The Yang family, the Hu family, the Gao family, and the Zheng family are known as the four great military generals of the Northern Song Dynasty. In the folk legend, the moving deeds of Yang Ye, Yang Yanzhao, Yang Zongbao, and Yang Wenguang, the four generations of the Yang family, defended the northern Xinjiang and defended the country, and they are popular among the people. In fact, Yang Zongbao is a fictional character, and Yang Ye, Yang Yanzhao, and Yang Wenguang do have their own people in history, but they have no great merits, and they are inferior to the generals and generals. As for whether Yang Zaixing and Yang Cunzhong are descendants of Yang Ye, there is no way to verify.
1.Yang Cunzhong.
Yang Cunzhong. Yang Cunzhong is a native of Dai County, Shanxi, "burly and heavy, less vigilant", learned Sun Wu's art of war, is good at riding and shooting, and has great strength. As Zhang Jun's general, he became a confidant of Zhao Gou of Song Gaozong. Lotus Pond broke Liu Yi and Zhegao defeated the vultures, and the name shocked the north. A lifetime of horses, more than 200 battles, more than 50 wounds, in and out of the guard for 40 years, "the longest soldier, noble pet Dulong, but quite able to know a few, not a disaster." "The official is the inspector of the school, and the opening of the palace is the commander of the three divisions and the front of the palace, and the prince of the country is honored. Jia Taifu, the king of Tong'an County.
He died in 1166 at the age of 65. Posthumously presented and the king, nicknamed Wu Gong. Ranked among the Seven Kings of ZTE.
2.Yang Zaixing.
Yang Zaixing. Yang Zaixing was a general of Cao Cheng in his early years, abandoned the darkness and turned to the light, served under Yue Fei, fought everywhere, and made many military exploits, known as the master of the moment, and was feared by the enemy. In the battle of Yuncheng, Yang Zaixing single-handedly rushed into battle, trying to capture the vultures in an attempt, with dozens of wounds in his body, and dozens of Jin soldiers were killed.
In 1140, Yang Zaixing and Li Zhang led 300 cavalry as outposts, encountered the enemy Xiaoshang River, the two sides started a big battle, killed more than 2,000 Jin troops, and finally died because they were outnumbered and shot countless arrows, at the age of 37.
3.Yang Ye. 
Yang Ye. Yang Ye is a native of Shenmu in Shaanxi, a man who is good at riding and shooting, and is known for his bravery. He is a famous general of the Northern Han Dynasty, has repeatedly made military exploits, and has been invincible in the country, and the official has been the envoy of the Jianxiong Army.
Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi defeated the Northern Han Dynasty, Yang Ye surrendered to the Song Dynasty, successively served as the general of the left leading army Wei and the defense envoy of Zhengzhou. In the battle of Yanmen Pass, Yang Ye and Pan Mei attacked back and forth, defeated the Liao soldiers, beheaded Xiao Duli, captured Li Chongzhu, and moved to Yunzhou to observe the envoy. Since then, the sound has been powerful in the Khitan.
Yang Ye "doesn't know how to read, is loyal and brave, has resourcefulness, practices offensive battles, and shares joys and hardships with soldiers." ”
In 986, Yongxi's Northern Expedition, Cao Bin's Eastern Route Army was defeated at Qigou Pass. Pan Mei led the Western Route Army to cover the southward retreat of the people of Sizhou, and the commander Pan Mei did not avoid the enemy from Yang Ye, divided his troops to lure the enemy, and set up an ambush to block the strategy. The prison army Wang Yu coerced Yang Ye to fight, Yang Ye was forced to lead his troops to take risks and fell into a heavy siege, and fought hard all day without reinforcements, and was captured by an arrow, and died of hunger strike for three days. The imperial court posthumously presented Yang Ye as a lieutenant and an envoy of the Datong Army. Pan Mei was demoted**, and Wang Yu was exiled to Jinzhou.
4.Yang Wenguang.
Yang Wenguang is the grandson of Yang Ye and the son of Yang Yanzhao. Born in Jiangmen, because his father was an official, he used "class to beg thieves", and promoted to the palace with merit, and was appreciated by Fan Zhongyan and placed under his command. With Zhide Shunjun from Di Qing to pacify the rebellion of Yongzhou Nong Zhigao, because of his ability to dominate, he served as the jurisdiction of Guangxi Ling, and also judged Yi and Yong Erzhou. With the heir of Yang Wenguang's famous general, and with meritorious service, he was recruited into Beijing as the commander of the four compartments of the Dragon Shenwei and became the general of the forbidden army. Served as the defense envoy of Xingzhou, the deputy governor of Qin Fenglu, was ordered to lead the army to build the city, and took the lead to seize the people, defeated the Western Xia invaders, and captured a lot of people, after this battle, the Western Xia did not dare to disturb. Tired of moving Jingzhou Zhizhou, Zhenrong Army Zhijun, the official to the guard infantry army Yuhou, Dingzhou Road deputy capital chief.
In 1074, the Song Liao dispute broke out again, and Yang Wenguang presented a formation map and a strategy to take Youyan, but the court did not have time to review it. In the same year, Yang Wenguang died in Dingzhou at the age of 75 and was posthumously presented as an observer in the same state.
5.Yang Yanzhao.
Yang Yanzhao. Yang Yanzhao is a native of Shenmu, Shaanxi, and the son of Yang Ye. Young and silent, for childhood, more plays for the military formation. Less from Yang Ye to fight on the battlefield. When Yang Ye attacked Ying and Shuozhou, Yang Yanzhao was the vanguard, fighting under the city of Shuozhou, regardless of the arrow in his arm, the more he fought, the more courageous he became.
In 999, the Empress Dowager Xiao of Liao led an army to harass the frontier, and Yang Yanzhao insisted on Suicheng Jiaori, so that the Liao army broke the siege and retreated. Promoted to the history of Mozhou with military exploits.
The Liao army marched south to force Lanzhou, Yang Yanzhao wrote a strategy to break the enemy, but did not get a reply, but led his troops deep into the territory of Liao, captured a large number of people, and raised the Yangguan deputy capital to deploy. He died in 1014 at the age of 57. Song Zhenzong sighed for it and sent an envoy to protect the cowardice, and the people of Heshuo wept when they looked at the coffin, and it won the hearts of the people.
Yang Yanzhao has been in the border pass for more than 20 years, with his wisdom and bravery, he is good at fighting, he is strict in command, and he shares the joys and hardships with Shi Xin, and he must be the first to meet the enemy. The line of the formation is strong, and the merit is under the line, so people are happy to use it. The prestige is shocked from far and near, and it is feared by the Khitan, and the Liao State calls it the "Southern Six Dippers" according to customs, and is called Yang Liulang.