by Starscream on Mon Jul 28, 2003 2:11 pm
Ma Chao
1.
(Ma Chao was made Pian Jiang Jun and Marquis of Duting after Ma Teng left for the capital…) Dian Lue: Ma Teng, styled Shoucheng, was a descendent of Ma Yuan. During the reign of Emperor Huan, his father, who was styled Zishuo, was a colonel at Lan’gan at Tianshui. He lost his position later, and stayed behind in in West Long, living together with the Qiang peoples. His family was too poor to have a proper marriage, so he married a Qiang woman, who gave birth to Ma Teng. When Teng was young, he was poor and had no means of living, and so he would often chop firewood from Mount Zhang, and carry it to sell in the cities to support himself. Teng was over 8 chi tall, of a massive build and with an exceptional complexion and nose; he was a kind and generous man, though, and most people respected him. At the end of Emperor Ling’s reign, the Inspector of Liang province, Geng Pi, took to listening to corrupt officials, which caused the rebellion of the commoner Wang Guo along with the Di and Qiang tribes. The province recruited strong men from the commoners in order to quell the uprising, and Ma Teng was in the list. The provincial officials considered him extraordinary, and so they made him an officer in the army, and gave him a command of men. When he obtained merit through defeating the rebels, he was made a major in the army, and later was promoted to lieutenant-general, and then to general of the west. He was often garrisoned between Qian and Long. During the Chuping years, he was made General who Conquers the East. At that time, Xizhou was short of grains, and so Ma Teng requested to move to Chiyang for the harvest, since his soldiers were in lack. Thus he was transferred to the shores of Changping. However, Wang Cheng, a general there, feared that Ma Teng was going to bring him harm, and so he attacked Ma Teng’s camp. Right then Ma Teng was out, and unprepared, and so he was defeated and fled westward. Since the Sanfu area was in chaos at that time, he did not come back east again, but became sworn brothers with Han Sui, General who Keeps the West, and were very close friends at first. However, some time later, due to fighting between their subordinates, they became enemies. Ma Teng attacked Han Sui, and Sui left the area, but regrouped his forces and returned to attack Teng and killed his wife and sons. The fighting between them could not be stopped. At the beginning of the Jian’an reign, the order of the country was disrupted, and so the court sent the Sili Xiaowei (an officer in charge of law and order in the capital), Zhong Yao, and governor of Liang Province, Wei Duan, to reconcile the two sides. Ma Teng was sent to return to his fort in Huaili, and promoted to be General of the Front, given a tiger tally, and made Marquis of Huaili. He guarded against the Hu marauders from the north, and the Bai riders from the east. He treated scholars well, and promoted the worthy. He was sympathetic to the plight of the commoners and sought to help them, and pacified and cared for Sanfu. In the 15th year, Ma Teng was summoned to be the Commandant of the Palace Guard. Seeing that he was getting old, Ma Teng went in the Palace Guard. Formerly, when Lord Cao was the Prime Minister, he recommended Ma Teng’s firstborn, Ma Chao, to serve in office, but he declined. Later, Ma Chao became Sili Xiaowei Dujun Congshi (roughly means a subordinate military officer of Sili Xiaowei), and went to fight Guo Yuan. He was hit by an arrow (on the foot), and so he took a pouch, wrapped his foot in it, and continued fighting. He thus defeated Guo Yuan, and beheaded him. The court made him Inspector of Xu province, and then transferred him to be an Imperial Consultant. When Ma Teng went into the Capital, Ma Chao was made Lieutenant-General, and ordered to take over Ma Teng’s command. The court also made Chao’s younger brother Ma Xiu Chief Commandant of the Charioteers, and Xiu’s younger brother Ma Tie Colonel of the Cavalry. All their families were sent to Ye city, but Ma Chao stayed behind.
2.
