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Ma Su
Shin Sangoku Musou Blast portrait
Character Information
Force(s): Shu
Weapon Type: Sword
Swallow swords (Blast)
Unit Type: Strategist
Significant Battle(s):
First Appearance: Dynasty Warriors 3
Historical Information
Real name:
Mǎ Sù
Chinese name:
馬謖 - 马谡
Style name:
Yòucháng
Chinese name:
幼常
Born:
190
Died:
228

Ma Su (onyomi: Ba Shoku) is an officer of Shu who served Liu Bei. His talents were admired by Zhuge Liang, but Liu Bei did not approve of Ma Su and warned that he not be highly praised. In modern times, he is considered the youngest of the Five Changs in the Ma family (the others including Ma Liang and his older brothers), individuals who shared the chang (常) in their names and were talented intellectuals. He is best known for losing the battle at Jieting and causing Zhuge Liang to cry tears of grief when he ordered Ma Su's execution, though historically was claimed tried to flee from his responsibilities during that time.

His height in Kessen II is 170 cm (5'7").

Roles in Games

Dynasty Warriors

Ma Su participates as a lesser-officer in many battles in the Dynasty Warriors series. In Dynasty Warriors 5 at the Battle of Yi Ling, Ma Su, along with Wang Ping, will appear as reinforcements under Zhuge Liang, after the Wu army has succeeded in their fire attack and Liu Bei has escaped through the stone sentinel maze and arrived safely in the main camp. However, his major role comes at Jie Ting, when he leads the Shu army against the Wei army lead by Sima Yi. Similar to what occurred historically, Ma Su sets up the main camp upon a hill without orders, allowing the Shu forces to be surrounded. The goal for the Shu army in the battle is to hold off the Wei forces and protect Ma Su until Zhuge Liang arrives with the main unit. The goal for Wei is to defeat him before the unit can arrive.

In some scenarios, he will also appear at the Battle of Wu Zhang Plains. Should the player defeat him at Jie Ting beforehand in the fourth title, Sima Yi will mock him for his previous failure and cause his morale to drop greatly.

Ma Su's historical downfall can be mitigated in one of the alternate routes of Dynasty Warriors 8. Instead of being executed for his grievous mistake, a repentant Ma Su is pardoned by Zhuge Liang at the behest of the other officers. He is given a chance to atone by helping spearhead the attack on Chencang with Xingcai, Guan Suo, and Zhang Bao.

Warriors Orochi

In the first game, Ma Su is among Zhuge Liang's group of officers and is among the Shu officers forced to serve Orochi. He and his brother are among Zhuge Liang's ambush troops at Wujun and he is tasked with protecting Edo Castle's secondary ward, where he is in charge of the castle's defenders in Zhuge Liang's absence.

Kessen

In Kessen II, Zhuge Liang introduces him to Liu Bei after their victory at Chi Bi. Though described as fresh talent, Ma Su is skittish and his voice cracks as he talks. He starts with below average stats but may become a good magician in higher levels.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Within the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, Ma Su appears as a free officer in Xiangyang who later joins Liu Bei roughly around the time he claims Jiangling. His recruitment alongside his brother, Ma Liang via Zhuge Liang's recommendation appears as an in-game event within the series. Possessing a good Intelligence stat within the high 80's, Ma Su is balanced out by his other stats all falling in the mid-60's rendering him a decent if not unspectacular officer outside of the use of plots and traps.

