Han Dynasty and particularly impressed the imperial official Yan Rao (顏蕘). When Yan was put in charge of the imperial history institute, he then invited Liu to serve as a scholar under him. Believing that the earlier Tang historian Liu Zhiji was overly critical of ancient Confucian classics and history texts, Liu Can wrote a 10-volume work criticism Liu Zhiji's work and entitled it, Liu's Commentary on History (柳氏釋史), and this work was much praised by scholars. The imperial officials, impressed with his writing style, often asked him to draft petitions for them, causing him to gain the nickname of "Liu the File Folder" (柳篋子). Emperor Zhaozong favored those who wrote well, and he initially treated Li Xi well, eventually making Li a chancellor in 895; however, the warlords Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, and Han Jian attacked the imperial capital Chang'an later in the year, killing Li Xi and another chancellor, Wei Zhaodu. Emperor Zhaozong was much saddened by Li Xi's death, and often wanted to seek another scholar of similar talent to Li Xi. Someone recommended Liu for his literary talent; Emperor Zhaozong thus summoned Liu to his presence and was impressed when Liu was able to write poems to his request. He soon thereafter made Liu an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). As chancellor In spring 904, at the demand of the powerful warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit, whose troops then controlled Chang'an, the leading chancellor Cui Yin was put to death. The next day, Emperor Zhaozong, citing Liu's talent, made Liu a chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), even though Liu still, even after the chancellor commission, carried the relatively low position of You Jianyi Daifu (右諫議大夫), an advisor at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), reflecting his lack of seniority. It was said that Liu's promotion to chancellorship after just less than four years of service in the imperial administration and was unprecedented in its quickness. He was therefore viewed lowly by his chancellor colleagues Pei Shu, Dugu Sun, and Cui Yuan, all of whom were senior officials. Shortly thereafter, Zhu forced Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang. After the imperial court relocated to Luoyang, Zhu had even tighter control of the emperor, as all of the emperor's attendants and guards were Zhu's subordinates. Liu cultivated relationships with them, particularly with Jiang Xuanhui, whom Zhu