The story of the Yang family can be said to be a household name, and Yang Yanzhao, as the second generation of the Yang family, is also a well-known figure for women and children. However, after all, the novel is a literary work, and there is still a certain difference from the image of Yang Yanzhao in history. For example, although Yang Yanzhao is known as "Yang Liulang", according to the relevant records in the history books, he should be yang Ye's eldest son! So, what kind of figure is Yang Yanzhao in history?
According to historical records, after Yang Ye's death, the Northern Song court compensated his family members, "recording his son Yan Lang as a deputy envoy of Chongyi, the second son of the hall directly Yanpu and Yanxun as an offering official, and Yan Gui, Yangui, and Yan Bin as dian zhi." Coupled with the son Yang Yanyu who died in battle with Yang Ye, we can conclude that Yang Ye had seven sons, namely Yang Yanlang, Yang Yanpu, Yang Yanxun, Yang Yanyu, Yang Yanggui, Yang Yanggui, and Yang Yanbin.
Why is there no Yang Yanzhao? It turned out that Yang Yanlang was Yang Yanzhao. In 958, Yang Yanzhao was born in Taiyuan, the capital of the Northern Han Dynasty, when his father Yang Ye was still serving the Northern Han Dynasty, and the Northern Song Dynasty had not yet been established. Yang Yanzhao has been silent since he was a child, but due to family factors, he especially likes to play the game of war, "for childhood, more drama for the military front." Yang Ye was very happy after seeing it and said, "This is my kind." Later, as he grew older, Yang Yanzhao began to follow his father in battle.
In 979, the Northern Han Emperor Liu Jiyuan surrendered, and Yang Ye's father and son also surrendered to the Song Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of Song was pleased and made Yang Ye the right leader of the Wei Dynasty and the three important posts deployed by the Soldiers and Horses stationed at the Three Jiaos, and at the same time granted Yang Yanzhao the post of serving official. In 986, Emperor Taizong of Song launched the Yongxi Northern Expedition, and Pan Mei and Yang Ye led the Western Route Army to launch an attack on the Khitans. Yang Yanzhao also participated in this battle, and as a pioneer, he was heroic in attacking Shuozhou City, "flowing arrows through the arms, fighting in a hurry".
However, the Northern Expedition ultimately failed, and Yang Ye died unyieldingly after being captured. Emperor Taizong of Song praised Yang Ye for his exploits and at the same time gave him the title of official pensioner to several of his sons. As the eldest son, Yang Yanzhao held the highest official position at that time and received the position of deputy envoy of Chongyi. After that, Yang Yanzhao served as the inspector of Zhijing Prefecture, Jiangsu, and Huainan, and the Zhiding Yuan army. By the time of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, due to the deterioration of relations with the Liao state, Yang Yanzhao served as an inspector of the border capital of Baozhou, responsible for the northern border defense.
In the winter of 999, the Khitan invaded the border and attacked Suicheng. Suicheng was a small city with few defensive measures, and after the Khitan siege, people were panicked. Fortunately, Yang Yanzhao was in the city, and he summoned zhuangding in the city to defend the city, and at the same time, using the weather factor, splashed water on the city wall, "dan is ice, hard and slippery", thus achieving victory, "The Khitan collapsed, and its armor was very large". Song Zhenzong was very happy to hear the news, and personally summoned Yang Yanzhao to praise him.
Not long after, the Khitan army invaded again, Yang Yanzhao had already made arrangements in advance, he ambushed the elite troops west of Yangshan Mountain, and at the same time personally led the army to fight with the Khitan and retreated, and led the Khitan army into the ambush circle, thus breaking the enemy army. In 1002, Yang Yanzhao suffered a big loss, and when he led his army to rescue Baozhou, the army was attacked by the Khitan army before it was lined up, and it was defeated.
However, the following year, Emperor Zhenzong of Song restored Yang Yanzhao to his official position and "reused Yanzhao as the inspector of the capital". At the same time, Yang Yanzhao also participated in a military project, which is today's Baiyangdian. At that time, the water system around Baiyangdian was developed, but it was not connected to each other, and at the suggestion of He Chengzhi and Yang Yanzhao, the "Liaoluo Defensive Line" was built to resist the Khitan cavalry. In 1004, when the Khitan army reached Liaozhou, Yang Yanzhao suggested holding the danger and taking advantage of the opportunity to annihilate the enemy, but without the emperor's permission.
Yang Yanzhao had limited troops, but he led a direct entry into the Liao Territory and attacked the ancient city, which had a great impact on the Khitans. It wasn't long before Song Liao reached the "Alliance of The Yuanyuan" and achieved peace. When Song Zhenzong was selecting a border general, he personally wrote down Yang Yanzhao's name, "Ordering Yanzhao zhi baozhou and border capital inspection envoy", and then promoted to deputy capital of Gaoyang Guan. In 1014, Yang Yanzhao fell ill and died at the age of 57.
Yang Yanzhao was "wise and courageous and good at war", and every time he received a reward from the emperor, he was distributed to his subordinates, and he was good at governing the army, "strict in his orders, happy and bitter with his soldiers, he must be the first in the face of the enemy, he will be victorious in the battle, and he will push the merits to the bottom, so the people are happy to use it." Yang Yanzhao guarded the border for twenty years, and the Khitan people were still in awe of him, calling him "Yang Liulang". This is not because Yang Yanzhao ranks sixth, but because the ancients compared the stars in the sky to the world's figures, "the sixth star of the Big Dipper", so the Khitans called him "Yang Liulang".
References: 1. "History of Song"; 2. "Continuation of Zizhi TongjianChang"