馬謖

Profile

The brilliant theorist who could debate strategy till dawn — and the Ma Su of the famous tearful execution. His maxim for the southern campaign, "attack hearts, not cities," underpinned the seven-captures strategy. But at Jieting he defied orders, camped on the hill instead of by the water, and was routed — collapsing the entire first campaign. Exactly as the dying Liu Bei had warned: "his words outrun his substance." The eternal cautionary tale of talent without the test of battle.

Key events

1. 223

   Liu Bei’s Deathbed Trust at Baidicheng

   Defeated at Yiling, the dying Liu Bei entrusts his son Liu Shan and the state to Zhuge Liang at Baidicheng — warning him, too, not to over-promote Ma Su.

   Liu BeiZhuge LiangLiu Shan

2. 225

   The Southern Campaign — Seven Captures

   Zhuge Liang pacifies the southern revolt, capturing and releasing the chieftain Meng Huo seven times until he submits from the heart (per the Han Jin Chunqiu).

   Zhuge LiangWang Ping

3. 228

   Battle of Jieting

   Defying orders, Ma Su camps on the hilltop and is routed by Zhang He, wrecking the first campaign. Only Wang Ping kept his unit intact; Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su in tears.

   Zhang HeWang PingZhuge Liang

History vs. the novelHistoryvsNovel

Novel and history agree on the defeat; they diverge on the end. Some records say execution, others death in prison — the novel, naturally, chose the scaffold and turned up the volume.