In 907, Zhu Quanzhong had Emperor Ai yield the throne to him, ending Tang Dynasty and establishing a new Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 266. Li Zhen was thereafter made the director of palace affairs (殿中監, Dianzhong Jian). Shortly after, it was at his and Jing Xiang's suggestion that the Tang official Su Xun (蘇循), who had submitted petitions in support of the dynastic transition, be forced to retire as a traitor to Tang. Li was later made the minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu).
