When Xiao Yuanming was delivered to Gao Cheng, Gao Cheng treated him with respect, intending to try to use Xiao Yuanming as a pawn against Hou. By spring 548, Murong Shaozong had crushed Hou's army as well, and Hou fled to Liang, seizing the Liang border city of Shouyang (壽陽, in modern Lu'an, Anhui) as his base of operations.
The passage describes the political maneuvering of figures during a conflict between Hou and Murong Shaozong. Xiao Yuanming was captured by Gao Cheng, who intended to use him as leverage against Hou.  After defeating Hou's forces, Murong Shaozong forced Hou to flee to Liang, where he established himself in Shouyang.