Wu Zilan (2nd century – 200 AD), a general of the late Eastern Han dynasty. He conspired with General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng, Commander of Changshui Commandery Zhong Ji, and General of the Left Wang Zifu. They claimed to have received a secret edict from within the sash of Emperor Xian of Han, and together with General of the Left Liu Bei, they plotted to kill Minister of Works Cao Cao. Liu Bei seized this opportunity to raise an army outside. In the first month of Jian'an fifth year (200 AD), Dong Cheng's plot was leaked, and Cao Cao executed Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Zhong Ji, and Wu Zilan, exterminating their families to the third degree (the 'Zizhi Tongjian' records this as happening on the day of Rensizi in the first month; however, there was no such day in that month, suggesting an error). Cao Cao also killed Dong Cheng's pregnant daughter, who was a consort of Emperor Xian.

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', Wu Zilan's involvement in Dong Cheng's plot is described in greater detail: Wang Zifu, serving as Attendant of the Ministry of Works, discovered that Dong Cheng had a secret edict. He and Dong Cheng established an oath, writing their names down. They mentioned that General Zhaoxin Wu Zilan was a close friend and could be involved in the plot. Dong Cheng also mentioned Zhong Ji and Councillor Wu Shuo as his confidants who could join them. Coincidentally, Zhong Ji and Wu Shuo came to visit Dong Cheng and learned of his plan, thus signing their names on the oath. Wang Zifu then invited Wu Zilan to meet everyone and write his name on the oath. Dong Cheng invited everyone to a drinking session in the back hall. At this time, Governor of Xiliang Ma Teng also came to visit, and after learning that he hated Cao Cao, Dong Cheng introduced him to everyone and showed him the oath for his signature. Ma Teng took an oath over wine and pointed to the five people in the room, saying that if they could get ten men, they could achieve great things. Dong Cheng said that loyal and righteous men were hard to find, and if they entrusted their plans to the wrong person, it would lead to disaster. On Ma Teng's recommendation, Dong Cheng contacted Liu Bei, who also signed his name on the oath.

Later, Liu Bei raised an army and left Cao Cao, while Ma Teng returned to Xiliang. Dong Cheng discussed ways to harm Cao Cao with Wang Zifu and others day and night but could not find a solution. On New Year's Day of Jian'an fifth year, court physician Ji Ping, who was treating Dong Cheng, discovered the plot, bit his finger as an oath, and agreed with Dong Cheng to poison Cao Cao when he came for treatment. However, Dong Cheng's servant Qin Qingtong, who had been punished, escaped and informed Cao Cao that Wang Zifu, Wu Zilan, Zhong Ji, Wu Shuo, and Ma Teng were discussing secret matters at Dong Cheng's residence to harm the Chancellor (referring to Cao Cao). He also mentioned a piece of white silk (the oath) and Ji Ping biting his finger as an oath. As a result, the next day, Ji Ping failed to poison Cao Cao and was captured instead.

Cao Cao ordered a banquet for all the ministers. Dong Cheng claimed illness and did not attend, but Wang Zifu and the others feared that Cao Cao would suspect them and dared not stay away. During the banquet, Cao Cao interrogated Ji Ping to force him to confess. Wang Zifu and the other four were uneasy and felt as if they were sitting on pins and needles. Ji Ping did not reveal their names and was led away. After the banquet, Cao Cao kept Wang Zifu and the four others for a night feast, leaving them terrified. Cao Cao asked what they had discussed with Dong Cheng and showed them the white silk. Wang Zifu and the others denied everything. Cao Cao summoned Qin Qingtong to confront them, who accused them of meeting in secret with six people and writing on paper. When questioned about Ji Ping's poisoning attempt, Wang Zifu and the others claimed ignorance. Cao Cao said that if they confessed that night, they could be pardoned, but it would be difficult to forgive them once the matter was discovered. Wang Zifu and the others insisted that there was no such thing. Cao Cao ordered his men to arrest and imprison the four.

The next day, Cao Cao led a group to Dong Cheng's residence with Ji Ping, claiming that he had confessed to the four people involved and interrogated him about Dong Cheng. Ji Ping committed suicide. Cao Cao captured Dong Cheng, found the sash edict and the oath, and planned to depose Emperor Xian but was dissuaded by his advisor Cheng Yu. Instead, he sent Dong Cheng and the five others, along with their entire families, to be executed at various city gates. In total, over 700 people were killed. The officials and civilians who witnessed this could not help but shed tears. A poem later lamented Wang Zifu and the other four:

「Writing names on a piece of silk, they vowed loyalty,

Thinking generously to repay their lord.

