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Ma Teng, courtesy name Shoucheng, was a native of Maoling, Youfufeng (present-day Xingping City, Shaanxi Province). He was a descendant of General Ma Yuan and a separatist force in Liangzhou (present-day Wuwei, Gansu Province) during the late Eastern Han Dynasty.

Ma Teng was over eight feet tall[a], tall and strong, with an outstanding appearance and a virtuous and honest character, respected by all. In his youth, his family was poor, and he made a living by logging.

At the end of Emperor Ling of Han's reign, he was conscripted into the army as a military officer and led his troops to quell the Di-Qiang uprising. He was promoted to military commander for his meritorious service.

In the third year of Zhongping (186 AD), Geng Bi, the governor of Liangzhou, was killed by his subordinates. Ma Teng, together with Han Sui, Wang Guo and others, raised troops to rebel against the Han Dynasty. He once led his troops to plunder the Three Auxiliary Regions[c]. Later, he was defeated by General Dong Zhuo and General Huangfu Song. Wang Guo was killed by Ma Teng, Han Sui and others. The two fought for power and their forces were further weakened.

After Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Ma Teng and Han Sui wanted to join forces with Dong Zhuo to raise an army. Later, in the third year of Chuping (192), they led their troops to Chang'an (now Xi'an, Shaanxi) and were appointed as General Who Conquers the West, stationing their troops in Mei County (now Baoji, Shaanxi).

In the first year of Xingping (194), he joined forces with court officials to kill the powerful ministers Li Jue and Guo Si, but after the failure, he retreated to Liangzhou.

During the "Rebellion of the Three Auxiliary Regions" between Li Jue and Guo Si, they became sworn brothers with Han Sui, but the two later turned against each other.

In the second year of Jian'an (197 AD), Cao Cao sent Zhong Yao, the Commandant of the Capital Region, to persuade Ma Teng and Han Sui to submit, and sent his sons to serve in the court.

Later, Ma Teng was stationed in Huaili (present-day Xingping, Shaanxi), and was promoted to General of the Vanguard, granted the authority to act on behalf of the emperor, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Huaili. He once sent his son Ma Chao to accompany Zhong Yao to Pingyang to fight against Guo Yuan and Gao Gan.

In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), due to discord with Han Sui, he requested to return to the capital. He then entered the court to serve as the Commandant of the Guards, and his troops were commanded by his son Ma Chao.

In 211 AD, Ma Teng's son Ma Chao joined forces with Han Sui and others to resist Cao Cao. However, they were defeated by Cao Cao. In May of the following year, Ma Teng was killed because his son Ma Chao rebelled, and his entire family was exterminated.

Cao Wei historian Yu Huan believed that during Ma Teng's tenure in Guanzhong, he defended against the northern nomads and the eastern Xianbei, recommended talented individuals, and ensured the peace and tranquility of Guanzhong, thus earning the love and respect of the people.

Ma Teng, courtesy name Shoucheng, was a descendant of Ma Yuan, a famous general who helped quell the rebellion of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His ancestral home was Maoling in Fufeng.

Ma Teng's father, Ma Ping, served as the county magistrate of Langgan County in Tianshui Commandery during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. After being dismissed from his post, he stayed in Longxi and lived among the local Qiang people. Due to poverty, he married a Qiang woman, and they had a son named Ma Teng.

In his youth, Ma Teng was poor and had no property. To support himself, he often cut timber from Zhangshan Mountain and carried it to the city to sell. Ma Teng was over eight feet tall, strong and powerful, with an outstanding appearance and a virtuous and honest character, and was respected by everyone.

At the end of the reign of Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Geng Bi, the governor of Liangzhou, heavily relied on corrupt officials, which led to an uprising by Wang Guo and others, as well as the Di and Qiang ethnic groups. As a result, the officials of the prefecture and county recruited warriors to form an army to quell the rebellion.

Ma Teng enlisted in the army and was valued by the officials of the prefecture and county. He was appointed as a military officer and led his troops to attack the rebels. Later, due to his meritorious service in the campaign, he was promoted to the position of military commander.

In April of the fourth year of Zhongping (187 AD), Geng Bi led his troops to attack Wang Guo and Han Sui. When they reached Han Sui's Didao, Li Xiangru rebelled and, together with Han Sui and others, killed Geng Bi.

Later, Ma Teng, a general under Geng Bi, also raised an army and rebelled against the Han Dynasty. He joined forces with Wang Guo and Han Sui, both from Hanyang, and proclaimed himself "General of the United Army." Ma Teng and others elected Wang Guo as their commander-in-chief, and led their troops to plunder the capital and the surrounding areas.

