Ma Su

Ma Su was a military strategist for the during the Three Kingdoms era of China. He was the younger brother of Shu advisor, . Ma Su had extraordinary talents in military stratagems and was admired by the Prime Minister of Shu, Zhuge Liang. However, a tactical blunder by Ma Su at the Battle of Jieting resulted in Shu being dealt a huge defeat by Zhang He, a general of the .

Much dramatization shrouds the death of Ma Su. In the historical novel ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' as well as the Peking Opera ''Loss of Jieting'', Ma Su was said to have been beheaded at the order of Zhuge Liang. However, according to biographies of Ma Su and his close friend Xiang Lang in the '''', Ma Su had actually attempted to escape after the defeat at Jieting but was captured. He eventually died of sickness in jail before the ordered execution could be carried out.

Life

A local of Yicheng , Ma Su was one of the five brothers in the family, all of whom were renowned for their intellects, though Ma Su's elder brother Ma Liang was deemed to be the most talented among them all. Together with Ma Liang, Ma Su began his service under Liu Bei around 205 AD, while the later founder of the Kingdom of Shu was still a guest of Liu Biao in .

Since the start, Liu Bei's chief advisor Zhuge Liang had been impressed by Ma Su's expansive knowledge in military strategies. Before Liu Bei died in 223, he warned Zhuge Liang that Ma Su was not as talented as he seemed and should not be given important appointments. However, Zhuge Liang did not heed the warning. He made Ma Su a personal military consultant. The two would often hold discussions from dawn to dusk.

In 228, Zhuge Liang launched his against the Kingdom of Wei. Many suggested appointing either Wei Yan or as the vanguard commander but Zhuge Liang chose Ma Su instead.

Ma Su's forces encountered Zhang He's forces at Jieting. It was here that Ma Su made a serious tactical blunder. He had camped on top of a hill, believing the height offered by the hill would provide him with a more advantageous position in terms of observation and a place of attack. The veteran general Wang Ping advised against Ma Su's decision, arguing that their water supply would be cut off and their forces surrounded. While his advice was rejected, Ma Su allowed Wang Ping to take his troops and camp nearby the source of the Shu forces' water supply.

As Wang Ping predicted, Zhang He took advantage of Ma Su's mistake by striking at the Shu camp's water supply. Scattering Wang Ping's much smaller force, he succeeded in cutting off the enemy's water supply. The parched soldiers of Shu were easily defeated when Zhang He then launched an offensive on the camp itself.

Though he survived the battle, Ma Su feared punishment and attempted to flee. However, he was soon captured and sentenced to death by Zhuge Liang. Ma Su eventually died of sickness in jail before the execution could be carried out.