Ma Yuan's ancestor was Zhao She, a famous Zhao native in the Warring States Period. Zhao She was defeated in the battle with and made outstanding achievements. He was named "Ma Fujun" by Huiwen. From then on, Zhao She's descendants took the horse as their surname. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Ma family moved from Handan to Maoling. Ma Tong, his great grandfather, was named a coincidence because of his work, but because of his brother Luo's rebellion, Ma Tong was dragged down and killed, and his grandfather and father's family declined and their status was not obvious. Ma Yuan has three brothers. They are Ma Kuang, Ma Yu and Ma Yuan. Are very talented. Follwed, and made two thousand stone officials.
Later, Ma Yuan became the county party secretary Du You. On one occasion, he was ordered to escort the prisoner to Siming House. The prisoner committed a felony, so Ma Yuan sympathized with him and let him leave privately, while he fled to Beidi County (now northwest of Qingyang, Gansu). After the Amnesty, Ma Yuan raised cattle and sheep locally. After a long time, people from all over the world came to attach themselves to him, so he had hundreds of families, and he took these people wandering between Han Long (now Gansu, Ningxia and Shaanxi). Although Ma Yuan lived a nomadic life with uncertain migration, his ambition did not diminish. He often said to his guests, "A gentleman is determined to be strong when he is poor, and he is determined to be strong when he is old" (Biography of Ma Yuan in the Later Han Dynasty).
Agriculture and animal husbandry in Ma Yuan can be adapted to local conditions, and there are many good methods, so it has gained a lot. At that time, * * * had thousands of cattle and sheep and tens of thousands of grains of grain. Faced with the income in this field, Ma Yuan sighed deeply and said, "If you grow goods and property, you should give them relief, otherwise you will keep your money" (Biography of Ma Yuan in the Later Han Dynasty). So, I gave all my property to my brothers and friends, and I lived in simple living with only sheepskin pants.
In the last years of Wang Mang, soldiers rose from all directions. Wang Mang's cousin, Wang Lin, was appointed as General Wei, recruiting heroes all over the world. He chose people from Ma Yuan and the same county as the initial candidates and recommended them to Wang Mang. Wang Mang appointed Rong Zhen, Yin Da (the new governor was changed to Yin Da in the first year after the founding of the People's Republic of China) and Ma Yuan as Yin Da in Xincheng (now Ankang, Shaanxi). After Wang Mang's failure, Ma Yuan's brother Ma Yuan was appointed as Zeng Shansi (the division rate, the local governor of Xin Mang County, seems to be a satrap). He and Ma Yuan left their posts together and took refuge in Liangzhou. After Liu Xiu acceded to the throne, Ma Su went to Luoyang to go to Emperor Guangwu, who resumed his position, sent him to counties, and then died in his official position. Ma Yuan detained Xizhou.
At that time, Xiao Wei occupied Tianshui, claiming to be the general of Xizhou, and attached great importance to Ma Yuan. Appoint him as general Suide, let him participate in military secrets, make decisions with himself, and agree on major events. At this point, Gongsun Shu called the emperor in Shu and decided to follow, and sent him to find out the truth.
Ma Yuan and Gongsun Shu used to be fellow villagers, and they used to have a good friendship. Ma Yuan thought that meeting meant shaking hands, but Gongsun Shu put on airs. He drank Chen Weishi first, and then invited Ma Yuan to meet him. Just after watching the ceremony, he immediately let Ma Yuan go out of the palace and live in the hotel; Then I ordered people to make a coat and a crown for Ma Yuan. Then, he gathered hundreds of officials in the ancestral hall and hosted a banquet in his honor. When Gongsun Shu came to the meeting, he set up a ceremonial ceremony on the road, crowding round, putting on an act and making different gestures. When he arrived at the ancestral temple, he walked in respectfully and solemnly, and treated officials in full accordance with the ceremony of the monarch and the minister. The banquet was very rich and there was room for old friends. During the dinner, Gongsun Shu said that he would make Ma Yuan Hou and give him the rank of general. Ma Yuan's entourage was very happy and thought they were treated with courtesy, and they all wanted to stay. Ma Yuan reasoned with them, saying, "The world is uncertain, and it's a matter of success or failure for Gongsun not to throw up food to welcome the national scholar. It's just an embellishment of silhouette, like an occasional picture. How long has this son been studying in the world? " (Biography of Ma Yuan in the Later Han Dynasty)?
When Ma Yuan came back, he said to Xiao Wei, "Ziyang is a frog's ear at the bottom of the well, but he is arrogant, so it is better to concentrate on the east" (Biography of Ma Yuan in the Later Han Dynasty).
