早期經歷
自(zi)幼(you)家道貧寒(han),好(hao)讀書(shu),苦(ku)練(lian)武,迫于生計,投身(shen)行伍,任鎮遠鎮千(qian)總。
嘉慶(qing)二年(1797),鎮壓石(shi)柳鄧、吳八月領(ling)導的湘(xiang)黔苗民起義有功(gong),擢升為(wei)臺拱(gong)營守(shou)備。
鎮壓白蓮教起義
嘉慶三(san)年(nian)(1798),隨(sui)額勒登保清剿白(bai)蓮教起義,每戰(zhan)皆為先鋒,擊敗張(zhang)漢潮于南漳,賞戴(dai)花翎,隨(sui)后隨(sui)軍入四川,擒獲羅其(qi)清于巴(ba)州(今四川巴(ba)中)。
嘉(jia)慶四年(1799),歷任(ren)平遠協都司、下江營游擊。
嘉慶(qing)五年(1800),隨軍(jun)入甘肅,升(sheng)兩廣督標后營參將(jiang)。四月,隨楊遇春攔截楊開(kai)甲、張天倫,斬(zhan)首六百級,因功賜“誠勇巴圖魯”名號。七月,升(sheng)廣西(xi)新泰協副將(jiang)。八月,連(lian)敗(bai)伍懷志(zhi)于成縣、階(jie)州,身先士卒的表現得(de)到(dao)嘉慶(qing)帝贊(zan)賞。嘉慶(qing)六年(1801),擢升(sheng)陜西(xi)寧陜鎮總兵。
遭遇挫折
嘉慶(qing)十一年(nian)(1806)初,調任(ren)固原(yuan)提督,副將楊之(zhi)震繼任(ren)原(yuan)職,引起軍中嘩變,楊芳單騎降服叛軍首領蒲大(da)芳。詔令治(zhi)罪,發配邊(bian)疆,幸得德楞泰(tai)力保。嘉慶(qing)十二(er)年(nian)(1807),恩準釋放,以守備(bei)、千總補用。
嘉慶(qing)(qing)十(shi)(shi)三年(1808),補松桃協千總。嘉慶(qing)(qing)十(shi)(shi)五年(1810)三月(yue),賜三品頂(ding)戴,調(diao)廣東(dong)右(you)翼鎮(zhen)總兵。十(shi)(shi)月(yue),調(diao)任陜西(xi)西(xi)安鎮(zhen)總兵。嘉慶(qing)(qing)十(shi)(shi)六年(1811),丁母(mu)憂。
嘉(jia)慶十八年(1813),服(fu)闕,補河南河北鎮總(zong)兵(bing),隨(sui)那彥(yan)成、楊遇(yu)春(chun)鎮壓天理教起義有(you)功,賞賜云(yun)騎尉世職(zhi),復職(zhi)西安鎮總(zong)兵(bing)。
嘉(jia)慶二十年(1815),擢升(sheng)甘肅提督(du)(du)。道光(guang)元年(1820),調任直(zhi)隸提督(du)(du)。道光(guang)三年(1823),調任湖南提督(du)(du)。道光(guang)五年(1825),調任固原提督(du)(du)。
鴉片(pian)戰爭爆發(fa),楊芳隨參贊大臣奕山(shan)赴廣東迎敵,用陰(yin)門(men)陣對抗英(ying)國軍艦,被時(shi)人和后人嘲笑,留下千(qian)古笑柄。失敗(bai)后,畏敵主和。之后回任湖南(nan)提督。
嘉(jia)慶(qing)十(shi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1814)至道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十(shi)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)又先后調(diao)任甘肅、湖南(nan)(nan)、直隸(li)、固原、廣(guang)(guang)(guang)西(xi)(xi)(xi)、四(si)川等(deng)(deng)省(sheng)提(ti)(ti)(ti)督(du)。 道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1827)二(er)月,楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)奉令隨揚(yang)威將(jiang)軍長齡、參(can)贊大(da)(da)臣(chen)楊(yang)(yang)(yang)遇(yu)春(chun)等(deng)(deng)率兵(bing)四(si)萬,平(ping)息回酋張格爾叛(pan)亂,生擒張格爾。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)大(da)(da)喜,下諭宣示中(zhong)外,封他為(wei)三(san)等(deng)(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)侯,賜紫(zi)(zi)韁,賞戴雙眼孔雀翎,晉升(sheng)為(wei)御前侍衛,加太子太保銜,像繪紫(zi)(zi)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)閣。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1829),應召(zhao)進京,道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)召(zhao)見(jian)20余次,晉封二(er)等(deng)(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)侯、太子太縛(fu),準許在紫(zi)(zi)禁(jin)城(cheng)騎(qi)馬。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1830),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)60壽(shou)辰(chen),道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)又親自書寫“酬庸錫羨”的(de)匾(bian)額(e)和(he)“福壽(shou)”二(er)字賜之。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1833),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)在任四(si)川提(ti)(ti)(ti)督(du)期間,采取招撫與鎮(zhen)壓兼施(shi)的(de)手段,鎮(zhen)壓了四(si)川清溪、越西(xi)(xi)(xi)等(deng)(deng)地(di)的(de)彝族起(qi)(qi)義,被晉封為(wei)一等(deng)(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)侯。次年(nian)(nian)(nian),因(yin)彝民再次起(qi)(qi)義,事態擴(kuo)大(da)(da),降為(wei)二(er)等(deng)(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)侯,以總(zong)兵(bing)調(diao)甘肅后補(bu)。