Ma Han

Biography & Historical Record

Ma Han (马汉, Mã Hán) is a fictional Yi officer of Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương) who exists for one stroke of Romance Chapter 65. After Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu) has just surrendered at Jiameng and Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) is shifting from the pass toward Chengdu, the army is received at Mianzhu by Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) and Huang Zhong (黄忠, Hoàng Trung). A report comes that two Shu captains, Liu Jun (刘晙, Lưu Tuấn) and Ma Han, are bringing troops to challenge. Zhao Yun asks to take them. He rides out. On the wall Liu Bei is still seating Ma Chao for wine — the mats are not even set — when Zhao Yun returns with both heads and lays them before the banquet. Ma Chao is startled into a new respect for Zhao Yun and offers to call Liu Zhang out himself.

That is the entire life. No courtesy name, no home county, no father, no later ghost. Chen Shou does not list a Ma Han among Liu Zhang’s historical captains (Yan Yan, Wu Yi, Zhang Ren, and the rest). The pair exist to do two jobs at once: show that Chengdu’s last field resistance is already hollow, and give Ma Chao — the new, proud guest — a reason to take Zhao Yun seriously before he rides to the walls of Chengdu. Do not merge this Ma Han with any historical Ma of Liang or with Ma Yuanyi / Ma Yu of other slugs.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 65 (Ma Chao Fights at Jiameng Pass; Liu Bei Takes the Yi Governorship): Ma Chao has come over; Sun Qian is back; Huo Jun (霍峻, Hoắc Tuấn) and Meng Da are left to hold the pass; Liu Bei turns on Chengdu. Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong welcome him into Mianzhu. “Shu generals Liu Jun and Ma Han are bringing troops,” the scouts say. Zhao Yun: “I will take those two.” He is gone before the welcome wine is poured. Liu Bei entertains Ma Chao on the wall. Before the seats are arranged, Zilong is back with two heads. Ma Chao, watching, “was also startled, and his respect doubled.” He then promises to summon Liu Zhang — and if Liu Zhang will not open, to take Chengdu with Ma Dai and present it in both hands. The rest of the chapter is Liu Zhang’s surrender, the long reward list (including Lü Yi), and Sun Quan’s first demand for Jing. Ma Han does not live to see any of it.

Ma Han (马汉) — Historical & Literary Timeline

The Mianzhu stroke is novel-only; the historical fall of Yi is told under Liu Zhang and Liu Bei’s 214 campaign.

Key Relationships

Family

• None recorded. Fictional. Not a kinsman of Ma Chao’s Liang lineage and not Ma Yu (马玉) of the later Later Chu Shi Biao.

Friends

• Liu Jun (刘晙, Lưu Tuấn): Fellow Liu Zhang captain; they ride to Mianzhu together and die together. No post on site — keep as plain text.
• Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương): The lord they still serve when Chengdu is already politically lost.

Enemies

• Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân): The man who takes both heads in the time it takes to lay a banquet. The novel uses Ma Han to display Zhao Yun to Ma Chao, not to give Ma Han a duel speech.
• Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): The incoming master of Yi; Ma Han dies resisting the last miles of that conquest.

Other

• Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu): New guest at the wall. The speed of Ma Han’s death is staged for him; he then offers to finish Chengdu.
• Huang Zhong (黄忠, Hoàng Trung) and Huo Jun (霍峻, Hoắc Tuấn): Same day’s supporting officers — reception at Mianzhu, garrison at the pass.
• Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đại): Named in Ma Chao’s follow-up offer to take Chengdu; not Ma Han’s comrade.