Liu Ai

Biography & Historical Record

Liu Ai (刘艾, Lưu Ngải) was a late-Han imperial clansman, Dong Zhuo’s chief clerk, later Director of the Imperial Clan (宗正), and the man who in Jian’an 21 (216) held the staff that enfeoffed Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) as King of Wei. He also wrote the Annals of Emperors Ling and Xian (Lingdi ji, Xiandi ji) that Pei Songzhi quotes. The novel gives him one hush in Chapter 14: the Palace Attendant and Grand Astrologer Wang Li (王立, Vương Lập) takes him aside to say the Han fire-virtue is ending and that Jin–Wei land will raise a new son of Heaven. That is the whole Romance part. He is not a general, not a relative of Liu Bei, and not the many other Liu Ai / Liu Cai scribal slips in old translations.

Career in the histories is longer than the chapter. As Dong Zhuo’s clerk he heard the tyrant rate Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên) the only Guandong man worth fearing, and answered that Sun Jian was no Li Jue or Guo Si — he had even fought the Banshen. In Jian’an 1 (196) he became Director of the Imperial Clan, followed the court to Xu, and was made a marquis while administering Pengcheng; Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố) turned him out of that commandery in 198 and he went back to the clan office. In 214 he held the same directorate again; in 216, as acting Grandee Secretary with a staff, he read Cao Cao’s kingship. Birth and death years are unknown. Vietnamese Lưu Ngải is the site form for 艾.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 14 (Cao Cao Moves the Emperor to Xuchang; Lü Bu Attacks Xuzhou by Night): Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo), now holding Emperor Xian (刘协, Lưu Hiệp), debates a move to Xu with his staff. Wang Li (王立, Vương Lập), Palace Attendant and Grand Astrologer, privately tells the Director of the Imperial Clan Liu Ai (刘艾, Lưu Ngải) that since last spring Venus has offended Saturn in Dipper-Ox, crossed the Ford, and met Mars at the Heavenly Pass: a new emperor will appear; Han’s number is ending; Jin and Wei land will have the rise. Wang Li then memorializes the emperor that earth follows fire, so Wei will replace Han. Cao Cao hears, tells Wang Li the Way of Heaven is deep and to say less, and reports the talk to Xun Yu (荀彧, Tuân Úc). Xun Yu ties it to Dong Zhao (董昭, Đổng Chiêu)‘s earlier advice: Xu is earth, Cao is earth-fated, the move will prosper. The emperor dare not refuse; the court is too afraid to object. On the road Yang Feng (杨奉, Dương Phụng) and Han Xian (韩暹, Hàn Tiêm) bar the way with Xu Huang in front. Liu Ai is not said to fight. He is the clansman who had to listen to the omen that licensed the capital’s theft.

Liu Ai (刘艾) — Historical & Literary Timeline

Kongming’s Archives entry: Liu Ai 刘艾.

Key Relationships

Family

• Imperial Liu clansman (hence the 宗正 office). No father, mother, spouse, or children are named in the notices Pei quotes. Not a brother of Liu Bei.

Friends

• Wang Li (王立, Vương Lập): the astrologer who chooses him as the listener for the 196 omen. No dedicated site post — plain text.
• Emperor Xian (刘协, Lưu Hiệp): the sovereign whose court he serves as clan director and whose move to Xu he follows.

Enemies

• Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố): historically removed him from Pengcheng in 198. The novel Chapter 14 night attack on Xuzhou is the same year’s storm, not a personal duel with Liu Ai.

Other

• Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo), Xun Yu (荀彧, Tuân Úc), Dong Zhao (董昭, Đổng Chiêu): the men who turn Wang Li’s speech into the Xu move. Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác): earlier employer. Yang Feng (杨奉, Dương Phụng) and Han Xian (韩暹, Hàn Tiêm): the roadblock the same chapter.