What was a major similarity between Deng xiaoping and Mao Zedong as the leaders of the People's Republic of China?

Both were willing to use force to suppress resistance to their rule.

Mao Ze Dong was leaning more on communism while Deng Xiao Peng was open to development. Mao was more focus on the agricultural sectors while Deng had focus on upgrading the methods for agriculture, science and technology and industrialization.