Deng Zhi

Deng Zhi; recruited into Liu Bei's circle - long-term Shu diplomat.

The face in the crowd that smiles while the other courtiers puzzle — Zhuge Liang detains him, sounds him in the library, and hears his own policy back: treaty with Wu first, Wei slowly. 'Now I have found him' — and the Emperor commissions him envoy to Sun Quan.

Walks the gauntlet of axes and the boiling cauldron without a blench, refuses the obeisance ('the envoy of the superior state does not bow to the ruler of a smaller country'), laughs at the Li Yiji threat — and wins the argument by gathering his robes to leap into the oil himself. Sun Quan stops him, seats him as the highest guest, and the alliance is made; his second audience seals it with 'the sky knows not two suns.'

Answers Zhuge Liang's condition without a moment's hesitation — 'I will go to help the Veteran Leader!' — and goes as Zhao Zilong's colleague in the vanguard of five thousand veterans. Also listed as Right Army Marching General in the expedition roster; the border report to Cao Rui names him and Zhao Zilong as the advance guard.

Brings the main body in behind Zhao Zilong to complete the rout of the Xiliang army, and again the next day after Han De falls. Congratulates the veteran — 'For a man of seventy years, you are unique and wonderful… It is almost an incomparable feat to have slain four generals in one day' — but warns him the renewed attack must be a trick, and is cut off from rescuing him when the ambush springs. Argues against lifting the siege of Nanan, the Imperial Son-in-Law being 'worth more than slaying a hundred ordinary leaders', and asks the closing question that draws out how the deception was read.

Sent with Zhao Zilong to the Gu Valley to move about and unsettle the enemy whether or not they engage. On the retreat he takes the forward half under Zhao Zilong's ensigns while the veteran covers from behind.

Returns with Zhao Zilong and gives the credit away: 'It was because friend Zhao Zilong sent me ahead, while he guarded the rear and warded off every attack. One leader he slew, and this frightened the others. Thus nothing was lost or left by the way.'

The Adviser sent after the Gu Valley column with Zhuge Liang's order to beware an ambush, and he spends the scene losing an argument to Chen Shi ('You know the Prime Minister's plans always succeed. How dare you disobey his orders?'). Rides back to report the insubordination, and is sent out a second time to console Chen Shi after the disaster and keep him from actual mutiny.

Named in passing only, as the benchmark for envoys. Sun Quan, pleased with Zong Yu's answer about the Baidicheng garrison, tells him 'As an envoy you seem no way inferior to Deng Zhi' - a reference back to the ch86 embassy.