生平

早年多舛

东晋晋穆帝|穆帝永和十一年（355年）

杨安祖父东晋前仇池天水公杨初被前任仇池君主杨毅最小的弟弟杨宋奴派人杀害，因此杨安之父杨国便率领左右侍卫诛杀杨宋奴等乱臣贼子，随后继承仇池君主的位置，成为第五任仇池公。而后东晋权臣征西大将军桓温便上表东晋朝廷，任命杨国为东晋镇北将军、秦州刺史、平羌校尉，并任命其子杨安为振威将军、武都太守。

东晋晋穆帝|穆帝永和十二年（356年）

杨安的堂叔祖杨俊杀害其父杨国并自立为仇池君主，杨安为求自保便投奔前秦而去。

初显锋芒

东晋晋哀帝|哀帝(东晋)|兴宁三年（365年）

这一年，匈奴右贤王曹毂、左贤王刘卫辰一起举兵反叛前秦，二人率领部众两万人进攻杏城(今陕西省黄陵县西南)以南的各郡县，随后率军在马兰山驻扎。乌延等各部也一同举兵反叛前秦，并且与刘卫辰、曹毂有所联系。于是前秦天王苻坚便率领朝廷内外的精锐部对前往讨伐这些反叛之徒，并命当时作为前将军的杨安与镇军将军毛盛等担任先锋都督。曹毂遂派遣其弟曹活率军在同官川迎战，两军随后相遇大战，杨安大败曹活，斩杀曹活及斩首其部众四千馀级，曹毂因此大为恐惧，随后便举部众投降前秦。

东晋晋废帝|废帝(东晋)|太和元年（366年）

当年七月，前秦天王苻坚派遣前将军杨安与辅国将军王猛、扬武将军姚苌等人率领两万军队进攻东晋荆州北部诸郡，随后攻打南乡郡。

八月，众将一同在新野击败荆州刺史桓豁，随后在掠走安阳民众万馀户后回归。

西陲战事

东晋晋废帝|废帝(东晋)|太和二年（367年）

四月，前凉末代君主西平公张天锡率领步骑三万人攻打前一年叛秦的李俨统治的大夏、武始二郡，并且成功攻陷二郡。张天锡的部将掌据（一作常据）在葵谷击败李俨的军队，随后张天锡将部队驻扎在左南。李俨感到十分恐惧，一路退守到枹罕，接著派他哥哥的儿子李纯前去向前秦谢罪，并且请求发兵救援。苻坚便命前将军杨安和建威将军王抚率领骑兵两万人，与王猛会合后前去救援李俨。

王猛派南安太守邵羌追击敛岐，让建威将军王抚守卫侯和，陇西太守姜衡守卫白石，随后王猛便与前将军杨安前往救援枹罕的李俨军。张天锡派前凉前将军杨遹在枹罕以东迎战王猛二人，王猛率军大败杨遹，俘获斩首一万七千多人，接著与张天锡在枹罕城下相对持。邵羌在白马擒获敛岐，把他送往前秦都城长安（今陕西省西安市）。王猛随后给张天锡写信，说他接受苻坚的诏令前来救援李俨，没想到却意外和前凉交战，如此相持下去，恐怕对前秦和前凉两国都不利，各自撤军才是良策。张天锡很认同王猛的话，于是在和属下公布后率军返回。

征讨叛乱

十月，当时镇守蒲阪（今山西永济县蒲州镇）的晋公苻柳、镇守上邽（今甘肃天水市）的赵公苻双、镇守陕城（今河南陕县）的魏公苻廋及镇守安定（今甘肃泾川北）的燕公苻武联结一同据城叛变，苻坚送去书信劝四人投降，则一切官爵如故，不予追究，但四人皆不从。

东晋晋废帝|废帝(东晋)|太和三年（368年）

正月，苻坚派兵前往平叛，分别是后将军杨成世攻打上邽；左将军毛嵩攻打安定；辅国将军王猛、建节将军邓羌攻打蒲阪；前将军杨安、广武将军张蚝攻打陕城，苻坚命令攻打蒲阪、陕城的军队皆驻扎在城外三十里，坚壁而勿开战，等待秦州、雍州等地的叛乱后，再合兵一起攻下二地。

