Ma Chao
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Mǎ Chāo (馬超), courtesy name Mengqi (孟起), was the eldest son of Ma Teng and in Luo Guan Zhong's novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his skills as a warrior. Ma Chao was one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu.
Ma Chao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In an attempt to avenge the death of his father at the hands of Cao Cao, Mengqi attacked Cao Cao at Tong Gate near Chang'an with Han Sui, but lost. After a tumultuous period in Liang Province, he went to serve Zhang Lu of Han Zhong. He was ordered to aid Liu Zhang in the defense of Cheng Du, but surrendered due to a plan by Zhuge Liang. He later went on to serve Liu Bei, was appointed to the Five Tigers, and proposed strategies such as the capture of Hanzhong Commandry. Before he came to Shu, he was one of the Eight Riders of Han Sui, his uncle by sworn oath.
Ma Chao did not always serve under Liu Bei. In Liu Bei's assault on Chengdu, he and his cousin Ma Dai led a final charge to stop Liu Bei. He was however, after a contentious combat with Zhang Fei, surrendered to Liu Bei. To solidify his allegiance to Shu, he wed his sister, Ma Yunlu, to the great Zhao Yun.
Ma Chao passed away in 222 AD due to illness.
Quotations
"Ma Chao has the courage of the likes of Lü Bu and Han Xin, but he also has the heart of the Qiangs and the Huns." –Cao Cao
External Links
KongMing Archives' San Guo Zhi Translation of Ma Chao's biography (http://www.kongming.net/novel/sgz/machao.php)