18 Facts About Yang Wo

Yang Wo was born in 886, during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang.

Yang Wo was the oldest son of Yang Xingmi, who was then the prefect of Lu Prefecture.

Yang Wo's mother was Yang Xingmi's concubine Lady Shi, who was the mother to his younger brother Yang Longyan.

Yang Wo had four other younger brothers, Yang Meng, Yang Pu, Yang Xun, and Yang Che.

The first historical reference to Yang Wo's acts was in 904, by which time Yang Xingmi had become a major warlord in control of Huainan Circuit as well as several other nearby circuits and carried the title of Prince of Wu, and Yang Wo was serving as the commander of all headquarter guards, but was said to not have a good reputation among Yang Xingmi's staff.

Yang Wo, believing Xu was advising him out of good faith, wept and thanked him.

Yang Xingmi's secretary Zhou Yin citing Yang Wo's frivolousness, opposed, instead suggesting that Yang Xingmi entrust the circuit to Liu Wei with a promise from Liu to transfer it to another son of Yang Xingmi's.

Xu and the other guard commander, Zhang Hao opposed Zhou's proposal, pointing out that Yang Wo had fought these years to leave the state to his family.

When Yang Xingmi subsequently issued an order and ordered Zhou to dispatch it to Yang Wo, Zhou did not send it for some time; when Xu and Yan found Yang Xingmi's order still on Zhou's desk, they took it and had it delivered to Yang Wo, who subsequently returned to Yang Prefecture.

Yang Wo wanted to take the tents and screens used by the governor, as well as his guards, with him, but Wang refused to let him leave with those things and soldiers.

Subsequently, Yang Wo began to carry out campaigns to further enlarge his territory.

Yang Wo then commissioned the general Qin Pei to attack Zhennan Circuit, whose long-time military governor Zhong Chuan had recently died, and whose succession by his son Zhong Kuangshi was being contested by his adoptive son Zhong Yangui, who submitted to Yang Wo.

Yang Wo himself assumed the title of military governor of Zhennan, while making Qin the overseer of Hong Prefecture.

When Yang Wo heard of this, he prepared to kill Xu and Zhang, but before he could act, they acted first.

Later in the year, Yang Wo sent Liu Cun and Chen Zhixin to launch a major attack on Ma, with his trusted officer Xu Xuanying as the army monitor.

Yang Wo sent the generals Ling Ye and Li Rao to try to aid Lei, but they were defeated, captured, and executed by Xu Dexun.

Meanwhile, Yang Wo continued to be unable to control the growing powers of Zhang and Xu Wen, but was trying to find ways to do so.

Zhang and Xu subsequently declared that Yang Wo had died of a sudden illness.