Deng Qiang
鄧羌
General Who Establishes Fortitude (建節將軍)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
MonarchFu Sheng/Fu Jian
General of Agile Cavalry (驍騎將軍)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
MonarchFu Jian
Middle Assistant to the Imperial Secretary (御史中丞)
In office
359 (359)–? (?)
MonarchFu Jian
General Who Establishes Valor (建武將軍)
In office
368 (368)–? (?)
MonarchFu Jian
Inspector of Luozhou (洛州刺史)
In office
368 (368)–? (?)
MonarchFu Jian
General Who Conquers The Caitiffs (征虜將軍)
In office
370 (370)–? (?)
MonarchFu Jian
Administrator of Anding (安定太守)
In office
370 (370)–? (?)
MonarchFu Jian
General Who Guards the Army (鎮軍將軍)
In office
371 (371)–? (?)
MonarchFu Jian
Inspector of Bingzhou (并州刺史)
In office
376 (376)–379 (379)
MonarchFu Jian
Personal details
BornUnknown
Pingliang, Gansu
Diedc. 379
RelationsDeng Yu (ancestor)
ChildrenDeng Jing
Deng Yi
PeerageMarquis of Zhending Commandery(真定郡侯)

Deng Qiang (died c. 379) was a Chinese military general of the Former Qin dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He came to prominence during the reign of Fu Sheng when he helped defeat and kill the Qiang warlord Yao Xiang, but for most of his career he would serve Sheng's successor, Fu Jian. He was a leading figure in the rise of Former Qin, along with Wang Meng, as he led Fu Jian's army to victory against Zhang Ping and Former Yan. He stamped out corruption in the government and put down the rebellions of Fu Jian's relatives and Zhang Yu (張育). He and his peer Zhang Ci were known as the "Enemies of Ten Thousands (萬人敵)", a title previously held by the generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei during the end of the Han dynasty.[1]

Service under Fu Sheng

Deng Qiang was a native of Anding Commandery (安定郡; in modern-day Pingliang, Gansu) and his ancestor was said to have been Deng Yu, an Eastern Han dynasty general during the reign of Emperor Guangwu.[2] He was described as having a brave personality, and excelled at horse riding and archery.[3] He was also very fluent in the Art of War that during the reign of Fu Jian, he was instructed to teach it to Fu Jian's son, Fu Pi.[4] His first recorded activity was in 356, serving as General Who Establishes Fortitude, when the Former Yan general Muyu Zhangqing (慕輿長卿) attacked Former Qin's Fort Peishi (裴氏堡, in modern day Yuanqu County, Shanxi). Fu Sheng ordered Deng Qiang to reinforce the fort, so he routed Zhangqing and captured him.[5]

Later that year, Fu Sheng killed his uncle, Qiang Ping (強平), after the latter advised his nephew to change his violent behaviour. In protest, Deng Qiang, together with Fu Fei (苻飛) and Fu Huangmei (苻黃眉), performed obeisance and remonstrated him for killing his own uncle. Fu Sheng refused to listen to their concerns but respected their bravery. Instead of executing them, he had the three banished, with Deng Qiang being sent away to Xingyang.[6]

Defeating Yao Xiang

The following year, Deng Qiang followed Fu Huangmei to defend Guanzhong against the Qiang warlord Yao Xiang. When the Qin forces arrived, Yao Xiang refused to give fight and instead held out at Huangluo (黃洛, in modern-day Tongchuan city, Shaanxi). Deng Qiang knew that Yao Xiang had been flustered by his recent defeats against Huan Wen and Zhang Ping, so he suggested to Huangmei that they beat their drums and march straight into his city to provoke him. Deng Qiang carried out his plans, inciting Yao Xiang to come out and give chase. Yao Xiang pursued Deng Qiang all the way to Sanyuan where Qin forces under Fu Huangmei and Fu Jian awaited them to ambush the Qiang. Deng turned his cavalry around and joined in the ambush. Yao Xiang suffered a great defeat and tried to withdraw, but he was killed during his attempt.[7]

