馬超

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The "Splendid Ma Chao" of Xiliang. At Tong Pass he drove Cao Cao to the edge of death — "unless Ma Chao dies, I shall have no grave." The price of his rising was the massacre of his father Ma Teng and clan at court; stripped of his power base, he came over to Liu Bei. At Chengdu his name alone broke the defenders’ will, and he joined the Five Tiger Generals. He died at forty-seven, bequeathing his clan’s vengeance in his last testament.

Key events

1. 211

   Battle of Tong Pass — Ma Chao Rises

   Ma Chao’s Xiliang coalition slams into Cao Cao — pressing him so hard legend says he cut off his beard to flee — before Jia Xu’s discord scheme broke the alliance.

   Cao CaoJia XuXu Chu

2. 212

   Execution of Ma Teng

   In reprisal for Ma Chao’s rising, Cao Cao executes Ma Teng and his kin at court — deepening the son’s thirst for vengeance.

   Ma TengCao Cao

3. 214

   Liu Bei Takes Yi Province

   With Fa Zheng’s defection and reinforcements under Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, Liu Bei enters Chengdu — at the cost of his strategist Pang Tong at Luocheng.

   Liu BeiFa ZhengPang TongZhuge LiangZhang FeiZhao Yun

4. 219

   Liu Bei Becomes King of Hanzhong

   Master of Hanzhong, Liu Bei takes a royal title to match Cao Cao. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao and Huang Zhong became the Five Tiger Generals (the novel’s term).

   Liu BeiGuan YuZhang FeiZhao YunHuang Zhong

History vs. the novelHistoryvsNovel

The novel makes him a filial son avenging his father; history runs the other way — his rising came first, his father’s execution followed. The true story is the more bitter one.