Ma Xi'e, known by his posthumous name as the Prince Gongxiao of Chu, was the fifth ruler of the Ma Chu dynasty of China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
32 Facts About Ma Xi'e
1.
2.
Ma Xi'e's mother was not Ma Yin's wife, but was otherwise not named in historical sources, although it is known that a younger brother, Ma Xichong, was born of the same mother.
3.
The officers Zhang Shaodi and Yuan Yougong argued that Ma Xi'e, who was the oldest surviving son of Ma Yin's, should be invited to succeed, given that Ma Yin had left instructions for his sons to succeed each other based on age.
4.
Meanwhile, Ma Xichong had been writing secret letters to Ma Xi'e, inciting him by arguing that Liu and the others had gone against Ma Yin's instructions.
5.
When Ma Xi'e was approaching Changsha from Yong in order to mourn Ma Xifan, Ma Xiguang, at Liu's suggestion, sent the guard commander Zhou Tinghui with a fleet to intercept him at Dieshi, where he ordered the Yong soldiers to be disarmed before they would be allowed to approach Changsha further.
6.
Ma Xi'e subsequently submitted a petition to then-Later Han emperor Liu Chengyou, to whom the Chu state was a vassal, that he be allowed to separately submit tributes to the emperor and requested a commission separate from Ma Xiguang.
7.
Whatever Ma Xi'e wants to submit should be submitted under Ma Xiguang's.
8.
In fall 949, Ma Xi'e openly rose against Ma Xiguang.
9.
Ma Xi'e mobilized the men of Lang and built 700 ships, intending to attack Tan, despite his wife Lady Yuan's urging against such action.
10.
Ma Xi'e thereafter sent Wang Yun the prefect of Yue Prefecture to command an army against Ma Xi'e, with Liu serving as Wang's army monitor.
11.
Meanwhile, Ma Xi'e had not given up on persuading the Later Han government to side with him, and he sent an emissary to the Later Han court, asking to be allowed to establish an independent liaison office at Daliang.
12.
Ma Xi'e, believing that Later Han's government intended to protect Ma Xiguang, decided to submit as a vassal to Southern Tang instead and requested Southern Tang aid against Ma Xiguang.
13.
Ma Xi'e agreed and headed toward Tan, leaving his son Ma Guangzan in charge at Lang, and claiming for himself the title of Prince of Shuntian.
14.
Ma Xi'e made Ma Xichong the monitor of Xu Keqiong's army.
15.
The non-Han officer Peng Shigao, who had long been thankful for Ma Xiguang's trust and had sworn to be willing to die for Ma Xiguang, advocated that he be allowed to take some men to circle around Zhu's troops and attack it from the rear while Xu did so from the front, believing that once Zhu's forward troops were defeated, Ma Xi'e would give up his campaign.
16.
Xu, without letting his soldiers know, met with Ma Xi'e and continued negotiating with him, finally agreeing to his terms.
17.
Ma Xi'e had many monks chant Buddhist sutras, and wore the robes of a monk himself, in hope of gaining blessings.
18.
Ma Xi'e captured Wu and Peng, but, admiring them for their bravery and faithfulness to Ma Xiguang, spared both of them, although Peng was caned and reduced to commoner rank.
19.
Meanwhile, as the city fell, Ma Xiguang and his wife, as well as one or more sons secreted themselves at Ci Hall, as Ma Xi'e's soldiers pillaged Changsha.
20.
Ma Xi'e closed the gates and subsequently was able to capture Ma Xiguang, Li Honggao, Li Honggao's brother Li Hongjie, Deng, Yang, and the official Tang Zhaoyin.
21.
Ma Xi'e had Li Honggao, Li Hongjie, Tang Zhaoyin, and Yang Di put to death and had their bodies eaten by the soldiers.
22.
Ma Xi'e commissioned Ma Guangzan as the acting military governor of Wuping, and sent Ma Xi'e Jingzhen back to Lang to serve as the commander of the guard troops there.
23.
Ma Xi'e tried to recall Tuoba Heng back to governmental service, but Tuoba refused, claiming to be ill.
24.
In spring 951, Ma Xi'e sent his secretary Liu Guangfu to offer tributes to Southern Tang's emperor Li Jing.
25.
Meanwhile, after he took Changsha, Ma Xi'e became arrogant and spiteful, killing many people that he had grudges against.
26.
Ma Xi'e spent day and night feasting, entrusting the matters of the headquarters to Ma Xichong.
27.
When Ma Xi'e informed Li Jing of this, Li Jing sent an emissary with monetary rewards to Lang, hoping to get the Lang officers to submit.
28.
Ma Xi'e considered what to do with the Lang situation.
29.
Now Ma Xi'e, who is the oldest, has been deposed, and will surely suffer disaster.
30.
Ma Xi'e sent the officer Li Chengjian to Hengshan to compel Ma Xi'e to head to Jinling as well.
31.
Shortly after, Ma Xi'e took his army and headed for Jinling.
32.
Around new year 953, Ma Xi'e went to Jinling to pay homage to Li Jing.