楊(yang)乾(qian)運,字(zi)玄(xuan)邈,儻城興勢人也。為(wei)方隅豪族。父天(tian)興,齊安康郡(jun)守(shou)。乾(qian)運少雄武,為(wei)鄉閭所(suo)信(xin)服(fu)。弱冠,州辟主(zhu)簿。孝(xiao)昌(chang)初(chu),除(chu)(chu)宣(xuan)威將(jiang)軍(jun)、奉朝(chao)請,尋為(wei)本州治中(zhong),轉別駕,除(chu)(chu)安康郡(jun)守(shou)。大統初(chu),梁(liang)州民(min)皇甫圓、姜晏聚眾南叛,梁(liang)將(jiang)蘭(lan)欽率兵應接之。以是漢中(zhong)遂陷,乾(qian)運亦(yi)入梁(liang)。
梁(liang)大(da)同(tong)元(yuan)年,除飄武(wu)將軍(jun)(jun)(jun)、西益潼刺(ci)(ci)史(shi),尋轉信武(wu)將軍(jun)(jun)(jun)、黎州(zhou)(zhou)刺(ci)(ci)史(shi)。太清末,遷潼南(nan)梁(liang)二州(zhou)(zhou)刺(ci)(ci)史(shi),加鼓吹(chui)一(yi)部。及(ji)達(da)奚武(wu)圍(wei)南(nan)鄭,武(wu)陵王(wang)蕭紀(ji)遣乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)率(lv)兵援之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),為武(wu)所(suo)敗。紀(ji)時(shi)已稱尊號,以乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)威服(fu)巴、渝,欲(yu)(yu)委方面之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)任,乃拜車(che)騎(qi)將軍(jun)(jun)(jun)、十(shi)三州(zhou)(zhou)諸軍(jun)(jun)(jun)事、梁(liang)州(zhou)(zhou)刺(ci)(ci)史(shi),鎮(zhen)潼州(zhou)(zhou),封萬春縣公,邑四千(qian)戶。時(shi)紀(ji)與(yu)其(qi)兄湘東(dong)王(wang)繹爭帝,遂(sui)連兵不(bu)息(xi)。乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)兄子略說乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)曰:“自侯景(jing)逆亂,江左(zuo)沸騰。今大(da)賊初平,生民(min)離散,理宜(yi)同(tong)心(xin)戮力,保國寧民(min)。今乃兄弟親尋干戈(ge)。取(qu)敗之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)道也。可謂(wei)朽(xiu)木不(bu)雕,世(shi)衰難佐(zuo)。古人(ren)有(you)言‘危邦不(bu)入,亂邦不(bu)居(ju)’,又(you)云‘見(jian)機(ji)而作,不(bu)俟終(zhong)日’,今若適彼(bi)樂土(tu),送款(kuan)關中,必(bi)當(dang)功名兩全,貽(yi)慶于后。”乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)深然之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),乃令(ling)略將二千(qian)人(ren)鎮(zhen)劍閣。又(you)遣其(qi)婿樂廣(guang)(guang)鎮(zhen)安(an)州(zhou)(zhou)。仍(reng)誡略等(deng)曰:“吾欲(yu)(yu)歸附關中,但未有(you)由(you)耳(er)。若有(you)使(shi)(shi)來(lai),即宜(yi)盡(jin)禮迎接。”會太祖(zu)令(ling)乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)孫法(fa)洛及(ji)使(shi)(shi)人(ren)牛伯友等(deng)至(zhi),略即夜(ye)送之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)乃令(ling)使(shi)(shi)人(ren)李若等(deng)入關送款(kuan)。太祖(zu)乃密賜乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)鐵券,授(shou)使(shi)(shi)持節、驃騎(qi)大(da)將軍(jun)(jun)(jun)、開府(fu)儀同(tong)三司、侍中、梁(liang)州(zhou)(zhou)刺(ci)(ci)史(shi)、安(an)康郡公。及(ji)尉遲迥(jiong)令(ling)開府(fu)侯呂陵始為前軍(jun)(jun)(jun),至(zhi)劍閣,略即退就樂廣(guang)(guang),謀欲(yu)(yu)翻城。恐其(qi)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)將任電等(deng)不(bu)同(tong),先執之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),然后出城見(jian)始。始乃入據安(an)州(zhou)(zhou),令(ling)廣(guang)(guang)、略等(deng)往報(bao)乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)。乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)遂(sui)降迥(jiong)。迥(jiong)因此進軍(jun)(jun)(jun)成都,數旬克之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。魏廢帝三年,乾(qian)(qian)運(yun)至(zhi)京(jing)師。太祖(zu)嘉(jia)其(qi)忠款(kuan),禮遇隆渥。尋卒(zu)于長安(an),贈本官,加直巴集三州(zhou)(zhou)刺(ci)(ci)史(shi)、尚書右仆射。