早期經歷
自幼(you)家(jia)道貧寒,好讀書,苦練武,迫于生計,投身(shen)行(xing)伍,任鎮(zhen)遠鎮(zhen)千(qian)總。
嘉慶二(er)年(1797),鎮壓石柳(liu)鄧、吳(wu)八月(yue)領導的(de)湘黔苗民(min)起義有功,擢升為臺拱營守備。
鎮壓白蓮教起義
嘉(jia)慶三年(1798),隨額勒登保(bao)清(qing)剿白蓮教起義,每戰皆為先鋒,擊敗張漢潮于(yu)南漳,賞(shang)戴花(hua)翎,隨后隨軍(jun)入四川(chuan)(chuan),擒(qin)獲羅其(qi)清(qing)于(yu)巴州(今(jin)四川(chuan)(chuan)巴中(zhong))。
嘉慶(qing)四年(1799),歷(li)任平遠協都(dou)司(si)、下江營游(you)擊。
嘉(jia)慶五年(nian)(1800),隨(sui)軍入甘肅,升(sheng)兩(liang)廣督(du)標后營(ying)參(can)將(jiang)。四月(yue),隨(sui)楊遇春攔截楊開甲、張天倫,斬首六(liu)百(bai)級,因功賜“誠(cheng)勇巴(ba)圖魯”名號。七(qi)月(yue),升(sheng)廣西新泰(tai)協(xie)副將(jiang)。八月(yue),連敗伍(wu)懷志于(yu)成縣(xian)、階州,身先士卒(zu)的表現得(de)到嘉(jia)慶帝贊(zan)賞。嘉(jia)慶六(liu)年(nian)(1801),擢升(sheng)陜(shan)西寧(ning)陜(shan)鎮總(zong)兵(bing)。
遭遇挫折
嘉慶十一年(1806)初,調(diao)任(ren)固原(yuan)提督,副(fu)將楊之(zhi)震繼任(ren)原(yuan)職,引起軍(jun)(jun)中嘩變,楊芳單騎降服叛軍(jun)(jun)首領蒲(pu)大芳。詔(zhao)令治(zhi)罪(zui),發配邊疆,幸(xing)得德楞泰(tai)力保(bao)。嘉慶十二(er)年(1807),恩(en)準釋(shi)放,以守備、千(qian)總補用。
嘉(jia)慶十(shi)三(san)年(1808),補松桃協千總。嘉(jia)慶十(shi)五年(1810)三(san)月,賜三(san)品頂(ding)戴(dai),調廣東(dong)右翼鎮總兵(bing)。十(shi)月,調任陜西西安鎮總兵(bing)。嘉(jia)慶十(shi)六年(1811),丁母憂。
嘉慶十八年(1813),服闕,補河(he)南河(he)北鎮總兵,隨那彥成、楊遇春鎮壓天(tian)理教(jiao)起義有功,賞(shang)賜云騎尉(wei)世職,復職西安(an)鎮總兵。
嘉慶二十年(1815),擢升甘(gan)肅提督(du)(du)。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)元年(1820),調(diao)任直隸提督(du)(du)。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)三年(1823),調(diao)任湖南提督(du)(du)。道(dao)(dao)光(guang)五年(1825),調(diao)任固原提督(du)(du)。
鴉片戰爭(zheng)爆發(fa),楊芳隨(sui)參贊(zan)大臣(chen)奕山(shan)赴廣(guang)東迎敵(di),用陰門陣對抗英國(guo)軍艦(jian),被時人和后(hou)人嘲笑,留下千古笑柄。失敗后(hou),畏敵(di)主和。之后(hou)回任湖南提督。
嘉慶十九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1814)至道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)又先后(hou)調任(ren)甘肅、湖(hu)南(nan)、直(zhi)隸、固原、廣西(xi)、四(si)(si)川(chuan)等(deng)省(sheng)提(ti)督(du)。 道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1827)二(er)(er)月,楊(yang)(yang)芳奉令隨(sui)揚威將軍長齡、參(can)贊大(da)(da)臣楊(yang)(yang)遇(yu)春等(deng)率兵四(si)(si)萬,平(ping)息回(hui)酋張格爾叛亂,生(sheng)擒張格爾。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)大(da)(da)喜,下諭宣示中(zhong)(zhong)外(wai),封(feng)他為(wei)三等(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou),賜紫韁,賞戴雙眼孔雀(que)翎,晉(jin)(jin)升為(wei)御前侍衛,加太子(zi)太保銜,像(xiang)繪紫光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)閣(ge)。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1829),應(ying)召進京(jing),道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)召見(jian)20余次(ci),晉(jin)(jin)封(feng)二(er)(er)等(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou)、太子(zi)太縛,準許在紫禁城(cheng)騎馬。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1830),楊(yang)(yang)芳60壽辰,道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)又親自書(shu)寫(xie)(xie)(xie)“酬庸錫羨”的(de)匾額和“福(fu)壽”二(er)(er)字賜之。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1833),楊(yang)(yang)芳在任(ren)四(si)(si)川(chuan)提(ti)督(du)期間,采(cai)取招(zhao)撫與鎮(zhen)壓兼(jian)施的(de)手(shou)段(duan),鎮(zhen)壓了四(si)(si)川(chuan)清溪、越西(xi)等(deng)地(di)的(de)彝族起義(yi),被晉(jin)(jin)封(feng)為(wei)一等(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou)。