Ma Sui

Life

In his youth, Ma Sui studied military treatises and strategy and was courageous, resolute, and resourceful. When An Lushan rebelled, he urged Jia Xun, the defender of Fanyang, to return to the Tang; Jia hesitated and was killed, while Sui escaped.

In 762 he became county lieutenant of Zhaocheng. He also held the offices of military registrar in the Left Wuwei Guard, palace liaison to the heir apparent, commissioner for military agriculture, gentleman for writing, palace censor, deputy supervisor of the Palace Library, Chengwulang, and military-governorate judicial aide. From 765 to 775 he served successively as prefect of Zheng, Huai, Long, and Shang. In 775 he became military governor of the Heyang Three Cities and also held the offices of Censor-in-Chief and Left Sanqi Changshi.

He later served as prefect of Taiyuan, Minister of Works, jiedu liuhou, and defender of the Northern Capital. He held the Hedong military governorship from 779 to 787. During the Dali era he repeatedly defeated Li Lingyao and Tian Yue. He was promoted to jianxiao bingbu shangshu, created Duke of Bin, and advanced to tong zhongshu menxia pingzhangshi; he also became Grand Governor of Wei and concurrently held the title Weibo Bei sizhou jiedu guancha zhaotaoshi.

In 781 he became Minister of War and Right Pushe. In 782 he held tong zhongshu menxia pingzhangshi and the office of Grand Governor of Wei, while serving concurrently as prefect of Ji; in 783 he became military governor of Baoning. In the first year of Xingyuan (784), he was made Prince of Beiping Commandery and appointed Situ, and he also served as deputy judge of the Fengtian campaign headquarters, military governor of Fengcheng, and prefect of Pingyang. That year he put down Li Huai-guang and was advanced to Guanglu Dafu concurrently with Shizhong; Emperor Dezong gave him two inscriptions, “Chenyi” and “Taiheng,” praising the mutual achievements of ruler and minister.

He made a pact with the Tibetans at Pingliang. After he mistakenly trusted the pact, Tibetan forces attacked him; the episode is also described as his being seized by the Tibetan army. He was then removed as military governor, stripped of military command, and retained as Situ concurrently with Shizhong. In the fifth year of Zhenyuan his portrait was placed in the Lingyan Pavilion. He died in the eleventh year (795), aged seventy, was posthumously granted the title Taiwei, and received the posthumous name Zhuangwu. He was counted with Li Sheng and Hun Jian among the “Three Great Generals”.

Family and associations

His father was Ma Jilong. His elder brother was Ma Xuan. His sons included Ma Chang and his eldest son, Ma Hui. His great-grandson Ma You lived from 806 to 854.

Ma Sui was a friend of Zhang Jianfeng. Li Baoyu recommended him in 762, and Zhang Jianfeng later summoned him in 775. Qi Ying served on his staff. Quan Deyu composed his epitaph. Poems and prose were also presented to him by Quan Deyu, Yuan Zhen, Dugu Ji, Lu Lun, Sikong Shu, Wu Rong, Qian Qi, and Shao Chuchang. In 776 and 781, respectively, Li Senghui and Yang Chaoguang were said to have been killed by Ma Sui or his followers.