Service under Fu Jian

War with Zhang Ping

Fu Sheng was overthrown and subsequently executed during a coup orchestrated by Fu Jian and his brother Fu Fa later that year. Deng Qiang would continue to serve the state following the regime change with Fu Jian as the new ruler. Also that same year, the Bingzhou warlord, Zhang Ping broke his allegiance to Former Qin and attempted to claim independence. In 358, Fu Jian led his troops to Fen River with Deng Qiang as his vanguard general. Zhang Ping sent out his adopted son, Zhang Ci, to battle the Qin forces. Deng Qiang and Zhang Ci fought for ten days, with neither side getting the upper hand. When Fu Jian moved to Tongbi (銅壁, in modern-day Tongchuan, Shaanxi), Zhang Ci charged into the Qin lines numerous times. In his last charge, he was struck by a spear from the Qin general Lü Guang, and Deng Qiang quickly subdued and brought him before Fu Jian. Zhang Ci's capture caused morale in Zhang Ping's army to collapse, so Ping quickly surrendered back to Qin.[8]

Quelling revolts and corruption

In 359, Deng Qiang campaigned against the rebel Gao Li (高離) in Lüeyang and vanquished him.[9] Later, he was appointed as Middle Assistant to the Imperial Secretary and worked close with Fu Jian's advisor Wang Meng. The two worked very well with each other and within a matter of weeks, they purged the government of corrupted officials and nobles while solving mismanaged law cases. Fu Jian was very pleased with this and exclaimed, "Now I know what a land ruled by law is like!"[10]

In an unspecified year, Zhang Wang (張罔), a member of the Xiongnu Tuge tribe (屠各部), rebelled after gathering thousands of people as well as declaring himself the Grand Chanyu. As Zhang invaded and plundered numerous counties and commanderies, Deng Qiang was reappointed as General Who Establishes Fortitude, and with 7,000 soldiers, he managed to quell Zhang's rebellion. In 365, the Xiongnu chieftains, Cao Gu and Liu Weichen rebelled against Qin. While Fu Jian led the army against Cao Gu, Deng Qiang fought and captured Weichen at Mount Mugen (木根山) in Shuofang. Peace was restored after the chieftains agreed to submit back to Qin.[11] In 366, Deng Qiang also participated in Wang Meng's campaign against the Longxi warlord, Li Yan, and was awarded the offices of General Who Establishes Martial Might and Inspector of Luozhou for his contributions.[12]

Rebellion of the Four Dukes

In 368, a major rebellion broke out led by Fu Jian's cousins, Fu Liu (苻柳), Fu Sou (苻廋) and Fu Wu (苻武), and his brother, Fu Shuang (苻雙). Deng Qiang and Wang Meng were tasked in defeating Fu Liu, who had made Puban (蒲阪, in modern-day Yuncheng, Shanxi) his base. Fu Liu left his son Fu Liang (苻良) to guard the city while he marched towards Chang'an to capture it. Deng Qiang caught him by surprise with a night raid, forcing him to retreat. Wang Meng then intercepted his retreat, leaving Fu Liu with only a few hundred men back to his base.[13] Wang Meng and Deng Qiang easily captured Puban and executed Fu Liu before joining Zhang Ci and Yang An in their assault against Fu Sou at Shancheng (陝城, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan). After all four rebels had been defeated, Deng Qiang was appointed General Who Establishes Valor and Inspector of Luozhou (洛州, covered parts of modern-day Henan and Shanxi).