Voice Actors

  • David Beron - Dynasty Warriors 5 (English-uncredited)
  • Tony Oliver - Warriors Orochi 2 (English-uncredited)
  • Liam O'Brien - Dynasty Warriors 6 (English-uncredited)
  • Steve Staley - Dynasty Warriors 7~8 (English-uncredited)
  • Takehiko Watanabe - Kessen II (Japanese)
  • Ryōtarō Okiayu - Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CD series
  • Miho Hino - Youkai Sangokushi (Japanese)
  • Yūsuke Hoshino - Sangokushi Hadou (Japanese)
  • Wataru Yokojima - Sangokushi Three Kingdoms TV series

Quotes

  • "It's important to adjust one's strategy. Zhuge Liang will understand."
  • "The battle isn't over yet! The warriors of Shu are not so easily beaten!"
  • "How will Shu be led now that Lord Liu Bei is dead? ...Zhuge Liang will have no time to rest. "
  • "Ma Su, I will decide what to do with you later. Right now, you must retreat."
"It wasn't supposed to be like this, my lord. If only the battle had gone the way I had planned!"
"Now is not the time to make excuses. Perhaps I was a fool for believing in you."
~~Zhuge Liang and Ma Su; Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends

Historical Information

Ma Su was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China. Ma Su had conspicuous talent in military theories and was admired by the Shu chancellor 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 rival state of Wei. He was a younger brother of Ma Liang. Much dramatisation shrouds the death of Ma Su. According to the biography of Ma Su's close friend Xiang Lang, Ma Su was said to have attempted to flee with no further information if it was after or during his defeat at Jieting, but was captured. Following this, he was executed on Zhuge Liang's order and seemed to have face death with dignity. Ma Su was born in Yicheng, Xiangyang Commandery, which is present-day Yicheng, Hubei. He was one of the five brothers in the Ma family, all of whom were renowned for their intellects and commonly known as the "Five Changs" as their style names all contained "Chang". Although, Ma Su's elder brother Ma Liang was deemed to be the most talented among them all. Aside from his personal talent and military knowledge, Ma Su was described as a man about eight chi tall (approximately 1.84 metres), sociable and good at making friends. With a bright mind and deep expertise. Together with Ma Liang, Ma Su began his service as an Assistant Officer under Liu Bei around 209, when Liu Bei succeeded Liu Qi as Governor of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan). In 211, he accompanied Liu Bei into Yi Province. Later, when conflict broke out between Liu Bei and Liu Zhang , Ma Su followed him with the army and served as a military advisor alongside Pang Tong and Fa Zheng. He was appointed as Prefect of Mianzhu and Chengdu. Thereafter, Ma Su was transferred to serve as Administrator of Yuexi , a troubled commandery in the south. Yuexi was home to numerous indigenous tribes, many of whom refused to accept Liu Bei’s authority. It was the site of a significant tribal revolt led by Gao Ding , the chief of the Sou tribe in 218 that was successfully quelled with help from Li Yan. As Ma Su had talent and ability that surpassed others and enjoyed discussing planning and strategy. Liu Bei's chief advisor, Zhuge Liang had been impressed by him and praised him as an exceptional individual. However, before Liu Bei died in 223, he warned Zhuge Liang that Ma Su's knowledge and speech exceed his real abilities and should not be given important appointments. Still, Zhuge Liang did not heed the warning, and Ma Su was made a personal military Advisor soon after Liu Bei's death. The two were very close and would often hold discussions from dawn to dusk.

During the campaign against Meng Huo, Ma Su went several tens of li to see Zhuge Liang off. Zhuge Liang told Ma Su: "It's been years since we strategized together, now I ask for your help with your wise and skilled planning."

Ma Su answered to Zhuge Liang as such: "Nanzhong relies on the distance from the capital and its difficult access, and it never submits for long. If we defeat them and leave, tomorrow they would rebel again. Now that you lord are about to engage the whole state and army for a Northern Expedition against the powerful rebels. When the south learn that the authority of the government is weak then they will immediately rebel again. However, if all the tribes with their kinds are exterminated to end future worries then that would be innhumane as this is not the way of the benevolent man. Moreover, it would be a long affair. I learned that, in the way of using troops "Attacking the heart is the wisest, attacking city is worst. Psychological warfare is best, armed warfare is the worst. Therefore, I hope that you my lord will focus on subduing their hearts."

