早期經歷
自(zi)幼家道貧(pin)寒,好(hao)讀書,苦練武(wu),迫于生計,投(tou)身行伍(wu),任鎮遠鎮千總(zong)。
嘉慶二年(1797),鎮壓石柳(liu)鄧、吳八月領(ling)導的湘(xiang)黔苗民起(qi)義有(you)功(gong),擢(zhuo)升為臺(tai)拱營守備。
鎮壓白蓮教起義
嘉(jia)慶三年(1798),隨額(e)勒登保清(qing)剿(jiao)白蓮教起義,每戰皆為先鋒,擊敗張漢(han)潮于南(nan)漳,賞(shang)戴(dai)花翎,隨后隨軍入四川(chuan),擒(qin)獲羅其清(qing)于巴(ba)州(今(jin)四川(chuan)巴(ba)中)。
嘉(jia)慶四年(1799),歷(li)任平遠(yuan)協都司、下江(jiang)營游擊。
嘉慶(qing)五年(nian)(1800),隨軍入甘肅,升(sheng)兩廣督標后營參(can)將(jiang)。四月,隨楊遇春攔截楊開甲、張天(tian)倫,斬首六百級,因(yin)功(gong)賜“誠(cheng)勇巴圖魯(lu)”名(ming)號。七月,升(sheng)廣西新(xin)泰協(xie)副將(jiang)。八月,連敗伍懷志于成縣、階州,身先士(shi)卒的表現(xian)得到(dao)嘉慶(qing)帝贊賞。嘉慶(qing)六年(nian)(1801),擢(zhuo)升(sheng)陜西寧陜鎮總(zong)兵。
遭遇挫折
嘉慶十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(1806)初,調任固原提督,副將楊之震(zhen)繼任原職,引起(qi)軍(jun)中嘩變(bian),楊芳(fang)單騎降服叛軍(jun)首領(ling)蒲大芳(fang)。詔(zhao)令(ling)治罪(zui),發配邊疆(jiang),幸得德楞泰(tai)力(li)保(bao)。嘉慶十(shi)二年(nian)(1807),恩(en)準釋放,以(yi)守備、千總補用。
嘉(jia)(jia)慶十(shi)三(san)年(1808),補松(song)桃(tao)協千總(zong)。嘉(jia)(jia)慶十(shi)五(wu)年(1810)三(san)月,賜三(san)品(pin)頂戴,調(diao)廣東右翼鎮(zhen)總(zong)兵。十(shi)月,調(diao)任陜西西安鎮(zhen)總(zong)兵。嘉(jia)(jia)慶十(shi)六年(1811),丁母(mu)憂。
嘉慶十八年(1813),服闕,補河南河北(bei)鎮(zhen)總兵(bing),隨那彥成(cheng)、楊遇春鎮(zhen)壓天理教起義(yi)有功,賞賜云騎尉世職(zhi),復職(zhi)西安鎮(zhen)總兵(bing)。
嘉慶二十(shi)年(nian)(1815),擢升(sheng)甘肅提督。道(dao)(dao)光元(yuan)年(nian)(1820),調(diao)任(ren)(ren)直隸提督。道(dao)(dao)光三(san)年(nian)(1823),調(diao)任(ren)(ren)湖南提督。道(dao)(dao)光五年(nian)(1825),調(diao)任(ren)(ren)固(gu)原提督。
鴉(ya)片戰爭爆發(fa),楊芳隨(sui)參(can)贊(zan)大臣(chen)奕山赴廣東迎敵,用陰門陣對抗英(ying)國軍艦,被(bei)時人和后人嘲笑(xiao),留下千古笑(xiao)柄。失敗后,畏敵主(zhu)和。之后回任湖南提(ti)督。
嘉(jia)慶十九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1814)至道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)十八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)又先后(hou)(hou)調(diao)(diao)(diao)任(ren)甘肅、湖(hu)(hu)南、直(zhi)隸、固原(yuan)、廣西、四川(chuan)(chuan)等(deng)(deng)(deng)省提(ti)督(du)。 道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1827)二(er)月(yue),楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)奉令隨揚威將軍(jun)長齡、參贊(zan)大臣楊遇春等(deng)(deng)(deng)率兵四萬,平(ping)息回(hui)酋(qiu)張格(ge)爾叛亂,生擒張格(ge)爾。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)(di)大喜,下諭(yu)宣(xuan)示中(zhong)外,封(feng)他(ta)(ta)為三(san)等(deng)(deng)(deng)果(guo)(guo)勇(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou),賜紫(zi)韁,賞戴雙眼孔雀翎(ling),晉升為御前(qian)侍衛,加(jia)太(tai)子太(tai)保銜,像繪紫(zi)光(guang)(guang)(guang)閣。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1829),應召進(jin)京,道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)(di)召見20余(yu)次(ci),晉封(feng)二(er)等(deng)(deng)(deng)果(guo)(guo)勇(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou)、太(tai)子太(tai)縛,準(zhun)許(xu)在(zai)紫(zi)禁城騎(qi)馬。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1830),楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)60壽辰,道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)(di)又親自(zi)書寫(xie)“酬庸錫羨”的匾額(e)和(he)(he)“福(fu)壽”二(er)字賜之。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1833),楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)在(zai)任(ren)四川(chuan)(chuan)提(ti)督(du)期(qi)間,采取招撫(fu)與(yu)鎮(zhen)(zhen)壓兼(jian)施的手段,鎮(zhen)(zhen)壓了(le)四川(chuan)(chuan)清溪(xi)、越西等(deng)(deng)(deng)地的彝(yi)族起義(yi),被晉封(feng)為一等(deng)(deng)(deng)果(guo)(guo)勇(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou)。