Records of the Three Kingdoms
Ma Chao, courtesy name Mengqi, was from Maoling in Fufeng, Ma Teng’s son. In 211 Cao Cao marched west. Ma Chao, Han Sui, and others held Tong Pass. Cao Cao split them, Ma Chao was beaten, and he fled west. He later attacked the upper Long, killed Inspector Wei Kang, was himself beaten by Yang Fu and others, went south to Zhang Lu, and then joined Liu Bei.
In Shu he was governor of Liang Province and rose to be general of elite cavalry. He died of illness in 222, at forty-seven. Chen Shou says he had the courage of the old fighters and the rebelliousness of Ying Bu, brave and not humane. When Liu Bei gained him, Guanzhong was stirred.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The novel has Cao Cao cut his beard and throw off his robe, and Ma Chao nearly takes him alive. Tong Pass becomes a personal fight. The revenge for a father is moved forward and made the cause of the rising.
The five tiger generals are the novel’s roster. The histories have generals of the front, rear, left, and right. They do not have that club.
Reference: Wikipedia · Ma Chao