In the winter of the fourth year of Jianwu (28 years), Xiao Wei asked Ma Yuan to take a message to Luoyang to see Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, who met him in Xuande Hall. Liu Xiuxiao said to Ma Yuan, "It is a great pleasure for you to visit the second emperor. Seeing you now is a great help to the people. " After Ma Yuan saluted, Liu Xiu went on to say, "In today's world, not only the monarch chooses his ministers, but also the ministers choose him. Gongsun Shu and I are from the same county, so we are a little less kind. I went to Shu before, described my halberd, and finally came. I have come so far, how does your majesty know that it is not an assassin and a traitor, but a simple one? " Hearing this, Emperor Guangwu smiled and said, "You are not an assassin, but a lobbyist." Ma Yuan said: "The world is constantly running, and there are countless people stealing names. Today, I see your majesty, generous, and high-impedance, but know that the emperor has his own reasons "("The Biography of Were Ma Yuan "). Guangwudi strengthened his courage and thought he was different.
Soon, Emperor Guangwu made a southern tour and asked Ma Yuan to accompany him. He first went to Liqiu and then went to the East China Sea. After returning from southern China, he appointed Ma Yuan as his future adviser. Ma Yuan is going back to Xizhou, and Emperor Guangwu sent a doctor from Taichung to attend our banquet.
After Ma Yuan came back, Xiao Wei lay with him and asked Ma Yuan about the rumors about the East and the pros and cons of the gains and losses of the capital. Ma Yuan said to him, "When I went to the imperial court, I was introduced to dozens of people. Every time I receive Yan language, I am both wise and brave, not an enemy or a friend. And I am open-minded and sincere, and there is nothing to hide. How big is it, just like Gaudi. The classics and expositions, political debates, and past lives are unparalleled. " Xiao Wei asked again, "What do you mean by Gaudi?" Ma Yuan replied, "It's not as good as it is now. Gaudi is beyond reproach; Today I am a good official and don't like drinking. " Xiao Wei was unhappy and said, "If you make it clear, you will defeat evil again and again" (The Biography of Ma Yuan in the Later Han Dynasty)? Having said that, Xiao Wei still believes in Ma Yuan. He agreed to return to Han and send his eldest son to Luoyang as a hostage. Ma Yuan also led his family to Luoyang. After Ma Yuan arrived in Luoyang, he lived without any position for several months. He found that Sanfu area was fertile and Yuan Ye was vast, which brought many guests, so he wrote to Emperor Guangwu, requesting to lead the guests to the Shanglinyuan for wasteland reclamation. Guangwudi agreed to his request.
When Xiao Wei listened to Wang Yuanbu's provocation, he wanted to occupy Longxi and dominate the whole country. Therefore, he was skeptical about the Eastern Han Dynasty. Ma Yuan said, write many times, please advise. Xiao Wei hated Ma Yuan and thought that he had deviated from himself. After reading the letter, he became more and more annoyed. Later, they rose up against the Han Dynasty.
Ma Yuan wrote a letter to the emperor to express his thoughts. He said in the letter: "I want to serve your majesty in the holy court." I don't have a recommendation from the public, so I can help you. " I don't talk to myself. How can your majesty hear about it? It is a shame for me to be the first husband, the last husband and the last husband. So, if I dare to touch and risk my sin, I will die in Chen Cheng. I made friends with Xiao Wei. At the beginning, he sent officials to the east, saying,' If you want to be a Han, you are willing to watch it with your feet. If you want to, you will concentrate. "And I also rebel, have a pure heart, really want to lead it to good, dare not swear by heaven injustice. However, the arrogant self-defeats, steals and hates the Lord, and the resentment is attributed to the minister. I don't want to say anything, so I don't have the taste of it. I am willing to listen to the idea of doing what I want to do, so that I can get rid of my arrogance, so that I can apply for stupid policies on an empty stomach, retire to Long Mu, and die without complaint "(The Biography of Were Ma Yuan).
Ma Yuan's father died when he was twelve. Ma Yuan's "ambition is rare, but his brothers are curious" (Biography of Ma Yuan in the Later Han Dynasty). I once studied with Qi Shi. His heart was not in chapters and sentences, so I couldn't learn. So he bid farewell to his eldest brother Ma Kuang and went to the border county to farm and graze. Ma was very open-minded, agreed to his intention, and told him, "You are a great talent, and you will succeed in the evening." Good workers don't simply show others, but do what they want to do (Biography of Were Ma Yuan).