楊(yang)良(liang)臣(chen)(1461~1528),字順卿(qing),號(hao)南莊(zhuang),即墨人(ren)。為人(ren)重孝道,講義(yi)氣。青(qing)年時,其(qi)父(fu)病(bing)臥床上,楊(yang)良(liang)臣(chen)晝夜(ye)奉侍,毫不(bu)懈怠,為取得父(fu)親(qin)歡心,將家產全部讓予其(qi)兩個胞弟楊(yang)良(liang)士、楊(yang)良(liang)田,以示孝友。其(qi)業師萊陽人(ren)宋琮為靈(ling)寶(bao)縣令,死于任所,因(yin)其(qi)沒有兒子,楊(yang)良(liang)臣(chen)往返五千余(yu)里(li)親(qin)赴靈(ling)寶(bao),護(hu)送其(qi)老師之靈(ling)柩歸葬于故里(li)。
弘治十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1499年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)考中戊午科舉人(ren)(ren)。初授山(shan)(shan)(shan)西太平(ping)縣(xian)縣(xian)令,為(wei)(wei)政(zheng)寬厚(hou),愛護百(bai)姓,因而(er)社(she)會(hui)安定,人(ren)(ren)民樂業。太平(ping)士民曾(ceng)為(wei)(wei)其繪《太平(ping)鳴琴(qin)圖(tu)》以(yi)頌揚其德。后(hou)因父亡守(shou)孝歸(gui)故里,期間于(yu)城南(nan)另(ling)建(jian)一宅名“南(nan)莊(zhuang)”,并于(yu)莊(zhuang)內(nei)建(jian)一“瞻云(yun)樓”,于(yu)晨風夕月(yue)中,南(nan)眺三(san)標諸峰,吟詩著文,排遣情懷,著有(you)《南(nan)莊(zhuang)遺(yi)詩》。三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)孝服(fu)滿后(hou),調任(ren)山(shan)(shan)(shan)西澤(ze)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)黎城縣(xian)令。其時(shi),山(shan)(shan)(shan)西連年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)災(zai)荒,民不(bu)聊生,百(bai)姓紛紛揭竿(gan)。嘉(jia)靖二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1523年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),潞(lu)城縣(xian)人(ren)(ren)陳(chen)(chen)(chen)遷(qian)聚(ju)眾(zhong)于(yu)青(qing)羊(yang)(yang)山(shan)(shan)(shan),打(da)家劫舍。山(shan)(shan)(shan)西巡撫命楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)督領潞(lu)、澤(ze)二州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)及六縣(xian)兵(bing)(bing)民前(qian)往“剿(jiao)(jiao)滅”,楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)鑒于(yu)百(bai)姓饑寒所迫,不(bu)得已(yi)鋌而(er)走險,便單騎入青(qing)羊(yang)(yang)山(shan)(shan)(shan),向陳(chen)(chen)(chen)遷(qian)等(deng)講(jiang)明利害(hai),勸說其率眾(zhong)各(ge)歸(gui)鄉(xiang)(xiang)里。嘉(jia)靖四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1525年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),桑梓(zi)鎮(zhen)民眾(zhong)因同鄰鎮(zhen)爭市(shi)引(yin)起(qi)糾紛,雙方五六千人(ren)(ren)械斗(dou)。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)親赴現(xian)場進行(xing)說服(fu),最終(zhong)化(hua)解了矛(mao)盾(dun)。嘉(jia)靖六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1527年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),潞(lu)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)判王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)宗(zong)(zong)赴任(ren)路(lu)過黎城縣(xian),恰逢楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)外出(chu),未能(neng)很好接(jie)待,引(yin)起(qi)王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)宗(zong)(zong)不(bu)滿,便誣稱楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)與“賊寇”有(you)勾(gou)結,不(bu)用兵(bing)(bing)進剿(jiao)(jiao)。一面奏(zou)報朝廷,誣陷楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)接(jie)受“反民”賄賂,一面報請(qing)山(shan)(shan)(shan)西巡撫發兵(bing)(bing)對以(yi)牛(niu)聚(ju)財(cai)等(deng)為(wei)(wei)首的聚(ju)眾(zhong)造(zao)反者進行(xing)鎮(zhen)壓。嘉(jia)靖七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1528年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))正(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)月(yue),山(shan)(shan)(shan)西都(dou)指揮霍錦、澤(ze)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)知(zhi)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)王(wang)(wang)朝雍(yong)、潞(lu)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)知(zhi)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)郭(guo)鏗(keng)合兵(bing)(bing)對農(nong)民軍(jun)進行(xing)“圍剿(jiao)(jiao)”,農(nong)民軍(jun)憤起(qi)抵抗,官兵(bing)(bing)大敗,霍錦被殺(sha),王(wang)(wang)朝雍(yong)、郭(guo)鏗(keng)被俘。山(shan)(shan)(shan)西巡撫只(zhi)好再(zai)派楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)前(qian)往規勸。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)三(san)次(ci)只(zhi)身往返(fan)農(nong)民軍(jun)駐地,闡(chan)述(shu)利害(hai),使(shi)牛(niu)聚(ju)財(cai)等(deng)解散隊伍,還鄉(xiang)(xiang)歸(gui)農(nong)。事后(hou),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)調任(ren)太原府(fu)通判,仍(reng)留軍(jun)前(qian)。此時(shi),王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)宗(zong)(zong)為(wei)(wei)激化(hua)矛(mao)盾(dun),極(ji)力主張對已(yi)歸(gui)鄉(xiang)(xiang)為(wei)(wei)農(nong)的百(bai)姓進行(xing)屠殺(sha)。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)便上(shang)疏朝廷,陳(chen)(chen)(chen)述(shu)利害(hai),使(shi)王(wang)(wang)正(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)宗(zong)(zong)的陰謀未能(neng)得逞。嘉(jia)靖七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1528年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)逝于(yu)任(ren)所。祀(si)即墨(mo)鄉(xiang)(xiang)賢(xian)、名宦祠。