited many of these workers to the Red Turban Rebellion; this resulted in a massive increase in rebel activity from 1351 onwards.
Though a figurehead, Han's legitimacy as Song emperor (and Liu's personal ideological adherence to the White Lotus sect) helped maintain cohesion amongst the Northern Red Turbans, something which their Southern counterparts lacked.
This led to a surge of support that allowed Liu to raid Shaanxi and Shanxi,[5] capture parts of Anhui and Shandong, and send his general, Mao Gui, on an expedition to the Yuan capital, Dadu.
[6] Liu Futong's success was short-lived, however, and Yuan commander Chaghan Temur recaptured Kaifeng in September 1359.