Deng Yu is a man who has made great contributions to Zhu Yuanzhang's country. Deng Yu is also called Deng Youde. When he was young, Deng Youde was very clever and studious. When he was only a few years old, he had the ambition to pacify the world. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, farmers everywhere revolted against the dark rule at that time. 1353, Deng Shunxing was killed by an arrow in the process of fighting the Yuan Army. Deng Youde's brother Deng Youlong directly took over the military power. Soon after, Deng Youlong died of illness, so 16-year-old Deng Youde took over the military power and personally led the troops against the Yuan Army.

Deng Yu has read many military books. Although he is a teenager, he fits his temperament. Every time he leads troops to fight, he always rushes to the front and wins the admiration and trust of the soldiers. After the strength was enhanced, people from Sizhou, Lingbi and other places came to seek protection. 1355, when the uprising wave became more turbulent, Deng Youde took a fancy to the peasant uprising led by Zhu Yuanzhang. So in this year, nearly ten thousand people took their men to Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang named Feng Youde as general manager and Deng Youde as Deng Yu.

1368, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself emperor in Nanking. In the first year of posthumous title Daming and Honghongwu, Deng Yu was named Prince Yude. Shortly thereafter, Deng Yu was ordered to attack Shandong, Henan and other places to pacify the Central Plains. Later, he led the troops to pacify Jianghuai, and it took three years to formally merge into Hongwu of Ming Dynasty. Deng Yu recruited the tiger's deputy general, chased him to Yu Wang of the West Yellow River in the North Yuan Dynasty, and killed Asura, the general of the Yuan Dynasty, in the Black Pine Forest. Due to Deng Yu's pursuit, the area west of Hezhou was eventually incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

After Deng Yu returned to Beijing, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately rewarded Deng Yu, fertile land, Mercure, gold and silver jewelry. Deng Yu was awarded Dr. Rong Lu and the right countries as the founding auxiliary transport, and was allowed to participate in military affairs.