Ma Chao (176 – 222) was the oldest son of Ma Teng and a military general during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his elaborate armour and grand skill as a warrior. Ma is remembered as one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu Han, popularized by the novel.

Ma Chao was born in Maoling, Fufeng (northeast of present-day Xingping, Shaanxi) to the warlord Ma Teng and a Qiang woman. His father was one of the many warlords who emerged at the end of the Han Dynasty, and was appointed "General Who Conquers the West" (征西将军) by the imperial court.

Ma Chao was ordered by his father to follow Zhong Yao, Director of Retainers, to attack Guo Yuan and Gao Gan in Pingyang. In the ensuing battle, Ma Chao was hit by an arrow in the foot, but he wrapped his foot in a pouch and continued fighting. He managed to defeat the enemy, while his subordinate Pang De slew Guo Yuan. When Cao Cao became chancellor later, he wanted Ma Chao to serve in the capital city but Ma declined.

Zhang Fei (died 221) was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.

Zhang Fei was originally a wealthy butcher from Zhuo Commandery (present-day Zhuozhou, Hebei). In 184, he and Guan Yu joined Liu Bei's militia to assist the government in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which broke out towards the end of the Han Dynasty. His relationship with Liu Bei and Guan Yu was so close that they treated each other like brothers. Since then, Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei on most of his early exploits.

In 194, Liu Bei succeeded Tao Qian as governor of Xu Province. The following year, Liu Bei led his army to counter an invasion force from Yuan Shu, and left Zhang Fei in charge of Xiapi, capital of Xu Province. Zhang Fei had a quarrel with Cao Bao (former chancellor of Xiapi under the deceased Tao Qian), and he killed the latter in a bedlam. As Cao Bao had been in service for a long time, his death seethed a turmoil within the community. Some of Cao Bao's colleagues summoned Lü Bu, who was taking shelter under Liu Bei at that time, to drive Zhang Fei out from the city. Lü Bu dispatched to Xiapi, and the citizens opened the gate to welcome his forces. Zhang Fei could not resist, but managed to escape from the city and rejoined Liu Bei and Guan Yu. Without a tenable base, Liu Bei went out of food and finally surrendered to Lü Bu, who attempted to mollify the former by ceding Xiaopei to him. Liu Bei's burgeoning power soon drew Lü Bu's trepidation, and the latter attacked the former. Liu Bei and his subordinates were forced to temporarily join Cao Cao at Xu City. There, Zhang Fei was appointed "General of the Household" (中郎將).