(Cao Cao made use of Jia Xu to sow discord between Ma Chao and Han Sui, resulting in their great defeat…) Tales of Duke Shanyang: Formerly, when Lord Cao’s army was at Puban, and getting ready to cross over the river to the west, Ma Chao said to Han Sui, “We should counter their troops north of the Wei river. In no more than 20 days, the supplies from east of the River would be exhausted and they would certainly retreat.” Han Sui said, “We should order our men to cross the river too, and attack them midstream – wouldn’t that be even better?” Thus Chao’s strategy was not employed. When Lord Cao heard of this, he said, “If the Ma kid does not die, I know not where I’d be buried.”
3.
(Ma Chao heard that Liu Bei had surrounded Liu Zhang in Cheng Du and secretly sent a letter expressing his desire to surrender…) Dian Lue: In the 16th year of Jian’an, Ma Chao rebelled along with Hou Xuan, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, Yang Qiu, Han Sui, totalling 10 commands within the Passes. Their forces numbered one hundred thousand, and were encamped along their holdings on the Yellow River and the Tong area. That year, Lord Cao marched westward, and fought with Ma Chao and company where the Yellow River and the Wei River met, and Chao, defeated, fled. He fled to Anding, and escaped to the Liang province. (Lord Cao) had Chao’s family arrested and executed. Chao lost again upon the Long. After that, he fled to Hanzhong, where Zhang Lu gave him the rank of Du Jiang Ji Jiu (Officer in charge of Military Drills?), and wanted to give his daughter to him as wife. Some said to Zhang Lu, “If a man does not care for his family such as this, how can he care for others?” Thus Zhang did not carry out his plan.
Previously, before Ma Chao rebelled, his younger brother-in-law, Zhong, stayed at Sanfu. When Chao lost, Zhong entered Hanzhong ahead of him. On New Year’s day, Zhong went to wish Chao good health, and Chao, striking his breast and spitting blood, said, “Our family, totalling a hundred people, died in one day. And now would the two of us celebrate?” Afterwards he asked Zhang Lu several times for some troops to regain Liang province in the north. Lu sent him to do that, but nothing did he gain. Furthermore, a general in Zhang Lu’s command, Yang Bai, among others, were plotting evil against him and so Ma Chao escaped to the Di through Wudu, and then turned towards Shu. That year was the 19th of the Jian’an reign.
4.
(The entire city was filled with fear and Liu Zhang surrendered…) Dian Lue: When Liu Bei heard that Ma Chao was coming, he said gleefully, “I am going to get Yi province!” Thus he sent an envoy to greet Chao, and secretly supplied him with troops. When Chao arrived, Liu ordered him to garrison north of the city. Chengdu fell within ten days of Chao’s arrival.
5.
(After Liu Zhang surrendered, Ma Chao was given the rank of Ping Xi Jiang Jun, put in charge of Lin Ju, and the title of Qian Du Ting Hou…) Tales of Duke Shanyang: Ma Chao, seeing that Liu Bei treated him well, often addressed Liu Bei by his style name when they conversed. Guan Yu got angry over that, and requested to have him killed. Liu Bei said, “He came to me at a time of destitution. How can I show myself (as a magnanimous person) if I allow you to kill him out of anger, over his calling me by my style name?” Zhang Fei said, “If that is so, we should show him proper conduct.” They thus held a party the next day, and invited Ma Chao to attend. Guan and Zhang stood formally with the weapons in hand. Ma Chao glanced around at the seats, and saw that Guan and Zhang were not sitting but rather standing respectfully. Ma Chao was shocked, and never once after that addressed Liu Bei by his style. The day after the party, Ma Chao sighed and said, “I now know why I have lost. Just for calling a lord by his style, I was almost killed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei!” After that, he treated Liu Bei with full respect.
Pei Song Zhi says: I, your humble servant, believe that there is no reason for Chao to be so arrogant as to call Bei by his style, since Bei accepted his service when he was at the end of his means, and gave him a lordly position. Furthermore, when Liu Bei entered Shu, he left Guan Yu to guard Jing province, and Yu never set foot on the soil of Yi province. That was why, upon hearing Chao’s surrendering, (Yu) wrote to Zhuge Liang asking, “Who may Chao be compared to in terms of talents?” Thus, it cannot be as the document says, that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood together. Also, in general, when someone does something, he knows that he could do it; and if he knows that he could not do it, they would desist. Let’s say Chao thinks that it was reasonable for him to address Liu Bei by his style. He could not have overheard Yu’s request to kill him. So how is it that when he saw the two men standing in respect, he could come to the conclusion that he was almost killed by Guan and Zhang, for his calling Liu Bei’s style? This story is illogical and should be refuted. All those recorded by Yuan Wei, Yue Zi and such are crude, random, false and nonsensical as this. Things of this quality cannot be counted.
