Yang An (Former Qin)

Chouchi prince and Former Qin general

Yang An

Administrator of Wudu (武都太守)
In office
355 (355)–356 (356)
Monarch| Yang Guo
General of the Front (前將軍)
In office
366 (366)–? (?)
Monarch| Fu Jian
General Who Guards the South (鎮南將軍)
In office
370 (370)–? (?)
Monarch| Fu Jian
General Who Guards the South (鎮南將軍)
In office
370 (370)–? (?)
Monarch| Fu Jian
Supervisor of the Masters of Writing (吏部尚書)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
Monarch| Fu Jian
Inspector of Liangzhou (梁州刺史)
In office
371 (371)–373 (373)
Monarch| Fu Jian
Governor of Yizhou (益州牧)
In office
373 (373) – c. 379 (c. 379)
Monarch| Fu Jian
Inspector of Jingzhou (荊州刺史)
In office
378 (378) – c. 379 (c. 379)
Monarch| Fu Jian
Personal details
Born| Unknown
Hui County, Gansu
Died| c. 378
Parent|

* Yang Guo (father)

Peerage| Marquis of Boping (博平侯)

In this Chinese name, the family name is  Yang.

Yang An (died c. 378) was a military general of Former Qin and possibly a prince of Chouchi. He was mostly active in Qin's conquest of western China, helping Fu Jian in conquering Chouchi, Yizhou and Liangzhou. Although not as grand as his contemporaries, Deng Qiang and Zhang Ci, the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms classed him as an important general of Qin whose merits were comparable to the two.[1]

## Early life[edit]

Yang An's background is one of contradiction and uncertainty. Prior to his first military act serving Former Qin in 366, there was a crisis in Chouchi back in 356 involving a prince who fled to Qin whose name was also Yang An. If it is to believe that they for the same people, Yang An was a prince of the Di state Chouchi whose father, Yang Guo (楊國) was its Duke. Yang Guo came to power in 355, after his father Yang Chu (楊初) was killed by his uncle Yang Songnu (楊宋奴). Yang Guo avenged his father and claimed his title of duke. The Jin dynasty Grand Marshal, Huan Wen, petitioned him to be given appointments while Yang An was appointed as Administrator of Wudu.[2] Just a year into his reign, Yang Guo would be assassinated by his nephew Yang Jun (楊俊), who usurped his position and caused Yang An to flee to Qin.

The Book of Song shows that Yang Jun remained Duke until his death in 360 and was succeeded by his son Yang Shi (楊世). There was an attempt to call back Yang An to the state by Yang Jun but what became of this was not known.[3] However, the Book of Wei provides a different account, as it states that Yang An actually killed Yang Jun right after his father's assassination in 356.[4] Yang An then took the throne and also died in 360. He was succeeded by Yang Shi, who this time appears to be An's son, not Jun's.[5]

## Service under Fu Jian[edit]

### Early career[edit]

Regardless of his background, what was clear is that Yang An's first appearance under Qin would be in 365, during the Xiongnu rebellion of Liu Weichen and Cao Gu. Yang An led the vanguard together with Mao Sheng (毛盛) while Fu Jian personally campaigned against Cao Gu. Yang An defeated Cao Gu's army and killed his brother, Cao Huo (曹活), forcing Cao Gu to surrender back to Fu Jian while Weichen was captured by Deng Qiang.[6]

In 366, Yang An, Wang Meng and Yao Chang attacked Nanxiang Commandery (南鄉) in Jingzhou, and Jin in response sent Huan Huo to push them back. As Huan Huo reached Xinye, the three generals withdrew, claiming more than ten thousand households north of the Han River.[7]

The following year, the independent warlord in Liangzhou, Li Yan (李儼) was attacked by Former Liang. After asking for help, Fu Jian sent Yang An to reinforce Li at Fuhan (枹罕縣; in present-day Linxia County, Gansu). The situation was resolved after Wang Meng defeated Zhang Tianxi's army near Fuhan and convinced him to withdraw his troops. Thus, no territories were lost between Qin and Liang while Li Yan was moved to Chang'an.[8]

In 368, Yang An participated in quelling the rebellion of Fu Liu (苻柳), Fu Shuang (苻雙), Fu Sou (苻廋) and Fu Wu (苻武). Yang An and Zhang Ci were tasked in facing Fu Sou at Shancheng (陝城, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan) but were ordered by Fu Jian to stack up their supplies and avoid battle first until Fu Shuang and Fu Wu were defeated. Following the defeats of Liu, Shuang, and Wu, Fu Sou was the last of the rebels that Qin had to deal with. Yang An and Zhang Ci received reinforcements in the form of Wang Jian (王鑒) and Deng Qiang sent by Wang Meng. Together, they captured Fu Sou and Shancheng, ending the rebellion as a whole.[9]

