Meng Ao

Meng Ao (蒙骜, ? – 240 BC) was a general of the Chinese Warring States period Qin state (秦).

He held office from the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin. Afterward, over the reigns of King Zhuangxiang of Qin and Qin Shi Huang, he fought against the Han state (韓), the Zhao state (趙), and the Wei state (魏), and gained fame as a renowned general. In the Zhanguoce, he appears under the name Meng Ao (蒙傲). He was the father of Meng Wu and the grandfather of the brothers Meng Tian and Meng Yi.

Life

Reign of King Zhaoxiang

Meng Ao was a descendant of a man from the Qi state (齊) and held office from the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin.¹

One day, Fan Sui (范睢), the prime minister of Qin who was a close aide of King Zhaoxiang, lost the Runan (汝南) territory, his fief, to an attack by the Han state. When King Zhaoxiang summoned Fan Sui and asked about the matter, Fan Sui pretended to be composed, saying there was no need to worry even though he had lost his fief. However, King Zhaoxiang suspected that Fan Sui was lying and discussed the matter with Meng Ao. Meng Ao requested to personally investigate Fan Sui's true intentions.²

Meng Ao visited Fan Sui and, in his presence, said, "This Meng Ao merely wishes to die." When Fan Sui asked what had happened, Meng Ao said, "It is well known throughout the world that the King of Qin has taken you as his teacher. Now I have risen to prominence in Qin, become the king's general, and commanded armies, and yet the Han state has despised me and instead seized your fief. How could I survive? I simply wish to die." Upon hearing this, Fan Sui bowed to Meng Ao and said, "I entrust this matter to you (the recovery of the lost Runan territory)." When Meng Ao returned and reported this, King Zhaoxiang realized that Fan Sui still clung to the Runan territory, and thereafter he no longer listened to Fan Sui's opinions when discussing matters concerning Han.