Deng Zhi

Deng Zhi was a minister serving under Liu Bei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. After the death of his lord Liu Bei, he was the one who was tasked to send an envoy to Eastern Wu to seal an alliance with them, which ended in success, which included the release of Zhang Yi. Deng Zhi and Zhao Yun led a vanguard during the together. Deng Zhi from then on became very famous for his bravery and wit, but most of all, he was known for his reputation of uncorrupted moral. When Deng Zhi was dead, the family did not have any money left for his burial and only with the aid from those who received Deng Zhi's help when he was alive, did the family give Deng a funeral.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the novel, ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', Deng Zhi went to Wu to create a new alliance with Sun Quan. Sun Quan’s adviser Zhang Zhao instructed Quan to have a large vat of boiling water in the throne room. Upon entering Sun Quan’s palace Deng Zhi did not pay the proper respects and Sun Quan threatened to have him placed in the boiling water, however Deng Zhi managed to persuade Sun Quan to let him live. Due to Deng’s persuasion a new alliance was formed between Wu and Shu.