1. Deng Zhi, courtesy name Bomiao, was a government official, diplomat and military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
24 Facts About Deng Zhi
1. 3.
Deng Zhi was born in the late Eastern Han dynasty in Xinye County, Yiyang Commandery, which is present-day Xinye County, Henan.
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Deng Zhi was a descendant of Deng Yu, a general who served under Emperor Guangwu in the early Eastern Han dynasty.
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Towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Deng Zhi migrated to Yi Province, where he did not receive as much recognition from the locals as he expected.
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Deng Zhi then decided to consult Zhang Yu, a low-ranking official in Yi Province who was a famous fortune teller.
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Deng Zhi later heard that Pang Xi, the Administrator of Baxi Commandery, had a reputation for hosting retainers, so he travelled there and became one of Pang Xi's retainers.
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In 214, after the warlord Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province from the provincial governor Liu Zhang, Deng Zhi was appointed as a low-level officer in charge of the granary in Pi County.
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One day, when Liu Bei visited Pi County, he spoke to Deng Zhi and discovered his talent.
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Around this time, due to his good performance in office, Deng Zhi was reassigned from Guanghan Commandery to the Shu capital, Chengdu, to serve as a Master of Writing in the imperial secretariat.
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Deng Zhi would negotiate for the return of Zhang Yi who had been captured in a revolt by the locals in Nanzhong led by Yong Kai and sent to Wu.
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Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi lost to Cao Zhen at the battle in Ji Valley because Zhuge Liang had given them command of the weaker soldiers while he led the better troops to attack Mount Qi.
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Nevertheless, Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi managed to rally their men into putting up a firm defence as they retreated, thus minimising their losses.
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Deng Zhi was appointed as the nominal Inspector of Yan Province as Yan Province was not Shu territory.
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Deng Zhi's fame was compared to other border commanders Wang Ping and Ma Zhong.
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When he was at Jiangzhou, Deng Zhi had several exchanges with the Wu emperor Sun Quan, who sent him expensive gifts on numerous occasions.
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In 243, Deng Zhi was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and granted acting imperial authority.
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Deng Zhi was buried in a location about five li southwest of present-day Zitong County, Sichuan.
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The Chronicles of Huayang recorded that when Deng Zhi led Shu imperial forces to suppress the rebellion in Fuling in 248, he encountered a black ape in the hills.
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Deng Zhi fired a crossbow bolt at them and hit the female ape.
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Deng Zhi served as an official in the selection bureau of the imperial secretariat during the Jingyao era of Liu Shan's reign and was one of the officers sent to surrender to Deng Ai.
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Deng Zhi led a frugal and simple life as he relied solely on his official salary and government-issued items for his basic needs.
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Deng Zhi was known for being firm and candid, and direct when he expressed his thoughts and feelings.
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Deng Zhi is a minor character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period of China.