### Conquest of Former Yan[edit]

War broke out between Former Qin and its rival state, Former Yan in 370. While Wang Meng was heading the campaign, Fu Jian sent Yang An, who was serving as General Who Guards the South at the time, with 60,000 troops to reinforce Wang. Yang An laid siege on Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) but he could not overcome the city's defenses. When Wang Meng arrived to help after capturing Huguan, the two devised a plan to have Zhang Ci infiltrate the city. They dug tunnels under the walls of Jinyang and sent Zhang Ci with a few hundred men into the city to open the gates. After Zhang Ci did so, Wang Meng and Yang An's forces flooded the city and captured its defender Murong Zhuang.[10] After Qin conquered Yan, Yang An was made Marquis of Boping County.

In 371, Fu Jian handed out a number of positions to his officials and officers including Yang An. Yang, who was the Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, was made Commissioner Bearing Credentials, Chief Controller of Yizhou and Liangzhou, and Inspector of Liangzhou.

### Campaigns in western China[edit]

In 371, Yang An led a campaign into Chouchi. The Duke of Chouchi, Yang Cuan (楊纂) personally led his army against him with assistance from the Jin dynasty. However, Yang An greatly routed them, killing many of the enemy troops, so Cuan retreated. As Qin forces under Fu Ya (苻雅) approached the capital, Yang Cuan's uncle Yang Tong (楊統) led his followers to surrender. Yang Cuan followed suit and Chouchi was conquered. Yang An relocated the people to Guanzhong, leaving the region around Chouchi emptied as a result. Southern Qinzhou was added into his command and he stationed himself in Chouchi.[11] In 373, the Jin general Yang Guang (楊廣) tried to conquer the region but was repelled by Yang An who then harassed the Han River.[12]

The same year, Fu Jian intended to conquer Yizhou and Liangzhou. Yang An was tasked in taking over Zitong Commandery, defended by its Administrator Zhou Xiao. Zhou Xiao defended hard but made the mistake of sending his wife and mother to Jiangling. They were intercepted by the Qin general Zhu Yong (朱肜), so Zhou Xiao, not wanting to risk their lives, quickly surrendered to Yang An. After the conquest, Yang An was appointed as Governor of Yizhou.[13]

The following year, a rebellion arouse in Shu, headed by Zhang Yu (張育) and Yang Guang (楊光). Zhang Yu's regime was supported by the Jin, who helped him defeat Yao Chang, but although he lasted long enough to declare himself King of Shu, his followers started turning on each other and the rebels were disorderly. Yang An, with the aid of Deng Qiang defeated Zhang Yu who fell back to Mianzhu. Yang An then routed Zhang Yu's subordinates Zhang Zhong (張重) and Yin Wan (楊光) south of Chengdu while Deng Qiang killed Zhang Yu and Yang Guang, putting an end to the revolt.[14]

### Siege of Xiangyang[edit]

Yang An would last appear in 378, holding the position of Inspector of Jingzhou. During Fu Jian's great siege of Xiangyang, Yang An and Deng Qiang attacked Fancheng. Yang An seemed to have died during or shortly after the campaign as nothing is recorded of him from this point on.[15] His position of Inspector of Jingzhou was given to Liang Cheng (梁成) at the beginning of 379 following Xiangyang's fall.[16]