In the fifth year of Zhongping (188 AD), Wang Guo led his troops to besiege Chencang, but was defeated by General Dong Zhuo and General Huangfu Song. Wang Guo was later killed by Ma Teng, Han Sui and others. Ma Teng and others then kidnapped Yan Zhong, the former magistrate of Xindu County, to become their leader. However, Yan Zhong refused to be coerced and later died of an illness. Ma Teng and Han Sui then took command of their respective troops and fought for power, further weakening their forces.

In the sixth year of the Zhongping era (189 AD), after the death of Emperor Ling of Han, General He Jin and Commandant of the Capital Region Yuan Shao summoned Dong Zhuo to the court to execute the Ten Attendants.

Before Dong Zhuo entered the capital, he invited Ma Teng and Han Sui to jointly plan the conquest of Shandong. The two believed that the world was in chaos and wanted to rely on Dong Zhuo to raise an army. Later, Ma Teng was appointed as the General Who Conquers the East.

In the third year of the Chuping era (192 AD), Ma Teng and Han Sui led their troops to Chang'an, but Dong Zhuo had already died. So the court appointed Ma Teng as General Who Conquers the West and stationed his troops in Mei County, and Han Sui as General Who Guards the West and sent him to Jincheng (now Lanzhou, Gansu) to guard the city.

In the first year of Xingping (194), Ma Teng entered the court and stationed troops at Baqiao (east of present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). He sought help from Li Jue for a private matter but was not granted permission. Later, he joined forces with Ma Yu, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, Liu Fan, the Right General of the Central Army, Zhong Shao, the former Governor of Liangzhou, and Du Bing, the General of the Central Army, to attack Li Jue.

Ma Teng submitted a memorial stating that the army's supplies were insufficient and requested to move the garrison to Chiyang (northwest of present-day Jingyang, Shaanxi). Later, he stationed his troops at Changping Antou (south bank of the Jing River in present-day Jingyang, Shaanxi).

Upon hearing of this, Han Sui led his troops to persuade Li Jue and Ma Teng to reconcile. Soon after, Ma Teng and Han Sui joined forces and were defeated by Guo Si, Fan Chou and others at Changpingguan (southwest of present-day Jingyang County, Shaanxi). Zhong Shao, Liu Fan and others were all killed in battle. Ma Teng and Han Sui led their troops to retreat to Liangzhou.

Later, Li Jue pardoned Ma Teng and Han Sui, and the two sides made peace. Ma Teng was appointed as the General of Andi, and Han Sui was appointed as the General of Anjiang.

Li Jue and Guo Si attacked each other in their struggle for power, causing turmoil in the Three Auxiliary Regions. Ma Teng abandoned his plans to conquer the east and became sworn brothers with General Han Sui. Initially, the two were very close and friendly, but later Ma Teng and Han Sui's generals fought each other for territory and became enemies.

Ma Teng led his troops to defeat Han Sui. Later, Han Sui joined forces with other generals to attack Ma Teng and killed Ma Teng's wife and children, which led to an irreconcilable feud between the two sides.

In 199 AD, Cao Cao sent Zhong Yao to write a letter to Ma Teng and Han Sui, explaining the advantages and disadvantages. Ma Teng and Han Sui then submitted to Cao Cao and each sent their sons as hostages.

Later, the Eastern Han court dispatched Ma Teng to garrison Huaili, promoting him to General of the Vanguard, granting him the authority to act on behalf of the emperor, and bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Huaili. During his time guarding Guanzhong, Ma Teng defended against the invasion of the Hu people in the north and the White Cavalry (referring to the Xianbei) in the east. He recommended virtuous and capable people, treated scholars well, and pitied the common people, earning the love and respect of the people of Guanzhong.

In 202 AD, after Yuan Shao's death, his son Yuan Shang dispatched Guo Yuan, the governor of Hedong, to join forces with Gao Gan and the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu to attack Hedong (whose capital is now Xia County, Shanxi Province). He also sent envoys to try to form an alliance with Ma Teng and others, who pretended to agree.

Cao Cao dispatched Zhong Yao to lead troops to besiege the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu at Pingyang (present-day Linfen, Shanxi). Later, Zhong Yao sent Zhang Ji, the magistrate of Xinfeng County (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi), and Feng Yi to persuade Ma Teng, but Ma Teng remained hesitant. After being persuaded by Fu Gan, he finally decided to help Cao Cao. He then ordered his son Ma Chao to lead troops to follow Zhong Yao in attacking Guo Yuan and Gao Gan, and they defeated Guo Yuan's forces. Ma Chao's general Pang De killed Guo Yuan on the battlefield.

