In the Water Margin, Yang Zhi's fate can be said to be very unlucky, and it has never been smooth.
He was originally a descendant of the Yang family general, but he had been exiled to Kansai since he was a child; he should have been a martial artist, but he only became a small palace envoy; he escorted Hua Shi Gang for the emperor, and the other nine people were all fine, only his Hua Shi Gang fell into the Yellow River; he was not allowed to be pardoned, he wanted to become an official again, but Gao Li did not pay attention to him; he had no choice but to sell his sword, and when he met Pippi Niu'er, he was angry and killed Niu Er; Liang Zhongshu reused him and promoted him to be a ruler, but only let him escort the Birthday Gang, and was also robbed by Chao Gai and Wu Yong; after going to Liangshan, With a hard time recruiting security, Yang Zhineng was able to serve the country and restore the reputation of his ancestors, but he fell ill and died when he was recruiting Fangla.
It can be said that Yang Zhi's life is too unlucky, no wonder he should be "heaven and dark star", his life, really can be described as gray.
Not to mention the comparison with Li Jun, Yan Qing and others, that is, compared with Hu Yanzhuo, who was also a general, Yang Zhi was very miserable. In fact, the author can completely virtualize it and let Yang Zhi have a good ending. But why didn't he do this, but let Yang Zhi always be very unlucky?
In fact, this is mainly because the historical Yang Zhi (one of the prototypes of Yang Zhi in the Water Margin) is so unlucky.
In 2014, archaeologists discovered an ancient tomb in Jiyuan City, Henan Province, and among them was a man named Yang Zhi. It is quite rare that the tomb contains Yang Zhi's epitaph and is well preserved. On the epitaph, yang zhi's life is said, and after reading it, you will find that this Yang Zhi is very similar to Yang Zhi in the Water Margin in some aspects.
Gong surname Yang, Zhen Zhi, Shiye Gengsang... The emperor tasted to summon Jiazhi, who was brave and brave, but also led the male soldiers alone, and dared to fight and meet the enemy. ...... The public is subject to the yuan, and does not intend to sit in vain and lose. On August 22 of next year, the law was imposed at the age of 50. - "The Ancient Gift of Dengzhou Defense Envoy Yang Cemetery Jie"
From his epitaph, it can be known that Yang Zhizi was very fierce, and was charged with the army for killing people at the age of sixteen. Later, because of her meritorious promotion, she was also summoned by the emperor to commend him, saying that he was brave and brave, and that he deserved praise for his repeated military achievements.
In the first year of Jing Kang, that is, in 1126 AD, the Jin army attacked Taiyuan, and Yang Zhi went to support with his superior Wang Yuan, but the result was not smooth, and the officers and soldiers were defeated. The following year, Wang Yuan had a personal grudge with Yang Zhi and executed Yang Zhi by military law.
Yang Zhi was only 55 years old when he died. At that time, people who knew Yang Zhi or not mourned it.
After Yang Zhi's death, his subordinates Ma Qin and others collected and cremated his body. Later, this matter was known to the emperor, Wang Yuan was punished for this, and Yang Zhi was posthumously awarded the title of Defense Envoy of Dengzhou. Three years after Yang Zhi's death, Wang Yuan was killed by the rebel army in the "Miao-Liu Mutiny", which was regarded as his retribution.
By the way, this Ma Qin actually did not meet Yang Zhisu, but only felt his own affairs, so he did this. Later, he also moved yang zhi's burial three times because of the flood where Yang Zhi's tomb was located. Yang Zhi's tombstone was also erected by Ma Qin.
Yang Zhi's wife is Ma Shi, and she has a daughter with Yang Zhi, but unfortunately her daughter was captured by the Jin army and does not know whether she is alive or dead. If Yang Girl's temperament was as strong as Yang Zhi's, I was afraid that she would kill herself; even if she lived, she would probably be ruined by the Jin people. In short, her fate is very tragic, and Yang Zhi's family is really difficult.
Obviously, he had made many military achievements, and the emperor also praised him, but unfortunately he was killed by his colleagues; only one daughter was still captured, and he did not know whether he was alive or dead, he was considered to be a queen; Yang Zhi's resistance to Jin also occurred in the last years of the Northern Song Dynasty. Whether it is experience or time, Yang Zhi in the Water Margin has similarities with Yang Zhi in history.
It can be said that the historical Yang Zhi is a prototype of Yang Zhi in the Water Margin. However, the historical Yang Zhi is obviously not after the Yang family general, because his ancestors have been people who cultivate the land and grow mulberry for a living.