Yang Zhen was a native of Hongnong Huayin (present-day Shaanxi) during the reign of Emperor An of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was intelligent and studious, well-read, and was called "Confucius of Kansai." "He successively held important positions such as Jingzhou Assassin History, Gun Taishou, Situ, and Tai Wei.
Although Yang Zhen was an extremely popular subject, he was just as an official. His family was poor, and he had a rough tea and light meal every day. Children and grandchildren often eat without rice noodles and go out without cars and horses.
Confidant's friend advised him to set up some property for his descendants, but Yang Zhen refused. He said: "As an official, I am innocent of myself, and my descendants are the descendants of innocent officials." I leave such a reputation to my children and grandchildren, it is a priceless treasure! ”
Once, Yang Zhen went to Dongcai Rentai punctual, passing through Changyi County, the county ling Wang Mi, late at night into the apartment, sent Yang Zhen ten gold, and said: "I came by night, no one knows." Yang Zhen replied, "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, how can I say that no one knows?" Wang Mi had no choice but to return with Jin.
Yang Zhen was politically upright and admired his children. Emperor Xiao'an's daughter Bo Rong, the daughter of Emperor Xiao'an's nursing mother Wang Sheng, was proud of herself and arrogant, and her power was greater than that of the emperor, and Emperor An spent a huge amount of money on his mother Wang Sheng to repair the mansion, and the people complained bitterly.
For this matter, Zhao Teng, a man in He Jian, wrote a statement and was killed and killed in the city. Yang Zhen was indignant, and in order to uphold justice, he put his life and death on the line, risked death to direct advice, and was forced to commit suicide as a result.
Yang Zhen left his innocence to his descendants, and his descendants all came out and were praised by the people. Yang Zhen's son, Yang Bing, first served as an assassin and then as a lieutenant. He followed his father's example, and the official Was not confused by "not being drunk, not lustful, not greedy for money", and was a famous clean official.
Yang Zhen's grandson Yang Ci, who inherited his grandfather's morality, carried forward the family style, learned and learned, often retreated into seclusion, and taught his disciples not to answer the orders of the prefecture and county, which was highly praised by the townspeople.
Yang Zhen did not buy an estate for his children and grandchildren, but left his innocence to them. This noble virtue is actually a precious legacy that is difficult to buy for a penny.