Huaihai Campaign
During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Yang held a number of positions including military chief of Shandong's Political Department and deputy minister of the Shandong Military Liaison Department. During the Eighth Route Army's Lunan Anti-Japanese campaign, Yang was responsible for contact with the Railway Guerrillas. He took part in battles such as the Laiwu Campaign and the Huaihai Campaign. During the battle of Nanjing in April 1949, Yang served in multiple positions including the political commissar of the Fourth Army's garrison in Nanjing.