Meng Kang is from Zhendingzhou, Shanxi. He is an excellent ship builder, and the government once ordered him to build a ship to transport goods. Meng was annoyed with his supervisor's constant urging, and he was punished for not meeting the deadline on time. In a fit of anger, Meng kills the supervisor and afterwards became a bandit on the Yinma River along with Deng Fei and Pei Xuan. Meng Kang was tall and had a pale complexion, thus earning him the nickname 'Jade flagpole' (玉幡竿).
