Wang Meng

Served Fu Jian in cleaning up the administration and conquered Former Yan, laying the foundation for Former Qin's unification of the north.

Life

Talking while picking lice

Wang Meng grew up poor and made a living selling dustpans, but he was learned and loved military treatises. When Huan Wen's Northern Expedition reached Guanzhong, Wang Meng went to see him in coarse cloth clothes and discussed the great affairs of the realm while picking lice, giving rise to the idiom "Talking while picking lice."

Served Fu Jian

He declined to follow Huan Wen south and was later summoned into service by Fu Jian. The two hit it off at once, and Fu Jian compared himself to Liu Bei meeting Zhuge Liang. Wang Meng enforced the law strictly, cracked down on powerful local magnates and cleaned up the administration, and Former Qin became well governed.

Deathbed advice

In 370 he led the conquest of Former Yan. Gravely ill in 375, on his deathbed he advised Fu Jian: although the Eastern Jin held only a corner of the realm, its ruler and ministers were in harmony and it should not be attacked; the Xianbei and Qiang were the real danger within. Fu Jian did not heed him, and eight years later was defeated at the Fei River.

Legacy

Wang Meng was hailed by later generations as "the one man whose merit surpassed Zhuge Liang's," and his deathbed advice unfortunately came true.

Major works & achievements

• Reformed Former Qin's administration
• Destroyed Former Yan

Did you know? Fu Jian said that finding Wang Meng was "like Xuande meeting Kongming."

Key dates

• 354Met Huan Wen while picking lice
• 357Served Fu Jian
• 370Led the conquest of Former Yan
• 375Died