Lu Meng | Wu

Name: Lu Meng

Age: 35 (Born 178)

Appearance: Lu Meng stands at 5’11”, with a strong build and defined muscles. He has rugged, handsome features, neat stubble, and brown wavy hair reaching his chin. He can usually be seen clad in his red and gold armor with mixed pieces of strategists’ robes. He favors scarves when it’s cold outside, and occasionally ties his hair up for training. Despite the nickname of "old man" he appears to be any other man in his mid thirties.

Personality: Honest and perceptive, Lu Meng is a man who believes in steadfastness. While he speaks with a gruff tone, he is a calm and flexible leader with universal capabilities. Praised for his determination and cunning, he tries to impart his wisdom to several of Wu's younger retainers, as he finds them to be the hope for their kingdom should he fall. He particularly sees talent in Lu Xun and respects the younger man's intellect. He is sensitive about his age and isn't too flattered with Gan Ning calling him “old man”, despite Gan Ning actually being the older one, and Lu Meng still being rather young. Lu Meng tends to look out for Ling Tong, encouraging him to resolve his personal issues with Gan Ning. Despite this, Lu Meng isn’t actually fond of Gan Ning, finding his murderous and violent ways deplorable, but he maintains politeness due to Gan Ning’s valor in battle. Lu Meng is a little embarrassed about his past as a rowdy general with no knowledge of warfare, and in his younger days, he was not competent in reading and writing. Whenever he issued orders, he had to verbally instruct his subordinates or ask someone to help him write. Thus, he strongly encourages those around him to study as he did. Lu Meng's weapon of choice is a ji, or a pike-- he's a fierce warrior, though doesn't like to brag.

Background: Lü Meng, born in Fupo County, moved south with his family as a child. As a teenager, he secretly followed his brother-in-law, Deng Dang, into battle. Despite reprimands from Deng Dang and his mother, he insisted on becoming a warrior. Later, after killing an official in a fit of anger, he sought refuge before surrendering to Sun Ce’s officer Yuan Xiong, who successfully pleaded for his pardon. Impressed by Lü Meng, Sun Ce appointed him as an aide.

Following Deng Dang’s death, Lü Meng was recommended to succeed him. When Sun Quan took over in 200, Lü Meng impressed him with well-equipped troops, earning a larger command. In 208, he played a key role in defeating Huang Zu and later participated in the Battle of Red Cliffs. When Zhou Yu suggested Lü Meng take command of a defecting officer’s troops, Lü Meng refused out of respect, earning Sun Quan’s approval.

During the siege of Nan Commandery, Lü Meng devised strategies to aid Gan Ning and weaken Cao Ren’s forces, leading to Sun Quan’s victory and the capture of central Jing Province. Encouraged by Sun Quan, Lü Meng dedicated himself to studying scholarly works, eventually surpassing some Confucian scholars. In 210, he befriended Lü Su, who had once dismissed him due to his lack of education.