Ma Su

馬謖
Courtesy name: Youchang (幼常)
Born
190
Died
228
Ancestral home
Yicheng, Xiangyang (Yicheng, Hubei)
Book mentions
55
Roles:
advisor general politician
Factions:
Shu Han (primary)
Appears in 9 chapters:
  • Chapter 52 — Zhuge Liang Negotiates With Lu Su; Zhao Zilong Captures Guiyang.
    Named as the youngest of the five talented Ma brothers in Yi Ji's recommendation - the future name of Jieting entering the story as a footnote to his brother.
  • Chapter 65 — Ma Chao Battles At Jiameng Pass; Liu Bei Takes Over Yizhou.
    Ma Su; in Liu Bei's circle at Chengdu - first formal appointment.
  • Chapter 85 — The First Ruler Confides His Son To A Guardian; The Prime Minister Calmly Settles Five Attacks.
    Ma Su; first major appearance as a senior advisor to Zhuge Liang - articulates the deflection of the five-army plan. The man Zhuge Liang will later execute at Jieting.
  • Chapter 87 — Conquering The South Mang, The Prime Minister Marches The Army; Opposing Heaven Troops, The King Of The Mangs Is Captured.
    Ma Su; counsels Zhuge Liang at the campaign's start with the famous 'win their hearts, not their cities' (gōng xīn wèi shàng) - the strategic principle that frames the whole seven-capture sequence.
  • Chapter 88 — Crossing River Lu: The Mang King Is Bound The Second Time; Recognizing A Pretend Surrender: Meng Huo Is Captured The Third Time.
    Ma Su; in Zhuge Liang's staff.
  • Chapter 91 — Sacrificing At River Lu, The Prime Minister Marches Homeward; Attacking Wei, The Lord Of Wuxiang Presents A Memorial.
    Ma Su; in Zhuge Liang's staff.
  • Chapter 94 — Zhuge Liang Defeats The Qiangs In A Snowstorm; Sima Yi Captures Meng Da By A Rapid March.
    Ma Su; with the staff; the fall coming next chapter.
  • Chapter 95 — Ma Su's Disobedience Causes The Loss Of Jieting; Zhuge Liang's Lute Repulses The Army Of Sima Yi.
    Ma Su; the disaster at Jieting. Zhuge Liang sends him to hold the strategic pass of Jieting with explicit orders to camp on the road and dig in; Ma Su disobeys and pitches his camp on the high hill, certain his elevation will let him sweep down on attackers. Sima Yi's column under Zhang He surrounds the hill, cuts off the water, and lets the Shu garrison die of thirst. Wang Ping (kept apart with his own column on the road as ordered) tries to relieve and fails. The whole northern campaign collapses.
  • Chapter 96 — Shedding Tears, Zhuge Liang Puts Ma Su To Death; Cutting Hair, Zhou Fang Beguiles Cao Xiu.
    Ma Su; executed for losing Jieting. Goes calmly to death, asking that Zhuge Liang treat his family kindly. Zhuge Liang weeps as the sentence is carried out. The novel's defining scene about discipline overruling personal affection.