Conquest of Former Yan

The following year, the Jin dynasty Grand Marshal, Huan Wen, led his troops to conquer Former Yan. At the advice of Wang Meng, Fu Jian decided to support Yan to prevent Jin from gaining significant land in the north. Fu Jian sent Deng Qiang and Gou Chi (苟池) to Shancheng to reinforce Yan and oversee the upcoming battle between the two sides.[14] Yan managed to repel Jin thanks to the efforts of Murong Chui at the Battle of Fangtou but must now deal with Qin's demands. Yan had initially promised to Qin that they would surrender Hulao to them but retracted their statement, giving Fu Jian a pretext to invade them. Fu Jian had Deng Qiang, Wang Meng and Liang Chen (梁琛) capture Luoyang, which fell the following year. Shortly after, Deng defeated Murong Zang (慕容臧) at Xingyang.

An altercation nearly broke between Deng Qiang and Wang Meng during the war. Wang Meng intended to execute the general Xu Cheng (徐成) for returning late from scouting. Deng Qiang, who came from the same commandery as Xu, defended him, stating that Qin needs to preserve its numbers, even more so since Xu Cheng is a high-ranking officer. Wang Meng argued in favor of upholding military laws but Deng Qiang further advocated that Xu Cheng be redeemed by fighting the Yan forces in the upcoming battle. Even then, Wang Meng refused, causing Deng Qiang to rally his men against Wang Meng. Wang was impressed by Deng's dedication to protect Xu Cheng and finally pardoned him. Deng Qiang also apologised and the two reconciled.[15]

As Wang Meng and Murong Ping's armies came face to face at the Battle of Luchuan (潞川, in modern-day Changzhi, Shanxi), Wang Meng placed his trust in Deng Qiang to rout them despite Qin's inferior numbers. However, another disagreement occurred between the two. Deng Qiang wanted Wang Meng to appoint him Colonel-Director of Retainers after he wins, but Wang Meng pointed out that he did not have the power to do so, although he tried to compensate him with Administrator of Anding and a Marquis of ten thousand households. Deng Qiang withdrew unsatisfied and when the battle began, he was still asleep in his camp. Wang Meng quickly rode to his tent and made a compromise with Deng. When all was settled, Deng Qiang drank heavily before setting out with Zhang Ci and Xu Cheng. He personally charged into the enemy lines several times and killed several of the Yan troops. By noon, the Yan forces were annihilated and Murong Ping fled alone to Yecheng.[16]

Deng Qiang's last merit in the war would be at Xindu, where he defeated Murong Huan (慕容桓). After Qin conquered Yan, he was rewarded by Fu Jian with Credential Bearer, General Who Conquers The Caitiffs, Administrator of Anding and Marquis of Zhending Commandery (真定, in modern-day Shijiazhuang, Hebei). In 371, Wang Meng decided to honour his promise at Lu River and asked Fu Jian to make Deng Qiang Director of Retainers. However, Fu Jian believed that Deng Qiang deserves better for his past merits as well, and made him General Who Guards the Army and honored him as Specially Advanced.[17]

Zhang Yu and Yang Guang's rebellion

In 373, Former Qin conquered the region of Yizhou and Liangzhou from the Jin dynasty. However, one year later, two natives, Zhang Yu and Yang Guang (楊光), rebelled and tried to set up their state with the aid of Jin. Fu Jian dispatched Deng Qiang to destroy them while Jin sent Zhu Yao (竺瑤) and Huan Shiqian, who defeated Yao Chang and forced him to retreat to Wucheng (五城, around present-day Guanghan, Sichuan). Zhang Yu declared himself King of Shu and besieged Chengdu. However, Zhang Yu began to quarrel with his peers and followers and they all started fighting one another. With the rebels disunified, Deng Qiang and Yang An quickly routed them, causing Zhang Yu and Yang Guang to pull out to Mianzhu. Deng proceeded to defeat Zhu Yao and Huan Shiqian in the west before finally claiming Zhang Yu and Yang Guang's heads at Mianzhu. Before he left, Deng Qiang carved a stele at the Min Mountains.[18]

