In 1916, Deng entered the sixth class of the infantry department at the
Baoding Military Academy. After graduation, he returned to Guangdong to serve in the Guangdong Army. In 1923, he was assigned to the 3rd Division of the Guangdong Army as an adjutant of the 11th Regiment, 6th Brigade. During the
Northern Expedition he served as deputy commander of the 4th Army's Training Division (later promoted to division commander). After the Northern Expedition, Deng's unit was reorganized into the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division. He served as brigade commander, chief of staff of the 12th Division, commander of the 4th Independent Division, and commander of the 9th Division of the 4th Route Army under
Chen Jitang, who governed Guangdong. In 1949, Deng moved with the Nationalist government to Taiwan. He died in Taipei on 3 February 1979. ==References==