Ma Chao

**Ma Chao** (176–234), courtesy name **Mengqi**, was a military general and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. A descendant of the general Ma Yuan, Ma Chao was the eldest son of Ma Teng, a prominent warlord in Liang Province (covering parts of northwestern China) who previously serve under Shi Lian and his successor Shi Dan.

In 211, his father formed a coalition with Fu Jian, Han Sui and other northwestern warlords and launch a campaign against the warlord Cao Cao His father was capture and executed. The coalition broke up after losing the Battle of Tong Pass against Cao Cao's forces. After this defeat Cao Cao charge Ma Chao's family for treason and had them executed. Ma Chao retreated to Liang Province submit to Fu Jian of Liang Province but Fu Jian was defeat by Cao Cao Forces and killed the provincial inspector Wei Kang for plotting against him and fled.

After being repeated defeat by Cao Cao. Ma Chao fled to the Hanzhong Commandery, took shelter under Zhang Lu for a while until around 214, when he heard that the warlord Liu Bei was fighting for control over Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) with Yi Province's governor, Liu Zhang. He defected to Liu Bei's side and assisted Liu Bei in capturing Yi Province from Liu Zhang. Ma Chao had served as a general under Liu Bei since then and participated in the Hanzhong Campaign in 219 and later serve under the state of Shu Han founded by Liu Bei and actively participate in the Shu Chancellor Zhuge Liang northern campaign against Cao Wei until his death 234.

## Early Life and Family background

Ma Chao was a native of Maoling (茂陵), Youfufeng (右扶風), which is located northeast of present-day Xingping, Shaanxi. He was the eldest son of Ma Teng and a descendant of Ma Yuan. Ma Teng, along with Han Sui and others, were warlords who held considerable influence in Liang Province in the Guanzhong region (in northwestern China), and they were reluctant to submit to the Han Dynasty's rule. In 192, Ma Teng accepted the title of "General Who Attacks the West" (征西將軍) from the Han court and garrisoned his army at Mei (郿). However, he rebelled later and attacked the city of Chang'an but failed to conquer it so he retreated back to Liang Province.

## Early career

In 197, the warlord Cao Cao (who had become the de facto head of government in the Han imperial court) placed Zhong Yao, the Director of Retainers (司隷校尉), in charge of guarding the Guanzhong region. Zhong Yao wrote to Ma Teng and Han Sui, explaining to them the benefits of submitting to the Han court and the negative consequences of not doing so. When Cao Cao later became the Chancellor (丞相), he wanted to recruit Ma Chao to serve in the Han government, but Ma refused.

In 202, when Cao Cao was on a series of campaigns to unify northern China after his victory over Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu two years ago, he ordered Zhong Yao to attack Yuan's allies Gao Gan and Guo Yuan in Pingyang (平陽). Ma Teng sent Ma Chao to assist Zhong Yao, and Ma Chao became an "Assistant Officer Who Supervises the Army" (督軍從事) under Zhong. During the battle, Ma Chao was hit by a stray arrow in the foot, but he wrapped his foot in a pouch and continued fighting. His subordinate Pang De slew Guo Yuan and they defeated the enemy.

Later, Ma Teng was appointed "Minister of the Guards" (衞尉) by the Han court. Ma Chao was appointed as a Lieutenant-General (偏將軍), granted the title of "Marquis of a Chief Village" (都亭侯), and placed in charge of his father's troops in Liang Province. Ma Chao's younger brothers Ma Xiu and Ma Tie were appointed as "Commandant of Equipage" (奉車都尉) and "Commandant of Iron Cavalry" (鐵騎都尉) respectively.

## Alliance against Cao Cao

### Battle of Tong Pass

In 211, Ma Teng forms a coalition with Fu Jian in Liang Province against Cao Cao and contacted various warlords to join coalition such Han Sui. In response, Cao Cao sent Cao Hong and Xu Huang to lead an army to engage them. Yang Qiu, Li Kan (李堪), Cheng Yi (成宜), Hou Xuan (侯選), Cheng Yin (程銀), Zhang Heng (張橫), Liang Xing (梁興), Ma Wan (馬玩) and others join the coalition and formed a 200,000 strong coalition army to attack Tong Pass (present-day Tongguan County, Shaanxi). Ma Chao engaged against Cao Cao's forces and defeated them

Liu Zhang, the governor of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), wanted to marry his daughter to Ma Chao to build ties with Ma, however, Ma Teng rejected the proposal considered Liu Zhang incapable in achieving great things.