Fu Jian had long appreciated Deng Qiang but his recent victory in Yizhou impressed him very much. After Deng Qiang returned from Chengdu, Fu Jian summoned him to the palace, where he told him, "Long ago, your ancestor Zhonghua (Deng Yu) met with Shizu of Han. Now, you too have met with me. The Deng clan must be so fortunate." Deng Qiang replied, "I have always told myself that it was Guangwu who met with Zhonghua, not Zhonghua who met with Guangwu." Fu Jian laughed and said to him, "If what you say is true, then it is not you who is fortunate, but me who was blessed to meet such a worthy man."[19]

Final years

In 376, Deng Qiang, Zhang Ci and others led 200,000 infantry and cavalry troops to accompany the Grand Commander of the Northern Expedition, Fu Luo, in his conquest of the Dai state. After the fall of Dai, he was awarded the office of Inspector of Bingzhou. His final appearance in history would be in 378 during Fu Jian's grand siege of Xiangyang, serving as the vanguard general in attacking Fancheng with Yang An.[20] Details of his merits in the siege are not known, and his name ceases to appear in records from this point on. It could be inferred that Deng Qiang died sometime during the campaign, as Zhang Ci succeeded him in his office of Inspector of Bingzhou in 379.

Children

Deng Qiang had several sons, all of who were praised for their upright characters, but only two of them were recorded: Deng Jing (鄧景) and Deng Yi (鄧翼). Deng Jing's only known event was in 386, when he raised troops in support of Fu Pi after he succeeded Fu Jian. Jing captured Peng Pond (彭池, west of Chang'an) and together with Dou Chong he led the frontlines against Later Qin and was made Intendant of Jingzhao.[21]

Deng Yi was the younger of the two and was serving as Chancellor of Hejian prior to the Battle of Fei River in 383. When Murong Chui revolted and formed Later Yan in 384, he appointed Yi as General of the Rear, Inspector of Jizhou and Marquis of Zhending. However, Yi cried and said, "My late father was loyal to the house of Qin, so why should I rebel? Since ancient times, no loyal minister has served two lords. I dare not heed your orders." Chui consoled him by saying, "Though our family names differ, your father and I were close like brothers. Because of that, I see you much like a son. Are you now content to leave?" Yi eventually decided to join Chui, but asked him to find a better candidate to serve as Inspector of Jizhou. Yi was thus created General Who Establishes Martial Might, Prefect of Hejian and Assistant of the Left of the Masters of Writing, all of which he served with distinction before he died in office as Interior Minister of Zhao.[22]

Deng Yi's son Deng Yuan would serve Northern Wei after Wei took the Central Plains from Yan. Yuan was a notable minister under Emperor Daowu who kickstarted Wei's history recording project but was forced to commit suicide in 403 because of his cousin, Deng Hun (鄧暉), who was closely associated with the He clan that defected to Later Qin that year. Despite that, Deng Qiang's descendents continued to serve Northern Wei for multiple generations.[23]

