Meng You

Historical Record

Concerning this man Meng You, there is no clear record in the official history Records of the Three Kingdoms or in Pei Songzhi's annotations. In the historical sources, the brothers or relatives of Meng Huo are not mentioned as taking part in the events of Shu Han's southern campaign. Therefore, the figure of Meng You is entirely a product of literary creation, and falls outside the scope of what can be verified from historical biographical materials.

In the Novel

In the narrative of Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Meng You is the younger brother of the southern barbarian chieftain Meng Huo, and plays an important role during Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign. He first appears in Chapter 88, when Meng Huo, after being released by Zhuge Liang, consults with Meng You on how to deal with the Shu army^[1]. Meng Huo made use of Meng You's identity, devising a scheme to have Meng You feign surrender to Zhuge Liang and present gold, pearls, and treasures, while in fact spying out the military situation, intending to launch a surprise attack when the Shu army relaxed. Following his elder brother's plan, Meng You went to the Shu camp with more than a hundred "men with green eyes and black faces, yellow hair and purple whiskers, gold rings in their ears, tousled hair and bare feet, tall and strong," falsely claiming that Meng Huo, grateful for the Chancellor sparing his life, had gone to Silver Pit Mountain to gather treasures^[2]. However, Zhuge Liang saw through Meng You's scheme and met it with a counter-scheme, setting out a banquet to entertain Meng You and his followers and deliberately getting them drunk, so that Meng You could not complete his spying mission. The next day, when Meng You awoke, he found the Shu army had already withdrawn, leaving only an empty camp and baggage; this caused Meng Huo to misjudge the situation, thinking Zhuge Liang had retreated because of an emergency at home, so he rashly gave chase and was once again captured^[3].

After Meng Huo was captured, Meng You once regrouped the remaining troops, intending to avenge his brother. When he met Meng Huo, the two brothers embraced and wept bitterly, and Meng You advised Meng Huo to withdraw to the Tulong Cave and seek the help of King Duosi, so as to avoid the Shu army's edge and wait for the summer heat to drive the Shu army back^[4]. This shows that Meng You was relatively cautious in military strategy, inclined to use geographical advantage and natural conditions to oppose the Shu army. Although Meng You took part in Meng Huo's schemes many times in the novel, he was never able to help Meng Huo escape the fate of capture. In the end, after Zhuge Liang's "seven captures and seven releases" of Meng Huo, Meng You, together with Meng Huo, Lady Zhurong, and other kinsmen, bared their flesh and apologized to Zhuge Liang, vowing never to rebel again^[5]. Meng You's image in the novel is that of a faithful follower and adviser to Meng Huo; though his wit fell short of Zhuge Liang's, he was loyal and devoted to his elder brother, reflecting the kinship and unity within the southern barbarian tribes.

Key Relationships

* Meng Huo (sibling_of): Meng You was Meng Huo's younger brother. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he always followed Meng Huo, devising plans for him and taking part in many actions against Shu Han. Facing Zhuge Liang, the two brothers displayed deep fraternal affection, advancing and retreating together^[1].

Signature Scenes

* Feigning surrender to spy out the military situation (novel only): At Meng Huo's order, Meng You carried gold, pearls, and treasures to the Shu camp, feigning surrender to Zhuge Liang while in fact spying out the military situation. This scene displays Meng You's role as the executor in Meng Huo's schemes, and also highlights Zhuge Liang's ability to see through them^[2].
* Consulting with Meng Huo to withdraw to Tulong Cave (novel only): After Meng Huo's repeated defeats, Meng You advised Meng Huo to withdraw to Tulong Cave, using terrain and the summer heat to oppose the Shu army. This scene reflects Meng You's consideration of military strategy, as well as his loyalty and support for his elder brother^[4].
* Baring his flesh in apology together with Meng Huo (novel only): After Zhuge Liang's seven captures and seven releases of Meng Huo, Meng You, together with Meng Huo, Lady Zhurong, and others, bared his flesh and apologized to Zhuge Liang, vowing never to rebel again. This scene marks the pacification of the southern barbarian rebellion, and displays Meng You's final and complete submission to Zhuge Liang's wisdom^[5].