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)憂悶(men)在胸,閑居府中(zhong),整理自己多(duo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)來(lai)所寫詩詞、筆記(ji),并撰寫《果(guo)勇(yong)侯自編年(nian)(nian)(nian)譜》和(he)《平(ping)平(ping)錄(lu)》,著重記(ji)述(shu)他40多(duo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)征戰的(de)經歷(li)。 道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1835),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)已(yi)65歲,以病(bing)求退獲準。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1836),湖南(nan)(nan)鎮(zhen)筸鎮(zhen)兵(bing)變,道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)又啟用他。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)二(er)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1840)六月,中(zhong)國近代史上發生第(di)一次鴉(ya)片戰爭。次年(nian)(nian)(nian)正月,道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)下詔對(dui)英宣戰,命楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)和(he)戶部尚書隆文為(wei)參(can)贊大(da)(da)臣(chen),調(diao)兵(bing)開(kai)赴廣(guang)(guang)(guang)州,抗擊英軍。他來(lai)廣(guang)(guang)(guang)東前,官位(wei)湖南(nan)(nan)提(ti)(ti)(ti)督(du),正準備進京請(qing)訓(xun),行至江西(xi)(xi)(xi)豐城(cheng),于2月12日奉到參(can)贊大(da)(da)人(ren)的(de)任命,立即折道(dao)(dao)南(nan)(nan)下。后因(yin)清庭腐敗,簽訂喪權辱國不平(ping)等(deng)(deng)的(de)《廣(guang)(guang)(guang)州條約》,楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)痛心疾(ji)首,仍留守廣(guang)(guang)(guang)州,繼(ji)續(xu)管(guan)理軍務。六月,他騎(qi)馬出城(cheng)巡察營汛炮臺,不慎失馬閃挫,重病(bing)臥(wo)床。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)念他在廣(guang)(guang)(guang)州不能靜心養病(bing),批準他回湖南(nan)(nan)提(ti)(ti)(ti)督(du)任所治病(bing)。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)二(er)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1843),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)芳(fang)(fang)從湖南(nan)(nan)告老還鄉,仍領全(quan)額(e)薪俸(feng)。二(er)十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1846),病(bing)逝于松桃土屯家中(zhong),照提(ti)(ti)(ti)督(du)例賜恤(xu),并謚號勤勇(yong)。
雙流清代(dai)劉沅(yuan)編輯的族(zu)譜有他的《彭孺(ru)人墓志銘》《留別劉止唐(tang)》二文。
著(zhu)書(shu)立說,頗有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)成就。楊(yang)芳(fang)雖戎(rong)馬五十春秋,亦(yi)擅文(wen)墨(mo),工詩對,善書(shu)畫,與當時(shi)的(de)著(zhu)名文(wen)學家(jia)、詩人龔自珍、魏(wei)源(yuan)、張琦、徐松等結為(wei)(wei)好友,互贈詩聯(lian)。著(zhu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)《果勇(yong)侯(hou)年譜(pu)》、《平平錄》十卷、《征西筆記》五卷和五言古詩七百三(san)(san)十首。曾書(shu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)行書(shu)七言聯(lian)"天墀禮樂"三(san)(san)千字(zi),海(hai)國鯤鵬“九萬風”,筆力勁健(jian)。貴州省博物館有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)楊(yang)芳(fang)《致鄂山等信(xin)札集冊》。能(neng)畫竹,有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)墨(mo)竹圖傳世。清道光年間貴州巡(xun)撫賀長齡在評價楊(yang)芳(fang)的(de)一生時(shi),贊其為(wei)(wei)"有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)奇(qi)才,有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)奇(qi)遇,有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)奇(qi)功(gong)"的(de)"天下奇(qi)男子(zi)",他與李(li)世杰、劉清被(bei)譽(yu)為(wei)(wei)"黔中三(san)(san)奇(qi)男"。楊(yang)芳(fang)是被(bei)譽(yu)為(wei)(wei)"天挺異才,文(wen)武兼資"的(de)黔中三(san)(san)奇(qi)男子(zi)。
楊芳(fang)其一生(sheng)充滿傳奇色彩與爭議:16歲投筆從戎,73歲告(gao)老(lao)還(huan)鄉,大小百余戰(zhan),馳(chi)騁幾萬里;軍功顯赫,傷痕(hen)累(lei)累(lei),三(san)起三(san)落,仕途(tu)坎坷(ke)。