Ma Chao and Han Sui sent a messenger to Cao Cao again, wanting to cut the land west of the river to ask for peace, but Cao Cao did not agree, so Ma Chao withdrew his troops and returned to Liangzhou Shangqi (guī), and the county people Ren Yang led his troops to meet Ma Chao.

After Cao Cao pursued the troops to settle down, because there were people in the river who rebelled, so he withdrew his troops back to the east, and Yang Fu, who was an envoy at that time, persuaded Cao Cao, "Ma Chao has the courage of Han Xin and Yingbu, and he has won the support of the Qiang people and the Di people, and the whole Xizhou is very in awe of him. ”

Although Cao Cao understood that Ma Chao was powerful, the war between the rivers was imminent, so he withdrew his troops back to Xuchang first, but still left Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He's famous generals to guard the key points (see Battle of Tongguan for details).

Soon after the defeat of the Battle of Tongguan, Ma Chao quickly annexed the counties of Longshang (Longxi, Nan'an, Hanyang, Yongyang, etc.), and Zhang Lu also sent the general Yang Ang to help Ma Chao, gathering more than 10,000 people to besiege Liangzhou Thorn Shi Weikang in Liangzhou Zhizhi Jicheng (now south of Gangu County, Gansu).

Wei Kang sent Yan Wen out of the city secretly to ask Xiahou Yuan for help.

Yan Wen dived out of the city at night.

The next day, Ma Chaojun discovered Yan Wen's traces and sent someone to track and intercept him.

Ma Chao untied him and said to him, "Now that the victory and defeat have been clear, you asked for help for the lonely city but were caught here, how can you show righteousness?" If you listen to me and tell the city that there will be no reinforcements from the east, this is a ploy to turn the misfortune into a blessing, or else I will kill you now. ”

Yan Wen pretended to agree, and Ma Chao drove him to the city of Jicheng in a car.

Yan Wen shouted towards the city, "The army will come in less than three days, work hard!" ”

And all the people of the city wept for him and prayed for him long live.

Ma Chao angrily scolded him, "Don't you want to die?!" ”

Yan Wen didn't answer.

At that time, Ma Chao couldn't attack for a long time, so he slowly lured Yan Wen and hoped that he would change his mind. Then he said to him, "Do you have friends in the city who want to join forces with me?" ”

Yan Wen ignored him again, and Ma Chao severely blamed him.

Yan Wen said, "The only way to be a ruler is death, but you want the elders to say unrighteous words, am I the one who steals his life?" ”

Ma Chao then killed him.

…… ……

Cao Cao captured the Ma Chao people (including his father Ma Teng, his second brother Ma Xiu, Ma Tie, etc.) in Ye (yè) City, counted the three tribesmen, and killed them all. On the other hand, he sent the troops led by Xiahou Yuan to go to Jicheng to rescue.

However, before Xiahou Yuan's reinforcements arrived, Wei Kang surrendered Kaicheng, and Ma Chao occupied Jicheng and acquiesced to Zhang Lu's execution of Yang Ang and assassinated Shi Weikang.

Xiahou Yuan led the troops to attack, and when the march reached more than 200 miles away from Jicheng, Ma Chao led the army to fight and defeated the Xiahou Yuan reinforcements.

Subsequently, Yang Qian, the king of Baiqing, and Agui, the king of Xingguo, also raised troops to respond to Ma Chao and led the army to camp in Xingguo, and Xiahou Yuan withdrew his army back to Chang'an, and did not dare to go west for two years.

Ma Chao took Jicheng as his base, seized Longshang, proclaimed himself the general of Zhengxi, led the state pastor, and supervised the military of Liangzhou.

Wei Kang's old subordinates Yang Fu, Jiang Xu, Jiang Yin, Zhao Ang, Yin Feng, Yao Qiong, Kong Xin, Li Jun and Wang Ling, who were from Wudu, conspired to rebel in the eighteenth year of Jian'an (213), and sent Yang Mo to Jicheng to tell Yang Fu another subordinate **, and united with Liang Kuan, Zhao Qu and Pang Gong to plan to raise troops.

Yang Fu and Jiang Xu took the lead in raising troops in Lucheng, Zhao Qu (qú) and Yin Feng advised Ma Chao to attack, and after Ma Chao heard it, he led his troops to attack, Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu secretly occupied Jicheng, closed the city gate, and killed Ma Chao's wife and children.

