Meng Da
Encyclopedia
Meng Da was a military general who served under Liu Zhang
, Liu Bei
, Cao Pi
, and Cao Rui
during the late Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
.
and Fa Zheng
, who also sought to hand Yi Province to a more capable ruler, Meng Da pledged his allegiance to Liu Bei
when the latter invaded the province
.
When Liu was invited to Shu by Liu Zhang, who was the Governor of Yi Province at the time, Meng Da and Fa Zheng were dispatched with 2,000 soldiers each to act as an escort. Liu Bei ordered Meng Da to lead these troops back to Jiangling. Upon the pacification of Shu, he was given a post as Governor of a capital city.
leading reinforcements from Mianshui to join him. Shen Dan, governor of Shangyong, surrendered.
Later in the same year, Guan Yu
besieged the cities of Fan and Xiangyang of Cao Wei
. A request for additional military aid was sent to Liu Feng and Meng Da in Yishan county for the aggression. They refused the request on the basis their jurisdiction was newly acquired and unstable, hence they lacked the troops to be sent.
, suggested his master to get rid of Liu Feng. Hence, Liu Feng was executed on charges of failing to assist Guan Yu and stop Meng from defecting.
When a southerner from Shu Han traveled north and met Meng, the later asked the former what happened to his family back in Shu, and the former told Meng that Zhuge Liang persuaded Liu Bei to execute them, but Liu refused and Meng's family was safe. Meng replied that Zhuge had priority on what came first and later, so he should not hurry on getting rid of his clan. When Zhuge knew about Meng's saying, he started to contact the latter, despite objection from Fei Shi
.
launched a campaign against Cao Wei. Meng Da, who had been treated kindly by the late emperor Cao Pi
but was less favorably received by Cao Rui
, was persuaded to return to the service of Shu Han, and moreover assist in the campaign by striking at Luoyang
. However, Meng's failure to take necessary precautions and the betrayal of Shen Dan, Shen Yi and Zhuge Liang led to his eventual defeat and death at the hands of Sima Yi
.
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
, Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
, and Cao Rui
Cao Rui
Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Takeover of Yi Province
Like fellow conspirators Zhang SongZhang Song
Zhang Song was an advisor to the warlord Liu Zhang during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He plotted to remove his lord from power and replace him with Liu Bei.-Biography:...
and Fa Zheng
Fa Zheng
Fa Zheng , style name Xiaozhi , was an advisor to the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history....
, who also sought to hand Yi Province to a more capable ruler, Meng Da pledged his allegiance to Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
when the latter invaded the province
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province was a military campaign by the warlord Liu Bei in taking control of Yi Province from its Governor, Liu Zhang. The campaign took place between 212 and 215 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
.
When Liu was invited to Shu by Liu Zhang, who was the Governor of Yi Province at the time, Meng Da and Fa Zheng were dispatched with 2,000 soldiers each to act as an escort. Liu Bei ordered Meng Da to lead these troops back to Jiangling. Upon the pacification of Shu, he was given a post as Governor of a capital city.
Takeover of Hanzhong
In 219, Meng was sent north to capture the city of Fangling. Kuai Qi, Governor of Fangling, was defeated and killed. He then advanced to take the city of Shangyong, with Liu FengLiu Feng
Liu Feng was an adopted son of the warlord Liu Bei, and served as a general in Liu Bei's army during the late Han Dynasty of China.-Early life:...
leading reinforcements from Mianshui to join him. Shen Dan, governor of Shangyong, surrendered.
Later in the same year, Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
besieged the cities of Fan and Xiangyang of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
. A request for additional military aid was sent to Liu Feng and Meng Da in Yishan county for the aggression. They refused the request on the basis their jurisdiction was newly acquired and unstable, hence they lacked the troops to be sent.
Service under Cao Pi
When Guan Yu was ultimately defeated and Liu Bei heard of his death, he began to hate Liu Feng and Meng. At this point in time, the two men had also had a dispute. Meng, fearing punishment and bearing hatred against Liu Feng, defected to the Kingdom of Wei along with his subordinates (amongst them the former Wei officer, Shen Dan). Afterwards, he wrote a letter to Liu Feng, informing the latter that he was in grave danger, because someone close to Liu Bei had spoken evil of him, and urged Liu Feng to surrender to Wei. However, his advise was not heeded, and Liu returned to Chengdu, where Liu Bei's trusted aide, Zhuge LiangZhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
, suggested his master to get rid of Liu Feng. Hence, Liu Feng was executed on charges of failing to assist Guan Yu and stop Meng from defecting.
When a southerner from Shu Han traveled north and met Meng, the later asked the former what happened to his family back in Shu, and the former told Meng that Zhuge Liang persuaded Liu Bei to execute them, but Liu refused and Meng's family was safe. Meng replied that Zhuge had priority on what came first and later, so he should not hurry on getting rid of his clan. When Zhuge knew about Meng's saying, he started to contact the latter, despite objection from Fei Shi
Fei Shi
Fei Shi, style name Gongju , was a minister of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Fei originally served Liu Zhang as the Prefect of Jinzhu , but surrendered to Liu Bei after Liu Bei took control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang.One of Fei Shi's tasks was to travel to Jing...
.
Death
In 228, Zhuge LiangZhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
launched a campaign against Cao Wei. Meng Da, who had been treated kindly by the late emperor Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
but was less favorably received by Cao Rui
Cao Rui
Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...
, was persuaded to return to the service of Shu Han, and moreover assist in the campaign by striking at Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
. However, Meng's failure to take necessary precautions and the betrayal of Shen Dan, Shen Yi and Zhuge Liang led to his eventual defeat and death at the hands of Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...
.
Appointments and titles held
- Administrator of Yidu (宜都太守)
- Appointments and titles held by Meng Da after he defected to Wei
- Attendant of Scattered Cavalry (散騎常侍)
- General Who Builds Martial Might (建武將軍)
- Marquis of Pingyang (平陽亭侯)
- Administrator of Xincheng (新城太守)