楊(yang)良臣(1461~1528),字順卿,號南莊,即(ji)墨(mo)人。為人重孝道,講義氣(qi)。青年時,其(qi)父(fu)病(bing)臥床上,楊(yang)良臣晝(zhou)夜奉侍,毫不懈怠(dai),為取得父(fu)親歡心,將家產全部讓予其(qi)兩個胞弟(di)楊(yang)良士(shi)、楊(yang)良田,以示孝友。其(qi)業師萊陽(yang)人宋(song)琮(cong)為靈寶縣令,死(si)于(yu)任所,因其(qi)沒有(you)兒(er)子(zi),楊(yang)良臣往返五千余(yu)里(li)親赴(fu)靈寶,護送其(qi)老師之(zhi)靈柩歸葬于(yu)故(gu)里(li)。
弘治十二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1499年(nian)(nian)),楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)考中(zhong)戊午科舉人(ren)(ren)。初(chu)授山(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)太(tai)平縣(xian)(xian)(xian)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)令(ling),為政(zheng)寬厚,愛護百(bai)姓(xing)(xing),因而(er)社會安定(ding),人(ren)(ren)民(min)(min)樂業。太(tai)平士(shi)民(min)(min)曾(ceng)為其(qi)繪《太(tai)平鳴琴圖(tu)》以(yi)頌揚其(qi)德。后(hou)因父亡(wang)守孝歸故(gu)里,期間于(yu)(yu)城南另建一宅名“南莊”,并于(yu)(yu)莊內建一“瞻云樓”,于(yu)(yu)晨(chen)風夕月(yue)中(zhong),南眺三標(biao)諸峰(feng),吟(yin)詩著文,排遣情懷,著有《南莊遺詩》。三年(nian)(nian)孝服(fu)滿(man)后(hou),調任山(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)澤州(zhou)黎(li)(li)城縣(xian)(xian)(xian)令(ling)。其(qi)時,山(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)連年(nian)(nian)災荒,民(min)(min)不聊生,百(bai)姓(xing)(xing)紛紛揭竿。嘉靖(jing)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1523年(nian)(nian)),潞城縣(xian)(xian)(xian)人(ren)(ren)陳(chen)遷聚(ju)眾(zhong)(zhong)于(yu)(yu)青(qing)羊山(shan)(shan),打家(jia)劫舍。山(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)巡(xun)撫(fu)命(ming)楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)督領潞、澤二(er)州(zhou)及六(liu)(liu)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)兵民(min)(min)前(qian)往“剿(jiao)滅”,楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)鑒于(yu)(yu)百(bai)姓(xing)(xing)饑(ji)寒所迫,不得已鋌而(er)走(zou)險,便(bian)(bian)單騎入青(qing)羊山(shan)(shan),向陳(chen)遷等(deng)(deng)講明利害(hai),勸說其(qi)率眾(zhong)(zhong)各歸鄉(xiang)里。嘉靖(jing)四年(nian)(nian)(1525年(nian)(nian)),桑梓鎮民(min)(min)眾(zhong)(zhong)因同鄰鎮爭市引(yin)起(qi)糾(jiu)紛,雙(shuang)方(fang)五(wu)六(liu)(liu)千人(ren)(ren)械斗(dou)。楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)親(qin)赴現場進(jin)(jin)(jin)行說服(fu),最(zui)終(zhong)化解了(le)矛(mao)盾。嘉靖(jing)六(liu)(liu)年(nian)(nian)(1527年(nian)(nian)),潞州(zhou)州(zhou)判王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)宗(zong)赴任路過黎(li)(li)城縣(xian)(xian)(xian),恰逢(feng)楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)外出,未(wei)能(neng)很好接待(dai),引(yin)起(qi)王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)宗(zong)不滿(man),便(bian)(bian)誣稱楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)與“賊(zei)寇(kou)”有勾結,不用兵進(jin)(jin)(jin)剿(jiao)。一面(mian)奏報朝(chao)廷,誣陷(xian)楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)接受“反民(min)(min)”賄賂,一面(mian)報請山(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)巡(xun)撫(fu)發兵對(dui)以(yi)牛聚(ju)財(cai)等(deng)(deng)為首(shou)的聚(ju)眾(zhong)(zhong)造反者進(jin)(jin)(jin)行鎮壓。嘉靖(jing)七年(nian)(nian)(1528年(nian)(nian))正(zheng)月(yue),山(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)都(dou)指揮霍錦(jin)、澤州(zhou)知州(zhou)王(wang)(wang)朝(chao)雍、潞州(zhou)知州(zhou)郭鏗(keng)合兵對(dui)農(nong)(nong)民(min)(min)軍(jun)進(jin)(jin)(jin)行“圍剿(jiao)”,農(nong)(nong)民(min)(min)軍(jun)憤起(qi)抵抗,官(guan)兵大敗,霍錦(jin)被殺,王(wang)(wang)朝(chao)雍、郭鏗(keng)被俘。山(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)巡(xun)撫(fu)只好再派楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)前(qian)往規勸。楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)三次只身往返農(nong)(nong)民(min)(min)軍(jun)駐地,闡(chan)述利害(hai),使牛聚(ju)財(cai)等(deng)(deng)解散隊伍,還鄉(xiang)歸農(nong)(nong)。事后(hou),楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)調任太(tai)原府通(tong)判,仍留(liu)軍(jun)前(qian)。此(ci)時,王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)宗(zong)為激化矛(mao)盾,極力主張對(dui)已歸鄉(xiang)為農(nong)(nong)的百(bai)姓(xing)(xing)進(jin)(jin)(jin)行屠殺。楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)便(bian)(bian)上疏朝(chao)廷,陳(chen)述利害(hai),使王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)宗(zong)的陰謀未(wei)能(neng)得逞。嘉靖(jing)七年(nian)(nian)(1528年(nian)(nian)),楊(yang)良(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)逝于(yu)(yu)任所。祀即墨鄉(xiang)賢、名宦(huan)祠。