Ma Wu lived in Jiangxia when he was young, because he avoided hostility. In the last years of Wang Mang, Jingling people and Xiyang people rose in the county boundary, and Ma Wu also participated in it. Later, he joined the outlaw hero and the Han army. Set out again, take Ma Wu as assistant minister, and follow Liu Xiu to find the king in the battle of Kunyang. Because Liu Xiu's prestige in Hebei is getting higher and higher, the emperor's father became suspicious of him, so the messenger Liu Xiu sealed Xiao Wang and ordered him to return to Chang 'an with his hero. Another minister sent Xie Gongling six generals to attack Wang Lang. Ma Wu worshipped Wei Zhen as a general and joined forces with Xie Gong to attack Wang Lang.
However, after Liu Xiuxian conquered Handan, he invited Xie Gong and Ma Wu to hold a grand reception, trying to kill Xie Gong without success. After the reception, Liu Xiudu and Ma Wu boarded the rostrum and calmly said to Ma Wu, "I have got the commandos from Yuyang and Shanggu, and I want you to be the commander in chief." How's it going? "Ma Wu said," I am timid and have no strategy. Liu Xiu said: "This general has been a general for a long time and has a deep study of military affairs. Is this the same as my history? " Ma Wu this just turned my heart to Liu Xiu. After Xie was killed by haing s ngor, Ma Wu learned the news. Instead of throwing haing s ngor around, he rode a fast horse, hit a dog and arrived at his destination.
Liu Xiu was glad to meet him and showed him around. Every time he comforts the leaders at the banquet, Ma Wu often stands up to consider the former, and Liu Xiu is very happy. Ma Wu led the troops back to North Korea. Ma Wu kowtowed and refused to say that he would only go with Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu praised his intention even more, because Ma Wu followed the thief. Among the 28 generals in Yuntai, Ma Wu was the last to surrender to Guangwu.