Yang Jun

Historical Record

Yang Jun, styled Jicai, was a man of Huojia in Henei. In his youth he studied under Bian Rang of Chenliu, who greatly valued his talent. At a time when the realm was in great chaos, Yang Jun foresaw that Henei would become a land of war, and so led more than a hundred households of aged and weak fellow villagers to take refuge in the mountains between Jing and Mi. During this period he actively relieved the poor and shared resources, even sparing no expense to ransom back six families of his kinsmen and old friends who had been seized as slaves ^c:2507.

Yang Jun was renowned for his discernment in appraising men of talent. He once judged the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Sima Yi to be "a man out of the ordinary," and pointed out that Sima Zhi, a cousin of Sima Lang, though less reputed than Sima Lang, in fact surpassed him in ability. He also aided Shen Gu of his own commandery and Wei Xun of Chenliu, enabling them to display their talents; later Shen Gu rose to be a commandery governor, and Wei Xun served as a censor and county magistrate ^c:2510. While taking refuge in Bing Province, Yang Jun discovered that the youth Wang Xiang, though of humble origin, persisted in reading while tending sheep, and so commended his talent and quality, ransomed him to free status, and set him up with a household, finding him a wife and establishing him on his own, showing his readiness to support the rising generation ^c:2507.

After Cao Cao came to power, Yang Jun was appointed Prefect of Quliang, then entered the court as a member of the Chancellor's staff, was recommended as a Flourishing Talent, and successively held the posts of Prefect of Anling and Grand Administrator of Nanyang. While serving in Nanyang, he promoted moral instruction and established schools, winning the praise of officials and people alike. He was later transferred to Military Master Who Campaigns South, and after the founding of the state of Wei was promoted to Commandant. When Cao Cao campaigned against Hanzhong, the affair of Wei Feng's conspiracy occurred at Ye, and Yang Jun impeached himself to confess his fault. The heir apparent Cao Pi was much displeased at this, thinking Yang Jun's act too aloof, and so demoted him to Grand Administrator of Pingyuan ^c:5747.

After Cao Pi proclaimed himself Emperor, Yang Jun again took up the post of Grand Administrator of Nanyang. At that time Wang Xiang, who had once been promoted by Yang Jun, was now a Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, and he earnestly recommended Yang Jun to Cao Pi, praising his lofty virtue and outstanding ability, saying that he "in benevolence is fit to nurture creatures, and in sincerity is fit to move the multitude," and suggesting he be recalled to serve at court ^c:5747. However, Yang Jun's career did not thereby run smoothly. In earlier years, when Cao Cao was choosing his successor, he had secretly canvassed the opinions of his officials. Yang Jun, though he appraised the talents of both Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, praised Cao Zhi the more, which left Cao Pi forever resentful. In the third year of Huangchu, when Cao Pi's carriage made a progress to Wancheng, he vented his anger on Yang Jun because the market was not flourishing enough and ordered him imprisoned. Although the Vice Director of the Masters of Writing Sima Yi, the Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Xiang, Xun Wei, and others kowtowed until they bled to plead for him, Cao Pi would not relent. In the end Yang Jun, knowing he could not escape death, took his own life, and all grieved at the injustice ^c:2510.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Yang Jun any independent characterization, and his life and character are not recorded or developed in detail in the novel. Therefore there is no distinctive episode or literary treatment of Yang Jun in the novel; his image remains at the level of the historical record, with no further dramatic color or personal story given by the novel. The novel's mention of Yang Jun is almost nil, which stands in sharp contrast with the importance he shows in the sources, and means the novel does not give literary expression to such traits as his "taking human relations as his charge," "relieving the poor," and "discerning and appraising men." Thus there is no dialogue or specific action depicting Yang Jun in the novel, and his presence in it is all but negligible. There is no clear historical record of any key role or episode of his in the novel ^c:2507.

Key Relationships

* Bian Rang (student_of): In his youth Yang Jun studied under Bian Rang of Chenliu, who greatly admired and valued his talent ^c:2507.
* Sima Yi (friend_of): Yang Jun had a deep bond with Sima Yi. He once predicted of the young Sima Yi, "This is a man out of the ordinary," holding the highest expectations for his future. Before Yang Jun's death, Sima Yi, together with Wang Xiang and Xun Wei, kowtowed until they bled to plead for him, showing the depth of their friendship ^c:2507, ^c:2510.
* Wang Xiang (mentor_of): Yang Jun was Wang Xiang's benefactor and patron. In his youth Wang Xiang was poor, and it was thanks to Yang Jun's recognition and aid that he escaped his hardship and finally became an important minister at court. Wang Xiang was deeply grateful to Yang Jun, and after Yang Jun's arrest pleaded for him at the risk of his own life ^c:2507, ^c:2510.
* Cao Wei (serves): Yang Jun served as an official under both Cao Cao and Cao Pi, successively holding such posts as Prefect of Quliang, member of the Chancellor's staff, Grand Administrator of Nanyang, Military Master Who Campaigns South, and Commandant, serving the Cao Wei regime ^c:5747.
* Cao Pi (adversary): Because Yang Jun had in earlier years appraised Cao Zhi as superior to Cao Pi, and because he angered Cao Pi in the Wancheng affair, he was finally given death by Cao Pi; relations between the two were tense ^c:2510.

Iconic Scenes

* Supporting the aged and weak in refuge: In a time of war and chaos, Yang Jun foresaw that Henei would become a battlefield, and resolutely led more than a hundred households of aged and weak fellow villagers to take refuge in the mountains between Jing and Mi, relieving the poor and sharing resources during that time, even ruining himself financially to ransom back kinsmen and old friends who had been seized, displaying his benevolence and sense of responsibility ^c:2507.
* Discerning Sima Yi with a perceptive eye: When Sima Yi was only sixteen or seventeen, Yang Jun was able to perceive his extraordinary qualities and predict that he would be "a man out of the ordinary," embodying his outstanding ability to discern and appraise men ^c:2507.
* Promoting Wang Xiang: Yang Jun discovered that the youth Wang Xiang, though a bondservant, studied diligently, and so spared no cost to ransom his freedom and set him up with a household, finding him a wife and establishing him on his own, enabling Wang Xiang to display his talents and finally become a famous minister of his age; this act manifested Yang Jun's character of loving and cherishing talent ^c:2507.
* Pleading for Yang Jun: After Yang Jun was arrested for angering Cao Pi, Sima Yi, Wang Xiang, Xun Wei, and others, heedless of their own safety, kowtowed before Cao Pi until they bled, earnestly pleading for Yang Jun. Wang Xiang in particular even pulled at Cao Pi's robe to stop him, and finally, having failed to save Yang Jun, fell ill and died in grief and indignation; this scene profoundly displays Yang Jun's standing in the hearts of his friends and his tragic end ^c:2510.