Their red hearts sadly lost a hundred lives,

But their true intentions will last for eternity.」

In history, Ma Teng did not participate in the sash edict incident and had no clear actions showing his allegiance to the Han dynasty. Ji Ping's prototype, Imperial Physician Ji Pi, did not die during this event but rather died in 218 AD after a failed uprising against Cao Cao. Qin Qingtong is also a fictional character. In Jian'an fifth year, Cao Cao had not yet been appointed as Chancellor.

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吳子蘭（2世紀 - 200年），東漢末年將軍。與車騎將軍董承、長水校尉种輯、偏將軍王子服同謀，稱受漢獻帝衣帶中密詔，與左將軍劉備謀誅司空曹操。劉備趁機在外起兵。建安五年（200年）正月，董承所謀事洩，曹操殺董承、王子服、种輯、吳子蘭，皆夷三族（《資治通鑑》作正月壬子日事，當年正月無壬子日，疑誤），又將董承已懷孕的女兒、漢獻帝的董貴人殺死。

羅貫中歷史小說《三國演義》對吳子蘭參與董承之謀事有更詳細的描述：身為工部侍郎的王子服發現董承有密詔後，與董承立義狀，都寫上名字，說到昭信將軍吳子蘭與自己交情至厚，可與同謀。董承也說到种輯和議郎吳碩是自己心腹，可以同謀。正好种輯、吳碩來探望董承，得知董承所謀後，在義狀上寫了名字。王子服就去請吳子蘭來與眾人相見，也在義狀上寫了名字。董承邀請眾人于後堂會飲。這時西涼太守馬騰也來探病，董承試探出他也恨曹操，請他與眾人相見，取出義狀給馬騰寫名字。馬騰取酒歃血為盟，指著座上五人說如果得到十人，可成大事。董承說忠義之士不可多得，若所託非人，將反遭相害。在馬騰推薦下，董承聯繫劉備，劉備也在義狀寫了名字。後來劉備起兵脫離曹操，馬騰回西涼，董承日夜與王子服等商議謀害曹操，卻無計可施。建安五年元旦，給董承看病的隨朝太醫吉平發現董承之謀，咬指為誓，與董承商定由吉平借給曹操看病之機毒殺曹操，但董承家奴秦慶童因受罰，出逃向曹操告密稱王子服、吳子蘭、种輯、吳碩、馬騰五人在董承府中商議機密，必然是謀害丞相（指曹操），及董承曾拿出白絹一段（即義狀），及吉平咬指為誓事，因此次日吉平未能毒殺曹操，反被擒住。曹操傳令次日設宴，請眾大臣飲酒，董承稱病不來，王子服等怕曹操生疑，不敢不到。曹操在席間拷打吉平逼供，王子服等四人面面相覷，如坐針氈。吉平沒有供出眾人，被牽下去。散席後，曹操只留王子服等四人夜宴，四人魂不附體。曹操問四人與董承商議何事，並指出白絹，王子服等都不承認。曹操教喚出秦慶童對証，秦慶童指王子服等迴避眾人，六人在一處畫字。曹操又問及吉平下毒事，王子服等都說不知情。曹操說如果今晚自首尚可恕，等事發就難赦免了。王子服等皆言並無此事，曹操叱左右將四人拿住監禁。又次日，曹操又率眾押吉平去董承府上，稱吉平招供出四人，並拷打吉平要他供出董承。吉平自殺。曹操擒住董承，搜出衣帶詔和義狀，意圖廢黜獻帝，被謀士程昱勸止，于是只將董承等五人及其全家老小押送各門處斬。死者共七百餘人。城中官民見者，無不下淚。後人有詩嘆王子服等四人：「書名尺素矢忠謀，慷慨思將君父酬。赤膽可憐捐百口，丹心自是足千秋。」

歷史上馬騰並無參與衣帶詔事，也無明顯的效忠漢室的言行；吉平的原型太醫令吉丕並非死于此事，而是死于建安二十三年（218年）反曹起事失敗。秦慶童亦屬虛構人物。建安五年時曹操尚未官拜丞相。

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