《新五代史·世家·楚世家第六》
剀言最初为刺史彭矸效力，随彭开投奔楚，刘言事奉马希范任辰州刺史。
言，初事刺史彭玕，从玕奔楚，言事希范为长州刺史。
Liu Yan initially worked for Prefect Peng Gang and followed Peng to surrender to Chu, while Liu Yan served under Ma Xifan, who was the prefect of Chenzhou.