Also known as General Ma, he is the Great General stationed far away at the frontier commanding one hundred thousand troops. He is the husband of Chu Xiyao and father of Ma Zhengzheng and Ma Shuai. Upon receiving news of his children's disgraceful behavior and his rejected court memorial for provisions and grain from the imperial court, he saw the perfect opportunity for a graceful political exit. After two days of hesitant deliberation, he submitted a memorial asking the Emperor to let him return to Cangming to discipline his children and requested someone else take over his command. He brainstormed countless strategies to salvage his family's reputation but ultimately concluded repairing the relationship between his wife and her maternal family would be next to impossible. He sent urgent letters ordering his wife to cease antagonizing her maiden family and strictly forbidding his sons from ever seeking trouble with Chu Yunheng again.
