《后汉书·列传·朱冯虞郑周列传》
帝感到奇怪，就诏邓衍令他自称南阳功曹到皇帝的金殿，既到，拜为郎中，迁玄武司马。
帝既异之，乃诏衍令自称南阳功曹诣阙。既到，拜郎中，迁玄武司马。
Surprised by this, the emperor summoned Deng Yan and ordered him to go to the Golden Palace with the title of county official of Nanyang. When he arrived, the emperor granted him the position of minister and promoted him to be the commander of the Xuanwu Legion.