## References[edit]

1. ^ (建元以前征討之任亦未之及自匈奴右賢王曹轂之叛也堅自帥中外精鋭討之列。) Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 42
2. ^ (永和十年，改初為天水公。十一年，毅小弟宋奴使姑子梁三王因侍直手刃殺初，初子國率左右誅三王及宋奴，復自立為仇池公。桓溫表國為秦州刺史，國子安為武都太守。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 101
3. ^ (十二年，國從父楊俊復殺國自立，安奔苻生，俊遣使歸順。) Book of Liu Song, Volume 99
4. ^ (十二年，國從叔俊復殺國自立。國子安叛苻生，殺俊，復稱藩於晉。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 101
5. ^ (安死，子世自立為仇池公。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 101
6. ^ (堅率中外精銳以討之，以其前將軍楊安、鎮軍毛盛等為前鋒都督。轂遣弟活距戰於同官川，安大敗之，斬活並四千餘級，轂懼而降。堅徙其酋豪六千餘戶于長安。) Book of Jin, Volume 113
7. ^ (冬十月辛丑，苻堅將王猛、楊安攻南鄉，荊州刺史桓豁救之，師次新野而猛、安退。) Book of Jin, Volume 8
8. ^ (張天錫攻李儼大夏、武始二郡，下之。常據敗儼兵於葵谷，天錫進屯左南。儼懼，退守枹罕，遣其兄子純謝罪於秦，且請救。秦王堅使前將軍楊安、建威將軍王撫帥騎二萬，會王猛以救儼。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 101
9. ^ (春，正月，秦王堅遣後將軍楊成世、左將軍毛嵩分討上邽、安定，輔國將軍王猛、建節將軍鄧羌攻蒲阪、前將軍楊安、廣武將軍張蚝攻陝城。堅命蒲、陝之軍皆距城三十裡，堅壁勿戰，俟秦、雍已平，然後並力取之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 101
10. ^ (秦楊安攻晉陽，晉陽兵多糧足，久之未下。王猛留屯騎校尉苟長戍壺關，引兵助安攻晉陽。為地道，使虎牙將軍張蚝帥壯士數百潛入城中，大呼斬關，納秦兵。辛巳，猛、安入晉陽，執燕并州刺史東海王莊。太傅評畏猛，不敢進，屯於潞川。冬，十月，辛亥，猛留將軍武都毛當戍晉陽，進兵潞川，與慕容評相持。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 102
11. ^ (克之，徙其民於關中，空百頃之地。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 101
12. ^ (梁州刺史楊亮遣其子廣襲仇池，與秦梁州刺史楊安戰，廣兵敗，沮水諸戌皆委城奔潰。亮懼，退守磬險。九月，安進攻漢川。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 103
13. ^ (冬，秦王堅使益州刺史王統、秘書監朱肜帥卒二萬出漢川，前禁將軍毛當、鷹揚將軍徐成帥卒三萬出劍門，入寇梁、益；梁州刺史楊亮帥巴獠萬餘拒之，戰於青谷。亮兵敗，奔固西城。肜遂拔漢中。徐成攻劍門，克之。楊安進攻梓潼，梓潼太守周虓固守涪城，遣步騎數千送母、妻自漢水趣江陵，朱肜邀而獲之，虓遂降於安。十一月，安克梓潼。荊州刺史桓豁遣江夏相竺瑤救梁、益；瑤聞廣漢太守趙長戰死，引兵退。益州刺史周仲孫勒兵拒朱肜於綿竹，聞毛當將至成都，仲孫帥騎五千奔於南中。奉遂取梁、益二州，邛、莋、夜郎皆附於秦。秦王堅以楊安為益州牧，鎮成都；毛當為州刺史，鎮漢中；姚萇為寧州刺史，屯墊江；王統為南秦州刺史，鎮仇池。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 103
14. ^ (夏，五月，蜀人張育、楊光起兵擊秦，有眾二萬，遣使來請兵。秦王堅遣鎮軍將軍鄧羌帥甲士五萬討之。益州刺史竺瑤、威遠將軍桓石虔帥眾三萬攻墊江，姚萇兵敗，退屯五城。瑤、石虔屯巴東。張育自號蜀王，與巴獠酋帥張重、尹萬等五萬餘人進圍成都。六月，育改元黑龍。秋，七月，張育與張重等爭權，舉兵相攻，秦楊安、鄧羌襲育，敗之，育與楊光退屯綿竹。八月，鄧羌敗晉兵於涪西。九月，楊安敗張重、尹萬於成都南，重死，斬首二萬三千級。鄧羌擊張育、楊光於綿竹，皆斬之。益州復入於秦。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 103
15. ^ (秦王堅遣征南大將軍、都督征討諸軍事、守尚書令長樂公丕、武衛將軍苟萇、尚書慕容□帥步騎七萬寇襄陽，以荊州刺史楊安帥樊、鄧之眾為前鋒，征虜將軍始平石越帥精騎一萬出魯陽關，京兆尹慕容垂、揚武將軍姚萇帥眾五萬出南鄉，領軍將軍苟池、右將軍毛當、強弩將軍王顯帥眾四萬出武當，會攻襄陽。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 104
16. ^ (堅欲官之，穆固辭不受。堅以中壘將軍梁成為荊州刺史，配兵一萬，鎮襄陽，選其才望，禮而用之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 105