九月，在王鉴等人斩杀苻双、苻武之后，与王猛等将会合，攻破蒲阪后斩杀苻柳及其妻。随后王猛屯驻在蒲阪，派遣邓羌与王鉴等和杨安等人会合一起攻打陕城。

十二月，陕城城破，魏公苻廋被擒获后送到苻坚面前，在问完后将其赐死，魏公由苻廋长子承袭，其馀六子皆封县公。

灭燕之战

东晋晋废帝|废帝(东晋)|太和五年（370年）

四月，派遣尚书令、太子太傅王猛率领包含镇南将军杨安等十位将领和六万兵马前往征伐前燕

七月，王猛前往攻打壶关，杨安则负责攻打晋阳。

八月，前燕幽帝慕容暐命令太傅、上庸王慕容评统率朝廷内外的精兵三十万前去抵抗前秦。随后王猛很快攻下壶关，并且活捉前燕上党太守南安王慕容越，周边郡县无不望风而降，燕人大为震恐。

九月，因为晋阳兵多粮足，历经两个月的攻打，杨安未能攻下。王猛便让屯骑校尉苟长戍守在壶关，自己带兵前来帮助杨安攻打晋阳。王猛随后挖掘地道，让虎牙将军张蚝率领数百军士从地道潜入晋杨城中，大声高喊地斩杀关口士卒，引外头的秦兵进城。而后前秦军队成功攻下晋阳，擒拿住前燕并州刺史、东海王慕容庄。

十月，王猛率众将在潞川一带与慕容评决战，前燕军队大败，被前秦军俘斩五万馀人，随后更是乘胜追击，杀死和投降之人又有十万馀人，慕容评单骑逃走返回邺城。

十一月，慕容暐被前秦游击将军郭庆在高阳擒获，前燕便投降前秦，立国34年。杨安也因此场战功，被苻坚封爵为「博平县侯」

仇池攻伐

东晋晋废帝|废帝(东晋)|太和六年（371年）

前一年，篡夺其父仇池公之位的第六代仇池公杨俊之子第七代仇池公杨世过世，而后由其子杨纂继位，并且自立与前秦断绝称臣的关系。不仅如此，杨纂的叔父武都太守杨统起兵与其争权，爆发内乱。

二月，苻坚任命原为吏部尚书的杨安为使持节、都督益、梁州诸军事、梁州刺史。

三月，苻坚派遣杨安与西县侯苻雅、益州刺史王统、并州刺史徐成、羽林左监朱肜、扬武将军姚苌率领步骑兵七万人前往讨伐第八代仇池公杨纂。

四月，当前秦军队到达鹫峡，杨纂带著五万兵马前来抵御前秦大军，东晋的梁州刺史杨亮也派遣督护郭宝、卜靖二人率领千馀骑兵前来为杨纂助阵。两方在峡中大战，杨纂大败，死者多达十之三四，郭宝等将也丧命于此。随后杨纂收拢败兵后逃回仇池。西县侯苻雅苻雅接著猛攻仇池，杨统便率武都之众投降前秦，杨纂见此甚是畏惧，便双手被反绑在背后而面向前的向前秦请降，苻雅便将杨纂送往长安。杨安也因此功被加都督南秦州诸军事，镇守仇池之地。

南取梁益

东晋晋孝武帝|孝武帝宁康元年（373年）

八月，东晋梁州刺史杨亮派遣他的儿子杨广率兵袭击仇池之地，时任前秦梁州刺史的杨安与其作战，成功击败杨广，东晋沮水一代的各守将听闻此事皆弃城逃散。杨亮闻此消息亦十分畏惧，随即率军退守磬险。

九月，杨安随即率兵反攻汉川。

十月，前秦天王苻坚派遣益州刺史王统、秘书监朱肜率领两万士兵进攻汉川，前禁将军毛当、鹰扬将军徐成则率领三万士兵进攻剑门（今四川剑阁东北），以取东晋的梁、益之地。东晋梁州刺史杨亮率领巴蜀少数民族组成的部队(巴獠)万馀人前来抵御前秦的进攻，两军在青谷(今陕西省洋县东北)发生决战。杨亮兵败，逃往魏兴郡西城县（今陕西安康西北）。朱肜随后攻陷汉中，徐成则攻下剑门。

杨安则率兵进攻梓潼，梓潼太守周扬率军固守涪城，遣步骑兵数千人护送其母和妻子自汉水到江陵，朱肜率军邀击而将二人擒获，周扬见此情形便向杨安投降。

十一月，杨安成功攻克梓潼。东晋荆州刺史桓豁派遣江夏相竺瑶率兵前往救助梁、益的东晋军队。当竺瑶听闻广汉太守赵长战死，便引兵退去。东晋益州刺史周仲孙遣兵在绵竹抵御朱肜的军队，而后在听闻毛当就要抵达成都时，周仲孙便率领骑兵五千人逃往南中。前秦于是取得东晋的梁、益二州，周边诸民族如邛、莋、夜郎皆依附于前秦。苻坚于是任命杨安为右大将军、益州牧，镇守成都。毛当则被任命为益州刺史，镇守汉中。姚苌则担任宁州刺史，屯兵垫江；王统为南秦州刺史，镇守仇池。

