Historical Record
Deng Xi's life and deeds are little recorded in the official histories, appearing chiefly in his remonstrance while serving as Liu Biao's Attendant Clerk (zhizhong). According to the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, Scroll 6, when Yuan Shu was at Nanyang, he allied with Sun Jian, intending to seize Jing Province, which was under Liu Biao's authority. Sun Jian, while attacking Liu Biao, was struck by a stray arrow and died, and Yuan Shu was therefore unable to overcome Liu Biao. Later, Li Jue and Guo Si held Chang'an, and to seek support they appointed Liu Biao General Who Subdues the South and Governor of Jing Province, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Chengwu, and granted him the staff of authority. After Emperor Xian of Han moved the capital to Xu Chang, Liu Biao, though sending envoys to present tribute to the court, privately allied himself with Yuan Shao in the north. At this time Deng Xi, as Liu Biao's Attendant Clerk, remonstrated with Liu Biao, urging him not to maintain such a complicated relationship with both the court and Yuan Shao at once. Liu Biao, however, did not adopt Deng Xi's advice. According to a supplementary record in the *Han Jin Chunqiu*, Liu Biao replied to Deng Xi: "Within, not to fail in tribute duties; without, not to betray the chief of the alliance—this is the universal righteousness of the realm. Why should the Attendant Clerk alone find it strange?" Seeing that his remonstrance was not accepted, Deng Xi pleaded illness and resigned into retirement, and did not serve again until Liu Biao's death. Thereafter, Zhang Ji led troops into the territory of Jing Province and attacked Rang City, and he too was struck by a stray arrow and died. The officials of Jing Province all came to congratulate Liu Biao, but Liu Biao said: "Zhang Ji came in desperation; as host I showed him no courtesy, so that it came to clash of arms—this was not my intent. I will receive condolences, not congratulations." He further sent men to take in Zhang Ji's followers, who came to submit gladly. Later, the Grand Administrator of Changsha, Zhang Xian, rebelled against Liu Biao, and Liu Biao besieged him for years on end without success. After Zhang Xian died of illness, Changsha installed his son Zhang Yi. Liu Biao then absorbed Zhang Yi, recovered Lingling and Guiyang to the south, and held the Han River region to the north, so that Jing Province stretched several thousand li and mustered over a hundred thousand armored troops. After pacifying the bandits within the province, Liu Biao also opened academies, recruited Confucian scholars, and ordered Qiwu Kai, Song Zhong, and others to compile commentaries on the Five Classics, producing what was called the "Later Edition."
In the Novel
In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, there is at present no independent chapter or notable depiction of Deng Xi. He is not shaped into a figure with an independent plot or dialogue. There is therefore no literary characterization of Deng Xi in the novel, and so no question of deviation from the historical record. As a member of Liu Biao's faction, his remonstrance recorded in the sources is likewise neither mentioned nor elaborated in the novel. Deng Xi is thus a figure unrecorded in the novel, his image and role receiving no literary recreation.
Key Relationships
* Liu Biao's faction (senior_official): Deng Xi was Liu Biao's Attendant Clerk, one of the core aides of Liu Biao's faction. He once remonstrated with Liu Biao, which reflects his standing and duties within the faction. Although his remonstrance was not adopted, his post as Attendant Clerk shows his importance in Liu Biao's regime.
Iconic Scenes
* Remonstrating with Liu Biao: Deng Xi's best-known scene is his remonstrance with Liu Biao. At the time, Liu Biao was presenting tribute to the court while also allying with Yuan Shao; Deng Xi held this to be improper and frankly remonstrated with Liu Biao. Liu Biao's reply was: "Within, not to fail in tribute duties; without, not to betray the chief of the alliance—this is the universal righteousness of the realm. Why should the Attendant Clerk alone find it strange?" Seeing that Liu Biao would not heed his advice, Deng Xi pleaded illness and resigned into retirement, and did not serve again until Liu Biao's death. This scene not only displays Deng Xi's integrity and judgment of the times but also reflects Liu Biao's stubbornness in political strategy.
Relationships
0 relationships
无
Chapters1 回 ▸
- 史ch.6
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- I am Deng Xi; my courtesy name is not recorded. As an administrative aide, my duties lay between the provincial governme