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. 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 called 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." Final years Deng Qiang participated in Qin's conquest of Dai in 376 but his involvement in it as whole appeared minimal. Nonetheless, he was appointed Inspector of Bingzhou after the campaign ended. His final appearance in history would be in 378 during Fu Jian's grand siege of Xiangyang, serving as a vanguard in attacking Fancheng with Yang An. 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 his office of Inspector of Bingzhou in 379. Children Deng Qiang had at least two sons; Deng Jing (鄧景) and Deng Yi (鄧翼). Deng Jing's only recorded 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. Nothing else is known apart from this. 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,