It is not known when Deng Chuna was born, but it is known that he was from Shao Prefecture. In his youth, he became a soldier under Min Xu, an officer from Jiangxi Circuit, on a deployment to Annan. In 881, when Min and his soldiers were returning from Annan, they went through Tan Prefecture, and Min expelled the governor of Hunan Circuit and took over the circuit. Min thereafter claimed the title of acting governor and made Deng the prefect of Shao Prefecture.
In 886, when Tan Prefecture was under attack by Zhou Yue the prefect of Heng Prefecture, Min Xu welcomed one Huang Hao, an officer under Qin Zongquan, who had declared himself emperor of a new state centered around Cai Prefecture, to help him defend against Zhou's attack. Once inside the city walls of Tan Prefecture, however, Huang assassinated Min. Zhou subsequently defeated and killed Huang, and took over the circuit, eventually being commissioned as its military governor. Hearing of Min's death and blaming Zhou for it, Deng Chuna mourned Min bitterly, and stated to his officers: The officers agreed with him. He trained his forces for seven years, and, in 893, in alliance with Lei Man the prefect of Lang Prefecture, attacked Tan Prefecture. He captured it and executed Zhou, claiming for himself the title of acting military governor of Wu'an Circuit. In spring 894, then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong commissioned him full military governor.
Defeat and Death
However, later that year, an army commanded by Liu Jianfeng and Ma Yin approached Wu'an. Deng sent his officers Jiang Xun and Deng Jichong with the Shao Prefecture troops to resist the attack at Longhui Pass. Ma persuaded Jiang and Deng Jichong that Liu's success was prophesied and irresistible, and they disbanded their army. Ma took over the uniforms they wore and headed directly for Tan Prefecture. The Tan Prefecture defense forces, believing that these were soldiers from Shao Prefecture, took no precautions. Ma marched directly into the city and the circuit headquarters, capturing Deng Chuna, who was holding a feast, and executed him, allowing Liu to take over the circuit.