In the tenth year of Jian'an (205 AD), Ma Teng and others followed Zhang Ji, a court official, in leading their troops to defeat Gao Gan and Zhang Sheng, and killed Zhang Yan, Wei Gu, and others.

In 208 AD, due to a disagreement with Han Sui, Ma Teng requested to enter the capital. The Eastern Han court appointed him as the Commandant of the Guards. Cao Cao, considering his advanced age, assigned him to guard the palace.

After Ma Teng entered the capital, his son Ma Chao led his troops. The Eastern Han court appointed Ma Chao as a Lieutenant General and granted him the title of Marquis of Duting. In 211 AD, Cao Cao attacked the Guanzhong region. Ma Chao, along with Han Sui and other generals from Guanzhong, raised an army of 100,000 and garrisoned Tongguan in rebellion, but was later defeated by Cao Cao. In 212 AD, Ma Teng was implicated and killed, and his entire clan was exterminated.

Ma Teng, courtesy name Shoucheng, was a descendant of Ma Yuan, the General Who Subdued the Waves of the Eastern Han Dynasty, making him a man of illustrious lineage. Ma Yuan had distinguished himself in the founding of Emperor Guangwu's dynasty, and in return, Emperor Guangwu entrusted him with the hereditary responsibility of guarding Xiliang (present-day Liangzhou area of ​​Gansu). Ma Teng grew up in this family of generals.

Ma Su once served as the county magistrate of Langgan County in Tianshui Commandery, Liangzhou. Although his official rank was not comparable to that of a prefect or governor, it was still a minor official position. However, he was later dismissed from his post due to an unexpected incident and stayed in Longxi to live among the Qiang people. After marrying a Qiang woman, he had a son named Ma Teng, who is said to have mixed-race genes.

Due to family misfortunes, Ma Teng was very poor in his youth, and his family had no significant assets. So how did they make a living? They would go up the mountain to chop firewood and then carry it to the city to sell. It can be said that Ma Teng suffered a lot of hardship and suffering during his childhood.

If Ma Teng had been born in a peaceful era without any major opportunities, his life would likely have remained unchanged. However, troubled times produce heroes, and opportunities are everywhere.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a man named Wang Guo, in alliance with the Di and Qiang peoples, rebelled. Geng Bi, the governor of Liangzhou, recruited an army, and Ma Teng joined the army at this time. Ma Teng was of virtuous character, and those who knew him greatly admired him.

Ma Teng was tall and had well-defined features. Soon, under Geng Bi's command, he distinguished himself in battle and rose through the ranks to become a military commander and then a lieutenant general. Later, Ma Teng rebelled against the Eastern Han Dynasty and became one of the warlords of Liangzhou.

When Dong Zhuo seized power, Ma Teng served as the governor of Xiliang. He joined forces with various warlords to raise an army in response to the imperial edict and became one of the eighteen warlords.

After Dong Zhuo's defeat and death, his remaining followers Li Jue and Guo Si seized power. Ma Teng was appointed General Who Conquers the West and joined Han Sui in attacking Li Jue and Guo Si. However, due to a lack of supplies, they suffered a defeat, and Ma Teng once again led his troops back to Xiliang.

After Cao Cao moved Emperor Xian of Han to Xuchang, Ma Teng went to court and participated in Liu Bei, Dong Cheng, and others' plot to assassinate the powerful Cao Cao. When the plot was exposed, he fled back to Liangzhou. This foreshadowed Cao Cao's later execution of Ma Teng and his entire clan.

Ma Teng's sons were all brave and fierce, especially Ma Chao, who was not only handsome and dashing but also skilled in archery and horsemanship, and adept at cavalry warfare. He was revered by the various tribes of Xiliang as a divine and mighty general. Later, Ma Chao joined Liu Bei and became one of the "Five Tiger Generals," achieving lasting fame.

In the first year of Jian'an (196), Cao Cao welcomed Emperor Xian of Han to Xudu. War broke out in various places, with each side vying to expand its sphere of influence and attempting to dominate the region.

The vast area north of the Yellow River was controlled by Yuan Shao, who led an army of 100,000 and eyed Xuchang with predatory intent. The western Guanzhong region was occupied by Ma Teng and Han Sui, who also posed a significant military threat.

When Ma Teng was in the Guanzhong Plain (Shaanxi), he defended against the northern nomadic tribes and the eastern cavalry. He treated scholars well, recommended talented individuals, and showed compassion to the people, earning the love and respect of the people of the Guanzhong Plain.

