Yuntai 28 generals, refers to the Han Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu under the command to help him unify the world, rejuvenate the Han Dynasty, the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty in the process of the greatest contribution, the strongest ability of the 28 generals, the Eastern Han Dynasty Ming Emperor Yongping three years (AD 60), Han Ming Emperor Liu Zhuang in Luoyang Nangong Yuntai Pavilion ordered people to paint the portraits of 28 generals, called Yuntai 28 generals. Among them, Deng Yu, who I want to talk about today, ranks first among the 28 generals of Yuntai and can be called the first founding hero of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
One
Specifically, Deng Yu traveled to Chang'an when he was young and became friends with Liu Xiu. After Wang Mang usurped the throne, a large-scale uprising broke out in the Western Han Dynasty. When the first emperor ascended the throne, the heroes recommended Deng Yu more, but Deng Yu was unwilling to take refuge in the first emperor. In 23 AD, Deng Yu heard that Liu Xiu had settled in Hebei, so he drove his horse north across the Yellow River and followed Liu Xiu to Ye County. Therefore, for Deng Yu, who was born in 2 AD, he began to follow Liu Xiu at the age of 21.
Facing Deng Yu who came to defect, Liu Xiu was happy, so the people around him called Deng Yu General Deng. Keep him in the tent and agree on a strategic plan together. Deng Yu not only recommended a number of suitable talents to Liu Xiu, but also fought with Gai Yan and others in Qingyang. Gai Yan and the others arrived first, but they were trapped by the Bronze Horse Army, Deng Yu marched into the army to fight the thieves, defeated the Bronze Horse Army, and captured their general alive. From Liu Xiu's pursuit of the Bronze Horse Army to Puyang, successive battles were won, and Beizhou was generally pacified.
In 24 A.D. (the second year of the first change), Liu Xiu estimated that Chang'an would be broken by the red eyebrows in the future, and wanted to take the opportunity to seize Guanzhong. So, Liu Xiubai Deng Yu was a former general and led 20,000 soldiers and horses to fight for Guanzhong. In the first month of 25 A.D. (the first year of Jianwu), Deng Yu won the first battle and besieged Anyi. Soon after, Deng Yu defeated Wang Kuang's army and pacified Hedong and other places.
In the same month, Liu Xiu was already on the throne in Shanyi (now Baixiang County, Hebei Province), and sent an envoy to worship Deng Yu as the great Situ. In the history of the Han Dynasty, because the prime minister was often abolished, Da Situ replaced the former. From this, it is very obvious that Deng Yu worshiped the prime minister when he was 24 years old, which is enough to reflect his status in Liu Xiu's mind.
Two
After Hedong was pacified, Deng Yu continued to advance towards the Guanzhong area. Because of the brutal plundering of the Red Mei army that entered Chang'an, the people did not know where to go. Therefore, after learning the news of Deng Yu's coming, the people in Guanzhong all looked forward to the wind and brought the old and the young to welcome Deng Yu's army. In the spring of 26 A.D. (the second year of Jianwu), Deng Yu went to Chang'an, garrisoned Kunming Pool, and feasted his soldiers with wine and food.
In the spring of 27 A.D. (the third year of Jianwu), Deng Yu led his troops to Huxian County (now Tongguandong, Shaanxi) and invited Feng Yi to meet the Red Mei Army. However, in this battle, Deng Yu suffered defeat and fled to Yiyang with only 24 horses. Deng Yu lost the battle because of this, and took the blame for handing over the seal ribbon of Da Situ and Liang Hou. A few months later, worship the right general.
In the spring of 28 A.D. (the fourth year of Jianwu), Deng Yu and the general Deng Ye of the Fu Han Dynasty, and the general of the Auxiliary Han Dynasty Yu Kuang defeated Yancen in Dengzhou, Deng Yu chased to Wudang, and then broke his army, Yancen fled to Hanzhong, and the troops surrendered. For Deng Yu, who was hit hard, he did not collapse, but quickly regained his strength and helped the Eastern Han Dynasty to achieve victory.
In 37 A.D. (the thirteenth year of Jianwu), the world was pacified, Liu Xiujia was crowned a meritorious hero, and Deng Yu was named the Marquis of Gaomi, Gaomi, Chang'an, Yi'an, and Chunyu in four counties. Emperor Guangwu because of Deng Yu's high merits, and named his brother Deng Kuan as the marquis of Ming. After making great achievements, Deng Yu was also famous for his loyalty, simplicity and thoroughness, and his filial piety to his mother. In addition, Deng Yu rectified the family rules, raised his children and grandchildren, and did not repair private property or seek personal gain, which prompted him to gain Liu Xiu's respect even more.
Three
Finally, in the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu adopted the strategy of "retiring meritorious officials and entering the civil servants", but Deng Yu was still able to participate in court politics. In 57 A.D., after the death of Liu Xiu, his son Liu Zhuang of the Han Ming Emperor ascended the throne, and respected Deng Yu very much, and "worshiped him as a prince, entered the east, and even saw the favor", and Deng Yu ranked first when arranging the order of the 28 generals of Yuntai.
In the first year of Yongping (58 years), Deng Yu died of illness at the age of 57. Although Deng Yu died, his family was more brilliant, that is, Deng Yu's children and grandchildren became dignitaries of the imperial court, and many princesses of the Eastern Han Dynasty married into the Deng family. In 782 A.D. (the third year of Tang Jianzhong), Yan Zhenqing, the ceremonial envoy, suggested to Tang Dezong that he posthumously confer sixty-four ancient famous generals and set up temples for them, including "Deng Yu, the Later Han Dynasty Taifu Gaomi Marquis".
In addition, Deng Zhi, the general of the Shu Han chariot cavalry, Cao Wei Shizhong, Shangshu Deng Yang, the former Qin chariot general, and Deng Qiang, the marquis of Zhending County, are all descendants of Deng Yu.