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Ma Chao (SGZ Biography)

translated by Sonken

Ma Chao, characters Mengqi, was a Fufeng native from Maoling. His father Ma Teng, were colleagues with Bian Zhang and Han Sui at the Xizhou area during the later stages of Han Ling Di’s rule. During the third year of ChuPing (A.D. 192), Han Sui and Ma Teng brought their followers on an official visit to Chang An. The Han courts appointed Han Sui as Zhen Xi Jiangjun (General Who Defends the West) and to be stationed at Jing Cheng; Ma Teng was appointed as Zheng Xi Jiangjun (General Who Conquers the West) and to be stationed at Tun Mei. Following that, Ma Teng attacked Chang An but failed in the process and retreated back to the Province of Liang. Sili Xiaowei (Colonel Director of the Retainers) Zhong Yao who guarded Guanzhong, dispatched a letter to Han Sui and Ma Teng offering to help them through thick and thin. Ma Teng then dispatched Ma Chao to follow Zhong Yao to fight against Guo Yuan and Gao Gan at Ping Yang, during which Pang De, a subordinate of Ma Chao, personally executed Guo Yuan. After that, Ma Teng had some disagreements with Han Sui and subsequently petitioned for a position back in the capital instead. He was then appointed as Weiwei (Commandant of the Palace Guards) and Ma Chao was appointed as Bian Jiangjun (Lieutenant General) and also Marquis of Duting and put in charge of Ma Teng’s forces.

Ma Chao gathered all his forces and combined them with those of Han Sui’s and forged an alliance with Yang Qiu, Li Kan, and Cheng Yi etc to invade the Tong Pass. Cao Cao met up with Han Sui and Ma Chao on horseback for a discussion, and Ma Chao judging his own physical prowess was plotting to capture Cao Cao in a surprise move but since Cao Cao’s follower Xu Chu was glaring at him all this while, Ma Chao dared not make a false move. Cao Cao then used a strategy given to him by Jia Xu to create disharmony between Ma Chao and Han Sui and instigating them to suspect each other. As a result, the alliance of Ma Chao and Han Sui suffered a bitter defeat. Ma Chao retreated with his people and Cao Cao chased after him till An Ding, whereby he turned back east to discuss military matters concerning the northern prefectures. Yang Fu claimed that Cao Cao made a statement that, “Ma Chao has the courage of the likes of Lu Bu and Han Xin, but he also has the heart of the Qiangs and the Hus. If he is to return with another army and there is inadequate defence, the various commanderies at Long Shang will definitely be lost.” As predicted, Ma Chao did return with his people to attack the commanderies and prefectures at Long Shang. Although Long Shang did put up defence against the invasion, nevertheless, Ma Chao still managed to kill the governor of Liang Province, Wei Kang, and he stationed himself at the City of Yi. Ma Chao self-declared to be Zheng Xi Jiangjun (General Who Conquers the West) and be the governor of the Province of Bing and also in charge of the military affairs of the Province of Liang. Yang Fu, Jiang Yi, Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu, etc, the minor officers that used to served Wei Kang collaborated to defeat Ma Chao. Yang Fu and Jiang Yi approached Ma Chao’s forces from the City of Lu and Ma Chao attacked them there. Ma Chao was unable to defeat them. Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu then closed the gates of the City of Yi and Ma Chao was stranded in the middle with nowhere to go, and he was then forced to seek refuge at Zhang Lu’s place in Han Zhong. Zhang Lu was incapable in terms of helping Ma Chao in his expansionary plans, and Ma Chao was already taking interest in a commandery named Yi. When he heard that Liu Bei had Liu Zhang surrounded in Cheng Du, he secretly wrote a letter to him, expressing his interest in surrendering to his forces.

Liu Bei sent some followers to welcome Ma Chao and the latter led his men to the side of the Cheng Du city. There was great fear within the city and Liu Zhang immediately surrendered, upon the arrival of Ma Chao’s troops. Ma Chao was then appointed as Ping Xi Jiangjun (General Who Pacifies the West) and put in charge of the areas near Ju, and such a high post was appointed to him due to his previous position of Marquis of Duting awarded by the Han court. When Liu Bei became the Prince of Hanzhong, he gave Ma Chao the superficial title of Zuo Jiangjun (General of the Left). In the first year of ZhangWu (A.D. 221), Ma Chao was appointed as Biao Qi Jiangjun (General of the Agile Calvary, second ranking general), governor of the Province of Liang and also a noble title of Marquis of Li Xiang. In a speech by Liu Bei, he said that, “I am not capable nor of virtue and I succeeded the highest honour laid down by my ancestors. Cao Cao and his son would b remembered and loathed by all for their sins and wrongdoings, within the borders of China or beyond recorded in major or minor histories of those of even the Di and Qiang people. You (Ma Chao) are in good esteem of the northerners and your valour is well-known there and they are willing to follow you to fight against the evil across thousands of miles. You are to integrate them into the Han culture and be fair in your task to reward the good and punish the wrongdoers.” In the second year, Ma Chao passed away at the age of forty seven. Before his death, he petitioned, “I used to have some two hundred members in my household but they were mostly killed by Meng De (Cao Cao), except for my younger brother and follower Ma Dai. He is the only person left to continue the family line, hence I sincerely place him in your (Liu Bei) care and I will have no regrets.” Ma Chao was given a posthumous title of Marquis of Yue Wei and his son Ma Cheng succeeded him. Ma Dai was given the position of Ping Bei Jiangjun (General Who Pacifies the North) and also a noble title of Marquis of Chen Cang. Ma Chao’s daughter was married to the Prince of Anping, Liu Li.

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