References

  1. ↑ (秦人稱鄧羌、張蚝皆萬人敵。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 100
  2. ↑ (十二月，羌至自成都，堅引見東堂，謂之曰：「將軍之先仲華，遇漢世祖於前；將軍復逢朕於後，何鄧氏之多幸。」羌曰：「臣常謂光武之遇仲華，非獨仲華遭光武。」堅笑曰：「將軍蓋以自況，非直將軍之幸，亦朕之遇賢。」) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
  3. ↑ (鄧羌，安定人也。驍勇善騎射。) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.42
  4. ↑ (「堅與言將略，嘉之，命鄧羌教以兵法。」) Book of Jin, Volume 115
  5. ↑ (慕容俊遣將慕輿長卿等率眾七千入自軹關，攻幽州刺史張哲于裴氏堡。晉將軍劉度等率眾四千，攻青州刺史袁朗于盧氏。生遣其前將軍苻飛距晉，建節鄧羌距燕。飛未至而度退。羌及長卿戰于堡南，大敗之，獲長卿及甲首二千七百餘級。) Book of Jin, Volume 112
  6. ↑ (衛將軍廣平王黃眉、前將軍新興王飛、建節將軍鄧羌，以平，太后之弟，叩頭固諫，生弗聽，出黃眉為左馮翊，飛為右扶風，羌行咸陽太守，猶惜其驍勇，故皆弗殺。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 100
  7. ↑ (姚襄遣姚蘭、王欽盧待招動鄜城、定陽、北地、芹川諸羌胡，皆應之，有眾二萬七千，進據黃落。生遣苻黃眉、苻堅、鄧羌率步騎萬五千討之。襄深溝高壘，固守不戰。鄧羌說黃眉曰：「傷弓之鳥，落於虛發。襄頻為桓溫、張平所敗，銳氣喪矣。今謀固壘不戰，是窮寇也。襄性剛很，易以剛動，若長驅鼓行，直壓其壘，襄必忿而出師，可一戰擒也。」黃眉從之，遣羌率騎三千軍於壘門。襄怒，盡銳出戰。羌偽不勝，引騎而退，襄追之于三原，羌回騎距襄。俄而黃眉與堅至，大戰，斬之，盡俘其眾，黃眉等振旅而歸。黃眉雖有大功，生不加旌賞，每於眾中辱之。黃眉怒，謀殺生自立，事發，伏誅，其王公親戚多有死者。) Book of Jin, Volume 112
  8. ↑ (秦王堅自將討張平，以鄧羌為前鋒督護，帥騎五千，軍於汾上；平使養子蚝御之。蚝多力趫捷，能曳牛卻走；城無高下，皆可超越。與羌相持旬餘，莫能相勝。三月，堅至銅壁，平盡眾出戰，蚝單馬大呼，出入秦陳者四、五。堅募人生致之，鷹揚將軍呂光刺蚝，中之，鄧羌擒蚝以獻，平眾大潰。平懼，請降。堅拜平右將軍，以蚝為虎賁中郎將。蚝，本姓弓，上黨人也，堅寵待甚厚，常置左右。秦人稱鄧羌、張蚝皆萬人敵。光，婆樓之子也。堅徙張平部民三千餘戶於長安。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 100
  9. ↑ (秦平羌護軍高離據略陽叛，永安威公侯討之，未克而卒。夏，四月，驍騎將軍鄧羌、秦州刺史啖鐵討平之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 100
  10. ↑ (八月，堅下書曰：「咸陽內史猛言彰出納，所在著績，有臥龍之才，宜入贊百揆，絲綸王言。可徵拜侍中、中書令、領京兆尹。」中丞鄧羌，性鯁直，與猛協規齊志，於是百僚肅整，豪右屏風，風化大行。堅歎曰：「吾令始知天下之有法也。」) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
  11. ↑ (衞辰舉兵伐堅，堅遣其建節將軍鄧羌討擒之。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 95
  12. ↑ (討平李儼，以功遷建武將軍、洛州刺史。) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.42
  13. ↑ (晉公柳數出挑戰，王猛不應。柳以猛為畏之。五月，留其世子良守蒲阪，帥眾二萬西趨長安。去蒲阪百餘里，鄧羌帥銳騎七千夜襲，敗之。柳引軍還，猛邀擊之，盡俘其眾。柳與數百騎入城，猛、羌進攻之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 101
