1
耶律敵剌蕭痕篤康默記 〈（延壽）〉 韓延徽 〈（德樞紹勛紹芳資讓）〉 韓知古 〈（匡嗣德源德凝）〉
Yelu Dila, Xiao Hendu, and Kang Moji (Yanshou)]〉 Han Yanhui (Deshu, Shaoxun, Shaofang, and Zirang)]〉 Han Zhigu (Kuangsai, Deyuan, and Dening)]〉
2
耶律敵剌，字合魯隱，遙輦鮮質可汗之子。 太祖踐阼，與敞穩海裏同心輔政。 太祖知其忠實，命掌禮儀，且諉以軍事。 後以平內亂功，代轄裏為奚六部吐裏，卒。 敵剌善騎射，頗好禮文。
Yelu Dila, whose courtesy name was Heluyin, was a son of the Jianzhi Khan of the Yaolian clan. When Emperor Taizu took the throne, he and Changwen Haili worked together in loyal support of the government. Emperor Taizu recognized his loyalty and integrity, put him in charge of ceremonial matters, and also delegated military affairs to him. Later, for his success in quelling internal strife, he succeeded Zaruli as tuli of the Six Xi Tribes and died in office. Dila was skilled in horsemanship and archery and had a marked taste for ritual and literary learning.
3
蕭痕篤，字兀裏軫，叠剌部人。 其先相遙輦氏。 痕篤少慷慨，以才能自任。 早隸太祖帳下，數從征討。 既踐阼，除北府宰相。 痕篤事親孝，為政尚寬簡。
Xiao Hendu, whose courtesy name was Wulizhen, came from the Diela tribe. His forebears had long been chancellors to the Yaolian. From youth Hendu was open-handed and spirited, trusting fully in his own abilities. He entered the Taizu Emperor's service early and took part in many expeditions. After the enthronement he was made chancellor of the Northern Administration. Hendu was dutiful to his parents, and his rule favored clemency and restraint.
4
康默記，本名照。 少為薊州衙校，太祖侵薊州得之，愛其材，隸麾下。 一切蕃、漢相涉事，屬默記折衷之，悉合上意。 時諸部新附，文法未備，默記推析律意，論決重輕，不差毫厘。 罹禁網者，人人自以為不冤。 頃之，拜左尚書。 神冊三年，始建都，默記董役，人咸勸趨，百日而訖事。 五年，為皇都夷離畢。 會太祖出師居庸關，命默記將漢軍進逼長蘆水寨，俘馘甚眾。 天贊四年，親征渤海，默記與韓知古從。 後大諲譔叛，命諸將攻之。 默記分薄東門，率驍勇先登。 既拔，與韓延徽下長嶺府。 軍還，已下城邑多叛，默記與阿古只平之。 既破回跋城，歸營太祖山陵畢，卒。 佐命功臣其一也。
Kang Moji, whose original name was Zhao. As a youth he served as a guard officer in Jizhou. When Emperor Taizu took Jizhou and captured him, he valued his ability and took him into his retinue. Every affair that touched both Khitan and Han he entrusted to Mojie to settle; each decision matched the emperor's wishes. The tribes had only just submitted and the legal code was still incomplete; Mojie parsed the spirit of the statutes and weighed penalties and pardons with flawless precision. Those brought before the law all believed themselves treated fairly. Before long he was made Left Minister. In Shence year 3, as the capital was first being built, Mojie oversaw construction; workers were driven hard, and the project was finished in a hundred days. In year 5 he was made yilü-bi of the imperial capital. When Emperor Taizu took the field through Juyong Pass, he sent Mojie with the Han army against Changlu Water Fortress, taking a great number of prisoners and heads. In Tianzan year 4 he accompanied the emperor's expedition against Bohai, alongside Han Zhigu. Later Dayinzan rose in rebellion, and the emperor ordered his commanders against him. Mojie pressed the east gate and led elite troops in the assault. After the city fell he joined Han Yanhui in taking Changling Prefecture. On the march home many captured towns rebelled; Mojie and Aguozi put them down. After storming Huiba City he returned to camp, finished work on Emperor Taizu's tomb, and died. He was numbered among the founding merit ministers.
