staff positions, making Liu the chief of staff instead. However, this ran against Shi's own wishes, as he had long been averse to the idea of a powerful general serving as chief of staff, remembering the example of Li Siyuan's chief of staff An Chonghui. Further, while Liu served as chief of staff, most of his proposals were not to Shi's liking. In 939, when Liu took leave from governmental service to observe a mourning period for his stepmother, Shi took the opportunity to disband the office of chief of staff, transferring its authority to the office of the chancellors. Liu spent a mourning period of over a year before being recalled to governmental service to serve as the military governor of Zhangde Circuit (彰德, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan). It was said that while serving at Zhangde, Liu was diligent in carrying out his duties, and was not overly harsh in dealing with subordinates and the people. When Shi visited Yedu (鄴都, i.e., Guangjin) in 941 in anticipation of reacting to a rebellion by An Chongrong the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), Liu, whose Zhangde Circuit was nearby, expended the resources of his circuit to make sure that the imperial army was well-supplied. He was subsequently recalled to the imperial government, and he initially thought that he would be given a prominent position given his seniority and experience, but was only made the general of the imperial guards, which he was not pleased about. Shi died in 942 and was succeeded by his nephew Shi Chonggui. After Shi Chonggui became emperor, Liu went to see the chancellors and, citing his contributions, sought higher position, but was not given such position. One day when visiting the chancellors Feng Dao, Zhao Ying, Li Song, and He Ning, he was drunk and complained about them. It was said that Feng laughed the criticism off, although it was not stated what the other chancellors' reactions were. After a month, he claimed to be ill and apparently took a leave from his general position. When Shi Chonggui returned from Yedu to Daliang in 943, Liu accompanied him, and took residence at Fengshan Temple (). While there, he became ill and died. He was given posthumous honors. Notes and references Old History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 94. New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 47. Zizhi Tongjian, vols.