Han Meng 韓猛
| Occupation | RNGeneral | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R3 |
Profile
Han Meng was a general of Yuan Shao. He has no biography of his own in the Records; he appears once, in the account of Xun You in the Biographies of Xun Yu, Xun You and Jia Xu (Records of Wei 10), and his courtesy name, origins and age are not recorded. Records, Wei 10 §59
In the 5th year of Jian'an (200), when Cao Cao was facing Yuan Shao at Guandu and his provisions were running out, Xun You proposed attacking Han Meng, who was in charge of Yuan Shao's supply wagons, saying that he was keen but took the enemy lightly. Xu Huang and Shi Huan, sent by Cao Cao, intercepted him on the road, defeated him, put him to flight and burned his baggage. Records, Wei 10 §59Records, Wei 1 §58 · 68
Chen Shou did not mention him in his assessment in Records of Wei 10. In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 30, and no chapter has his name in its title. At Guandu he appears as one of the generals ranged to the left and right of Yuan Shao, and while escorting several thousand grain wagons he is attacked by Xu Huang and Shi Huan and flees. Records, Wei 10 §90–91Romance, Ch. 30 §5 · 17–18
In the Records
In the 5th year of Jian'an (200), withdrawing from Baima, Cao Cao used his baggage train as bait and beheaded Yuan Shao's cavalry commander Wen Chou, and then faced Yuan Shao in a standoff at Guandu. When his provisions were just about to run out, Xun You told Cao Cao that Yuan Shao's supply wagons would arrive any day, and that their commander Han Meng was keen but took the enemy lightly, so he could be defeated if attacked. When Cao Cao asked whom he should send, Xun You answered that Xu Huang would do. Cao Cao therefore sent Xu Huang and Shi Huan to intercept him on the road, and the two defeated Han Meng, put him to flight and burned his baggage. Then Xu You came over and surrendered. Records, Wei 1 §58Records, Wei 10 §58–59
The Annals of Emperor Wu also record that when several thousand of Yuan Shao's grain wagons arrived, Cao Cao used Xun You's plan and sent Xu Huang and Shi Huan to intercept and attack them, inflicting a great defeat and burning all the wagons, but they do not name the commander in charge of the wagons. The Biography of Xu Huang records that Xu Huang, together with Shi Huan, attacked Yuan Shao's supply wagons at Gushi and won the greatest merit, for which he was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village. Records, Wei 1 §68Records, Wei 17 §58
In Chen Shou's main text, this passage in the Biography of Xun You is the only place where Han Meng's name appears, and what became of him afterward is not recorded. In his assessment in Records of Wei 10, Chen Shou discussed only Xun Yu, Xun You and Jia Xu, and did not mention Han Meng. Records, Wei 10 §59 · 90–91
In the Romance
In Chapter 30 of the Romance, when Yuan Shao's army, having come out to Guandu, and Cao Cao's army draw up their battle lines, Zhang He, Gao Lan, Han Meng, Chunyu Qiong and other generals are ranged to the left and right of Yuan Shao, who stands before his lines in a golden helmet and golden armor. Romance, Ch. 30 §5
After Yuan Shao's army has fallen back some thirty li, Shi Huan, Xu Huang's lieutenant, captures a spy from Yuan Shao's army. The spy confesses that the great general Han Meng will soon be bringing provisions and that they have come ahead to scout the road. Xun You, saying that Han Meng has only the courage of a common fellow, proposes attacking him halfway with several thousand light cavalry to cut off the provisions, and recommends Xu Huang. Cao Cao sends Xu Huang and Shi Huan out first, and then has Zhang Liao and Xu Chu lead troops after them in support. Romance, Ch. 30 §16–17
That night, while escorting several thousand grain wagons to Yuan Shao's camp, Han Meng has his way blocked by Xu Huang and Shi Huan, who emerge from a mountain valley. Han Meng gallops out and fights Xu Huang, but when Shi Huan attacks and scatters the laborers and sets fire to the grain wagons, he cannot hold out, turns his horse and flees. Xu Huang burns all the baggage, and Zhang He and Gao Lan, whom Yuan Shao sends in haste, are attacked from both sides when the troops of Zhang Liao and Xu Chu arrive as well, and are scattered. Romance, Ch. 30 §17–19
When Han Meng returns to camp with his defeated troops, Yuan Shao is enraged and wants to behead him, but the officials intercede and he is spared. Shen Pei says that Wuchao is where the provisions are stored and must be guarded by a large force, and Yuan Shao has his senior commander Chunyu Qiong guard Wuchao. Han Meng does not appear after this chapter. Romance, Ch. 30 §20
Where the Romance differs
How the transport was discovered: In Chapter 30 of the Romance, a spy captured by Shi Huan confesses that the great general Han Meng is bringing provisions. In the Biography of Xun You in the Records, Xun You proposed attacking Han Meng, saying that Yuan Shao's supply wagons would soon arrive, and there is no story of a spy. Romance, Ch. 30 §16Records, Wei 10 §59
Xun You's judgment: In Chapter 30 of the Romance, Xun You says that Han Meng has only the courage of a common fellow. In the Biography of Xun You in the Records, Xun You said that Han Meng was keen but took the enemy lightly. Romance, Ch. 30 §16Records, Wei 10 §59
The troops who fought: In Chapter 30 of the Romance, Zhang Liao and Xu Chu follow behind Xu Huang and Shi Huan, and together they attack and scatter Zhang He and Gao Lan, sent by Yuan Shao. The Biography of Xun You and the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records say only that Xu Huang and Shi Huan were sent and defeated him, and neither Zhang Liao and Xu Chu nor Zhang He and Gao Lan appear in this battle. Romance, Ch. 30 §17–19Records, Wei 10 §59Records, Wei 1 §68
After the defeat: In Chapter 30 of the Romance, Yuan Shao is about to behead Han Meng on his return but desists when the officials intercede. The Records stop at saying that Han Meng was defeated and put to flight, and do not record what happened afterward. Romance, Ch. 30 §20Records, Wei 10 §59
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
- LEA3532−3
- STR6255−7
- INT3028−2
- POL3333±0
- CHA3835−3
- VIR4545±0
- ADP3835−3
- SCH3131±0
- DIP3131±0
- DIS3333±0
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
No ability differs by 10 or more — the Romance portrays this person much as the Records do.
10 similar abilities — show evidence
RWhile escorting the supply train, was intercepted by Xu Huang and Shi Huan and put to flightWei 10 §59
NEscorted several thousand grain wagons, all of which were burned, and fled in defeatCh. 30 §18Ch. 30 §20
RXun You judged him keenWei 10 §59
NFought Xu Huang but could not hold out; Xun You called it the courage of a common fellowCh. 30 §17Ch. 30 §18
RXun You judged that he took the enemy lightlyWei 10 §59
NXun You judged that he had only the courage of a common fellowCh. 30 §16
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's transport commanderWei 10 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's generalCh. 30 §16
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's transport commanderWei 10 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's generalCh. 30 §16
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's transport commanderWei 10 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's generalCh. 30 §16
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's transport commanderWei 10 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's generalCh. 30 §16
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's transport commanderWei 10 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's generalCh. 30 §16
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's transport commanderWei 10 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's generalCh. 30 §16
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's transport commanderWei 10 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as Yuan Shao's generalCh. 30 §16
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
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