6.
(Ma Chao’s daughter was betrothed to the Prince of An Ping, Liu Li…) Dian Lue: When Ma Chao entered Shu, his secondary wife, Dong, and her son Qiu stayed behind with Zhang Lu. They were captured by Lord Cao upon Zhang Lu’s defeat. Cao thus gave Dong to Yan Fu, and Qiu to Zhang Lu, who killed him by his own hand.
Huang Zhong
No comments from Pei.
I'll post the
edited Huang Zhong's SGZ biography here instead.
Huang Zhong, characters Han Sheng, was a native of Nanyang. He was appointed by the Governor of Jingzhou, Liu Biao, as Zhonglang Jiang, and guarded Changsha Province with Liu Biao’s nephew, Liu Pan. When Cao Cao attacked Jingzhou, he feigned allegiance and had the rank of Shan Jiangjun (assistant general) and maintained his official duties, this time under the command of the governor of Changsha, Han Xuan. When Liu Bei united the various southern provinces, Huang Zhong joined his ranks and subsequently participated in the conquest of Shu. Ever since his appointment at Jiameng and the attack on Liu Zhang, Huang Zhong was always the first to charge into the enemy’s ranks and his valour was well-known in the three armies. After Yizhou was pacified, Huang Zhong was appointed as Taolu Jiangjun (General Who Exterminates the Caitiffs). In the twenty fourth year of JianAn (A.D. 219), Huang Zhong confronted Xiahou Yuan’s troops at Dingjun Mountains. Xiahou Yuan’s troops were elite and well-trained, thus Huang Zhong analysed that such a battle-ready troops would be easily provoked, thus ordered his own troops to lure the enemy into the valley. In the midst of the loud war drums and cheering, Huang Zhong’s army killed Xiahou Yuan in the first encounter and Xiahou Yuan’s army was utterly defeated. As a result of this victory, Huang Zhong was appointed ZhenXi Jiangjun (General Who Conquers the West). When Liu Bei became the Prince of Hanzhong, Huang Zhong was appointed as Hou Jiangjun (General of the Rear). Zhuge Liang spoke to Liu Bei that, “Huang Zhong’s fame used to be way too far to be equal to that of Guan Yu or Ma Chao, but ever since this battle, he can be said to be of equal status as them. Ma Chao and Zhang Fei were nearby to witness the battle exploit, hence they could be convinced. However, Guan Yu is currently not with us here and should he hear of this, he would not be too happy.” Liu Bei replied,”I will do the explaining personally.” Thus, Huang Zhong was ranked equal with Guan Yu and the rest (Zhang Fei and Ma Chao) and given the noble title of Marquis of GuanNei. In the coming year, Huang Zhong passed away and he was given a posthumous title of Marquis of Gang. Huang Zhong had a son named Xu but the latter passed away young, thus Huang Zhong did not have a descendant.
Final words commenting the five generals by Chen Shou:
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, etc were known to be powerful generals who could fight ten thousand men and accredited to be among the best of their times. Guan Yu repaid Lord Cao’s favour, Zhang Fei’s releasing of Yan Yan out of righteousness were deeds held in high esteem in the country. However, Guan Yu was unyielding and overly self-respect, whereas Zhang Fei was hot-tempered and without kindness, their short-comings leading to their defeats. This is common logic indeed. Ma Chao betrayed the minority tribes and lacked courage; he was a disappointment for his people, what a pity! Having been able to rise from rags to riches, is this not better? Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun both strong and valiant were good subordinates of their lord, like the claws and teeth to a beast. Can they not compare to the likes of Guan Yin and Xiahou Yin?