次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),因彝民再次(ci)起義(yi),事(shi)態擴大(da)(da),降為(wei)二(er)(er)等(deng)果(guo)勇(yong)(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou),以總兵調甘肅后(hou)補。楊(yang)(yang)芳憂悶在胸,閑居(ju)府(fu)中(zhong)(zhong),整(zheng)理自己多年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)來所寫(xie)(xie)(xie)詩詞(ci)、筆記(ji),并撰寫(xie)(xie)(xie)《果(guo)勇(yong)(yong)侯(hou)(hou)(hou)自編(bian)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)譜》和《平(ping)平(ping)錄》,著重記(ji)述他40多年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)征戰的(de)經歷。 道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1835),楊(yang)(yang)芳已(yi)65歲(sui),以病(bing)(bing)求退獲準。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)十六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1836),湖(hu)南(nan)鎮(zhen)筸鎮(zhen)兵變,道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)又啟用他。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)二(er)(er)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1840)六(liu)月,中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)近代史上發生(sheng)第一次(ci)鴉片(pian)戰爭。次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)正(zheng)月,道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)下詔對英宣戰,命(ming)楊(yang)(yang)芳和戶部尚書(shu)隆文為(wei)參(can)贊大(da)(da)臣,調兵開赴廣州(zhou),抗擊英軍。他來廣東前,官位湖(hu)南(nan)提(ti)督(du),正(zheng)準備(bei)進京(jing)請(qing)訓,行至江西(xi)豐城(cheng),于2月12日奉到(dao)參(can)贊大(da)(da)人的(de)任(ren)命(ming),立即折(zhe)道(dao)南(nan)下。后(hou)因清庭(ting)腐敗,簽(qian)訂喪權辱(ru)國(guo)不平(ping)等(deng)的(de)《廣州(zhou)條(tiao)約》,楊(yang)(yang)芳痛(tong)心疾首,仍留守廣州(zhou),繼續(xu)管理軍務(wu)。六(liu)月,他騎馬出城(cheng)巡察營汛炮臺,不慎失馬閃挫,重病(bing)(bing)臥床。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)帝(di)念(nian)他在廣州(zhou)不能靜心養病(bing)(bing),批準他回(hui)湖(hu)南(nan)提(ti)督(du)任(ren)所治(zhi)病(bing)(bing)。道(dao)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)二(er)(er)十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1843),楊(yang)(yang)芳從湖(hu)南(nan)告老還鄉,仍領全額薪俸(feng)。二(er)(er)十六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1846),病(bing)(bing)逝于松桃(tao)土屯家(jia)中(zhong)(zhong),照提(ti)督(du)例賜恤,并謚號勤勇(yong)(yong)。
雙流清代劉(liu)沅編輯的族(zu)譜有他的《彭(peng)孺人墓志銘》《留(liu)別(bie)劉(liu)止唐》二文(wen)。
著(zhu)書(shu)(shu)立說,頗有(you)(you)成就。楊(yang)芳雖(sui)戎馬五(wu)(wu)十(shi)春秋(qiu),亦擅文(wen)墨(mo),工詩(shi)對,善書(shu)(shu)畫(hua),與當時的(de)著(zhu)名文(wen)學家、詩(shi)人龔自珍、魏(wei)源、張琦(qi)、徐松等結為(wei)好友(you),互贈詩(shi)聯(lian)。著(zhu)有(you)(you)《果勇侯年(nian)譜》、《平(ping)平(ping)錄》十(shi)卷(juan)、《征西(xi)筆記》五(wu)(wu)卷(juan)和五(wu)(wu)言古詩(shi)七百三(san)十(shi)首。曾書(shu)(shu)有(you)(you)行書(shu)(shu)七言聯(lian)"天(tian)(tian)墀禮樂(le)"三(san)千字(zi),海國鯤(kun)鵬“九萬風”,筆力勁健(jian)。貴州省博(bo)物館(guan)有(you)(you)楊(yang)芳《致鄂山等信札集冊》。能(neng)畫(hua)竹,有(you)(you)墨(mo)竹圖(tu)傳世。清道光(guang)年(nian)間貴州巡撫賀長齡在評價楊(yang)芳的(de)一生時,贊(zan)其為(wei)"有(you)(you)奇(qi)才,有(you)(you)奇(qi)遇,有(you)(you)奇(qi)功"的(de)"天(tian)(tian)下奇(qi)男(nan)子",他與李世杰(jie)、劉清被(bei)譽為(wei)"黔(qian)中(zhong)三(san)奇(qi)男(nan)"。楊(yang)芳是被(bei)譽為(wei)"天(tian)(tian)挺異(yi)才,文(wen)武兼資"的(de)黔(qian)中(zhong)三(san)奇(qi)男(nan)子。
楊芳其一生充滿傳奇色彩與爭議:16歲投筆從戎,73歲告老還鄉,大小(xiao)百余戰,馳騁(cheng)幾萬里;軍(jun)功顯赫,傷痕累累,三(san)起三(san)落(luo),仕(shi)途(tu)坎坷(ke)。