Yang Song 楊松

In Chapter 64 of the Romance, Ma Chao, pursued by Xiahou Yuan, confers with Pang De and Ma Dai and goes to place himself under Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. When Zhang Lu wishes to give him his daughter and make him his son-in-law, the senior general Yang Bai dissuades him, saying that the cruel disaster that befell Ma Chao's wife and children was all harm brought on by Ma Chao himself, and Ma Chao, hearing of these words, comes to harbor the intent to kill Yang Bai. Learning of this, Yang Bai confers with his elder brother Yang Song, and he too comes to harbor designs against Ma Chao. Romance, Ch. 64 §46–49

Huang Quan, sent by Liu Zhang, first calls on Yang Song and tells him that Dongchuan and Xichuan are as lips and teeth, promising to repay them with twenty provinces if they come to the rescue; Yang Song, greatly pleased, takes him to see Zhang Lu and explains the same stakes. Pleased by the gain, Zhang Lu agrees to help, whereupon Ma Chao offers to attack Jiameng Pass, and Zhang Lu gives Ma Chao 20,000 troops and has Yang Bai supervise the army. Romance, Ch. 64 §49–50Romance, Ch. 65 §1

In Chapter 65, while Zhang Fei and Ma Chao are locked in combat at Jiameng Pass, Zhuge Liang proposes that, since Zhang Lu's adviser Yang Song is exceedingly greedy for bribes, they first win his friendship with gold and silver, and send Zhang Lu a letter promising to sponsor him as King of Hanning once matters are settled, so as to get him to recall Ma Chao's troops. When Sun Qian takes gold and pearls by a byway to Hanzhong and calls on Yang Song, Yang Song, greatly pleased, takes Sun Qian to see Zhang Lu and speaks up for him. When Zhang Lu asks how Xuande, who is merely General of the Left, can sponsor him as King of Hanning, Yang Song answers that he is the Imperial Uncle of the great Han and so is exactly the right man to petition the throne on his behalf, and Zhang Lu, greatly pleased, orders Ma Chao to stop fighting. Romance, Ch. 65 §20–25

Ma Chao, saying he has not yet achieved success, does not return though summoned three times. Yang Song says that this man has never kept faith and is sure to intend rebellion, and spreads a false rumor that Ma Chao means to seize Xichuan and make himself lord of Shu, unwilling to be a subject of Hanzhong. When Zhang Lu asks him for a plan, he advises Zhang Lu to tell Ma Chao that unless he accomplishes three tasks within a one-month limit — taking Xichuan, bringing back Liu Zhang's head, and driving off the troops of Jing Province — he must offer up his own head, and to have Zhang Wei guard the passes and strongholds. When Ma Chao tries to withdraw his troops, Yang Song again spreads a false rumor that he is turning his troops back because he harbors treacherous intent, and Zhang Wei blocks the strategic passes, so that Ma Chao can neither advance nor retreat. Romance, Ch. 65 §26–28

Li Hui, who comes to persuade Ma Chao, tells him that he can neither save Liu Zhang in front nor subdue Yang Song behind, and so cannot face Zhang Lu, and Ma Chao beheads Yang Bai and surrenders to Liu Bei, bringing the head with him. Standing below the walls of Chengdu, Ma Chao shouts to Liu Zhang that Zhang Lu had believed Yang Song's slanders and instead tried to harm him. Romance, Ch. 65 §34–35 · 38

In Chapter 67, when Cao Cao reaches Nanzheng, Zhang Lu sends Pang De out. Jia Xu proposes to Cao Cao that, since Zhang Lu's adviser Yang Song is exceedingly greedy for bribes, they secretly send him gold and silk and have him slander Pang De to Zhang Lu. When Pang De's camp is raided and he falls back into the city, a spy who has slipped in among his men goes to Yang Song's residence and presents a gold breastplate and a secret letter; Yang Song sends him back, telling him to assure the Duke of Wei that he may rest easy, and that very night tells Zhang Lu that Pang De has taken Cao Cao's bribes and sold out this battle. Zhang Lu is about to behead Pang De but stops at Yan Pu's remonstrance; yet when he hears that the captured Pang De is riding side by side with Cao Cao, he believes Yang Song's words all the more. Romance, Ch. 67 §14–17 · 20–24

When Cao Cao attacks the city, Zhang Wei proposes burning all the storehouses and fleeing to Bazhong, while Yang Song says it would be better to open the gates and surrender. After Zhang Lu seals up the storehouses and flees, Yang Song informs Cao Cao by secret letter that if he advances his troops, he will act as an insider. When Zhang Wei is cut down by Xu Chu, Yang Song urges Zhang Lu to fight a decisive battle in person, saying that he himself will guard the city, and when Zhang Lu, having gone out despite Yan Pu's remonstrance, is driven back, Yang Song shuts the gate and does not open it. With nowhere left to go, Zhang Lu dismounts and prostrates himself, and Cao Cao appoints him General Who Guards the South, but has Yang Song beheaded at once in the marketplace as a warning to all, for having sold his master to seek glory. The verse at the end of the chapter says that he makes people laugh at Yang Song for a thousand years to come. Romance, Ch. 67 §24–29