[3] After Tang ended and was replaced by (in its central part) Later Liang, Cui Xie served in the posts (unclear whether simultaneously, but appeared to be simultaneously) of Zuosi Langzhong (左司郎中, a supervisory official serving under one of the secretaries generals of the Executive Bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng)), the magistrate of Wannian County (萬年, one of the two counties making up the Tang capital Chang'an but no longer capital during Later Liang times), and imperial attendant (給事中, Jishizhong).
However, shortly after, he was restored to his prior rank, as deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang).
He was also said to be impressive in appearance and capable of speech, but having logical lapses in his arguments, such that he gained a reputation for having style without substance.
One of his chiefs of staff, Kong Xun, did not like having chancellors from north of the Yellow River — i.e., from the territory of Later Tang's predecessor state Jin — and thus recommended Cui.
How can there be another chancellor like Cui Xie, to draw the laughter from the entire empire?Li Siyuan himself suggested that the imperial scholar Feng Dao might be suitable, and then ordered these officials to rediscuss the matter.
This drew Kong's displeasure about how Ren interfered with his recommendation, and he became even more determined to have Cui made chancellor.
[3] In early 929, Li Siyuan was returning from the eastern capital Daliang to then-capital Luoyang, with the imperial officials attending him on the trek.