Ma Chao was furious, but he couldn't attack Jicheng, so he attacked Licheng and killed Yang Fu and Jiang Xu's clansmen in Licheng (including Jiang Xu's mother who scolded Ma Chao angrily), Yang Fu then led the rebels to fight against Ma Chao, and on the battlefield Yang Fu and the ancestor Kundi seven people came to besiege Ma Chao, all of whom were killed by Ma Chao, and Yang Fu himself was seriously injured in five places and fought to the death.

After Xiahou Yuan's reinforcements arrived, Ma Chao lost his base and was embarrassed, so he had to defect to Hanzhong and rely on Zhang Lu.

After this war, as many as eleven people including Yang Fu were made marquis for asking for Ma Chao's merits.

After taking refuge in Zhang Lu, Ma Chao was very appreciated by Zhang Lu, and named Ma Chao as the capital to talk about sacrificial wine, and planned to marry his daughter to Ma Chao, but under the persuasion of his subordinates, he repented.

Ma Chao borrowed troops from Zhang Lu and planned to counterattack Liangzhou.

Ma Chao led his troops to besiege Qishan for thirty days, but failed to capture it, and then Xiahou Yuan sent Zhang He to bring reinforcements to arrive, Ma Chao did not continue the attack, threw away military equipment as a lure, and withdrew back to Hanzhong.

Zhang Lu's subordinates Yang Bai and others wanted to harm him because they were afraid of Ma Chao's talent, so Ma Chao resigned and fled into Dizhong.

It happened that Liu Bei led his troops into Sichuan at this time, and Liu Bei sent Li Hui to marry Ma Chao, who knew that Zhang Lu was not a person who did great things, so he wrote to Liu Bei and asked to be attached (see the Siege of Jicheng for details).

In the twentieth year of Jian'an (215), on the first day of the first lunar month, Ma Chao's concubine Dong's younger brother Dong Chong came to congratulate Ma Chao on the New Year. ”

…… ……

In the summer, Ma Chao sent someone to convey his intention to Liu Bei. Liu Bei heard that Ma Chao was going to vote, and said happily, "Yizhou can be won!" ”

So he sent someone to meet Ma Chao, and secretly gave one of his troops to Ma Chao, and asked Ma Chao to lead his troops to encircle Chengdu. Ma Chao led the soldiers and horses to Chengdu, stationed troops in the north of the city, everyone in the city was frightened because of Ma Chao's prestige, and in less than ten days, the army and people of Chengdu collapsed, and Liu Zhang immediately opened the city and surrendered.

After Liu Bei pacified Xichuan, he promoted Ma Chao to the general of Pingxi and ordered him to supervise Linfang.

…… ……

Liu Bei and Cao Cao competed for hegemony in the land of Hanzhong, and Liu Bei sent Ma Chao and Zhang Fei, Wu Lan, and Lei Tong, who had just defeated Zhang He in Brazil, to defend their troops and contain the main force of Cao's vanguard.

In the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), in the first month, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Wu Lan, Lei Tong and others led the army to garrison Fushui and feint to attack Wudu and Yinping counties. Wu Lan and Lei Tong were recognized and defeated by Cao Hong, Cao Xiu and others, and Wu Lan's general Ren Kui (kuí) was killed in battle.

In March, Cao Cao personally led a large army to fight for Hanzhong, Liu Bei defended it, and Ma Chao and Zhang Fei led troops back to Hanzhong. Yin Ping Wang Qiang beheaded Wu Lan and dedicated his head to Cao Jun.

In the second year, Liu Bei captured the entire territory of Hanzhong with the courage of the generals. In the autumn, more than 120 Shu Han officials led by Ma Chao jointly signed the "Emperor of the Han Dynasty" and persuaded Liu Bei to become the king of Hanzhong. Liu Bei called the queen and promoted Ma Chao to the left general, fake festival.

Peng Yi (yà

g) When he heard that Liu Bei had transferred him to a distant post, he was very unhappy in private, so he went to meet Ma Chao. Ma Chao said to Peng Yi, "Your talent is outstanding, and the lord is very important to you, saying that you can go hand in hand with Zhuge Liang, Fa Zheng and others, how can you let you go out to serve as a small county and disappoint people?" ”

Peng Yi said, "This veteran ruffian is ridiculous and unreasonable, what else is there to say!" You are an external official, I am an internal officer, and the world will not be unsettled. ”

Ma Chao was a hero for half of his life, and he was obedient to Liu Bei, and he often felt a sense of danger after sending people under the fence, and he was still taken aback when he heard Peng Yi say such a thing, and he was silent.

After Peng Yi left, Ma Chao truthfully reported Peng Yi's words, so Peng Yi was arrested and imprisoned, and then Liu Bei listened to Zhuge Liang's opinion and executed Peng Yi.