Ma Long (Jin dynasty)

Cao Wei and Jin dynasty general

Ma Long

Prefect of Xiping (西平太守)
In office
280–?
Monarch| Emperor Wu of Jin
Personal details
Born| Unknown
Wenshang County, Shandong
Died| Unknown
Xining, Qinghai
Children| Ma Xian
Courtesy name| Xiaoxing (孝興)
Peerage| Marquis of Fenggao County
(奉高縣侯)

In this Chinese name, the family name is  Ma.

Ma Long (fl. 251–290), courtesy name Xiaoxing was a politician and military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period and Western Jin dynasty period. He was most known for ending Tufa Shujineng's Rebellion in 279, during which he employed unorthodox tactics to defeat the rebels. After the end of the Three Kingdoms, he was made Prefect of Xiping Commandery (西平郡; around present-day Xining, Qinghai) and served the office for more than ten years. He maintained peace in Liang province and was popular among the non-Han people living there.

## Early career[edit]

Ma Long was a native of Pinglu County (平陸縣; in present-day Wenshang County, Shandong), Dongping State (東平國). From a young age, he was described as both wise and strong, and he liked to conduct himself with honor and integrity.[1] He began his career as a minor officer in Yan province.

In 251, after the failure of Wang Ling's Rebellion, the coffin of Linghu Yu (令狐愚), a co-conspirator of Wang Ling who died two years before the rebellion, was opened for his body to be displayed in the marketplace. No one in Yan province dared to bury his body, but after three days, Ma Long, who falsely claimed that he was a retainer of Linghu Yu, spent his wealth to have him reburied. He then mourned Linghu Yu for three years, even planting pine and cypress trees on the side of his grave. After he completing his mourning period, Ma Long returned home and became a subject of praise in Yan.[2]

Ma Long was later appointed as Assistant Officer for Military Affairs. In 269, Emperor Wu of Jin sent out edicts to every province looking for talents to help in his subjugation of the Western Jin's rival state, Eastern Wu. The people of Yan recommended Ma Long, and he grew to become a Marshal-Commander.[3]

## Tufa Shujineng's Rebellion[edit]

Main article: Tufa Shujineng's Rebellion

In 270, a tribal revolt led by the Xianbei chieftain, Tufa Shujineng broke out in Qin and Liang provinces. In 278, Ma Long submitted a petition warning that the Inspector of Liang, Yang Xin, had lost the support of the Qiang and Rong tribes and was going to be defeated.[4] As Ma Long predicted, Yang Xin was defeated and killed by Shujineng and his tribal allies at Wuwei Commandery (武威郡; in present-day Jingyuan County, Gansu). At the beginning of 279, Shujineng captured Liang, causing much worry for Emperor Wu.

Emperor Wu held a court session where he asked if anyone could solve the crisis in Liang, but none of the ministers could provide an answer. Just then, Ma Long, only a junior general at this point, stepped forward and volunteered. When Emperor Wu asked about his plans, Ma Long only requested to be allowed to recruit around 3,000 strong men, no matter their background. The emperor agreed and appointed Ma Long as Protector-General Who Campaigns Against The Caitiffs and Administrator of Wuwei, despite objections from his ministers due to Ma Long's lowly status.[5]

Ma Long sought out men who were able to draw bows that were four juns (approx. 26 kilograms) and use 'waist-spun crossbows' (腰引弩) that were 36 juns (approx. 238 kilograms). He set up targets for the men to practice their accuracy, and in the end, he found around 3,500 recruits.[6] Ma Long also wanted to have access to the military arsenal. However, the Prefect of the Arsenal disliked him, so he was only provided with worn-out equipments. The two argued with each other, and the Palace Assistant of the Imperial Secretaries sent a petition blaming the incident on Ma Long. Ma Long explained the actual situation to Emperor Wu, and the emperor ordered for Ma Long to be given a three-year supply of military equipments.[7] In November 279, Ma Long set out west and crossed the Wen River (溫水; east of present-day Jingyuan County, Gansu).

When Shujineng heard that Ma Long was attacking, he led tens of thousands of his soldiers to occupy the passes to block Ma Long's front while the others set up ambushes to block Ma Long's rear. During his battles with Shujineng, Ma Long employed a number of unorthodox and questionable tactics. In accordance with Zhuge Liang's 'Eightfold Battle Formations' (八陣圖), he built ‘flat box carts’ (偏箱車; a cart with a board on one side which acts like a shield) for his soldiers. When fighting in the open, he employed 'deer-antlered carts' (鹿角車; a cart with spears and halberds on the front, giving it an antler-like shape), and when passing through narrow roads, he built wooden roofs over the carts. His soldiers were able to move while fighting, and the enemies' arrows were unable to hit them.[8] Another tactic that he allegedly used was placing down large amounts of 'magnetic stones' on the ground to slow down the enemy advances, the reason being that the rebels and their horses often wore iron armor while Ma Long's men wore armor made of rhinoceros hides. The rebels were taken by surprise and thought of the Jin soldiers as divine beings.[9]

For a while, the imperial court did not receive any news from the west, and there were speculations that Ma Long was dead. However, on one night, Ma Long's messenger arrived at the court, dispelling the rumours of his death. The next morning, Emperor Wu summoned his ministers and said to them, "If I had listen to your words, we would have lost Liang". Emperor Wu then granted Ma Long a staff of authority and appointed him General Who Exhibits Might.[10]

