《资治通鉴·后周纪·后周纪二》
刘言派遣使者前来报告，说： 湖南世代事奉朝廷，不幸被南唐所攻陷，臣下虽然没接奉诏令，但立即纠合义兵，已经平定湖南楚国旧地。 
刘言遣使奉表来告，称： 湖南世事朝廷，不幸为邻寇所陷，臣虽不奉诏，辄纠合义兵，削平旧国。 
 Liu Yan sent an envoy to report and said: Hunan has served the court for generations, but unfortunately it was captured by the Southern Tang. Although the ministers did not receive the imperial edict, they immediately rallied the righteous soldiers and pacified the old land of Hunan and Chu.