Deng AI

Deng AI

Deng AI (197-264, March 3) was born in Jiyang, Yiyang (now Xinye County, Henan Province). Wei Guojie was a military strategist during the Three Kingdoms period. Deng AI was a versatile man, well versed in the art of war, and made great achievements in internal affairs. His real name was Deng fan. Later, he changed his name because he had the same name as his fellow countryman. Deng AI had been on the western front of Cao Wei for many years to guard against Jiang Wei of Shu Han.

In 263 ad, he and Zhong Hui led the army to attack the Shu Han, and finally he took the lead in Chengdu, which led to the extinction of the Shu Han. Later, he was slandered and framed by Zhong Hui and was taken into custody by Sima Zhao. Finally, together with his son Deng Zhong, he was killed by Tian Xu, a military general sent by Wei Yu. In 273, Deng AI was rehabilitated.

Life of the characters

Move north to Runan

Deng family was once a big family in Nanyang Xinye area, but Deng AI's family background can't be studied in detail. Deng AI lost his father when he was young. He lived in an era of frequent wars and social unrest. He lived in the Central Plains, where land was highly concentrated and the annexation of powerful people was fierce. It is conceivable that life was hard. However, Deng AI had a good education since childhood, which had a significant impact on his life.

In 208, after Cao Cao conquered Jingzhou, he forced the local people to move to the north. At this time, Deng AI, his mother and his family were forced to move to Runan (now Shangcai, Henan Province) to work as a farmer. Because he was young, Deng AI was a cowherd at first. But he had great ambition since childhood and was determined to change his destiny through struggle. When he was 12 years old, he went to Yingchuan with his mother. He read two sentences in the inscription of Chen Shi, the late Taiqiu chief: "Wen is the model of the world, while Shi is the model of behavior". He was so pleased that he named himself Deng fan. Later, one of the clans had the same name as him, so he changed his name.

Deng AI was recommended as a Bachelor of diannongduwei (equivalent to the county) by virtue of his talent and learning. He could serve as assistant, cadre and other lower level officials of diannongduwei. If he had any achievements in the future, he might be promoted step by step, which is very important for people of humble origin. It's a way to make a change. But because of stuttering, dianong Duwei thought that he was not suitable for an important position, so he appointed him as a small official guarding straw. The old man in the same county, seeing that his family was poor, often supported him, but Deng AI did not express his gratitude at the beginning.

Deng AI likes military affairs. Whenever you see mountains and rivers, you have to survey the terrain and point out the barracks. You don't mind being ridiculed.

At that time, it was not easy for the poor people of tuntian tribe to get ahead. Deng AI spent nearly 20 years blandly. Later, he finally became a meritorious official and helped manage the farming. Once, Deng AI went to Luoyang to report, and had a chance to see Sima Yi, the Luoyang Taiwei. Sima Yi appreciated his talent and recruited him as a member of Taiwei mansion. Later, he was promoted to shangshulang.

Life turning point

Meeting Sima Yi can be said to be a major turning point in Deng AI Yi's life.

At the beginning of Zhengshi (240-249), the state of Wei was preparing to open up fields in the southeast area to store military supplies against the state of Wu, so it sent Deng AI to inspect. Deng AI inspected from Chen county (now Huaiyang, Henan) and Xiang county (now Shenqiu, Henan) to Shouchun. After investigation, Deng AI put forward two important suggestions: first, to dig canals and build water conservancy to irrigate farmland, increase yield per unit area and dredge water transport; second, to implement large-scale military garrison in Huaibei and Huainan. He said: "the land is fertile, but the water is scarce, so we can't make full use of the land. We should excavate rivers and canals, divert water for irrigation, accumulate military grain extensively, and open waterways for water transport. " Therefore, he wrote on Jihe to clarify his own point of view. Deng AI also said: "in the past, the yellow scarf rebellion was put down, and troops were stationed to open up fields for this purpose. In Xudu, he accumulated a lot of grain in order to control the world. Today, three sides have been pacified, but there are still wars to the south of the Huaihe River. Every time the army marches to the south, half of the troops are only used for transportation, which costs a lot of money and labor. Between Chen and CAI, the land is fertile, which can reduce the paddy fields around Xuchang and divert water to the East. Today, 20000 troops are stationed in the north of the Huaihe River and 30000 troops are stationed in the south of the Huaihe River. According to the proportion of two tenths of the troops, there are often 40000 troops who are stationed on guard while farming. When the wind and rain are favorable, the harvest is often more than three times that of the West. After deducting the expenses of soldiers and civilians, five million Dendrobium will be used as military funds every year. During the six to seven years, 30 million grains could be accumulated in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River. This food is enough for 100000 soldiers and civilians for five years. With these savings, we will be invincible to attack Dongwu. "

After seeing this, Sima Yi was very satisfied and adopted it. From the second year of Zhengshi (241), the state of Wei opened wide rivers in Huainan and Huaibei, and cultivated land on a large scale. In the north, it is bounded by huaishui river. In the area of more than 400 Li, from the south of Zhongli to the west of Hengshi to the source of Jishui River, a military camp is set up in Wuli. Each battalion of 60 people, one side of the field, one side of the garrison. At the same time, Huaiyang and baichi canals were widened, and water was diverted from the Yellow River into huaishui and Yingshui, and many paddy fields were built in Yingnan and Yingbei. More than 300 Li Long canals have been excavated in the huaishui river basin to irrigate 20000 hectares of farmland, thus connecting Huainan and Huaibei. A few years later, from Kyoto to Shouchun, along the way, soldiers and dogs looked at each other and heard the sound of chickens and dogs. Since then, the water conservancy and military construction in huaishui basin have been developed rapidly, and the defense force of Wei in the southeast has been greatly strengthened. Whenever there is a war in the southeast, the army can take a boat down to the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers. The military has grain reserves, but there is no water disaster. All these are thanks to Deng AI.