Ma Long and his men travelled a long distance, killing and wounding many rebels as they marched. When they reached Wuwei Commandery, the chieftains, he received the surrender of Cubahan (猝跋韓) and Zuwanneng (且萬能) along with 10,000 soldiers under them. In December 279, Ma Long, with the help of Meiguneng (沒骨能) and other friendly tribal leaders, ended the rebellion after a great victory over Shujineng.[11] Shujineng was killed in battle, although another account states that after Shujineng was defeated, he was assassinated by his subordinates, who then submitted to Ma Long.[12]

## Later career[edit]

In 280, the court appointed Ma Long as Protector of the Army Who Pacifies the Barbarians and Prefect of Xiping Commandery. He was given his own General of the Standard and elite troops to stabilize and rebuild Xiping, which had been abandoned during the rebellion. At the time, a foreign barbarian, Chengxi (成奚), had a stronghold south of Xiping and would constantly attack Jin's border. Ma Long led his troops to attack him, and Chengxi held fast to his defences. In response, Ma Long ordered his soldiers to carry farming tools and plough the fields. Chengxi thought that Ma Long had no intention in subjugating him and so relaxed his guard. Ma Long capitalized on Chengxi's mistake by quickly attacking and defeating him. For the rest of Ma Long's tenure in Xiping, the foreign barbarians did not threaten the border.[13]

In 290, Ma Long was awarded the title of Marquis of Fenggao County and appointed Colonel of the Eastern Qiang for his services. Ma Long was stationed in Longyou region (隴右, modern southern Gansu) for more than ten years, and during that time, he established a highly respected reputation in the area. The Prefect of Lüeyang, Yan Shu (嚴舒), wanted to have Ma Long's position as Prefect of Xiping. Using his close connection to the powerful minister, Yang Jun, he slandered Ma Long to Yang Jun, claiming that he was too old and senile, and thus no longer fit for his position. He was recalled to the capital while Yan Shu was given his position. However, the Qiang and Di people soon began gathering in large numbers. The inhabitants of Longyou were startled, and the court feared that another rebellion was going to break out. Therefore, Ma Long was reinstated as Prefect of Xiping, and he would hold the office up to his death.[14]

## References[edit]

1. ^ (馬隆，字孝興，東平平陸人。少而智勇，好立名節。) Jin Shu, vol.57
2. ^ (魏兗州刺史令狐愚坐事伏誅，舉州無敢收者。隆以武吏托稱愚客，以私財殯葬，服喪三年，列植松柏，禮畢乃還，一州以為美談。) Jin Shu, vol.57
3. ^ (泰始中，將興伐吳之役，下詔曰：「吳會未平，宜得猛士以濟武功。雖舊有薦舉之法，未足以盡殊才。其普告州郡，有壯勇秀異才力傑出者，皆以名聞，將簡其尤異，擢而用之。苟有其人，勿限所取。」兗州舉隆才堪良將。稍遷司馬督。) Jin Shu, vol.57
4. ^ (初，涼州刺史楊欣失羌戎之和，隆陳其必敗。) Jin Shu, vol.57
5. ^ (帝甚悔之，臨朝而歎曰：「誰能爲我討此虜者？」司馬督馬隆進曰：「陛下能任臣，臣能平之。」帝曰：「必能平賊，何爲不任，顧方略何如耳！」隆曰：「臣願募勇士三千人，無問所從來，帥之以西，虜不足平也。」帝許之。乙丑，以隆爲討虜護軍、武威太守。公卿皆曰：「見兵已多，不宜橫設賞募隆小將妄言，不足信也。」帝不聽。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.80
6. ^ (隆募限腰引弩三十六鈞、弓四鈞，立標簡試。自旦至中，得三千五百人，隆曰：「足矣。」) Jin Shu, vol.57
7. ^ (又請自至武庫選仗，武庫令與隆忿爭，御史中丞劾奏隆。隆曰：「臣當畢命戰場，武庫令乃給以魏時朽仗，非陛下所以使臣之意也。」帝命惟隆所取，仍給三年軍資而遣之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.80
8. ^ (隆依八陣圖作偏箱車，地廣則鹿角車營，路狹則為木屋施于車上，且戰且前，弓矢所及，應弦而倒。) Jin Shu, vol.57
9. ^ (奇謀間發，出敵不意。或夾道累磁石，賊負鐵鎧，行不得前，隆卒悉被犀甲，無所留礙，賊咸以為神。) Jin Shu, vol.57
10. ^ (自隆之西，音問斷絕，朝廷憂之，或謂已沒。後隆使夜到，帝撫掌歡笑，詰朝，召羣臣謂曰：「若從諸卿言，無涼州矣。」乃詔假隆節，拜宣威將軍。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.80
11. ^ (隆到武威，虜大人猝跋韓、且萬能等率萬餘落歸降，前後誅殺及降附者以萬計。又率善戎沒骨能等與樹機能大戰，斬之，涼州遂平。) Jin Shu, vol.57
12. ^ (樹機能後為馬隆所敗，部下殺之以降。) Jin Shu, vol.126
13. ^ (時南虜成奚每為邊患，隆至，帥軍討之。虜據險距守，隆令軍士皆負農器，將若田者。虜以隆無征討意，禦眾稍怠。隆因其無備，進兵擊破之。畢隆之政，不敢為寇。) Jin Shu, vol.57
14. ^ (時略陽太守馮翊嚴舒與楊駿通親，蜜圖代隆，毀隆年老謬耄，不宜服戎，於是征隆，以舒代鎮。氏、羌聚結，百姓驚懼。朝廷恐關隴復擾，乃免舒，遣隆復職，竟卒於官。) Jin Shu, vol.57

* Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
* Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.

*[fl.]: floruit ('flourished' – known to have been active at a particular time or during a particular period)