Deng Zhi

Deng Zhi (died 251), courtesy name Bomiao, was an official of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.

Early career

Deng Zhi was a native of Xinye (新野; in present-day Nanyang, Henan), and went to Yi Province (益州; covering the Sichuan Basin) to avoid the turmoil of central China. He was not recognized in the area and was not even respected, so he became concerned with his prospect and asked the local fortune-teller, Zhang Yu (張裕), about his future. Zhang Yu told him that he would become the Grand General and a marquis, but only after 70 years old. Still, Deng Zhi could not gain a sense of security from Zhang Yu, and when he heard the Grand Administrator of Western Ba, Pang Xi, was fond of guests, he quickly joined the later and took shelter under him.^[1]

When the warlord Liu Bei invaded Yi Province, Pang Xi surrendered, and Deng Zhi was made a low-ranking official after Liu Bei took over the province. Once, Liu Bei passed by Picheng (郫城), where Deng Zhi held his post, and discovered the latter's talent after a conversation.^[2] Thus, Deng Zhi soon ascended to Grand Administrator of Guanghan, and worked hard on proving himself. As a result, Guanghan received good governance, and Deng Zhi was ordered to join the central politics in Shu's capital of Chengdu.

As an ambassador

When Liu Bei died soon after his catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Xiaoting, the regent, Zhuge Liang, was so worried that chief ally, Eastern Wu, would alter its diplomatic policy.^[3] At the time, the residents in the southern part of Shu openly severed ties with the regime and had Zhuge Liang's representative, Zhang Yi, bound and sent to Wu, so Zhuge Liang became more worried and did not know what to do. Deng Zhi walked up to Zhuge Liang and proposed, "his Highness, being newly ascended, is young and weak, we should send an envoy to Wu to renew our good relationship." Zhuge Liang responded, "then it'll be you to be the envoy!"^[4] Thus, Deng Zhi went east, but the Wu ruler Sun Quan deliberately refused to see him. It was after Deng Zhi personally presented a memorial to Sun Quan was he allowed a meeting. Sun Quan excused by saying the nature of Shu emperor, Liu Shan, made him hesitant and he was concerned that the smaller Shu might be taken advantage by its rival state of Cao Wei. Deng avoided to mention Liu Shan, but said, "your Majesty is a dynastic hero, but Zhuge Liang is also a hero of the time. Considering the geographic advantages of our states, if we could combine them and work together, then we can take all lands under heaven if we proceed; or remain our positions if we recede. On the contrary, if you send your son as a hostage to Wei, then you will be asked to go north also. When you refused, they will claim you as a rebel and attack your position, and Shu will also follow the flow to go downstream and take your land. Thus, the land of Jiangnan will no longer be yours."^[5] Sun Quan was thrown into deep thought by Deng Zhi's speech. After a long while of silence, Sun Quan finally decided on severing ties with Wei, and at the same time released the inmate Zhang Yi. Finished with his mission, Deng Zhi went back to Shu with Sun Quan's representative, Zhang Wen (張溫). When Zhang Wen needed to go back, Deng Zhi was again sent to Wu a second time, and Sun Quan remarked that "Deng Zhi was the only person who could harmonize the two countries"!

As a general

Later, when Zhuge Liang launched his Northern Expeditions to invade Wei, Deng Zhi was assigned as the Central-Commissioner to assist the veteran general, Zhao Yun. Together they marched along the Qi Valley and fought the Wei commander, Cao Zhen, but was defeated because they were only given weaker soldiers. Seven years later, Zhuge Liang died and Deng Zhi was promoted to Adviser-of-the-Front and General-of-the-Front, and as Zhang Yu foretold years earlier, Deng Zhi received the honorific title of a marquis. He was later assigned as an Area Commander for Jiangzhou region, bordering Eastern Wu. Sun Quan explicitly communicated with this old friend of his on numerous occasions, and Deng Zhi received plenty of gifts from Sun during his tenure.^[6]

In 248, Deng Zhi was made General of Chariots, a title only next to the Grand General in military ranking. Five years later, the residents of Fu County rose against Shu Han regime and Deng Zhi led his force to suppress them, and succeeded in chopping off the heads of the local leaders.

Appraisal and death

Deng Zhi had been a general for over 20 years, during his tenure, he treated his troops nicely. He acquired clothing and food from his office, but did not act in accord with the virtue of frugality. When Deng Zhi died, his family had no excess wealth.^[7] His son, Deng Liang, succeeded him and continued to serve Shu until its downfall.

Deng Zhi was obstinate and simple, also a boaster who would not act humbly, so he could not befriend the scholars. People at the time did not honor him, and Deng Zhi did not respect the others, except for Jiang Wei.^[8] A story from the biography of Jin Zhong says that when Deng Zhi visited the imperial court from Jiangzhou, he saw the old Jin Zhong was given military command, so he teased the latter by saying, "according to ritual, sixty-year-old people don't take part in the military, but you just accepted troops, why?" Jin Zhong rebuked Deng Zhi, "you, who aged over 70, still refuse to give back the troops, why couldn't I take command at the age of sixty?" Deng Zhi neglected his own age when he teased Jin Zhong, so the latter's reply greatly made a mock. Actually, Deng Zhi's arrogance in Shu was so well known that nearly everyone including his supervisor, the Grand General Fei Yi, avoided him, only Jin Zhong would not yield.^[9]

In fiction

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after the Battle of Xiaoting and the death of Liu Bei, Deng Zhi was sent by Zhuge Liang as an envoy to rebuild their former alliance with Sun Quan's forces. Sun Quan's advisor Zhang Zhao suggested to set up a large cauldron filled with boiling water outside the meeting hall. When Deng Zhi arrived, he did not pay the proper respects to Sun Quan, and Sun threatened to have him thrown into the cauldron. However, Deng Zhi succeeded in persuading Sun Quan to let him live and convinced Sun to form an alliance with the state of Shu Han.

Appointments and titles held

• Picheng Official Residence Cabinet Supervisor (郫城府邸閣督)
• Prefect of Pi (郫令)
• Administrator of Guanghan (廣漢太守)
• Imperial Secretary (尚書)
• Central Army Supervisor (中監軍)
• General Who Spreads Martial Might (揚武將軍)
• Military Advisor of the Vanguard (前軍師)
• General of the Vanguard (前將軍)
• Inspector of Yan Province (袞州刺史)
• Marquis of Yangwu (陽武亭侯)
• General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍)

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms

References

• Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
• Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
• Pei Songzhi. Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).