Cao Cao led an army to Tong Pass to attack Ma Teng and the coalition, resulting in the Battle of Tong Pass. Ma Chao thought about leading an attack to capture Cao Cao but was repelled by Cao Cao's General Xu Chu.

## Service under Zhang Lu

Ma Chao returned to Hanzhong after his defeat at Mount Qi and sought shelter under Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu planned to marry his daughter to Ma Chao, but Ma Chao declined Zhang Lu offer" Zhang Lu then aborted his plan.

On one New Year's Day, a relative of Ma Chao (who had also escaped to Hanzhong) came to visit him. Ma Chao beat his chest, coughed blood, and said to his relative, "A big family with over a hundred members all sharing the same fate in one day. Now, are there only the two of us to give greetings to each other?"

Ma Chao constantly asked Zhang Lu to give him some troops to attack Liang Province. Zhang Lu agreed, but Ma Chao failed to make any gains from the campaign. Yang Bai (楊白), an officer under Zhang Lu, was jealous of Ma Chao's ability and wanted to harm the latter. When Ma Chao heard that, he escaped from Wudu (武都) and went to live with the Di people around the area.

## Service under Liu Bei

Around 214, the warlord Liu Bei was fighting for control over Yi Province with the provincial governor Liu Zhang. Ma Chao felt that Zhang Lu was not capable of making great achievements and was also distrustful of him, so he planned to defect to Liu Bei. When he heard that Liu Bei was besieging Liu Zhang in Chengdu (the capital of Yi Province), he wrote a secret letter to Liu Bei, expressing his desire to serve the latter. Liu Bei was pleased to receive Ma Chao's letter and he exclaimed, "Yi Province is mine." He then sent Li Hui to meet Ma Chao and provide supplies and additional troops to Ma, after which Ma led his forces to the north of Chengdu and joined in the siege. Within ten days of Ma Chao's arrival, Liu Zhang gave up resistance and surrendered to Liu Bei.

### Peng Yang's case

When Peng Yang (彭羕) was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Jiangyang (江陽) and was about to leave Chengdu to assume office, he visited Ma Chao and said, "You're in charge of external affairs while I'm in charge of internal affairs. We can pacify the Empire." Ma Chao had recently joined Liu Bei's forces and he was often fearful that he would get into trouble. When he heard Peng Yang's speech, he was shocked and did not reply. After Peng Yang left, Ma Chao reported Peng's speech, which resulted in Peng's arrest and imprisonment. Peng Yang was later executed.[Sanguozhi 17]

### Hanzhong Campaign

After occupying Yi Province, Liu Bei appointed Ma Chao as "General Who Pacifies the West" (平西將軍) and put him in charge of Linju (臨沮), which was in accordance with Ma's title of "Marquis of a Chief Village".

In around 215, Cao Cao attacked and defeated Zhang Lu, after which Hanzhong Commandery came under his control. Cao Cao left Xiahou Yuan, Zhang He and others behind to defend Hanzhong while he returned to Ye (present-day Handan, Hebei).

#### Battle of the Han River

Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao in the Hanzhong Campaign in 219 and declared himself "King of Hanzhong" (漢中王), after which he appointed Ma Chao as "General of the Left" (左將軍).

### Battle of Maicheng

Later that year in 219 Liu Bei's ally Sun Jian broke the Alliance between him and Liu Bei and launched an invasion to seized Jing Province from Liu Bei while defending general Guan Yu was away attacking Fancheng. When Guan Yu station himself at Maicheng after he withdrew from Fancheng in an attempt to reclaim the lost territories and was besieged by Sun Jian's General Lu Meng. He initially sent Liao Hua to request reinforcement from Meng Da and Liu Feng at Shangyong but was refused so Liao Hua went to Ma Chao instead in Baidicheng. Ma Chao then mobilized his forces to rescue Guan Yu but by the time Ma Chao arrived Guan Yu was already defeated by Sun Jian and was captured by Sun Jian's forces in an ambushed and was later executed. Ma Chao eventually retreated and reported the loss of Jing Province.

