Ma Chao - in Fiction

In Fiction

The order of events and description of Ma Chao's character were largely altered in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The three main differences between Ma in the novel and in actual history are:

• In the novel, Cao Cao discovered that Ma Teng was plotting with a few others, including Liu Bei and Dong Cheng, to assassinate him, so he decided to get rid of Ma Teng. He lured Ma Teng and his sons to Luoyang and had them murdered. Ma Chao was enraged and vowed to avenge his father and brothers, so he led an uprising against Cao Cao. In actual history, Ma Chao's family was put to death by Cao Cao after Ma started the rebellion.

• In the novel, Ma Chao was described to be "brave but incapable". However, in actual history, Ma Chao was said to be comparable to Ying Bu, Peng Yue and Han Xin of the early Han Dynasty.

• In the novel, Ma Chao lived until 225, three years after his death in actual history.