Meng Sanjie, the Meng King

Meng Sanjie was born to his father, Meng Bu, the previous king of Meng. During his time, the Meng ruled over the other three tribes, the Riu, Nibai, and Hong. But, in a war against the Riu tribes against its king, Riu Lie, Meng Bu was slain at the Battle of Huigai Cliffs and the Meng forced to release their hold on the tribes. The Meng had been forced back to their home village at Tongshu in the days Meng Sanjie took over his father's title, and he was not pleased.   Hobgoblins had an innate drive toward stubborness, and Sanjie was no different. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't think about restoring what his father had once had. But, despite his fiery motivation, he was brash and reckless in his administration, his most iconic story coming when he tried to have his own palace deconstructed to use in the forging of weapons and armor for war.   a monstrous rage. He wanted his lineage back and wasn't willing to just let it be thrown away.   He returned to Tongshu on many occasions, challenging Rongwu who had assumed the throne. But each time, she denied, saying she would only face Sanjie when he was as strong as she wanted him to be. When he asked her sincerity, he trusted Rongwu when she swore before the Altar of Meng Nan.   So, Sanjie set out to become stronger.  

Xiangtong

Meng sparred with himself against trees and other animals within the jungle for days. Even with just his hands, there was no animal that could best him. One day he thought to himself, "I must find the biggest and strongest beast and tame it. Then, I may ride in on it and let it add to my power."   As a kid, Sanjie knew of a mythical tale of a large tusked beast that dwelt deep within the Mentubi Jungle. Its skin was dark as bronze, tusks sharp as a spear, and as strong as a mountain. Its name was thus, Xiangtong, and Sanjie set out to find the beast, tracking it down after five weeks passed.   Sanjie's fight with the beast was fierce, but the fight was cut short when Xiangtong suddenly raced back to its young as a Chilong devoured them.   Xiangtong and the Chilong fought, and the demon beast would have devoured the elephant too, but lo! a sudden blow from Sanjie struck the creature and forced it back. Sanjie saw what happened and, taking pity on Xiangtong, had raced to its aid. Together, the two slew the Chilong.   Afterward, Xiangtong bonded with Sanjie, and he rode upon the Bronze Elephant's back wherever he went.  

The Blade of Jing

Sanjie wandered with Xiangtong for a few days through the jungle, thinking of what to do next. One day he thought to himself, "I must retrieve for myself a weapon of unparalleled design. Then, I may wield it and let it add to my power."   He thought back to the story of his father's death at Huigai Cliffs. In that frontier region, those who died were left untouched and never approached for fear of a curse. Even Sanjie's father's burial, though ceremonial, had never used the real body, which had remained at the cliffs all those years. Sanjie was confident his father's prized blade, the Blade of Jing, was still by his side. So, he set out upon Xiangtong out southwest. He arrived at the Huigai Cliffs after five days.   The decomposing and skeletal remains of those from many past generations still dotted the region. Sanjie found his father's body piled atop a mountain of corpses, the rich blade still in his hands. Sanjie paid his respects to his late father, but when he reached to take the blade, suddenly the field around him came to life and spirits rose all around him. The sky turned to a dark ichor and Xiangtong was nowhere to be found.   In front of Sanjie, he saw the spirit of his father, Meng Bu, Blade of Jing in hand. "You, son," the spirit said, "who wish to carry on the legacy of my sword. Only if you can equal my skill may it ever be, lest you unruefully disturb the deceased, and thus join in it."   Sanjie fought many bouts and exchanged countless blows against Bu's spirit, faltering at every opportunity out of fear of attacking him. Finally, a blow to the head, and Sanjie was brought to his knees, the Blade of Jing's point inches from his face. Sanjie could do nothing but yield and willingly express his defeat.   At once, the horizon around him returned to normal and the spirits faded, and Xiangtong was right behind him. Sanjie looked in amazement, wondering what had occurred. Then, Bu's voice spoke. "The Blade of Jing, of conquering, is wielded not only by those who fight and win, but those who know when to stop fighting." Sanjie looked and saw the very blade resting on the ground. He hesitated to lift it as his fingers grasped the pommel.   He thereby constructed an altar honoring Meng Bu and all the other spirits trapped in this place.  

The Ring of Tiantang

Then, riding upon Xiangtong and with the Blade of Jing sheathed at his side, Sanjie began his journey back up north. But he doubted himself, saying, "Even with Xiangtong beneath me and Jing beside me, will it be enough to claim my place within Meng?"   awe. One of them, a brilliant sky blue, fell and crashed into the ground not a hill away from him! Ever curious, he moved with Xiangtong to examine what had happened.   Deep inside the small crater it had left, Sanjie saw an exquisite ring resting in its center, its blue gem alive with light and magic. Sanjie took hold of it, and its power filled him; he at once understood this was one of the Ten Imperial Rings, the Ring of Tiantang. "The Planes smile upon me today and grant its clairvoyance. The dynasty's end draws near and a new one approaches. The Meng King will I not be, but the Meng Emperor!"   Then, with renewed ambition, he rode upon Xiangtong, the Blade of Jing at his side, and the Ring of Tiantang on his finger back to Tongshu.  

Fighting Rongwu

Many cowered before Sanjie when he once again entered the streets of Tongshu. Those who saw Xiangtong first saw in him physical strength. Those who saw the Blade of Jing first saw in him great resolve. And those who saw the Ring of Tiantang first saw in him great authority.   Coming before the Altar of Meng Nan, Sanjie demanded Rongwu's presence. When she arrived, he told her, "I have spent months banished from here and slightly less fighting to earn my way back to the title once held by my father, Meng Bu. Now, with Xiangtong, my father's blade, and the Ring of Tiantang itself, do you see in me the strength you had hoped to find long ago when you swore before this altar."   "I do." Rongwu replied, and the two fought a great battle, Sanjie's strength mixed with Rongwu's pyromantic powers. In the end, Sanjie won out, and Rongwu, along with all of Meng, once again recognized Meng Sanjie as the King of Meng.