Ma Yin
Over the years, Ma continued to trust Gao's advice, and the other states despised Gao's abilities. After Later Liang was destroyed by Later Tang in 923, Ma became a vassal of Later Tang, and sent his son Ma Xifan to pay tribute to Later Tang's Emperor Zhuangzong. Emperor Zhuangzong, while praising Ma Xifan for his intelligence and alertness, chose to try to sow the seeds of dissension by stating, "I had long heard that the Ma state would be seized by Gao Yu. With a son like you, how could Gao steal the state?" Gao Jixing, who by 929 was the ruler of a separate state of Jingnan to Chu's north, also tried to create suspicions by spreading rumors against Gao Yu, but Ma Yin paid no heed to these rumors. Gao Jixing then sent a letter to Ma's second eldest son Ma Xisheng, whom Ma Yin had by that point put in control of most affairs of the Chu state, ostensibly to seek permission to allow him to enter into a blood brotherhood with Gao Yu. Ma Xisheng's suspicions were aroused, particularly since his wife's relative Yang Zhaosui () had ambitions of replacing Gao Yu, and therefore often spoke negatively of Gao Yu to him. Ma Xisheng thus accused Gao Yu of wasteful living and contacting other states, requesting Ma Yin to kill him. Ma Yin refused, but after Ma Xisheng repeatedly requested to at least strip Gao Yu of military command, did so. Gao Yu, displeased, stated to his associates, "I am going to build a mansion in the hills to the west, for retirement. The pony [(a double entendre, as Ma means "horse" in Chinese)] has grown up and can bite now." Ma Xisheng heard the remark and became angry — so angry that he falsely announced that Gao had committed treason, and he slaughtered Gao and his family, without first informing Ma Yin. When Ma Yin heard this, he cried bitterly, but did not punish Ma Xisheng.