楊(yang)(yang)良臣(chen)(1461~1528),字順卿(qing),號(hao)南莊,即墨人。為(wei)人重孝(xiao)道,講義氣。青年時,其(qi)父病臥床上,楊(yang)(yang)良臣(chen)晝夜奉侍(shi),毫不懈怠,為(wei)取得父親(qin)歡心,將家產全部讓予其(qi)兩個胞弟(di)楊(yang)(yang)良士、楊(yang)(yang)良田(tian),以示孝(xiao)友(you)。其(qi)業師萊陽人宋琮(cong)為(wei)靈(ling)(ling)寶縣令,死(si)于(yu)任所,因(yin)其(qi)沒有(you)兒子,楊(yang)(yang)良臣(chen)往返五千余里親(qin)赴(fu)靈(ling)(ling)寶,護送其(qi)老師之靈(ling)(ling)柩(jiu)歸葬于(yu)故(gu)里。
弘(hong)治十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1499年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)考中戊午(wu)科舉人(ren)。初授山(shan)(shan)(shan)西太(tai)平縣(xian)縣(xian)令,為政寬厚,愛護百(bai)(bai)姓(xing),因而社會(hui)安定,人(ren)民(min)(min)樂業。太(tai)平士民(min)(min)曾為其(qi)(qi)繪《太(tai)平鳴琴圖(tu)》以頌揚其(qi)(qi)德。后因父(fu)亡守孝歸故里(li),期(qi)間于(yu)(yu)(yu)城(cheng)南(nan)(nan)另建一(yi)(yi)宅名“南(nan)(nan)莊(zhuang)”,并于(yu)(yu)(yu)莊(zhuang)內建一(yi)(yi)“瞻云樓(lou)”,于(yu)(yu)(yu)晨風(feng)夕月中,南(nan)(nan)眺三標(biao)諸峰(feng),吟詩(shi)著(zhu)文,排遣情(qing)懷,著(zhu)有(you)《南(nan)(nan)莊(zhuang)遺詩(shi)》。三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)孝服滿后,調任(ren)(ren)山(shan)(shan)(shan)西澤(ze)州(zhou)黎(li)城(cheng)縣(xian)令。其(qi)(qi)時,山(shan)(shan)(shan)西連(lian)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)災(zai)荒,民(min)(min)不聊生,百(bai)(bai)姓(xing)紛紛揭竿。嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)靖(jing)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1523年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),潞(lu)(lu)(lu)城(cheng)縣(xian)人(ren)陳遷聚(ju)眾于(yu)(yu)(yu)青羊山(shan)(shan)(shan),打家劫舍。山(shan)(shan)(shan)西巡撫(fu)(fu)命楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)督領(ling)潞(lu)(lu)(lu)、澤(ze)二州(zhou)及六縣(xian)兵(bing)民(min)(min)前(qian)(qian)往(wang)“剿(jiao)滅”,楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)鑒于(yu)(yu)(yu)百(bai)(bai)姓(xing)饑寒所(suo)(suo)迫,不得已鋌而走險,便單騎入青羊山(shan)(shan)(shan),向陳遷等講明利害(hai)(hai),勸說其(qi)(qi)率眾各歸鄉里(li)。嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)靖(jing)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1525年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),桑梓鎮(zhen)民(min)(min)眾因同鄰鎮(zhen)爭市引起糾紛,雙方五六千人(ren)械斗。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)親赴現場(chang)進(jin)(jin)行說服,最(zui)終(zhong)化解了矛盾(dun)。嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)靖(jing)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1527年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),潞(lu)(lu)(lu)州(zhou)州(zhou)判王(wang)(wang)正宗(zong)(zong)赴任(ren)(ren)路過黎(li)城(cheng)縣(xian),恰逢楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)外出,未能很(hen)好接待,引起王(wang)(wang)正宗(zong)(zong)不滿,便誣稱楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)與“賊(zei)寇”有(you)勾結,不用兵(bing)進(jin)(jin)剿(jiao)。一(yi)(yi)面(mian)奏報(bao)朝廷(ting),誣陷楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)接受“反民(min)(min)”賄賂,一(yi)(yi)面(mian)報(bao)請山(shan)(shan)(shan)西巡撫(fu)(fu)發兵(bing)對(dui)以牛聚(ju)財(cai)等為首的(de)聚(ju)眾造(zao)反者進(jin)(jin)行鎮(zhen)壓(ya)。嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)靖(jing)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1528年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))正月,山(shan)(shan)(shan)西都指揮霍錦、澤(ze)州(zhou)知(zhi)(zhi)州(zhou)王(wang)(wang)朝雍、潞(lu)(lu)(lu)州(zhou)知(zhi)(zhi)州(zhou)郭(guo)(guo)鏗(keng)(keng)合兵(bing)對(dui)農(nong)(nong)民(min)(min)軍(jun)進(jin)(jin)行“圍剿(jiao)”,農(nong)(nong)民(min)(min)軍(jun)憤起抵抗(kang),官兵(bing)大敗(bai),霍錦被殺(sha),王(wang)(wang)朝雍、郭(guo)(guo)鏗(keng)(keng)被俘(fu)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)西巡撫(fu)(fu)只好再(zai)派楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)前(qian)(qian)往(wang)規(gui)勸。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)三次只身往(wang)返(fan)農(nong)(nong)民(min)(min)軍(jun)駐(zhu)地,闡述利害(hai)(hai),使牛聚(ju)財(cai)等解散隊伍,還(huan)鄉歸農(nong)(nong)。事后,楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)調任(ren)(ren)太(tai)原府通判,仍留軍(jun)前(qian)(qian)。此(ci)時,王(wang)(wang)正宗(zong)(zong)為激(ji)化矛盾(dun),極力主(zhu)張對(dui)已歸鄉為農(nong)(nong)的(de)百(bai)(bai)姓(xing)進(jin)(jin)行屠(tu)殺(sha)。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)便上疏朝廷(ting),陳述利害(hai)(hai),使王(wang)(wang)正宗(zong)(zong)的(de)陰謀(mou)未能得逞。嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)靖(jing)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1528年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)良(liang)(liang)(liang)臣(chen)(chen)逝于(yu)(yu)(yu)任(ren)(ren)所(suo)(suo)。祀即(ji)墨(mo)鄉賢(xian)、名宦祠。