It can be said that the Cao Wei regime can always maintain the strongest strength in the Three Kingdoms, especially in the later period, many of Deng AI's political ideas played a great role.

In the fourth year of Zhengshi (243), Deng AI took up the post of commander in chief of the Western military and was transferred to the post of commander in chief of Nan'an (now the southeast of Longxi, Gansu).

In the autumn of the first year of Jiaping (249), commander Jiang Wei of Shu Han Wei attacked Yongzhou (now Guanzhong of Shaanxi Province and Eastern Gansu Province), and built two cities near Qushan (now dongbaili of Min county of Gansu Province). Jiang Wei was familiar with the customs of Longxi and wanted to lure qianghu back to Shu to control the area. They sent the general ju'an, Li Xin and others to garrison, and united with the Qiang Hu people to attack the nearby counties. Sima Zhao, a general of Anxi, devoted himself to the army, and Deng AI also took part in the war. Guo Huai, the general of the expedition to the west, and Chen Tai, the governor of Yongzhou, organized troops to resist.

Chen Tai thought: "although qucheng (today's Minxian dongzhangnan in Gansu Province) is strong, it is far away from Xishu, the roads are steep, and the grain can only be transported for a long distance; the hostages of qianghu are afraid to work for Jiang Wei, so they will not cooperate for a long time. Now as long as we encircle and attack it, we can capture Qu city without blood. Although the Western Shu may send troops for help, the mountain roads are dangerous and will not come soon. " Guo Huai adopted the strategy of encircling the city to fight for help, ordered Chen Tai to ask for Xu Zhi, and Deng AI to encircle qucheng to cut off the traffic and water supply. Jiang Wei led the rescue to Niutoushan (southeast of Minxian County, Gansu Province, South Bank of Taohe River), which was blocked by Chen Taijun. Sima Zhao went out of Luogu to Hanzhong. Guo Huai led his army to Taoshui in an attempt to cut off Jiang Wei's retreat. Jiang Wei quickly withdrew. Ju'an, Li Xin and others were isolated and surrendered to Xiancheng.

Guo huaisui led the army to attack all the Qiang people's departments in the West. Deng AI said: "the enemy troops are not far away from their evacuation. Maybe they will come back soon. We should divide our forces to avoid accidents." Guo Huai left the North Bank of Baishui (now Bailong River in Gansu Province) in Deng aitun to prevent the counter attack of Shu army. Three days later, the Shu army returned. Jiang Wei sent Liao Hua to camp on the South Bank of Baishui. He opposed Deng AI, but did not attack Wei. Deng AI said to the generals, "Jiang Wei suddenly returned. There are few soldiers in our army. According to common sense, they should cross the river instead of building bridges. Jiang Wei wants Liao Hua to hold down our army. Jiang Wei will certainly attack Taocheng from the East. " Taocheng (now southwest of Lintan, Gansu Province) is to the north of Baishui, 60 li away from Deng AI's residence. Deng AI seized Taocheng that night. Soon after, Jiang Wei led a heavy army to attack Taocheng. Jiang Wei saw that the Wei army had seized Taocheng, so he withdrew, and the Wei army was invincible.

Reward for merit

Deng AI was given the title of Marquis of Guannei and general jiataokou for his meritorious service. Later, he was promoted to the prefect of Chengyang.

At that time, Liu Bao, the king of Youxian in Bingzhou, combined the Huns into one. Deng AI said on the table: "Rong Di has the heart of wild animals and does not speak of morality and justice. As soon as they became strong, they resorted to violence; as soon as they became weak, they attached themselves to the imperial court. In the early Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty, was surrounded by 400000 troops of Xiongnu, who bravely attacked Shanyu, in Baideng, Southeast of Pingdong. When Xiongnu was strong and prosperous, all previous dynasties thought that this was the biggest worry. When Shan Yu lived far away from the Great Wall, the imperial court could not directly control the Xiongnu and his subordinates. Only by inducing Shan Yu to come forward and telling him to surrender, can the Qiang people lose their command and become leaderless. Because living alone in the interior, the surrounding tribes of Hu people were able to live in peace. Today, although nandanyu is still in the capital, they are increasingly alienated from their subordinates. At the same time, Liu Bao, the king of Youxian, lived outside the border area, and the tribal forces were extremely strong, which posed a threat to the imperial court. This is what we have to be on guard against. It is said that there is a mutiny under Liu Bao, so we should divide it into two countries to weaken Liu Bao's power. At the beginning of Jian'an, Youxian king went to defend Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty, rejected Li Xi and Guo Si, drove back to Luoyang, and then returned to his country. His achievements were quite remarkable in the previous generation. However, his descendants failed to inherit his legacy, so they should be given a signpost to protect Yanmen and stay away from the territory, so as to weaken the enemy's power, and let them admire and hope to have the merits of their ancestors and serve the country. This is a long-term plan to protect the border areas. "

Deng AI also said: "those who live together with the Han people should gradually separate them, so that they can respect and distinguish the doctrine of honesty and disgrace, and block the path of offenders." As a new assistant to the government, the general Sima Shi adopted Deng AI's suggestions

Chinese PinYin : Deng Ai