Biography
Early life
Ma Su was born in 190 CE, the first year of Chuping, in Yicheng, Xiangyang, Jing Province (present-day Yicheng, Hubei).
His courtesy name was Youchang.
He was the younger brother of Ma Liang, Palace Attendant.
Ma Su and his four brothers were known as the “Five Ma Brothers” (馬氏五常, “Five Constants of the Ma Family”).
Ma Su was talented from a young age and was known for his literary ability.
Service under Liu Bei
Ma Su and Ma Liang both served as Provincial Officers in Jing Province.
When Liu Bei entered Yi Province, Ma Su followed the main army.
Early career
Ma Su served as Magistrate of Mianzhu, Magistrate of Chengdu, and Administrator of Yuexi.
Because of his outstanding talent, he gained Zhuge Liang’s appreciation.
Ma Su was exceptionally talented and liked to discuss military strategy.
The Records of the Three Kingdoms mentions multiple times that Zhuge Liang, Chancellor of Shu Han, always held him in high regard.
Liu Bei’s warning
Ma Su was familiar with military theory but had never actually been on the battlefield.
Therefore, when Liu Bei was on his deathbed, he warned Zhuge Liang: “Ma Su’s words exceed his actual ability. He cannot be entrusted with important responsibilities. I beg the Chancellor to observe him carefully.”
However, Zhuge Liang did not agree with this view.
He appointed Ma Su as Army Adviser to the Chancellor and often discussed military strategy with him day and night.
The Southern Campaign strategy
During Zhuge Liang’s Southern Campaign against Meng Huo, Ma Su proposed a strategic principle before the campaign: “Attacking the heart is superior to attacking the city; psychological warfare is superior to military warfare.”
Zhuge Liang adopted this strategy.
As a result, Shu Han’s southern border had no major military conflicts until the fall of Shu.
The Jieting defeat
In 228 CE, the sixth year of Jianxing, Zhuge Liang launched the Northern Expedition from Qishan.
He alone went against public opinion and did not use veteran generals Wei Yan and Wu Yi.
Instead, he promoted Army Adviser Ma Su as commander.
The battle
Afterward, when Ma Su deployed his troops at Jieting, he violated Zhuge Liang’s instructions and did not listen to Wang Ping, his deputy general’s remonstrance.
He believed that being on high ground would allow him to attack like breaking bamboo.
He therefore abandoned the water source and deployed his troops on the mountain.
Zhang He’s attack
Wei general Zhang He advanced to Jieting.
When he scouted that Ma Su had abandoned the water source and deployed on the mountain, he was greatly pleased.
He immediately sent troops to cut off the water source and food supply routes, surrounding Ma Su’s troops on the mountain.
He then set fire to the mountain.
The defeat
The Shu troops, suffering from hunger and thirst, lost their morale and fell into chaos without fighting.
Zhang He ordered his troops to attack, and the Shu army was greatly defeated.
Originally, Gao Gang, the defender of Qishan, had intended to surrender.
However, this battle left the Shu army with no place to advance or retreat.
They had no choice but to abandon the three commanderies of Longyou and withdraw to Hanzhong.
The aftermath
According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms·Biography of Xiang Lang, Ma Su abandoned his army and fled.
He did not voluntarily confess his crime to Zhuge Liang.
Xiang Lang had always been friendly with Ma Su and knew about this but did not report it.
After the incident, Ma Su was arrested and imprisoned.
The execution
Zhuge Liang, because he had lost his army due to his own violation of military discipline, submitted a memorial requesting to demote himself by three ranks.
He executed Ma Su and Generals Zhang Xiu and Li Sheng to apologize to the people.
He also stripped General Huang Xi and others of their military authority.
Chen Shou, the author of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, had a father who served as Ma Su’s Army Adviser.
He was punished with shaving of the head (髡刑).
Zhuge Liang hated Xiang Lang’s act of shielding Ma Su and dismissed Xiang Lang from office and sent him back to Chengdu.
However, according to the Biography of Ma Liang with Ma Su, Ma Su died of illness in prison.
Ma Su’s final letter
According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms·Biography of Ma Su, with annotation from the Xiangyang Ji, Ma Su wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang before his death: “My lord, you regard Ma Su as your own son, and Ma Su also regards you as his father. I hope you can follow the principle of Yao executing Gun but using Yu. This will not be in vain for our usual friendship. Although Ma Su dies, he will have no regrets in the Yellow Springs.”
After Ma Su’s death
After Ma Su died, one hundred thousand people in the army wept for him.
Zhuge Liang also wept bitterly and personally performed sacrifices for him.
He also cared for Ma Su’s orphaned children for the rest of his life.
Li Miao’s remonstrance
Before Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su, Li Miao once came forward to remonstrate.
However, because his remonstrance did not accord with Zhuge Liang’s wishes, Li Miao was sent back to Shu.
Jiang Wan’s comment
At that time, Jiang Wan was in Hanzhong and said to Zhuge Liang: “In the past, King Cheng of Chu killed Cheng Dechen, and then Duke Wen of Jin heard this news and was very pleased. The realm is not yet unified, and you have killed such a wise and strategic adviser. Is this not a pity?”
Zhuge Liang wept and replied: “The reason Sun Wu could be worthy of the realm was that he used law clearly. At that time, Yang Gan violated the law, and Wei Jiang killed his servant. Now the realm is divided, and we have just begun to wage war. If we now restore those abolished laws, what do we use to attack the bandits (Cao Wei)?”