Zhuge Liang followed Ma Su's advice, many times he forgave Meng Huo in order to gain the trust of the people of the South. Hence, until the end of Zhuge Liang’s life, the South did not rebel again.n 228, Zhuge Liang launched his Northern Expeditions against Wei, at the time there were veteran leaders such as Wei Yan and Wu Yi. Among the army, many advisors suggested appointing either one of them as the vanguard commander however Zhuge Liang disagreed with the majority and chose Ma Su to command the army at the front instead.

Ma Su's forces encountered Zhang He's forces at Jieting. It was here that Ma Su made a serious tactical blunder. He disobeyed Zhuge Liang's order to garrison his army inside the city of Jieting and had his troops camped on top of a hill, believing the vantage point would provide him with a more advantageous position in terms of observation and a place of attack. His subordinate Wang Ping advised against Ma Su's decision, arguing that their water supply might be cut off and their forces surrounded. While his good counsel was rejected, Ma Su allowed Wang Ping to take 1,000 men and camp nearby the Shu forces in support.

As Wang Ping predicted, Zhang He took advantage of Ma Su's mistake by striking at the Shu camp's water supply. He succeeded in cutting off the enemy's water supply. The parched soldiers of Shu were easily defeated when Zhang He launched an offensive on the main camp itself. Wang Ping, with only a handful of soldiers, did his best to keep the retreat organized and ordered his soldiers to beat their drums loudly to create the impression that reinforcements had arrived. Zhang He believed this to be an ambush and did not pursue. When Zhuge Liang arrived, he could not force Zhang He from his position and retreated to Hanzhong.

According to a record from the biography of Xiang Lang, Xiang Lang, as a close friend of Ma Su, didn't report him when he fled though the record makes no statement if it was during or after the battle.

Although he survived the battle, Ma Su's army suffered a heavy defeat , so he was soon arrested and sentenced to execution by a reluctant and tearful Zhuge Liang as a way to soothe the masses . Before his execution Ma Su wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang: "You wise lord regarded me like a son and myself looked upon you as a father. I dearly hope that this is the righteousness of the execution of Gun leading to the rise of Yu the Great. May our whole life's relationship not be reduced by this. Though I shall die, I shall bear no resentments against the yellow earth." At the time, many among the army wept for his death.

When Jiang Wan later visited Hanzhong, he spoke with Zhuge Liang on this matter: "In the past, when the State of Chu killed Dechen then the joy of the Duke Wen of Jin was great. Today, the Empire has yet to be unified, however you put a man who is a knowledgeable strategist to death. Is it not regretful?" Zhuge Liang, in tears, answered: "The reason why Sun Tzu was able to dominate through the empire was that he was clear in his application of the laws. Thus, it was because Yang Gan had brought confusion to laws that Wei Jiang put his charioteer to death. Now that the Empire is still divided and war has just begun. If we again abandon the laws, then by what means shall we quell the rebels?"

Xi Zuochi harshly criticized Zhuge Liang for Ma Su's execution, he said: "Wasn't it appropriate that Zhuge Liang failed to unify the realm? When Xun Linfu was defeated by the army of Chu, the Duke of Jin refused to execute him knowing his latter success would allow him to win the war. While, when the King Cheng of Chu executed Dechen ignorant of all he was doing for his country therefore brought his defeat. Now, Shu is situated in a remote location with less population and talent than the central plains yet they executed their outstanding men and have to fall back and employed lesser men. To be so severe with the talented and not apply the "principle of three defeats" while wanting to realize great enterprises, isn't that difficult? Moreover Liu Bei warned him that Ma Su shouldn't be employed in important matters. Why choose Ma Su rather than someone else? Zhuge Liang heard his warning but didn't follow it. Surely he wasn't able to refuse Ma Su. However, Zhuge Liang was the chief minister of his empire and wanted to gather more resources. Yet, he didn't evaluate the ability of each to make the correct appointment and assigned people thanks to their talent. His judgement was wrong and he ignored his lord's brilliant advice. Hence he failed and killed a man who had something to offer. After this, It seems hard to include him when speaking of the wise.

