In the popular interpretation of "Yang Jiafu Yanyi" and the commentary "Yang Jiajun", Yang Wenguang's deeds are interpreted vigorously, but legends are legends after all, and the myths of interpretation are far from the real historical reality.
According to the description of the yanyi, Yang Wenguang studied the art of art for 8 years in The Etou Temple in Shanxi, riding and shooting, both literary and martial arts, and invincible. It coincided with a rebellion by Li Qing, a descendant of the Southern Tang dynasty, who called himself Emperor of Shouzhou, Anhui. Yang Wenguang took command and led Kou Cheng, Dillon, Yang Jinhua and other young generals to jointly fight against the national thief Li Qing. Yang Wenguang fought bravely, and after three passes, he surrendered the Southern Tang general Liu Jinding, and the two had feelings for each other in the fight, married each other, and led the Song army to attack the city and pull out the village, breaking the bamboo and winning victories one after another...
In popular interpretation, Yang Wenguang is the son of Yang Zongbao and Mu Guiying, the son of Yang Yanzhao of Liulang, but there is no such character as Mu Guiying in the historical data. From this, it can be concluded that Mu Guiying is a fictional character of folklore or novelists, and there is no one in history, she is just a made-up hero. In fact, after examination, there is no character of Yang Zongbao in history, which is just an appendage of the novelist.
But Yang Wenguang is a real historical figure. His life deeds are found in the "Biography of Yang Ye in the History of Song", and Yang Yanzhao (Yang Liulang) is also a real historical figure, but his historical materials are not as detailed as his father Yang Ye (Yang Linggong), and Yang Wenguang's historical materials are not as detailed as Yang Yanzhao.
The Biography of Song Shi Yang Ye records:
"Yang Liulang and his pawn, Emperor Mourning... Record his three sons, officials, and his regular followers and disciples also try to perform the art of Zhen Shu. ZiWen Guang".
The above records have clearly stated that Yang Wenguang was the son of Yang Yanzhao (Yang Liulang).
But the Noshi (private note) "Embers" says:
"Yan Zhaozi Zongbao, Guan Tongzhou Observation Envoy".
This is the earliest historical reference to the name "(Yang) Zongbao" that has been seen so far. Yang Yanzhao and Yang Wenguang, who have the same official position and different names, are actually the same person.
The "History of Song" records: Wenguang character Zhongrong. "Zhong" is pronounced similarly to "Zong", "Rong" is similar to "Bao" glyph, and "Bao" and "Bao" are pronounced the same. By analogy, it is probably in the process of oral legends and written records that Zhongrong and Zongbao were confused, so that they became false rumors.
The children of Yang Yanzhao (Liu Lang), except for the famous Yang Wenguang, are not recorded in history. However, in the folk circulation or interpretation novels, there are also heroic deeds of Yang Wenju, Yang Jinhua brothers and sisters who fought against the Liao Army, and after that, there were heroes, Yang Huaiyu, Yang Shikui, Yang Shiliang, Yang Shihan... The Yang family will have talents on behalf of others, all elites, and everyone is Haojie, all of whom are marshals of the unified army who can stand alone. But in fact, except for Yang Yanzhao and Yang Wenguang, all the characters after them are fictionalized by folk or novelists and do not exist in real history.
So, why is the legendary story of Yang Jiajian still so popular and believed by the world? Its essence is because the Yang family is invincible to a loyal martyr and a god, in the middle, in addition to the older generation of Yang Ye and his sons, Yang Wenguang has played a role in carrying forward the past and opening up the future. Otherwise, there would be no heroic deeds of his descendants, Yang Zaixing, a fierce general of the Yue family of the Southern Song Dynasty. The Biography of Song Shi Yang Zaixing says:
"Zaixing encountered the enemy at the small shangqiao with three hundred horses, and suddenly fought with him, killing more than two thousand people... Zaixing died in battle, and then he took his body, burned it, and received two liters of arrows."
In the battle of Xiaoshangqiao, Yang Zaixing attacked the crowd with a widow, killed two thousand gold troops, and was shot with countless arrows in his body, and was martyred. Yang Zaixing's bravery added a touch of bright color to the Yang family.
【Illustrations from the Internet】