Peng Yang (178–214), courtesy name Yongnian, was an official serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
[2] Described as a man about eight chi tall (approximately 1.84 metres) and having an extremely impressive appearance,[3] he was notorious for being conceited, arrogant, rude and condescending towards others.
[5] Peng Yang later served as an official in his native Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) but never made it to any position higher than that of a scribe (書佐).
His offensive behaviour also landed him in deep trouble when his colleagues slandered him in front of Liu Zhang, the Governor of Yi Province.
Liu Zhang believed them and ordered Peng Yang to be shaved bald, put in chains, and sent to perform hard labour.
"[8] After the other guests left, Peng Yang demanded that Pang Tong serve him food before they started talking.
[12] As he had risen through the ranks to a position much higher than his previous appointment as a scribe, Peng Yang felt very smug about his achievements and started behaving in an arrogant manner towards others.
[13] Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei's chief adviser, disliked Peng Yang but pretended to be accommodating and tolerant towards him.
He secretly warned Liu Bei on numerous occasions that Peng Yang was a highly ambitious individual who might become a threat to them in the long term.
Later, he sent Peng Yang away from Chengdu, Yi Province's capital, to serve as the Administrator of Jiangyang Commandery (江陽郡; around present-day Luzhou, Sichuan).
[14] When Peng Yang learnt that he was going to be sent away from Chengdu to serve as a commandery administrator elsewhere, he felt very unhappy so he visited Ma Chao, one of Liu Bei's generals, and told him about it.
"[19] His words were interpreted as asking Ma Chao to join him in plotting a coup d'état against Liu Bei.
[1] As Ma Chao had only recently joined Liu Bei, he often feared that he would get into trouble so he did not respond even though he felt shocked after hearing what Peng Yang told him.
While awaiting his execution, Peng Yang wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang as follows: "I have had dealings with the other warlords in the past.
With help from Fa Xiaozhi and Pang Tong, I was able to meet our lord at Jiameng, share with him my ideas on ruling a state, starting a dynasty, and my plan for him to conquer Yi Province.
In the past, I made a pledge with Pang Tong to follow in your footsteps and strive our best to help our lord achieve his goal, and leave behind our names in history like the wise sages of ancient times.