Li Sheng and Zhang Xiu were also put to death with Ma Su. Huang Xi along with others were relieved of the command of their soldiers. Wang Ping, on the other hand, was promoted to General Who Attacks Bandits for his efforts in minimizing casualties and for trying to prevent Ma Su's actions. Zhuge Liang sent a memorial to the Emperor Liu Shan requesting to be demoted for the defeat at Jieting which he was.

Regardless, Ma Su was deemed by Zhuge Liang and later by Liu Shan in an imperial memorial to hold major responsibility for the failure of the first Northern Expedition. However, Ma Su's wife and children were well taken care of by Zhuge Liang after Ma Su's death. Zhuge Liang also personally offered sacrifice at Ma Su's grave.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Ma Su initially appears as one of Zhuge Liang's protégé's and speaks with Zhuge Liang regarding their punitive expedition against Wu. When Liu Bei is defeated, Ma Su and Zhuge Liang attend to their lord at Baidicheng. Upon seeing Ma Su, Liu Bei politely orders him away in order to speak with Zhuge regarding the youth. Despite Zhuge Liang seeing Ma as a potential pillar of the state, Liu Bei warns his advisor that he believes Ma to be arrogant and tells Zhuge to not give Ma Su any important task.

Zhuge Liang follows this order to a degree and often has Ma Su simply act as a confidant. Once Zhuge Liang begins making plans to begin his Northern Campaigns, he moves south in order to subjugate the Nanzhong region first. Ma Su then created the plan to capture Meng Huo seven times during the southern campaign.

After Meng Huo's surrender, Ma Su advised Zhuge Liang to spread false rumors about Sima Yi as Cao Rui was suspicious of the man. Zhuge Liang did as advised, and Sima Yi was dismissed from his position. Following this, Zhuge Liang began his first campaign and successfully captured the cities of Nan'An, Shanggui, Anding and Tianshui.

These defeats, however, caused Cao Rui to reinstate Sima Yi, who now led fresh reinforcements alongside Zhang He in order to attack Jieting, a strategic chokepoint for the supplies of the Shu army. As Zhuge Liang predicted the attack, he asked the others who would volunteer for the area's defense. Although Ma Su volunteered for the task, Zhuge Liang initially rejected, remembering Liu Bei's previous advise. Ma Su, pressed further, however, and volunteered to submit himself in military law should he fail.

Despite his suspicions, Zhuge Liang accepted Ma Su's advise and had Wang Ping act as Ma's rear support. Before parting Zhuge Liang advises Ma Su to not encamp upon the hill. While marching to Jieting, Ma Su and Wang Ping discussed their formations, and Ma Su wished to encamp upon the hill, following the advantage of higher ground written with many of books of the military arts. Wang Ping, more familiar with the area, advised against such a move as Ma Su's water supply was a long distance and he could easily be cut off and isolated if he encamped at the top of the mountain.

Although Ma Su did not accept Wang's counsel, he allowed Wang Ping to at least lead some troops at the mountain's base as support in case the Wei forces did as Wang had said. Predictably, Sima Yi, Sima Zhao and Zhang He all arrived to laugh at Ma Su's decision to camp on the hill and surrounded him. Zhang He was then sent to keep check on Wang Ping's forces in order to prevent reinforcements from coming to Ma Su's aid.

Despite losing his water supply, Ma Su led multiple charges downward in order to try and break the encirclement. Though many of these attempts failed, Ma Su was eventually able to escape and rejoined Zhuge Liang's troops. Bound and left without words, Ma Su was scolded by Zhuge Liang for not only rejecting his advise of not camping on top of the hill, but for also rejecting Wang Ping's honest counsel, putting the general in unneccesary danger, and forcing their northern campaign to a screeching halt. Tearfully, Ma Su replied that someone like him deserved death, and only asks that Zhuge Liang take care of his family once he is executed.

Shedding tears, Zhuge Liang complies and orders Ma Su's execution in accordance with the law. After Ma Su's death, Zhuge Liang upholds his promise and treated Ma Su's remaining family well.

Gallery

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