After he conquered the Bozhou Prefecture (centred on modern Zunyi) from the Nanzhao Kingdom, Yang Duan was recognized as the hereditary ruler of the region by the Tang court in 876.

[1][2][3][4] Bozhou, Sizhou, Shuidong and Shuixi were called "Four Great Tusi in Guizhou" (贵州四大土司) by Chinese.

[5] "Liangguang [ruled by] Cen and Huang, Sizhou and Bozhou [ruled by] Tian and Yang" (Chinese: 两广岑黄，思播田杨; pinyin: Liǎngguǎng Cén Huáng, Sī Bō Tián Yáng), an idiom current among Southwestern Mandarin speakers, proved that the Yang clan was once one of the most powerful clans in Southwestern China.

About 17,000 Bozhou soldiers who were led by the 29th Chieftain Yang Yinglong (楊應龍) fought against the 240,000 Ming Dynasty for 114 days.

The Ming Dynasty burned down Hailongtun, and put an end to the 725 years rule of the Yang Family.