[b]Ma Chao[/b]
1. [b](Ma Chao was made Pian Jiang Jun and Marquis of Duting after Ma Teng left for the capital…)[/b] [i]Dian Lue[/i]: Ma Teng, styled Shoucheng, was a descendent of Ma Yuan. During the reign of Emperor Huan, his father, who was styled Zishuo, was a colonel at Lan’gan at Tianshui. He lost his position later, and stayed behind in in West Long, living together with the Qiang peoples. His family was too poor to have a proper marriage, so he married a Qiang woman, who gave birth to Ma Teng. When Teng was young, he was poor and had no means of living, and so he would often chop firewood from Mount Zhang, and carry it to sell in the cities to support himself. Teng was over 8 chi tall, of a massive build and with an exceptional complexion and nose; he was a kind and generous man, though, and most people respected him. At the end of Emperor Ling’s reign, the Inspector of Liang province, Geng Pi, took to listening to corrupt officials, which caused the rebellion of the commoner Wang Guo along with the Di and Qiang tribes. The province recruited strong men from the commoners in order to quell the uprising, and Ma Teng was in the list. The provincial officials considered him extraordinary, and so they made him an officer in the army, and gave him a command of men. When he obtained merit through defeating the rebels, he was made a major in the army, and later was promoted to lieutenant-general, and then to general of the west. He was often garrisoned between Qian and Long. During the Chuping years, he was made General who Conquers the East. At that time, Xizhou was short of grains, and so Ma Teng requested to move to Chiyang for the harvest, since his soldiers were in lack. Thus he was transferred to the shores of Changping. However, Wang Cheng, a general there, feared that Ma Teng was going to bring him harm, and so he attacked Ma Teng’s camp. Right then Ma Teng was out, and unprepared, and so he was defeated and fled westward. Since the Sanfu area was in chaos at that time, he did not come back east again, but became sworn brothers with Han Sui, General who Keeps the West, and were very close friends at first. However, some time later, due to fighting between their subordinates, they became enemies. Ma Teng attacked Han Sui, and Sui left the area, but regrouped his forces and returned to attack Teng and killed his wife and sons. The fighting between them could not be stopped. At the beginning of the Jian’an reign, the order of the country was disrupted, and so the court sent the Sili Xiaowei (an officer in charge of law and order in the capital), Zhong Yao, and governor of Liang Province, Wei Duan, to reconcile the two sides. Ma Teng was sent to return to his fort in Huaili, and promoted to be General of the Front, given a tiger tally, and made Marquis of Huaili. He guarded against the Hu marauders from the north, and the Bai riders from the east. He treated scholars well, and promoted the worthy. He was sympathetic to the plight of the commoners and sought to help them, and pacified and cared for Sanfu. In the 15th year, Ma Teng was summoned to be the Commandant of the Palace Guard. Seeing that he was getting old, Ma Teng went in the Palace Guard. Formerly, when Lord Cao was the Prime Minister, he recommended Ma Teng’s firstborn, Ma Chao, to serve in office, but he declined. Later, Ma Chao became Sili Xiaowei Dujun Congshi (roughly means a subordinate military officer of Sili Xiaowei), and went to fight Guo Yuan. He was hit by an arrow (on the foot), and so he took a pouch, wrapped his foot in it, and continued fighting. He thus defeated Guo Yuan, and beheaded him. The court made him Inspector of Xu province, and then transferred him to be an Imperial Consultant. When Ma Teng went into the Capital, Ma Chao was made Lieutenant-General, and ordered to take over Ma Teng’s command. The court also made Chao’s younger brother Ma Xiu Chief Commandant of the Charioteers, and Xiu’s younger brother Ma Tie Colonel of the Cavalry. All their families were sent to Ye city, but Ma Chao stayed behind.
2. [b](Cao Cao made use of Jia Xu to sow discord between Ma Chao and Han Sui, resulting in their great defeat…)[/b] [i]Tales of Duke Shanyang[/i]: Formerly, when Lord Cao’s army was at Puban, and getting ready to cross over the river to the west, Ma Chao said to Han Sui, “We should counter their troops north of the Wei river. In no more than 20 days, the supplies from east of the River would be exhausted and they would certainly retreat.” Han Sui said, “We should order our men to cross the river too, and attack them midstream – wouldn’t that be even better?” Thus Chao’s strategy was not employed. When Lord Cao heard of this, he said, “If the Ma kid does not die, I know not where I’d be buried.”