Personality
Ma Su was described as talented and eloquent but lacking in practical military experience.
He was known for his ability to discuss military strategy but had never actually commanded troops in battle.
Liu Bei warned that Ma Su’s “words exceed reality” (言過其實), meaning he talked better than he could perform.
Military achievements
The Southern Campaign strategy
Ma Su proposed the strategy of “attacking the heart, not the city” during the Southern Campaign.
This strategy was highly successful and ensured peace in Shu Han’s southern border.
The Jieting defeat
Ma Su’s defeat at Jieting was a major military failure that led to the failure of Zhuge Liang’s first Northern Expedition.
Relationships
With Ma Liang
Ma Su was the younger brother of Ma Liang, Palace Attendant.
Both were among the “Five Ma Brothers.”
With Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang held Ma Su in high regard and often discussed military strategy with him.
However, Ma Su’s defeat at Jieting led to his execution.
Zhuge Liang wept bitterly after Ma Su’s death and cared for his orphaned children.
With Liu Bei
Liu Bei warned Zhuge Liang that Ma Su’s words exceeded his actual ability and should not be entrusted with important responsibilities.
However, Zhuge Liang did not follow this advice.
With Wang Ping
Wang Ping was Ma Su’s deputy general at Jieting.
He remonstrated against Ma Su’s deployment but was ignored.
After Ma Su’s defeat, Wang Ping’s correct advice was proven.
With Xiang Lang
Xiang Lang was friendly with Ma Su and knew that Ma Su had abandoned his army and fled.
However, he did not report this, leading to his dismissal.
Anecdotes
The saying “words exceed reality”
Liu Bei warned Zhuge Liang that Ma Su’s words exceeded his actual ability.
This saying has become a famous Chinese idiom meaning someone talks better than they can perform.
The Southern Campaign strategy
Ma Su proposed the strategy of “attacking the heart, not the city” during the Southern Campaign.
This strategy was highly successful and ensured peace in Shu Han’s southern border.
The Jieting defeat
Ma Su’s defeat at Jieting was a major military failure.
He violated Zhuge Liang’s instructions and deployed his troops on the mountain, abandoning the water source.
This led to his defeat by Zhang He and his eventual execution.
Zhuge Liang’s tears
Zhuge Liang wept bitterly after executing Ma Su.
He personally performed sacrifices for him and cared for his orphaned children.
This showed Zhuge Liang’s deep regret and personal relationship with Ma Su.
Achievements
- Proposed successful strategy for the Southern Campaign
- Served as Administrator of Yuexi
- Known for military strategy discussions
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Ma Su’s biography appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, attached to Ma Liang’s biography.
The execution
There is some controversy about whether Ma Su was executed or died of illness in prison.
Most sources indicate he was executed, but some suggest he died of illness.
The saying
The saying “words exceed reality” (言過其實) has become a famous Chinese idiom.
It is used to describe people who talk better than they can perform.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary
Liu Bei said: “Ma Su’s words exceed reality. He cannot be entrusted with important responsibilities.”
Cao Rui said: “Ma Su and Gao Xiang saw the banners and fled in defeat.”
Jiang Wan said: “The realm is not yet unified, and you have killed such a wise and strategic adviser. Is this not a pity?”
Later historians
Chen Shou wrote: “The five brothers all had talent and reputation. His talent and ability exceeded others. He liked to discuss military strategy. Chancellor Zhuge Liang deeply valued and treated him differently.”
Liu Shan said: “The Jieting campaign—the fault lay with Ma Su.”
Xi Zuoqi wrote: “Zhuge Liang’s inability to conquer the upper realm—was this not appropriate? The Jin people observed Lin Fu’s later achievements, so they abolished the law and achieved success. King Cheng of Chu was blind to Dechen’s benefit to him, so he killed him and suffered a great defeat. Now Shu is remote and backward, with less talent than the upper realm, yet you kill its outstanding men and retreat to use inferior men. You value law over talent and do not learn from the three defeats. How can you achieve success? Moreover, the late emperor warned that Ma Su could not be entrusted with important responsibilities. Was this not saying he lacked talent? Zhuge Liang received the warning but did not follow it, showing that Ma Su was difficult to abandon. As the ruler of the realm, if you want to greatly gather the strength of all things but do not measure talent and assign responsibilities according to ability, and if you know too much, you violate the wise ruler’s warning. If you judge incorrectly, you kill beneficial people. It is difficult to speak of wisdom with such a person.”
Legacy
Ma Su is remembered as a talented strategist whose words exceeded his actual ability.
His defeat at Jieting led to the failure of Zhuge Liang’s first Northern Expedition and his own execution.
The saying “words exceed reality” has become a famous Chinese idiom.
His story represents both the importance of practical experience and the consequences of ignoring wise warnings.
Timeline
- 190 CE: Born in Yicheng, Xiangyang, Jing Province; one of Five Ma Brothers
- ?: Served as Provincial Officer in Jing Province; followed Liu Bei into Yi Province
- ?: Served as Magistrate of Mianzhu and Magistrate of Chengdu
- 223 CE: Liu Bei warned Zhuge Liang about Ma Su; Liu Bei died
- 223-228 CE: Served as Army Adviser to the Chancellor under Zhuge Liang
- 225 CE: Proposed “attack the heart, not the city” strategy for Southern Campaign
- 228 CE: Appointed commander at Jieting; defeated by Zhang He; executed by Zhuge Liang
See also
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 39, Biography of Dong, Liu, Ma, Chen, Dong, Lü.
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, various chapters.