Yang Fu
Encyclopedia
Yang Fu was an official of Cao Wei
during the late Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. He was credited with defeating the Liang Province warlord, Ma Chao
, and forcing the latter to flee for shelter under the Hanzhong warlord, Zhang Lu. During the reign of Cao Rui
, he proposed to the emperor to correct on his luxurious living style, but was not heeded.
, he replied that "Master Yuan (Yuan Shao
) was lenient but indecisive, foxy but inconclusive; people would not be afraid to his might if he was indecisive, and opportunities could not be realized if he was inconclusive. Even he was strong now, he would not accomplish great things in the end. On the other hand, Master Cao (Cao Cao
) had the ambition and vision, and he was able to make decisions without hesitation. His army is disciplined and strong, his officers were composed of diversity and hard working, so Cao Cao's forces would win. (“袁公宽而不断，好谋而少决；不断则无威，少决则失后事，今虽强，终不能成大业。曹公有雄才远略，决机无疑，法一而兵精，能用度外之人，所任各尽其力，必能济大事者也。”) His accurate prediction earned him fame around the area of Liang Province, and he was hired by Wei Kang (Inspector of Liang Province at the time,) to be his assistant.
, and he had the support of the Qiang and Hu tribes. If you order the army to retreat now and don't make enough preparations here, we forfeit the commanderies within Longshang area." Cao Cao applauded Yang's proposal, but was unable to comply (because he had to deal with Sun Quan
at Ruxukou). After Cao Cao and his huge army left Liang Province, Ma Chao indeed attacked the commanderies of Longshang, and with the help from Zhang Lu, he besieged the city of Ji, which was the last city in Liang Province still loyal to Cao Cao. Despite Yang's valiant effort to resist the enemy, Ji city fell at last, and Yang Fu was forced to become one of Ma Chao's subordinates. However, Yang formulated a simultaneous rebellion against Ma Chao, which ultimately drove Ma off along with the help of Xiahou Yuan
.
's army finding much trouble at Changyu, by meeting a large army under Shu Han
, Yang Fu was the one who advised retreat.
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He was credited with defeating the Liang Province warlord, Ma Chao
Ma Chao
Ma Chao was the oldest son of Ma Teng and a military general during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his elaborate armour and grand skill...
, and forcing the latter to flee for shelter under the Hanzhong warlord, Zhang Lu. During the reign of Cao Rui
Cao Rui
Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...
, he proposed to the emperor to correct on his luxurious living style, but was not heeded.
Early life
Yang Fu was a native of Jicheng within Tianshui commandery, and became a local official during his youth. Once, the generals of Qin area asked his opinion on who would win the battle of GuanduBattle of Guandu
The Battle of Guandu was a military conflict between the warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in 200 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle, which concluded with victory for Cao Cao, was a turning point in the war between the two warlords...
, he replied that "Master Yuan (Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
) was lenient but indecisive, foxy but inconclusive; people would not be afraid to his might if he was indecisive, and opportunities could not be realized if he was inconclusive. Even he was strong now, he would not accomplish great things in the end. On the other hand, Master Cao (Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
) had the ambition and vision, and he was able to make decisions without hesitation. His army is disciplined and strong, his officers were composed of diversity and hard working, so Cao Cao's forces would win. (“袁公宽而不断，好谋而少决；不断则无威，少决则失后事，今虽强，终不能成大业。曹公有雄才远略，决机无疑，法一而兵精，能用度外之人，所任各尽其力，必能济大事者也。”) His accurate prediction earned him fame around the area of Liang Province, and he was hired by Wei Kang (Inspector of Liang Province at the time,) to be his assistant.
Struggle for Liang Province
After the loose confederations of warlords within the passes was crushed by Cao Cao, one of its members, Ma Chao, fled to the Qiang and Hu tribes to recuperate. Cao Cao trailed Ma Chao to Anding when he heard about unrest in the east, so he prepared his troops to return. Yang Fu warned Cao Cao that "Ma Chao had the courage of Ying Bu and Han XinHán Xìn
Han Xin was a military general who served Liu Bang during the Chu–Han contention and contributed greatly to the founding of the Han Dynasty...
, and he had the support of the Qiang and Hu tribes. If you order the army to retreat now and don't make enough preparations here, we forfeit the commanderies within Longshang area." Cao Cao applauded Yang's proposal, but was unable to comply (because he had to deal with Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
at Ruxukou). After Cao Cao and his huge army left Liang Province, Ma Chao indeed attacked the commanderies of Longshang, and with the help from Zhang Lu, he besieged the city of Ji, which was the last city in Liang Province still loyal to Cao Cao. Despite Yang's valiant effort to resist the enemy, Ji city fell at last, and Yang Fu was forced to become one of Ma Chao's subordinates. However, Yang formulated a simultaneous rebellion against Ma Chao, which ultimately drove Ma off along with the help of Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...
.
Service under Cao Rui
Following the event of Cao ZhenCao Zhen
Cao Zhen was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was also a distant nephew of Cao Cao, though the latter treated him like a son. Cao Zhen participated in many...
's army finding much trouble at Changyu, by meeting a large army under Shu Han
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
, Yang Fu was the one who advised retreat.