In the final years of Wang Mang's reign, the people suffered unbearable hardship. Li Tong and his father Li Shou both served as officials at court. Li Shou was fond of studying astrological charts and prophecies, and Li Tong heard his father mention a prophecy that read: "The Liu family will rise again, and the Li family will assist them." Li Tong often pondered this in private, believing that with the court's oppressive taxation and the people's growing resentment, the time for a dynastic change had arrived. He thus resigned from his post and returned to his hometown, waiting for the right moment.
At that time, hearing that troops had risen in Xiajiang and Xinshi and that Nanyang was in turmoil, Li Tong's cousin Li Yi, always eager for action, discussed with Li Tong: "Now chaos reigns everywhere; it seems the Xin dynasty is doomed and the Han dynasty is about to be restored. Among the Nanyang imperial clan, only Liu Xiu and his brother care for the people and talent—we can plot great deeds with them." Li Tong laughed heartily and replied, "Exactly what I was thinking!" Just then, Liu Xiu happened to be hiding in Wan County from pursuing officials. Upon hearing this, Li Tong immediately sent Li Yi to welcome Liu Xiu.
Emperor Liu Xiu had heard of Li Tong's brilliance and longed to meet him. When they finally met, Li Tong spoke with eloquence and strategic insight, while Liu Xiu showed far-sighted vision and a talent for recognizing ability. The two talked until the sun dipped westward, shaking hands in deep rapport. When Li Tong detailed a prophecy, Liu Xiu was initially dismissive. Li Tong then devised a plan: during the military exams, they would kidnap the governor of Nanyang Commandery to rally the people. Li Tong sent Liu Xiu and Li Yi back to Chongling to coordinate troops, while dispatching his cousin Li Ji to Chang'an to inform his father, Li Shou.
Unexpectedly, Li Ji fell ill and died on the journey. Li Shou, who had secretly learned of this, planned to flee back to Nanyang. However, his fellow villager Huang Xian advised him, 'Submit a petition to the throne, accept the death sentence, and hope for a pardon.' Before the petition could be delivered, Li Tong sensed danger and fled. When Wang Mang heard of this, he arrested and imprisoned Li Shou. Just then, news arrived that Li Tong had raised an army. Enraged, Wang Mang ordered Li Shou's execution. Huang Xian argued fiercely on his behalf, and both were killed together. All of Li Shou's family in Chang'an were slaughtered, and in Nanyang, sixty-four of Li Tong's brothers and clan members were also executed.
With his entire family slaughtered by Wang Mang, Li Tong was consumed by grief, which only hardened his resolve to overthrow the tyrant's brutal regime.
By this time, Liu Xiu's forces had already converged. Li Tong met up with Liu Xiu and Li Yi at Jiyang County, and together they launched an attack that shattered Nanyang Commandery.
After Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, ascended the throne, Li Tong served with utmost dedication, assisting in state affairs. Once the realm was somewhat stabilized, he avoided glory and favor, requesting retirement. Throughout his life, Li Tong embodied the strategies of Yi Yin, Lü Wang, Xiao He, and Cao Shen, helping Emperor Guangwu restore the Han dynasty. He sacrificed his family for the state, earning great virtue and prestige, truly fulfilling that prophecy.
Later, the idiom "shaking hands in joy" came to describe people shaking hands and being very cordial.
Source: *Book of the Later Han*, "Biography of Li Tong"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "握手言欢" came to describe people shaking hands and being very cordial.