### Conflict against Wu

In 221, Liu Bei declared himself "Emperor of Shu Han" and appointed Ma Chao as "General of Agile Cavalry" (驃騎將軍) and Governor (牧) of Liang Province. Ma Chao also received the title of "Marquis of Tai District" (斄鄉侯). Liu Bei's edict read: "I am unworthy, but I have ascended the throne to preserve the Han Dynasty. Cao Cao and Cao Pi will be remembered for their sins. I am disconsolate by their wrongdoings. The people loathe them and hope that the Han Dynasty will be restored, such that the Di, Qiang, Xunyu and other ethnic minorities will be willing to join us. The northerners look up to you and your valour is well known among them. I have an important task for you: I hope you will use your influence to govern the northern border well and bring prosperity to the people there. You must show the benefits of our government and be impartial in rewarding the good and punishing the evil. You have the blessings of the Han emperors and you must not let the people down."

#### Battle of Xiaoting

In 221, Liu Bei launches a campaign against Sun Jian's forces which led to the Battle of Xiaoting. Ma Chao originally placed in charge of defending Baidicheng however when Zhang Fei was assassinated by his subordinate while he was sleeping and the decapitated the corpse and brought it along with them as they defected to Sun Jian's side.

As a result, Ma Chao was ordered to lead 10,000 troops to rendezvous with Liu Bei's main force at Jiangzhou (江州; around present-day Yuzhong District, Chongqing) instead.

## Service under Liu Shan

After Liu Bei died in June 223, his son Liu Shan succeeded him as the emperor of Shu, with the Imperial Chancellor Zhuge Liang serving as regent because Liu Shan was still underage at the time. Following his coronation, Liu Shan appointed Ma Chao as General of Agile Caverly (中護軍) and General Who Attacks the North (征南將軍), and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Tai District (永昌亭侯). He promoted Ma Chao to the position of General Who Guards the West (鎮東將軍) later.

### Partake Zhuge Liang Northern Expedition

In 227, Ma Chao moved to the staging area at Hanzhong Commandery to join Zhuge Liang, who had mobilised military forces from throughout Shu in preparation for a large-scale military campaign against Shu's rival state, Wei.

#### Battle of Jieting

In 228 Zhuge Liang order Ma Chao to rescue Ma Su when the latter made a tactical blunder by encamped on top of a hill, believing the vantage point would provide him with a more advantageous position in terms of observation and a place of attack and which was taken advantaged of by the Wei Chancellor Hou Teng who follow the Wei General Zhang He's suggestion by surrounded Ma Su's forces and cut down the water supply. Ma Chao arrived at Jieting to aid Ma Su engaged against Zhang He and managed to regroup some scattered forces along with Wang Ping afterward Ma Su was sentenced to be executed by Zhuge Liang and Ma Chao promoted for his performance in the battle.

## Death

Ma Chao died in 234 at the age of 59 due to illness in the Camp. Before his death, he wrote to Zhuge Liang: "Over 200 members of my family were killed by Cao Cao. I only have my cousin Ma Dai and my son Ma Cheng left with me. They will be the ones to continue my family line. I entrust him to his Excellecy's care. That is all I have to say." In 260, Liu Shan granted Ma Chao the posthumous title of "Marquis Wei" (威侯).

## Appraisal

Chen Shou, who wrote Ma Chao's biography in the Sanguozhi, commented on the latter as such: "Ma Chao's arrogance and overestimation of his ability caused the extermination of his entire clan. What a great pity! If he had been content with what he possessed, would he not have saved himself from disaster?"

Guan Yu once wrote to Zhuge Liang to ask who could compete with Ma Chao when he heard that Ma had recently joined Liu Bei's forces. Zhuge Liang replied, "Mengqi is proficient in both civil and military affairs. He is fierce and mighty, and a hero of his time. He is comparable to Qing Bu and Peng Yue. He can compete with Yide, but is not as good as the peerless beard."