Comprehensive Biography of Meng Jian
Meng Jian, styled Gongwei (孟建字公威), was a civil official for Wei. He was a travelling colleague of Zhuge Liang at one time.
Ancestry
Meng Jian came from Runan Commandery.
Life
Meng Jian, along with Shan Tao, Xu Shu, and Zhuge Liang, travelled around China to study. Zhuge Liang told them,
"Gentlemen, when you serve in posts, you shall be commandery administrators or inspectors."
When Meng Jian and the others asked Liang what his life purpose was, Zhuge Liang merely laughed and said nothing.[1]
After travelling for a while, Meng Jian grew to miss his hometown and wanted to return north, only for Zhuge Liang to tell him,
"China has many talented grandees! You are traveling to study, why must you go back to your hometown?"
Meng Jian probably dismissed Zhuge Liang's advice and went up north, because he was soon recorded serving Wei.[1]
Wei
In 223, when the incumbent Inspector of Liang Province; Wen Hui died, Meng Jian succeeded him. He was known for governing it well and later became the General who Conquers the East.[2] Later, in 231, when Zhuge Liang was attacking Wei, he replied to a message from Sima Yi and had Du Xi sent his regards to Meng Jian.[3]
References
[1] - 【亮在荊州，以建安初與潁川石廣元、徐元直、汝南孟公威等俱游學，三人務於精熟，而亮獨觀其大略。每晨夜從容，常抱膝長嘯，而謂三人曰：「卿諸人仕進可至郡守刺史也。」三人問其所志，亮但笑而不言。後公威思鄉里，欲北歸，亮謂之曰：「中國饒士大夫，遨游何必故鄉邪！」】《魏略》
[2] - 【恢卒後，汝南孟建為涼州刺史，有治名，官至征東將軍。】《三國志注•卷十五》
[3] - 【建字公威，少與諸葛亮俱遊學。亮後出祁山，荅司馬宣王書，使杜子緒宣意於公威也。】《魏略》