Yang Su (544-606 AD), courtesy name Chudao, was born in Hongnong Huayin (now Huayin, Shaanxi Province). He was born into a distinguished family. His grandfather Yang Xuan was a general in the Northern Wei Dynasty and a senior official in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and his father Yang Fuguan was a governor of Fenzhou in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. According to the "Book of Sui Dynasty? Biography of Yang Su", Yang Su was "little sloppy, ambitious and informal". He was quite accomplished in literature and calligraphy. History books said that he "studied tirelessly and was involved in many subjects. He was good at academics." Wen, Gongcaoli, pays great attention to Fengjiao. He has a beautiful beard and has the appearance of a hero." After Emperor Wu of Zhou came to the throne, he granted Yang Su the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Third Division of Yitong. Since then, Yang Su has made many military exploits and his official career has been smooth sailing. In June of the first year of Xuanzheng in the Northern Zhou Dynasty (AD 578), Emperor Wu of Zhou died and Emperor Xuan of Zhou ascended the throne.
Yang Su inherited his father's title and was named the Duke of Linzhen County. In the second year of the Elephant Period of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (AD 580), Emperor Xuan of Zhou died of illness. Emperor Jing of Zhou Dynasty was young, and Yang Jian, the prime minister of the left, controlled the government. Yang Su saw that Yang Jian was popular among the people, so he took the initiative to join Yang Jian. Yang Jian also appreciated his talents and thought highly of him, and soon appointed him as the governor of Bianzhou. In February of the first year of Dading in the Northern Zhou Dynasty (AD 581), Yang Jian deposed the Zhou Dynasty and established the Sui Dynasty, and successively granted Yang Su the titles of Shangzhuguo and Yushidafu. When Yang Su was quarreling with his wife Zheng, he said, "If I were the emperor, you would not be able to be the queen." Later, his wife reported him, and Yang Su was dismissed from office. When Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty was preparing to destroy the Chen Dynasty, Yang Su proposed a strategy to defeat the Chen Dynasty. In October of the fifth year of Kaihuang's reign (AD 585), Yang Su, Yang Guang and Qin King Yang Jun were all marching marshals. They made outstanding military exploits in the crusade against Chen State and were repeatedly awarded. After Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty came to the throne, he was successively awarded the titles of General, Youxiu Pushe, Dapushe, Shangshu, Dasitu, and Taiwei. He later died of illness.