Deng Zhi Deng Zhi ( died 251 ) , 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 ! " 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 . " 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 .