Is “He raised troops to avenge his father, leading to Ma Teng's execution.” true?
The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Emperor Wu records that Ma Chao first raised troops against Cao Cao, and only afterward did Cao Cao execute Ma Teng's entire family, who were residing in Ye City; the novel reverses the causality. The original text first states: "马超遂与韩遂、杨秋、李堪、成宜等叛。" It then says Cao Cao subsequently fought against them, "大破之，斩成宜、李堪等。遂、超等走凉州" (Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Emperor Wu).
In official history, he was a formidable warlord who dominated the Guanzhong region and surpassed all other tribal leaders in valor; in the novel, he is a loyal and filial general of Shu Han, driven by a deep blood feud.
Other claims about Ma Chao
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