5
孫延壽，字胤昌，少倜儻，謂其所親：「大丈夫為將，當效節邊垂，馬革裹屍。」 景宗特授千牛衛大將軍。 宋人攻南京，諸將既成列，延壽獨奮擊陣前，敵遂大潰。 以功遙授保大軍節度使。 乾亨三年卒。
His grandson Yanshou, whose courtesy name was Yinchang, was dashing from youth. He told his intimates: "A man who takes command should stand his post on the frontier and meet death wrapped in horsehide. Emperor Jingzong specially appointed him general of the Thousand-Ox Guard. When the Song attacked Nanjing and the commanders had drawn up battle lines, Yanshou alone charged the front; the enemy broke and fled. For this exploit he received the honorary title of Baoda Army military commissioner. He died in Qianheng year 3.
6
韓延徽，字藏明，幽州安次人。 父夢殷，累官薊、儒、順三州刺史。 延徽少英，燕帥劉仁恭奇之，召為幽都府文學、平州錄事參軍，同馮道祗候院，授幽州觀察度支使。 後守光為帥，延徽來聘，太祖怒其不屈，留之。 述律後諫曰：「彼秉節弗撓，賢者也，奈何困辱之？」 太祖召與語，合上意，立命參軍事。 攻党項、室韋，服諸部落，延徽之籌居多。 乃請樹城郭，分市裏，以居漢人之降者。 又為定配偶，教墾藝，以生養之。 以故逃亡者少。
Han Yanhui, whose courtesy name was Cangming, came from Anci in Youzhou. His father Mengyin had served in turn as prefect of Ji, Ru, and Shun. A gifted youth, Yanhui caught the eye of the Yan commander Liu Rengong, who made him literary instructor at the Youdu prefectural office and recorder-assistant of Pingzhou, assigned with Feng Dao to the reception bureau, then Youzhou observation revenue commissioner. When Shouguang later became commander, Yanhui came as envoy; Emperor Taizu, angered that he refused to submit, kept him. Empress Shulü urged: "He keeps his integrity and will not yield—a worthy man. Why subject him to hardship and shame? Emperor Taizu summoned him for an audience, was pleased with him, and at once put him on his staff. In campaigns against the Tangut and Shiwei and in bringing the tribes to heel, Yanhui's counsel was decisive. He proposed building walled towns with separate wards and markets for surrendered Han settlers. He arranged marriages, taught farming, and saw to their livelihood. Consequently few fled.
7
居久之，慨然懷其鄉里，賦詩見意，遂亡歸唐。 已而與他將王緘有隙，懼及難，乃省親幽州，匿故人王德明舍。 德明問所適，延徽曰：「吾將復走契丹。」 德明不以為然。 延徽笑曰：「彼失我如失左右手，其見我必喜。」 既至，太祖問故。 延徽曰：「忘親非孝，棄君非忠。 臣雖挺身逃，臣心在陛下。 臣是以復來。」 上大悅，賜名曰匣列。 「匣列」，遼言復來也。 即命為守政事令、崇文館大學士，中外事悉令參決。
After a long stay he yearned for home, wrote a poem to say so, and fled back to Tang. Soon he fell out with the general Wang Jian and, fearing reprisal, visited his family in Youzhou and hid with his friend Wang Deming. Deming asked where he was headed. Yanhui said: "I mean to flee back to the Khitan. Deming thought this unwise. Yanhui smiled: "They will miss me as they would their own hands—when they see me again they will be delighted. When he arrived Emperor Taizu asked why he had come. Yanhui said: "To forget one's parents is unfilial; to abandon one's lord is disloyal. Though I fled in body, my heart remained with you. That is why I have returned. The emperor was greatly pleased and gave him the name Xialie. In Khitan, "Xialie" means "one who comes back." He was promptly made acting governance director and Chongwen Hall grand academician, with authority over both palace and frontier affairs.
