Sikong Ma 司空馬 served King Youmiu of Zhao 趙幽繆王 (r. 235-228) as counsellor-in-chief. When Qin 秦 defeated Zhao, Sikong Ma suggested to the king to cede a large part of his territory to Qin, in order to appease the stronger. Yet the king did not accept his proposal, Sikong Ma asked to leave his post, and half a year later, Qin conquered Zhao and destroyed it.