3. [b](Ma Chao heard that Liu Bei had surrounded Liu Zhang in Cheng Du and secretly sent a letter expressing his desire to surrender…)[/b] [i]Dian Lue[/i]: In the 16th year of Jian’an, Ma Chao rebelled along with Hou Xuan, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, Yang Qiu, Han Sui, totalling 10 commands within the Passes. Their forces numbered one hundred thousand, and were encamped along their holdings on the Yellow River and the Tong area. That year, Lord Cao marched westward, and fought with Ma Chao and company where the Yellow River and the Wei River met, and Chao, defeated, fled. He fled to Anding, and escaped to the Liang province. (Lord Cao) had Chao’s family arrested and executed. Chao lost again upon the Long. After that, he fled to Hanzhong, where Zhang Lu gave him the rank of Du Jiang Ji Jiu (Officer in charge of Military Drills?), and wanted to give his daughter to him as wife. Some said to Zhang Lu, “If a man does not care for his family such as this, how can he care for others?” Thus Zhang did not carry out his plan.
Previously, before Ma Chao rebelled, his younger brother-in-law, Zhong, stayed at Sanfu. When Chao lost, Zhong entered Hanzhong ahead of him. On New Year’s day, Zhong went to wish Chao good health, and Chao, striking his breast and spitting blood, said, “Our family, totalling a hundred people, died in one day. And now would the two of us celebrate?” Afterwards he asked Zhang Lu several times for some troops to regain Liang province in the north. Lu sent him to do that, but nothing did he gain. Furthermore, a general in Zhang Lu’s command, Yang Bai, among others, were plotting evil against him and so Ma Chao escaped to the Di through Wudu, and then turned towards Shu. That year was the 19th of the Jian’an reign.
4. [b](The entire city was filled with fear and Liu Zhang surrendered…)[/b] [i]Dian Lue[/i]: When Liu Bei heard that Ma Chao was coming, he said gleefully, “I am going to get Yi province!” Thus he sent an envoy to greet Chao, and secretly supplied him with troops. When Chao arrived, Liu ordered him to garrison north of the city. Chengdu fell within ten days of Chao’s arrival.
5. [b](After Liu Zhang surrendered, Ma Chao was given the rank of Ping Xi Jiang Jun, put in charge of Lin Ju, and the title of Qian Du Ting Hou…)[/b] [i]Tales of Duke Shanyang[/i]: Ma Chao, seeing that Liu Bei treated him well, often addressed Liu Bei by his style name when they conversed. Guan Yu got angry over that, and requested to have him killed. Liu Bei said, “He came to me at a time of destitution. How can I show myself (as a magnanimous person) if I allow you to kill him out of anger, over his calling me by my style name?” Zhang Fei said, “If that is so, we should show him proper conduct.” They thus held a party the next day, and invited Ma Chao to attend. Guan and Zhang stood formally with the weapons in hand. Ma Chao glanced around at the seats, and saw that Guan and Zhang were not sitting but rather standing respectfully. Ma Chao was shocked, and never once after that addressed Liu Bei by his style. The day after the party, Ma Chao sighed and said, “I now know why I have lost. Just for calling a lord by his style, I was almost killed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei!” After that, he treated Liu Bei with full respect.
Pei Song Zhi says: I, your humble servant, believe that there is no reason for Chao to be so arrogant as to call Bei by his style, since Bei accepted his service when he was at the end of his means, and gave him a lordly position. Furthermore, when Liu Bei entered Shu, he left Guan Yu to guard Jing province, and Yu never set foot on the soil of Yi province. That was why, upon hearing Chao’s surrendering, (Yu) wrote to Zhuge Liang asking, “Who may Chao be compared to in terms of talents?” Thus, it cannot be as the document says, that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood together. Also, in general, when someone does something, he knows that he could do it; and if he knows that he could not do it, they would desist. Let’s say Chao thinks that it was reasonable for him to address Liu Bei by his style. He could not have overheard Yu’s request to kill him. So how is it that when he saw the two men standing in respect, he could come to the conclusion that he was almost killed by Guan and Zhang, for his calling Liu Bei’s style? This story is illogical and should be refuted. All those recorded by Yuan Wei, Yue Zi and such are crude, random, false and nonsensical as this. Things of this quality cannot be counted.