Against this historical backdrop, Cao Cao's strategist Xun Yu proposed that the generals in Guanzhong should be treated with kindness and favor, and envoys should be sent to establish alliances in order to maintain stability in the northwest and concentrate forces to deal with Yuan Shao.

Therefore, Cao Cao appointed Zhong Yao as the Commandant of the Capital Region, granting him the authority to govern Guanzhong. Upon arriving in Chang'an, Zhong Yao immediately wrote to Ma Teng and Han Sui, expressing the court's condolences and subtly conveying the greater good. Ma Teng and Han Sui also expressed their willingness to follow the court's arrangements and their unwavering loyalty to the Han Dynasty.

After the Battle of Guandu, in the seventh year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao's son Yuan Shang, in alliance with the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu, invaded Hedong and also planned to unite the generals in Guanzhong to form an anti-Cao alliance.

Zhong Yao persuaded Ma Teng with great effort, and Ma Teng then sent his son Ma Chao with 10,000 elite troops to help Zhong Yao quell the rebellion. In a fierce battle at the Fen River, Ma Chao's forces routed Yuan's army, and Ma Chao's subordinate Pang De personally killed Guo Yuan on the battlefield.

It was thanks to Ma Chao's timely intervention that Yuan Shao's remaining forces were completely wiped out. The Southern Xiongnu also surrendered.

Later, Ma Teng personally commanded and participated in the battles to quell Gao Gan, Wei Gu, and others, making great contributions to Cao Cao's unification of the north.

The series of military victories on the northwestern battlefield not only proved that Cao Cao's strategy of uniting and educating the generals in Guanzhong was entirely correct, but also proved that Ma Teng was a relatively wise general in the face of major issues of right and wrong.

Despite Ma Teng's outstanding military achievements for Cao Cao, Cao Cao believed that Ma Teng would become a threat to him sooner or later, and wanted to control him.

Therefore, Cao Cao, under the guise of Emperor Xian of Han, ordered Ma Teng to bring his brothers to Xudu to offer birthday wishes. Ma Teng knew full well that the journey was extremely dangerous, but he dared not disobey the imperial decree.

However, Ma Teng also kept his guard up. He left Ma Chao and Ma Kang to guard Xiliang, while he himself went there with his son Ma Tie, Ma Xiu, and others.

As Ma Teng had predicted, he was immediately taken into custody by Cao Cao upon arriving in Xuchang. Cao Cao used them as hostages to coerce Ma Chao into surrendering, which Ma Chao naturally refused.

Therefore, Ma Chao and Han Sui raised an army of 20 and rebelled in Xiliang. They fought their way to Chang'an, and Cao Cao was so defeated that he cut off his beard and abandoned his robe, which greatly enhanced his reputation.

Cao Cao repeatedly sent people to deliver the heads of Ma Teng, Ma Tie, and others to Ma Chao, which enraged Ma Chao, who then led his troops eastward.

At the time, Cao Cao thought he could resist the Xiliang army with his elite troops, but he did not expect that the Xiliang cavalry would kill him without leaving a single survivor.

Later, Cao Cao adopted the strategy of his strategist Jia Xu to sow discord between Ma Chao, the commander of Xiliang, and Han Sui. As a result, Ma Chao and Han Sui went from distrusting each other to fighting each other. Taking advantage of their mutual exhaustion, Cao Cao sent troops to occupy Xiliang and massacred Ma Teng's entire family.

At this point, Ma Chao knew that there was no way to turn the tide, so he led Ma Dai and the remnants of the Xiliang army to join Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Later, Ma Chao surrendered to Liu Bei and was named one of the Five Tiger Generals.

After the establishment of Shu Han, Ma Chao rose to the rank of General of Chariots and Cavalry and Marquis of Taixiang. In 222 AD, Ma Chao died at the age of 47. During the reign of Liu Shan, he was posthumously honored as Marquis Wei.

It's pitiful that Ma Teng, who dedicated his life to the military, and his family met such a tragic end. After Ma Teng's death, he was buried in Zhongxu Village, not far north of Xuchang City.

"Ma Teng's tomb is located on the banks of the Shiliang River, covering an area of ​​about half an acre. The mound is several meters high and surrounded by several green cypress trees, forming a forest with the surrounding trees."

Ma Teng died unjustly. After his death, a whirlwind constantly shrouded his tomb, sometimes whipping up sand and stones, so no one dared approach it under normal circumstances. (End of Chapter)