Yang Pu was the first of the shi, and in the same year as Yang Rong, he was admitted to the jinshi and was named the editor of the Hanlin Academy.
In the second year of Yongle, Zhu Di issued an edict to make zhu Gaozi, the eldest son of the concubine, the crown prince, and Yang Pu was given the title of wash horse and became a subordinate official of the crown prince.
Once, when Zhu Gaozi was reading the Book of Han, he praised Zhang Shizhi as a sage, and Yang Pu said: "Although Zhang Shizhi is virtuous, if it were not for the generosity and benevolence of Emperor Wen of Han, Zhang Shizhi might not have the opportunity to display his talents and ambitions." After that, Yang Pu specially sorted out the deeds of Emperor Wen of Han and submitted them, which won zhu Gaozi's praise and appreciation.
Zhang Shizhi was a Western Han Jurist, an official and court lieutenant, known for enforcing the law impartially.
In the twelfth year of Yongle, Zhu Di returned triumphantly from the Second Northern Expedition, and Zhu Gaozi sent emissaries to greet him, but Zhu Di thought that the greeting was too late, and ordered that Yang Pu, Huang Huai, and other officials who assisted the crown prince to supervise the state be arrested and sent to Beijing.
After seeing Jin, a low-ranking official at Zhan Shifu, ask, Zhu Di was very unhappy and asked, "Who are you?" How can you serve the Prince? ”
Subsequently, Zhu Di ordered that judicial officials imprison Jin Wen for interrogation, and Yang Pu and Huang Huai were also imprisoned in Jinyi Weizhao Prison.
Jin Qing was just a petty official, and zhu Di, the official who assisted the prince, did not necessarily know everyone, perhaps Zhu Di just used the topic to play and take the opportunity to vent his dissatisfaction with the prince.
During Yang Pu's imprisonment, the food provided by his family was cut off several times, and Zhu Di's mind was difficult to guess, Yang Pu was in danger and could be worried about his life at any time. However, Yang Pu studied hard, studied diligently, and actually read through the subset of scriptures and history several times. Yang Pu was not crushed by the ordeal in front of him, but with his tenacious will and optimistic spirit, he spent a difficult decade with books as his companion.
After Emperor Akihito ascended the throne, he quickly ordered Yang Pu to be released from prison and promoted to Hanlin scholar.
Soon, Yang Pu secretly expressed his views on some government affairs, which was praised by Zhu Gaozi, which may indicate that although Yang Pu was not given the silver seal of "rope and error correction", it did not mean that Yang Pu's status was lower than that of Yang Shiqi and others. Zhu Gaozi believed that Yang Pu was imprisoned for ten years by his own involvement, and he attached great importance to Yang Pu.
In the first year of Hong Xi, Zhu Gaozi ordered the establishment of the Hongwen Pavilion to the left of the Sixian Gate, let Yang Pu take charge of the Hongwen Pavilion, and equipped him with several people who were both excellent in character and learning, Yang Shiqi recommended the attendant Wang Jin and the Confucian Scholar Chen Ji, Jian Yi recommended Yang Jing and the instructor He Cheng, Zhu Gaozi ordered Chen Ji to be a doctor, Yang Jing to be the editor, and He Cheng to be on duty in the Hongwen Pavilion every day.
Zhu Gaozi personally handed over the great seal of Hongwen Pavilion to Yang Pu and said to him: "Staying with Aiqing by your side is not to let you specialize in studying and learning, but to extensively understand the people's feelings and assist in ruling the world. ”
During Zhu Gaozi's reign, although Yang Pu did not enter the Wenyuan Cabinet, that is, the cabinet, Zhu Gaozi and his wife were grateful for Yang Pu's loyalty and trusted him far more than other close ministers.
At that time, the cabinet was not an informal organization, and its status was not as high as later, and the status of the Hongwen Pavilion was not inferior to that of the Wenyuan Pavilion.
Yang Pu's status was greatly improved from then on, and he was soon promoted to Tai Changqing, still holding other positions.
After Emperor Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji ascended the throne, although he abolished the Hongwen Pavilion, he instead let Yang Pu enter the cabinet and participate in decision-making confidential affairs together with Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and others. In the ninth year of Xuande, Yang Pu was promoted to the rank of Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, and still served as a member of the cabinet and a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy.
Ten years after Xuande, Zhu Zhanji died, and the nine-year-old crown prince Zhu Qizhen took the throne, that is, Ming Yingzong.
Soon after Zhu Qizhen ascended the throne, Yang Pu, together with Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong, played the Invitation to the Scripture Feast, carefully selected a number of people with mediocre knowledge, correct words and deeds, and mature and steady people to serve as lecturers, and also carefully selected eunuchs who accompanied the emperor day and night. Empress Zhang was very thoughtful when she saw the three of them and was very happy.
One day, Empress Zhang sat in the Ben Palace, and Zhu Qizhen stood westward, summoned the British gong Zhang Fu, Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Yang Pu, and Shangshu Hu Xi to see them, and said to them: "All of you Aiqing are old ministers, the emperor is young, I hope you will work together to maintain social stability" And then summoned Yang Pu alone to come forward and said to him, "The former emperor was grateful for Aiqing's loyalty, and often sighed, but I did not expect to see Aiqing now."
Yang Pu was moved to tears after hearing this, and Empress Zhang could not help but shed tears, and everyone present was very sad.
When Zhu Gaozi was first crown prince, he was slandered and framed by Zhu Gaoxu and others several times, many Eastern Palace officials died in prison, Yang Pu and Huang Huai were imprisoned for ten years, and several times they were on the verge of death, Zhu Gaozi often thought of these loyal Eastern Palace officials in the Eastern Palace, and Empress Zhang was also very sympathetic to their suffering, so she said such a thing to Yang Pu.
Then, Empress Zhang said to Zhu Qizhen: "These five ministers, the three dynasties of the past, are enough to take on the heavy responsibility of assisting, and the emperor handles government affairs, so he should consult with these five ministers." ”
In the third year of orthodoxy, the compilation and revision of the Records of Emperor Xuanzong was completed, and Yang Pu was promoted to a scholar of Shaobao and Wuyingdian University.
Yang Pu is simple and upright, has no city government, is respectful and cautious, when the ministers have a fierce argument, some ministers speak harshly to each other, and Yang Pu has excellent integrity, always can be treated calmly with a normal heart, and the ministers all sigh and admire.
At that time, Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu were called "Three Yangs", and most of the administrative affairs were handled by them, Yang Shiqi was "Western Yang", Yang Rong was "Eastern Yang", Yang Pu was "Southern Yang", "When it was time, Wang Zhen was not yet crossed, the world was peaceful, and there was no loss of government in the dynasty" (Ming Shi Yang Pu Biography).
Later, Yang Rong and Yang Shiqi died one after another, Ma Yu, Gao Gu, and Cao Nai entered the cabinet late, Yang Pu was unable to support himself, and the power of the eunuch Wang Zhen began to expand.
In the eleventh year of orthodoxy, Yang Pu died at the age of seventy-five and was posthumously awarded the title of Taishi, and his grandson Yang Shou was given the title of Shangbao Sicheng (尚宝司丞).