6. [b](Ma Chao’s daughter was betrothed to the Prince of An Ping, Liu Li…)[/b] [i]Dian Lue[/i]: When Ma Chao entered Shu, his secondary wife, Dong, and her son Qiu stayed behind with Zhang Lu. They were captured by Lord Cao upon Zhang Lu’s defeat. Cao thus gave Dong to Yan Fu, and Qiu to Zhang Lu, who killed him by his own hand.
[b]Huang Zhong[/b]
No comments from Pei. :lol:
I'll post the [b]edited[/b] Huang Zhong's SGZ biography here instead.
Huang Zhong, characters Han Sheng, was a native of Nanyang. He was appointed by the Governor of Jingzhou, Liu Biao, as Zhonglang Jiang, and guarded Changsha Province with Liu Biao’s nephew, Liu Pan. When Cao Cao attacked Jingzhou, he feigned allegiance and had the rank of Shan Jiangjun (assistant general) and maintained his official duties, this time under the command of the governor of Changsha, Han Xuan. When Liu Bei united the various southern provinces, Huang Zhong joined his ranks and subsequently participated in the conquest of Shu. Ever since his appointment at Jiameng and the attack on Liu Zhang, Huang Zhong was always the first to charge into the enemy’s ranks and his valour was well-known in the three armies. After Yizhou was pacified, Huang Zhong was appointed as Taolu Jiangjun (General Who Exterminates the Caitiffs). In the twenty fourth year of JianAn (A.D. 219), Huang Zhong confronted Xiahou Yuan’s troops at Dingjun Mountains. Xiahou Yuan’s troops were elite and well-trained, thus Huang Zhong analysed that such a battle-ready troops would be easily provoked, thus ordered his own troops to lure the enemy into the valley. In the midst of the loud war drums and cheering, Huang Zhong’s army killed Xiahou Yuan in the first encounter and Xiahou Yuan’s army was utterly defeated. As a result of this victory, Huang Zhong was appointed ZhenXi Jiangjun (General Who Conquers the West). When Liu Bei became the Prince of Hanzhong, Huang Zhong was appointed as Hou Jiangjun (General of the Rear). Zhuge Liang spoke to Liu Bei that, “Huang Zhong’s fame used to be way too far to be equal to that of Guan Yu or Ma Chao, but ever since this battle, he can be said to be of equal status as them. Ma Chao and Zhang Fei were nearby to witness the battle exploit, hence they could be convinced. However, Guan Yu is currently not with us here and should he hear of this, he would not be too happy.” Liu Bei replied,”I will do the explaining personally.” Thus, Huang Zhong was ranked equal with Guan Yu and the rest (Zhang Fei and Ma Chao) and given the noble title of Marquis of GuanNei. In the coming year, Huang Zhong passed away and he was given a posthumous title of Marquis of Gang. Huang Zhong had a son named Xu but the latter passed away young, thus Huang Zhong did not have a descendant.
Final words commenting the five generals by Chen Shou:
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, etc were known to be powerful generals who could fight ten thousand men and accredited to be among the best of their times. Guan Yu repaid Lord Cao’s favour, Zhang Fei’s releasing of Yan Yan out of righteousness were deeds held in high esteem in the country. However, Guan Yu was unyielding and overly self-respect, whereas Zhang Fei was hot-tempered and without kindness, their short-comings leading to their defeats. This is common logic indeed. Ma Chao betrayed the minority tribes and lacked courage; he was a disappointment for his people, what a pity! Having been able to rise from rags to riches, is this not better? Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun both strong and valiant were good subordinates of their lord, like the claws and teeth to a beast. Can they not compare to the likes of Guan Yin and Xiahou Yin?