Liu Dai 劉岱

Liu Dai's younger brother Liu Yao, courtesy name Zhengli, was a man of Muping County in Donglai Commandery. The youngest son of King Xiao of Qi had been enfeoffed as Marquis of Muping, and his descendants made their home there; Liu Yao's paternal uncle Liu Chong was Grand Commandant of the Han. In Liu Yao's biography Chen Shou wrote that Liu Yao's elder brother Liu Dai, courtesy name Gongshan, served successively as Palace Attendant and Inspector of Yan Province. Records, Wu 4 §2

When Taoqiu Hong of Pingyuan wanted Liu Yao recommended as Flourishing Talent, the Inspector said, 'Last year I recommended Gongshan; how can I recommend Zhengli as well?' Taoqiu Hong replied that to employ Gongshan first and promote Zhengli afterwards would be to drive two dragons on a long road and gallop fine steeds over a thousand li. Records, Wu 4 §3–4

Dong Zhuo trusted the Master of Writing Zhou Bi, the Colonel of the City Gates Wu Qiong and others, and sent out the men they recommended—Han Fu, Liu Dai, Kong Zhou, Zhang Zi, Zhang Miao and others—as heads of provinces and commanderies. At this time the Palace Attendant Liu Dai became Inspector of Yan Province. But on reaching their posts, Han Fu and the others all joined forces to attack Dong Zhuo, and Dong Zhuo, believing that Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong and the others had been in collusion with them, had them all beheaded. Records, Shu 8 §3Records, Wei 6 §10

In the first month, spring, of the 1st year of Chuping (190), Yuan Shu, Han Fu, Kong Zhou, Liu Dai, Wang Kuang, Yuan Shao, Zhang Miao, Qiao Mao, Yuan Yi and Bao Xin raised troops at the same time. Each had tens of thousands of followers, and they chose Yuan Shao as leader of the alliance. In the second month, when Dong Zhuo moved the Son of Heaven to Chang'an, Zhang Miao, Liu Dai, Qiao Mao and Yuan Yi were stationed at Suanzao, but because Dong Zhuo's army was strong no one dared to advance first. Records, Wei 1 §7–8

At Suanzao, Zhang Miao introduced Zang Hong, whom his younger brother Zhang Chao valued highly, to Liu Gongshan of Yan Province and Kong Gongxu of Yu Province, and both became close to Zang Hong. When the provinces and commanderies set up an altar and swore an oath, the oath that Zang Hong read from the altar included the words that the Inspector of Yan Province Liu Dai and others had gathered loyal troops to hasten together to the aid of the state in its crisis. Records, Wei 7 §37–38

Liu Dai fell out with Qiao Mao, the Administrator of Dong Commandery, killed him, and had Wang Gong serve concurrently as Administrator of Dong Commandery. Records, Wei 1 §14

During the Chuping era Liu Dai summoned Cheng Yu, but Cheng Yu did not respond. At this time Liu Dai was on friendly terms with both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan: Yuan Shao had his wife and children stay with Liu Dai, and Gongsun Zan sent his Attendant Officer Fan Fang with cavalry to help Liu Dai. Later, having defeated Yuan Shao's army, Gongsun Zan told Liu Dai to send away Yuan Shao's wife and children and break with Yuan Shao, and separately instructed Fan Fang to bring the cavalry back if Liu Dai did not comply. Records, Wei 14 §5–6

When Liu Dai deliberated for several days without reaching a decision, his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage Wang Yu recommended Cheng Yu as a man of resource. Liu Dai summoned Cheng Yu and asked his advice, and Cheng Yu said that to abandon Yuan Shao, the help close at hand, and seek Gongsun Zan's distant aid would be like borrowing a man from Yue to save a drowning child, and that Gongsun Zan would in the end be captured by Yuan Shao. Liu Dai followed his advice. While Fan Fang was on his way back with the cavalry, Gongsun Zan was heavily defeated by Yuan Shao. Liu Dai submitted a memorial to make Cheng Yu Chief Commandant of Cavalry, but Cheng Yu declined on the grounds of illness. Records, Wei 14 §6–7

In the 3rd year of Chuping (192), a million Yellow Turbans from Qing Province entered Yan Province, killed Zheng Sui, the Chancellor of Rencheng, and turned toward Dongping. When Liu Dai wanted to attack them, Bao Xin advised that since the enemy numbered a million and the soldiers had no will to fight, they should hold fast and build up their strength, and attack after the enemy had dispersed. Liu Dai did not listen, gave battle, and was indeed killed by them. Bao Xin went with the provincial officer Wan Qian and others to Dong Commandery and welcomed Cao Cao to take charge as Governor of Yan Province. Records, Wei 1 §21–23Records, Wei 14 §8