Yang Shihou, formally the Prince of Ye, was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang, serving as the main obstacle to the expansion of Later Liang's archenemy Jin during latter parts of the reign of Emperor Taizu and the early parts of the reign of Emperor Taizu's son Zhu Zhen.
19 Facts About Yang Shihou
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However, Yang Shihou did not distinguish himself while serving under Li Keyong.
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The first campaign that Yang Shihou was recorded to have clearly participated in was against Zhu Quanzhong's erstwhile vassal Wang Shifan the military governor of Pinglu Circuit, who rose against Zhu in 903 and subsequently received aid from Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit in the form of an army commanded by the general Wang Maozhang.
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Zhu sent Yang Shihou to give chase, and while Yang was able to defeat and kill Wang Maozhang's rearguard commander Li Qianyu, Wang Maozhang's main strength was able to withdraw.
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Under Zhu's orders, Yang Shihou built floating bridges across the Han, allowing Zhu's army to cross.
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When Zhao's army put up a defense on the southern bank of the Han River, Yang Shihou defeated him and advanced to his capital Xiang Prefecture.
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Yang Shihou sent Wang Ban to Shannan East to serve as acting military governor in Yang's absence.
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Emperor Taizu thereafter sent Yang Shihou, assisted by Liu Xun, to attack Liu Zhijun.
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Yang Shihou defeated Zhou, and forced the Jin forces, which were then sieging Jin Prefecture, to withdraw.
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Emperor Taizu removed the title of commander of the northern armies from Wang and bestowed it on Yang Shihou, sending him to Heyang Circuit to collect the fleeing troops.
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Yang Shihou made Yang the military governor of Xuanyi Circuit.
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Yang Shihou had long had designs on taking the circuit over from its young military governor Luo Zhouhan, but did not dare to do so while Emperor Taizu was alive.
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Once Yang Shihou took over Tianxiong, he began to disregard Zhu Yougui's orders.
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Yang Shihou went to Luoyang to meet Zhu Yougui, who conversed with him humbly and awarded him much treasure, before sending him back to Tianxiong.
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Around the same time, Wang Deming attacked and captured Zongcheng ; Yang Shihou laid an ambush for him at Tangdian and defeated him.
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At Zhao's advice, Zhu Youzhen sent a secret emissary to Yang Shihou to solicit his support.
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Yang Shihou initially was inclined to refuse, believing that as someone who had already pledged loyalty to Zhu Yougui that he should not turn against Zhu Yougui, but his subordinates pointed out that Zhu Yougui had committed patricide and did not deserve loyalty; they pointed out that Yang Shihou would be putting himself in a difficult position if Zhu Youzhen succeeded anyway.
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Yang Shihou therefore agreed, sending his officer Wang Shunxian to Luoyang to discuss the details further with Zhao and Yuan.
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Yang Shihou died in spring 915, and was given posthumous honors.