Yang Shihou
In 907, Zhu Quanzhong had Emperor Ai yield the throne to him, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang with him as its Emperor Taizu, but was not recognized by several warlords who continued to wage war with him. In 908, when the major general Liu Zhijun, then stationed at Tong Prefecture, rebelled against Emperor Taizu and aligned himself with Qi (i.e., Li Maozhen's state) and Jin (then ruled by Li Cunxu), Liu Zhijun induced Qi forces to seize Chang'an while he himself quickly seized Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan) and Tong Pass. Emperor Taizu commissioned the general Yang Shihou to attack Liu Zhijun, and Liu Xun served under Yang in this campaign. When Liu Xun reached the east side of Tong Pass, he captured Liu Zhijun's sentry soldiers but let them stay free to serve as his guides, and then had them approach Tong Pass. The soldiers Liu Zhijun sent to defend Tong Pass did not know that the sentry soldiers had turned against them, and opened the pass to welcome them. Liu Xun followed and entered, capturing the pass and taking Liu Zhijun's brother Liu Zhiwan () captive. With Later Liang forces converging on him, Liu Zhijun fled to Qi, and Yang subsequently recaptured Chang'an. Emperor Taizu made Liu Xun the acting military governor of Youguo Circuit (佑國, headquartered at Chang'an). Soon thereafter, Emperor Taizu renamed the circuit to Yong'an Circuit () and made Liu Xun its military governor, as well as the mayor of Da'an Municipality (大安, i.e., Chang'an) and the governor (觀察使, "Guanchashi") of Jin Prefecture (金州, in modern Ankang, Shaanxi); he also bestowed the title of acting "Situ" (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies) on Liu Xun. In 910, Emperor Taizong bestowed the honorary chancellor designation of "Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi" () and the title of acting "Taibao" () on him.