Ma Xiu 馬休

In Chapter 57 of the Romance, when word reaches Xuchang that Liu Bei, with Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong as his advisers, is gathering troops and has joined hands with Eastern Wu, Cao Cao worries that if he campaigns far to the south, Ma Teng may raid Xudu. Following Xun You's advice, he decides to lure Ma Teng to the capital with an edict making him General Who Conquers the South and ordering him to attack Sun Quan, and to do away with him first, and that same day he sends men to Xiliang. On receiving the edict, Ma Teng consults his eldest son Ma Chao about the pledge he made, after receiving the edict in the sash together with Dong Cheng, to join Liu Xuande in attacking the traitor, and Ma Chao proposes that they use the summons as an opportunity to go to the capital and carry out their plan from within. Romance, Ch. 57 §38–41

Ma Teng's elder brother's son Ma Dai tries to dissuade him, fearing that he will come to harm, and Ma Chao says he will raise all the troops of Xiliang and go with him, but Ma Teng tells Ma Chao to command the Qiang troops and hold Xiliang, and says he will take only his younger sons Ma Xiu and Ma Tie and his nephew Ma Dai. His thought is that with Ma Chao in Xiliang and Han Sui helping him, Cao Cao will not dare to harm him. Leading 5,000 troops of Xiliang, Ma Teng makes Ma Xiu and Ma Tie the vanguard, leaves Ma Dai behind to give support, and halts his army 20 li from Xuchang. Romance, Ch. 57 §42 · 44

Cao Cao makes his Attendant Gentleman of the Gate Huang Kui Adviser to the Army and sends him to Ma Teng's camp, telling him to have Ma Teng enter the city the next day and present himself to the Son of Heaven. Over wine, Huang Kui raises the edict in the sash and opens his heart, proposing that tomorrow they draw up their troops below the city and kill Cao Cao at the place where he comes out of the city to review the troops, and the two of them settle the plan. But the words reach Cao Cao by way of Huang Kui's concubine Li Chunxiang and Huang Kui's brother-in-law Miao Ze, with whom she is carrying on an affair, and Cao Cao secretly summons Cao Hong and Xu Chu and Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang to give them orders, and first has Huang Kui's entire household arrested. Romance, Ch. 57 §44–49

The next day, as Ma Teng approaches the city with the troops of Xiliang, he sees red banners bearing the Chancellor's standard and spurs his horse forward, whereupon at the sound of a bombard bows and crossbows shoot all at once. Cao Hong comes out at the head, Xu Chu attacks from the left, Xiahou Yuan from the right and Xu Huang from the rear, cutting off the troops of Xiliang and surrounding Ma Teng, father and sons, the three of them, in the very centre. Ma Tie is struck by stray arrows and dies early, while Ma Xiu follows Ma Teng, charging left and right, but cannot break out. The two of them are gravely wounded and the horses they ride are brought down by arrows, so that father and son are both captured. Romance, Ch. 57 §49–51

Cao Cao has Huang Kui and Ma Teng and his son brought in bound, and when Huang Kui cries out that he is innocent, has Miao Ze confront him. Ma Teng rebukes him loudly, saying that the worthless pedant has ruined the great enterprise, and declares that his failure to kill the traitor for the sake of the state is the will of Heaven. When Cao Cao orders them taken out, Ma Teng, never ceasing to curse, is put to death together with his son Ma Xiu and Huang Kui. In Chapter 58, Ma Dai, who alone escaped disguised as a merchant, tells Ma Chao in Xiliang that his uncle and Huang Kui were beheaded in the marketplace and that his two younger brothers were also killed. Romance, Ch. 57 §51–52Romance, Ch. 58 §8–9