益州平乱

东晋晋孝武帝|孝武帝宁康二年（374年）

五月，蜀人张育、杨光起兵反抗前秦的统治，拥众多达二万人，并派遣使者到东晋朝廷来请求派兵支援。前秦天王苻坚闻此消息后，便派遣镇军将军邓羌率领五万甲士前往讨伐张育。东晋益州刺史竺瑶、威远将军桓石虔则率领三万兵力攻打垫江来支援张育，姚苌与之交战后兵败，退守到五城并屯兵在那里。随后竺瑶、桓石虔便屯兵在巴东。张育接著自号为蜀王，与巴獠的酋帅张重、尹万合兵五万馀人进攻并且包围成都城。

六月，张育改元为黑龙。

七月，张育与张重等人为了争夺权力，各自举兵相互攻伐，内乱爆发。前秦右大将军、益州牧杨安、镇军将军邓羌见此情况便领兵袭击张育，随后张育败退，张育与杨光便率兵退守至绵竹一带。

八月，前秦镇军将军邓羌在涪西击败东晋军队。

九月，前秦右大将军、益州牧杨安率军在成都以南击败张重、尹万，兵且成功击杀张重，一战斩首蜀军二万三千级。前秦镇军将军邓羌亦在绵竹击败张育、杨光之军，二人皆被斩之。益州之乱遂平定了下来。

合攻襄阳

东晋晋孝武帝|孝武帝(东晋)|太元三年（378年）

二月，前秦天王苻坚派遣征南大将军、都督征讨诸军事、守尚书令、长乐公苻丕，武卫将军苟苌和尚书慕容暐率领七万步骑兵进攻东晋所属的襄阳地区，并以右大将军、荆州刺史杨安率领樊州、邓州的士兵作为前锋，征虏将军石越率领精锐其兵一万从鲁阳关出发，京兆尹慕容垂、扬武将军姚苌率领五万士兵从南乡出发，领军将军苟池、右将军毛当、强弩将军王显率领四万士兵从武当出发，一同会合后攻打襄阳城。

此后历史上再无杨安的记录，但淝水之战中并未见到杨安的消息，因此可推测杨安可能死于淝水之战以前。

Early life

Yang An's background is one of contradiction and uncertainty. Prior to his first military act serving Former Qin in 366, there was a crisis in Chouchi back in 356 involving a prince who fled to Qin whose name was also Yang An. If it is to believe that they for the same people, Yang An was a prince of the Di state Chouchi whose father, Yang Guo (杨国) was its Duke. Yang Guo came to power in 355, after his father Yang Chu (杨初) was killed by his uncle Yang Songnu (杨宋奴). Yang Guo avenged his father and claimed his title of duke. The Jin dynasty Grand Marshal, Huan Wen, petitioned him to be given appointments while Yang An was appointed as Administrator of Wudu. Just a year into his reign, Yang Guo would be assassinated by his nephew Yang Jun (杨俊), who usurped his position and caused Yang An to flee to Qin.

The Book of Song shows that Yang Jun remained Duke until his death in 360 and was succeeded by his son Yang Shi (杨世). There was an attempt to call back Yang An to the state by Yang Jun but what became of this was not known. However, the Book of Wei provides a different account, as it states that Yang An actually killed Yang Jun right after his father's assassination in 356. Yang An then took the throne and also died in 360. He was succeeded by Yang Shi, who this time appears to be An's son, not Jun's.

Service under Fu Jian

Early career

Regardless of his background, what was clear is that Yang An's first appearance under Qin would be in 365, during the Xiongnu rebellion of Liu Weichen and Cao Gu. Yang An led the vanguard together with Mao Sheng (毛盛) while Fu Jian personally campaigned against Cao Gu. Yang An defeated Cao Gu's army and killed his brother, Cao Huo (曹活), forcing Cao Gu to surrender back to Fu Jian while Weichen was captured by Deng Qiang.

