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Biography & Literary Record
Mangyachang (忙牙长, Mang Nha Trường) is a fictional Nanman assault general under King Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch) in Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Chapters 87–88). The novel paints him as a large warrior on a dun pony with a huge headsman’s blade—Meng Huo’s champion when the royal host first faces Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) after the Three Ravines marshals fall. He has no secure entry in Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; treat every office, duel, and death date as literary.
Chapter 87: After Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) kills Jinhuan Sanjie (金环三结, Kim Hoàn Tam Kết) and Shu bags Dong Tuna (董荼那, Đổng Trà Na) and Ahui Nan (阿会喃, A Hội Nam), Meng Huo marches in person. Mangyachang rides out against Wang Ping (王平, Vương Bình). After a short clash Wang Ping feigns flight; the Nanman pursuit is drawn into Zhuge Liang’s trap with Guan Suo (关索, Quan Sách), Zhang Ni (张嶷, Trương Nghi), and Zhang Yi (张翼, Trương Dực) closing in. Meng Huo is captured that day; Mangyachang survives the rout as a named champion of the opening battle.
Chapter 88: After Meng Huo’s release, Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đại) crosses the Lu River by raft, seizes the grain road at Jiashan Gorge (夹山峪), and flies the banner “General Who Pacifies the North.” Meng Huo sends Mangyachang with three thousand troops to reopen the gorge. Ma Dai arrays two thousand before the hills; Mangyachang rides out and is cut down at the first stroke of Ma Dai’s sword. The Nanman column breaks—clearing Ma Dai’s grip on the supply valley and feeding the next phase of Meng Huo’s captures.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Mangyachang embodies Nanman shock courage without Zhuge Liang’s discipline: first as the champion who opens the royal battle against Wang Ping, then as the officer whose instant death at Jiashan proves Ma Dai’s edge on the grain road. His arc is short but structurally important—linking the fall of the Three Ravines to Meng Huo’s second/third captures along the Lu River.
Mangyachang (忙牙长) — Literary Timeline
Champion vs Wang Ping
Rides out from Meng Huo’s host; duels Wang Ping, whose feigned retreat helps spring Zhuge Liang’s encirclement that captures the Nanman king.
Sent to reopen the grain road
Leads three thousand to retake the gorge Ma Dai has seized after the Lu River crossing.
Slain in one bout by Ma Dai
Falls at the first stroke of Ma Dai’s sword; Nanman troops flee and the gorge remains in Shu hands.
Mangyachang is novel-only; the historical 225 Nanzhong campaign does not preserve this personal name.
Key Relationships
Family
- No securely attested family in the novel. Some later secondary/game traditions allege a link to Zhurong (祝融夫人, Chúc Dung)—treat as unverified folklore, not ROTK text.
Friends
- Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch) — Nanman king who fields him as champion (Ch.87) and as Jiashan relief commander (Ch.88).
- Meng You (孟优, Mạnh Ưu) — Meng Huo’s brother; fellow Nanman leader in the same southern war.
- Jinhuan Sanjie (金环三结, Kim Hoàn Tam Kết) / Dong Tuna (董荼那, Đổng Trà Na) / Ahui Nan (阿会喃, A Hội Nam) — Three Ravines marshals whose defeat precedes Mangyachang’s royal-array appearance.
Enemies
- Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đại) — Kills him in one bout at Jiashan Gorge (Ch.88).
- Wang Ping (王平, Vương Bình) — Duel opponent whose feigned flight opens the Ch.87 trap.
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) — Architect of the southern campaign traps that destroy Nanman vanguards.
- Guan Suo (关索, Quan Sách) / Zhang Ni (张嶷, Trương Nghi) / Zhang Yi (张翼, Trương Dực) — Officers in the Ch.87 encirclement after the Wang Ping lure.
Other
- Zhurong (祝融夫人, Chúc Dung) — Meng Huo’s consort in the novel; no ROTK passage names Mangyachang as her brother.
- Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên) / Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) — Shu strike generals of the same southern chapters (Three Ravines night attack).
In Novel
Chapter 87
- Mangyachang (忙牙长, Mang Nha Trường): Large Nanman warrior on a dun pony with a huge headsman’s blade. After the Three Ravines marshals fall, he rides out from Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch)’s royal array as champion against Wang Ping (王平, Vương Bình). Wang Ping fights briefly then feigns retreat; the Nanman pursuit is drawn into Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng)’s trap with Guan Suo (关索, Quan Sách), Zhang Ni (张嶷, Trương Nghi), and Zhang Yi (张翼, Trương Dực). Meng Huo is captured that day; Mangyachang survives as the named blade who opened the royal battle.
Chapter 88
- Mangyachang (忙牙长, Mang Nha Trường): When Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đại) crosses the Lu River by raft, seizes the grain road at Jiashan Gorge (夹山峪), and flies the “General Who Pacifies the North” banner, Meng Huo sends Mangyachang with three thousand men to reopen the valley. Mangyachang rides out to duel and is slain at the first stroke of Ma Dai’s sword; the relief column flees and the gorge stays in Shu hands—clearing Ma Dai’s grip on supplies and feeding the next phase of Meng Huo’s captures.
In History
Summary
- Mangyachang (忙牙长, Mang Nha Trường) is a fictional Nanman assault general in Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Ch.87–88). The personal name does not appear as a documented officer in the principal Three Kingdoms histories.
- The year 225 AD is the conventional literary/historical frame for Zhuge Liang’s Nanzhong expedition—not a verified career date for Mangyachang himself.
Year: 225 AD (campaign frame only)
- Historical Nanzhong pacification under Zhuge Liang is attested in Shu notices; Meng Huo enters later tradition. No SGZ line assigns Mangyachang a command, a duel with Wang Ping, or death by Ma Dai at Jiashan Gorge.
Historical Record
- Records of the Three Kingdoms (Shu: Zhuge Liang and related southern notices) discuss the southern campaign and Meng Huo in tradition, but do not record Mangyachang.
- Keep all combat details in the novel column. Secondary/game claims that he was brother to Zhurong (祝融夫人) are not supported by the standard ROTK text or SGZ—treat as unverified folklore only.
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