  14. ↑ (八月，遣將軍苟池、洛州刺史鄧羌帥步騎二萬以救燕，出自洛陽，軍至穎川；又遣散騎侍郎姜撫報使於燕。以王猛為尚書令。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 102
  15. ↑ (壬戌，猛遣將軍徐成覘燕軍形要，期以日中；及昏而返，猛怒，將斬之。鄧羌請之曰：「今賊眾我寡，詰朝將戰；成，大將也，宜且宥之。」猛曰：「若不殺成，軍法不立。」羌固請曰：「成，羌之郡將也，雖違期應斬，羌願與成效戰以贖之。」猛弗許。羌怒，還營，嚴鼓勒兵，將攻猛。猛問其故，羌曰：「受詔討遠賊；今有近賊，自相殺，欲先除之！」猛謂羌義而有勇，使語之曰：「將軍止，吾今赦之。」成既免，羌詣猛謝。猛執其手曰：「吾試將軍耳，將軍於郡將尚爾，況國家乎！吾不復憂賊矣！」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 102
  16. ↑ (猛望評師之衆，惡之，謂鄧羌曰：「今日之事，非將軍莫可以捷也。成敗之機，在斯一舉也。將軍其勉之。」羌曰：「若以司隸見與者，公無以為憂。」猛曰：「此非吾所及也。必以安定太守、萬戶侯相處。」羌不悅而退。俄而兵交，猛召羌，寢而不應。猛乃馳就，許之。於是大飲帳中，與張眊、徐成等跨馬運矛，馳入評軍，出入數四，傍若無人，攀旗斬將，殺傷甚重，戰及日中，燕師敗績。) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
  17. ↑ (王猛以潞川之功，請以鄧羌為司隸。秦王堅下詔曰：「司隸校尉，董牧皇畿，吏責甚重，非所以優禮名將。光武不以吏事處功臣，實貴之也。羌有廉、李之才，朕方委以征伐之事，北平匈奴，南蕩揚、越，羌之任也，司隸何足以嬰之！其進號鎮軍將軍，位特進。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 103
  18. ↑ (夏四月，堅下書曰：「巴夷險逆，寇亂益州，招引吳軍，為唇齒之勢。特進、鎮軍將軍、護羌校尉鄧羌，可帥甲士五萬，星夜赴討。」五月，蜀人張育、楊光等起兵二萬，以應巴獠。晉威遠將軍桓石虔帥衆二萬入據墊江，張育自號蜀王，稱藩于晉。八月，鄧羌敗晉師於涪西，擊張育、楊光，屯於綿竹，皆斬之，益州平，羌勒銘于岷山而還。十二月，羌至自成都，堅引見東堂，謂之曰：「將軍之先仲華，遇漢世祖於前；將軍復逢朕於後，何鄧氏之多幸。」羌曰：「臣常謂光武之遇仲華，非獨仲華遭光武。」堅笑曰：「將軍蓋以自況，非直將軍之幸，亦朕之遇賢。」) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
  19. ↑ (十二月，羌至自成都，堅引見東堂，謂之曰：「將軍之先仲華，遇漢世祖於前；將軍復逢朕於後，何鄧氏之多幸。」羌曰：「臣常謂光武之遇仲華，非獨仲華遭光武。」堅笑曰：「將軍蓋以自況，非直將軍之幸，亦朕之遇賢。」) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
  20. ↑ (秦王堅遣征南大將軍、都督征討諸軍事、守尚書令長樂公丕、武衛將軍苟萇、尚書慕容□帥步騎七萬寇襄陽，以荊州刺史楊安帥樊、鄧之眾為前鋒，征虜將軍始平石越帥精騎一萬出魯陽關，京兆尹慕容垂、揚武將軍姚萇帥眾五萬出南鄉，領軍將軍苟池、右將軍毛當、強弩將軍王顯帥眾四萬出武當，會攻襄陽。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 104
  21. ↑ (冠軍將軍鄧景擁衆五千據彭池，與竇衝爲首尾，以擊後秦。丕以景爲京兆尹。景，羌之子也。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 107
  22. ↑ 「父翼，河間相。慕容垂之圍鄴，以翼為後將軍、冀州刺史、真定侯。翼泣對使者曰：『先君忠於秦室，翼豈可先叛乎！忠臣不事二君，自古通義，未敢聞命』垂復遣使諭之曰：『吾與車騎結異姓兄弟，卿亦猶吾之子弟，安得辭乎？』翼曰：『冀州宜受任親賢，翼請他役效命』垂乃用為建武將軍、河間太守，尚書左丞皆有聲稱。卒於趙郡內史。」 Book of Wei, Volume 15
  23. ↑ Biography of Deng Yuan, Book of Wei, Volume 24
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