In 366, Yang An, Wang Meng and Yao Chang attacked Nanxiang Commandary (南乡) in Jingzhou, and Jin in response sent Huan Huo to push them back. As Huan Huo reached Xinye, the three generals withdrew, claiming more than ten thousand households north of the Han River.

The following year, the independent warlord in Liangzhou, Li Yan (李俨) was attacked by Former Liang. After asking for help, Fu Jian sent Yang An to reinforce Li at Fuhan (枹罕县; in present-day Linxia County, Gansu). The situation was resolved after Wang Meng defeated Zhang Tianxi's army near Fuhan and convinced him to withdraw his troops. Thus, no territories were lost between Qin and Liang while Li Yan was moved to Chang'an.

In 368, Yang An participated in quelling the rebellion of Fu Liu (苻柳), Fu Shuang (苻双), Fu Sou (苻廋) and Fu Wu (苻武). Yang An and Zhang Ci were tasked in facing Fu Sou at Shancheng (陕城, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan) but were ordered by Fu Jian to stack up their supplies and avoid battle first until Fu Shuang and Fu Wu were defeated. Following the defeats of Liu, Shuang, and Wu, Fu Sou was the last of the rebels that Qin had to deal with. Yang An and Zhang Ci received reinforcements in the form of Wang Jian (王鉴) and Deng Qiang sent by Wang Meng. Together, they captured Fu Sou and Shancheng, ending the rebellion as a whole.

Conquest of Former Yan

War broke out between Former Qin and its rival state, Former Yan in 370. While Wang Meng was heading the campaign, Fu Jian sent Yang An, who was serving as General Who Guards the South at the time, with 60,000 troops to reinforce Wang. Yang An laid siege on Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) but he could not overcome the city's defenses. When Wang Meng arrived to help after capturing Huguan, the two devised a plan to have Zhang Ci infiltrate the city. They dug tunnels under the walls of Jinyang and sent Zhang Ci with a few hundred men into the city to open the gates. After Zhang Ci did so, Wang Meng and Yang An's forces flooded the city and captured its defender Murong Zhuang. After Qin conquered Yan, Yang An was made Marquis of Boping County.

In 371, Fu Jian handed out a number of positions to his officials and officers including Yang An. Yang, who was the Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, was made Commissioner Bearing Credentials, Chief Controller of Yizhou and Liangzhou, and Inspector of Liangzhou.

Campaigns in western China

In 371, Yang An led a campaign into Chouchi. The Duke of Chouchi, Yang Cuan (杨纂) personally led his army against him with assistance from the Jin dynasty. However, Yang An greatly routed them, killing many of the enemy troops, so Cuan retreated. As Qin forces under Fu Ya (苻雅) approached the capital, Yang Cuan's uncle Yang Tong (杨统) led his followers to surrender. Yang Cuan followed suit and Chouchi was conquered. Yang An relocated the people to Guanzhong, leaving the region around Chouchi emptied as a result. Southern Qinzhou was added into his command and he stationed himself in Chouchi. In 373, the Jin general Yang Guang (杨广) tried to conquer the region but was repelled by Yang An who then harassed the Han River.

The same year, Fu Jian intended to conquer Yizhou and Liangzhou. Yang An was tasked in taking over Zitong Commandary, defended by its Administrator Zhou Xiao. Zhou Xiao defended hard but made the mistake of sending his wife and mother to Jiangling. They were intercepted by the Qin general Zhu Yong (朱肜), so Zhou Xiao, not wanting to risk their lives, quickly surrendered to Yang An. After the conquest, Yang An was appointed as Governor of Yizhou.

The following year, a rebellion arouse in Shu, headed by Zhang Yu (张育) and Yang Guang (杨光). Zhang Yu's regime was supported by the Jin, who helped him defeat Yao Chang, but although he lasted long enough to declare himself King of Shu, his followers started turning on each other and the rebels were disorderly. Yang An, with the aid of Deng Qiang defeated Zhang Yu who fell back to Mianzhu. Yang An then routed Zhang Yu's subordinates Zhang Zhong (张重) and Yin Wan (杨光) south of Chengdu while Deng Qiang killed Zhang Yu and Yang Guang, putting an end to the revolt.

Siege of Xiangyang

Yang An would last appear in 378, holding the position of Inspector of Jingzhou. During Fu Jian's great siege of Xiangyang, Yang An and Deng Qiang attacked Fancheng. Yang An seemed to have died during or shortly after the campaign as nothing is recorded of him from this point on. His position of Inspector of Jingzhou was given to Liang Cheng (梁成) at the beginning of 379 following Xiangyang's fall.