次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),因彝(yi)民再次(ci)起義(yi),事態擴大,降為二(er)等(deng)(deng)(deng)果(guo)(guo)勇(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou),以總(zong)兵調(diao)(diao)(diao)甘肅后(hou)(hou)補。楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)憂悶(men)在(zai)胸,閑居府中(zhong),整理(li)自(zi)己(ji)多年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)來所寫(xie)詩詞(ci)、筆記,并撰寫(xie)《果(guo)(guo)勇(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou)自(zi)編年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)譜》和(he)(he)《平(ping)平(ping)錄》,著重記述他(ta)(ta)40多年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)征(zheng)戰(zhan)(zhan)的經歷。 道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1835),楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)已65歲(sui),以病求退獲準(zhun)。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)十六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1836),湖(hu)(hu)南鎮(zhen)(zhen)筸鎮(zhen)(zhen)兵變,道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)(di)又啟用他(ta)(ta)。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)二(er)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1840)六(liu)月(yue),中(zhong)國近代史上(shang)發生第一次(ci)鴉片戰(zhan)(zhan)爭。次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)正(zheng)月(yue),道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)(di)下詔對英(ying)宣(xuan)戰(zhan)(zhan),命楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)和(he)(he)戶部尚書隆文為參贊(zan)大臣,調(diao)(diao)(diao)兵開赴廣州,抗(kang)擊英(ying)軍(jun)。他(ta)(ta)來廣東前(qian),官(guan)位湖(hu)(hu)南提(ti)督(du),正(zheng)準(zhun)備進(jin)京請(qing)訓,行至江(jiang)西豐城,于2月(yue)12日奉到(dao)參贊(zan)大人的任(ren)命,立即(ji)折道(dao)(dao)(dao)南下。后(hou)(hou)因清庭腐敗,簽訂喪權(quan)辱國不平(ping)等(deng)(deng)(deng)的《廣州條約》,楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)痛心疾首(shou),仍留守廣州,繼續管理(li)軍(jun)務。六(liu)月(yue),他(ta)(ta)騎(qi)馬出城巡察營汛炮(pao)臺,不慎(shen)失馬閃挫,重病臥床。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)(di)念他(ta)(ta)在(zai)廣州不能(neng)靜心養(yang)病,批準(zhun)他(ta)(ta)回(hui)湖(hu)(hu)南提(ti)督(du)任(ren)所治(zhi)病。道(dao)(dao)(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)二(er)十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1843),楊芳(fang)(fang)(fang)從(cong)湖(hu)(hu)南告老還(huan)鄉,仍領全額(e)薪俸(feng)。二(er)十六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1846),病逝于松(song)桃土屯家中(zhong),照提(ti)督(du)例賜恤,并謚號勤勇(yong)。
雙(shuang)流清代劉沅編(bian)輯的族譜有他(ta)的《彭孺(ru)人墓(mu)志銘(ming)》《留別劉止唐》二文。
著(zhu)書(shu)立說(shuo),頗有(you)(you)(you)成就。楊芳(fang)雖戎馬五(wu)十(shi)春秋,亦擅文(wen)墨(mo),工詩對,善書(shu)畫(hua),與當時的(de)(de)著(zhu)名文(wen)學家、詩人(ren)龔自珍(zhen)、魏源、張琦、徐松(song)等結(jie)為好友,互贈詩聯(lian)。著(zhu)有(you)(you)(you)《果勇(yong)侯年譜》、《平平錄》十(shi)卷(juan)、《征西筆記(ji)》五(wu)卷(juan)和(he)五(wu)言古詩七百三(san)十(shi)首(shou)。曾書(shu)有(you)(you)(you)行書(shu)七言聯(lian)"天墀禮樂"三(san)千字,海國鯤(kun)鵬“九萬(wan)風”,筆力勁健。貴州(zhou)省博物館有(you)(you)(you)楊芳(fang)《致鄂(e)山等信札(zha)集冊》。能(neng)畫(hua)竹,有(you)(you)(you)墨(mo)竹圖傳世(shi)。清道光(guang)年間(jian)貴州(zhou)巡撫賀長齡在評(ping)價楊芳(fang)的(de)(de)一生(sheng)時,贊其為"有(you)(you)(you)奇(qi)才(cai),有(you)(you)(you)奇(qi)遇,有(you)(you)(you)奇(qi)功"的(de)(de)"天下奇(qi)男(nan)子",他與李世(shi)杰、劉清被譽為"黔中(zhong)三(san)奇(qi)男(nan)"。楊芳(fang)是(shi)被譽為"天挺(ting)異才(cai),文(wen)武兼資(zi)"的(de)(de)黔中(zhong)三(san)奇(qi)男(nan)子。
楊芳其一生(sheng)充滿(man)傳奇色(se)彩與(yu)爭(zheng)議:16歲(sui)投筆從(cong)戎,73歲(sui)告老還鄉,大(da)小百余戰,馳騁幾萬里;軍功顯赫,傷痕累(lei)累(lei),三起三落,仕途坎坷。