Deng Ai | |
|---|---|
| 鄧艾 | |
 A Qing dynasty illustration of Deng Ai | |
| Grand Commandant (太尉) | |
| In office 8 February 264 – March 264 | |
| Monarch | Cao Huan |
| Preceded by | Gao Rou |
| Succeeded by | Wang Xiang |
| General Who Attacks the West (征西將軍) | |
| In office 257 – 8 February 264 | |
| Monarchs | |
| General Who Guards the West (鎮西將軍) | |
| In office 256–257 | |
| Monarch | Cao Mao |
| General Who Stabilises the West (安西將軍) | |
| In office 9 October 255 – 256 | |
| Monarch | Cao Mao |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 197[1][a] Xinye County, Henan |
| Died | March 264[1][2] (aged 66)[b] Mianzhu, Sichuan |
| Children |
|
| Occupation | General, politician |
| Courtesy name | Shizai (士載) |
| Peerage | Marquis of Deng (鄧侯) |
Deng Ai (197 – late March 264[3]), courtesy name Shizai, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.[1] He is best known for his pivotal role in the Wei conquest of its rival state, Shu, in 263. He was described as a very loyal subject who made great contributions to Wei, but was also noted for his arrogance and audacity, which led to his downfall and death.
Born in a peasant family, Deng Ai started his career as a minor agricultural officer. Sometime between 235 and 239, he met Sima Yi, who recognised his talent and gave him a higher position in the civil service. Around this time, he also wrote a proposal on starting agricultural works in the Huai River region, and received credit for his ideas. Deng Ai gained greater prominence in Wei from 249 onwards after he joined the Wei general Guo Huai in stopping a Shu invasion. He also advised the regent Sima Shi on some issues. In 255, he participated in the suppression of a rebellion started by the generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin, and was promoted to the status of a top general. From 255 to 262, he defended Wei's western borders in present-day Gansu from multiple incursions by the Shu forces led by the general Jiang Wei.
Deng Ai reached the pinnacle of his career in 263, when he led Wei forces to conquer Shu. By leading a strike force through a shortcut across dangerous mountainous terrain, Deng Ai showed up in the vicinity of the Shu capital, Chengdu, and took the enemy by surprise. After a failed attempt by the Shu general Zhuge Zhan to stop Deng Ai at Mianzhu, the Shu emperor Liu Shan voluntarily surrendered to Deng Ai and brought an end to the Shu state. Following his success in the Shu campaign, Deng Ai became arrogant about his achievements and showed disregard for the Wei government's authority. The Wei general Zhong Hui exploited and manipulated Deng Ai's arrogance to great effect. In 264, Deng Ai was arrested by Wei Guan and Zhong Hui, who were acting under order by the Wei regent Sima Zhao. He was placed in a prison cart and escorted to the capital Luoyang, but was killed en route by soldiers sent by Wei Guan. His sons were executed as well. His surviving family members were exiled but allowed to return in 266 after the Jin dynasty was established.
- ^ a b c de Crespigny (2007), p. 109.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ZZTJwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Vol.04 of Sanguozhi and vol.02 of Jin Shu both indicated that Deng Ai was arrested in the 1st month of the 1st year of the Xianxi era. The month corresponds to 15 Feb to 14 Mar 264 in the Julian calendar. Volume 78 of Zizhi Tongjian dated Deng Ai's arrest to the renchen day of that month, but there is no renchen day in that month. The next renchen day is in the 2nd month, and corresponds to 16 Mar 264 in the Julian calendar. All sources agree that Deng Ai died after Zhong Hui, who died on 3 Mar 264.
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