Meng Tan 孟坦

In Chapter 27 of the Romance, Lord Guan, escorting his two sisters-in-law in their carriage, sets off for Luoyang in search of his elder brother in Hebei. At Dongling Pass he cuts down in a single bout Kong Xiu, who demands that he leave his family behind as hostages if he has no travel permit from the Chancellor, and comes out of the pass escorting the carriage of the two ladies, heading for Luoyang. A soldier has already informed Han Fu (韓福), Administrator of Luoyang, and Han Fu hastily gathers his generals to deliberate. Romance, Ch. 27 §17–21

The junior general Meng Tan says that without the Chancellor's travel permit Lord Guan is travelling in secret, and that if they do not stop him they will surely be punished. When Han Fu says that Lord Guan is so valiant that even Yan Liang and Wen Chou were killed by him, so they cannot oppose him by force but must capture him by a stratagem, Meng Tan steps forward, saying he has a plan. They will first block the entrance of the pass with abatis, and when Lord Guan comes, he will lead out troops to engage him, feign defeat and lure him into pursuit; Han Fu will then shoot him with a hidden arrow, and if Lord Guan falls from his horse they will capture him at once and send him under escort to Xudu. Meng Tan says that they will then surely receive a great reward. Romance, Ch. 27 §21–22

As soon as they have finished deliberating, word comes that Lord Guan's carriage has already arrived, and Han Fu, his bow drawn and an arrow fitted, lines up a thousand men and horses at the entrance of the pass. Han Fu says that he guards this place by the Chancellor's order and examines spies coming and going, so that if Lord Guan has no permit he is a fugitive, and Lord Guan angrily replies that Kong Xiu of Dongling Pass has already died at his hands, and asks whether Han Fu too wishes to die. When Han Fu asks who will capture him, Meng Tan rides out wielding two swords and charges at Lord Guan. Romance, Ch. 27 §22–24

When Lord Guan sends the carriage back and spurs his horse to meet him, Meng Tan turns his horse and flees before fighting three bouts. The Romance states that Meng Tan thought only of luring Lord Guan out and never imagined that Lord Guan's horse would be so swift. Lord Guan has already caught up with him and cuts Meng Tan in two with a single stroke; as he reins in his horse and comes back, he is hit in the left arm by an arrow shot by Han Fu, who had hidden himself at the gateway, but he charges straight at Han Fu and cuts him down too. The chapter closes with the line "Six generals barred the passes and died in vain". Romance, Ch. 27 §24–25 · 51