After Cao Cao moved the capital to Xuxian and welcomed Emperor Xian, tensions arose between them. The emperor wrote an edict in blood, sewed it into a girdle, and secretly passed it to Dong Cheng. Dong Cheng claimed to have received the secret edict and gathered allies in an attempt to assassinate Cao Cao. Key figures included Zhong Ji, Wu Shuo, Wang Zifu, Liu Bei, and Wu Zilan. Ma Teng also joined this anti-Cao coalition. Ma Teng then recommended someone—Liu Bei. Dong Cheng immediately shook his head, saying,
“Although he is an imperial uncle, we don’t know if that’s true or not. The key point is that he currently subordinates himself to Cao Cao and may not be willing to do this. Even if he were willing, we still couldn’t trust him.”
Ma Teng’s Persuasion
Ma Teng responded,
“That’s shortsighted. During the Xutian hunting event, when Cao Cao received congratulations from the crowd, Liu Bei’s brother Guan Yu stood behind him, gripping his sword, ready to kill Cao Cao. Liu Bei stopped him with a glance. I don’t think Liu Bei is unwilling to kill Cao Cao; he’s just afraid that Cao Cao has too many followers and fears he lacks the strength. If you try to recruit him, he will certainly agree.”
As recounted in the novel:
“Then Dong Cheng and the others asked Ma Teng, ‘Whom do you suggest we employ?’ Ma Teng replied, ‘Liu Xuande, the Imperial Protector of Yuzhou, is here. Why not seek his help?’ Dong Cheng said, ‘Although he is an imperial uncle, he currently subordinates himself to Cao Cao. How could he be willing to do this?’ Ma Teng said, ‘I observed during the recent hunting event that when Cao Cao received the crowd’s congratulations, Guan Yu stood behind Xuande, gripping his sword, ready to kill Cao Cao. Xuande stopped him with a glance. Xuande is not unwilling to oppose Cao Cao; he merely resents Cao Cao’s numerous followers and fears his own strength is insufficient. If you try to recruit him, he will certainly agree.’”
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 21
Ma Teng’s Observations
At this point, a question arises: How did Ma Teng notice the subtle exchange between Guan Yu and Liu Bei? Clearly, Ma Teng had been closely observing Liu Bei. We know that during the Battle of Hulao Pass, when the three heroes fought Lü Bu, Ma Teng was present and must have had some impression of Liu Bei. Back then, Liu Bei was a county magistrate in Pingyuan. What was Liu Bei’s status now? He held the positions of Left General of the imperial court and Governer of Yuzhou. See how Cao Cao admired Liu Bei. Ma Teng couldn’t help but view Liu Bei in a new light.
A man from a humble background selling straw sandals had undergone a dramatic transformation in a short time. The last time they met, he was a county magistrate; this time, he had become a high-ranking general. This guy was truly remarkable. Moreover, Liu Bei had now been recognized as an imperial uncle and was being courted by both Emperor Xian and Cao Cao—he was undoubtedly a significant figure. Additionally, Liu Bei’s appearance was quite striking, making him unforgettable at first glance.
Thus, during the hunting event, Ma Teng kept a close watch on Liu Bei to gauge his attitude toward Cao Cao’s transgressions and to see how the three brothers—Liu, Guan, and Zhang—would respond.
Dong Cheng’s Midnight Visit
After hearing Ma Teng’s explanation, Dong Cheng went to Liu Bei’s residence the very next night, carrying the girdle edict.
However, this was an extremely bold move. It must be noted that Cao Cao had arranged for Liu Bei to live next door to facilitate surveillance. Dong Cheng’s approach lacked finesse. There were certainly other ways to test Liu Bei’s loyalty without resorting to a midnight visit with the girdle edict. This was a highly risky operation; if Cao Cao had intercepted them, the plan would have been exposed prematurely.
The Secret Conversation
When Dong Cheng met Liu Bei, Liu Bei welcomed him, and they retreated to a secluded room for discussion. Dong Cheng got straight to the point, saying,
“I didn’t come by horse during the day for fear of arousing Cao Cao’s suspicion, so I’ve come at night. The other day at the hunting event, when Guan Yu wanted to kill Cao Cao, why did you stop him? As an imperial uncle, whose side are you on—Emperor Xian’s or Cao Cao’s?”
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei’s face turned pale, mainly out of shock and fear. How did you know?
Dong Cheng replied,
“No one else saw it, but I happened to notice.”
Realizing that his intentions could no longer be concealed, Liu Bei dropped his pretense and said,
“My brother was enraged when he saw Cao Cao’s transgressions and couldn’t control his anger.”
At this point, Liu Bei grew even more apprehensive. What was Dong Cheng’s purpose in coming at night? Was he sent by Cao Cao to test him? Thus, Liu Bei pretended to probe Dong Cheng’s attitude toward Cao Cao, saying,
“Cao Cao has done quite well; you must not slander him.”
Dong Cheng’s expression changed, and he slammed the table, exclaiming,
“You are the emperor’s uncle; you should be open and honest with me. Why speak falsely?”
Seeing that he had been seen through, Liu Bei no longer hid his feelings, saying,
“I was afraid you were deceiving me, so I tested you.”
The Oath and the Pledge
At this, Dong Cheng directly took out the girdle edict and handed it to Liu Bei to examine carefully. After reading it, Liu Bei was overcome with grief and indignation.
“Cao Cao has gone too far! Our young emperor is only sixteen years old, writing an edict in blood—this is truly heartbreaking.”
Dong Cheng then produced the pledge of alliance, which already contained six names, including his own. The most influential among them was Ma Teng. Under the circumstances, Liu Bei had no choice but to add his name to the list before sending Dong Cheng away.
Liu Bei’s Feigned Retreat
Did Liu Bei truly support the anti-Cao conspiracy outlined in the girdle edict? Superficially, he had to appear supportive. As an imperial uncle, he had to stand with Emperor Xian. However, he was inwardly apprehensive, as the task was immensely difficult. Given Liu Bei’s current situation, he could contribute nothing to the anti-Cao cause. Being under Cao Cao’s surveillance, any covert actions would be tantamount to suicide. Thus, the best course of action was to maintain a low profile and protect himself by avoiding suspicion.
After signing the pledge, Liu Bei employed a strategy of feigning ignorance to reduce Cao Cao’s suspicions. He began wearing casual clothes every day, gardening in the backyard, and personally watering and fertilizing the plants. This behavior displeased Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who felt he should be concerned with grand affairs of state, not gardening. Liu Bei did not explain much, as he couldn’t, merely telling his brothers,
“This is something you wouldn’t understand, so don’t ask.”
The brothers obediently refrained from further questioning, demonstrating their absolute trust in Liu Bei. Even while living under another’s roof, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei never considered abandoning Liu Bei and trusted him completely.
Cao Cao’s Suspicions
Liu Bei believed that his feigned ignorance would keep him safe, but this strategy backfired. First, the change was too abrupt. Liu Bei had never been like this before; such a sudden shift was bound to raise suspicions. Second, it completely contradicted Liu Bei’s ambitions. As Guan Yu and Zhang Fei pointed out, Liu Bei should be concerned with major affairs, not gardening. Everyone believed Liu Bei had grand aspirations; his sudden withdrawal indicated that something was amiss, especially without a reasonable explanation. Cao Cao certainly noticed Liu Bei’s unusual behavior and seized an opportune moment to invite him for a conversation over green plums and wine.
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