8
天贊四年，從征渤海，大諲譔乞降。 既而復叛，與諸將破其城，以功拜左僕射。 又與康默記攻長嶺府，拔之。 師還，太祖崩，哀動左右。 太宗朝，封魯國公，仍為政事令。 使晉還，改南京三司使。 世宗朝，遷南府宰相，建政事省，設張理具，稱盡力吏。 天祿五年六月，河東使請行冊禮，帝詔延徽定其制，延徽奏一遵太宗冊晉帝禮，從之。 應歷中，致仕。 子德樞鎮東平，詔許每歲東歸省。 九年卒，年七十八。 上聞震悼，贈尚書令，葬幽州之魯郭，世為崇文令公。
In Tianzan year 4, on the expedition against Bohai, Dayinzan offered surrender. He soon rebelled again; Yanhui joined the other generals in storming his city and was rewarded with the post of Left Vice Director. He then joined Kang Moji in taking Changling Prefecture. On the army's return Emperor Taizu had died; Yanhui grieved so deeply that all around him were moved. Under Emperor Taizong he was enfeoffed Duke of Lu and kept his post as governance director. After an embassy to Jin he was made Nanjing commissioner of the three revenue bureaus. Under Emperor Shizong he rose to Southern chancellor, founded the Governance Office with its document systems, and was praised as an official who spared no effort. In the sixth month of Tianlu year 5 an envoy from Hedong asked that investiture rites be performed; the emperor charged Yanhui to set the protocol, and Yanhui proposed following exactly Emperor Taizong's ceremony for investing the Jin emperor—the court agreed. During the Yingli era he retired from office. His son Deshu was posted at Dongping; the court allowed him an annual visit home. He died in year 9, at seventy-eight. The emperor was stricken with grief and posthumously made him Director of the Department of State Affairs; he was buried at Luguo in Youzhou, and his family was known for generations as the Chongwen Dukes.
9
初，延徽南奔，太祖夢白鶴自帳中出； 比還，復入帳中。 詰旦，謂侍臣曰：「延徽至矣。」 已而果然。 太祖初元，庶事草創，凡營都邑，建宮殿，正君臣定，名分，法度井井，延徽力也。 為佐命功臣之一。 子德樞。
When Yanhui first fled south, Emperor Taizu dreamed that a white crane flew out of his tent; when it came back it flew in again. At dawn he told his attendants: "Yanhui is here. And so it proved. In the dynasty's founding days, when institutions were still being shaped—from planning capitals and palaces to setting proper relations between ruler and ministers and establishing ranks and laws—Yanhui's hand was everywhere. He ranked among the founding merit ministers. His son was Deshu.
10
德樞年甫十五，太宗見之，謂延徽曰：「是兒卿家之福，朕國之寶，真英物也！」 未冠，守左羽林大將軍，遷特進太尉。 時漢人降與轉徙者，多寓東平。 丁歲災，饑饉疾厲。 德樞請往撫字之，授遼興軍節度使。 下車整紛剔蠹，恩煦信孚，勸農桑，興教化，期月民獲蘇息。 入為南院宣徽使，遙授天平軍節度使，平、灤、營三州管內觀察處置等使，門下平章事。 已而加開府儀同三司、行侍中，封趙國公。 保寧元年卒。 孫紹勛、紹芳。
Deshu was only fifteen when Emperor Taizong saw him and told Yanhui: "This child is your family's blessing and my realm's treasure—a remarkable youth indeed! Before he came of age he was made Left General of the Feathered Forest Guard, then promoted to specially advanced Grand Guardian. Many surrendered or relocated Han had settled at Dongping. A ding year brought famine and plague. Deshu volunteered to go relieve them and was appointed Liaoxing Army military commissioner. Taking office he restored order, rooted out abuse, and won the people's trust; he promoted agriculture and education, and within a month the district began to recover. Recalled to court as Southern Privy Seal commissioner, he received the honorary titles of Tianping Army military commissioner, supervisory commissioner for Ping, Luan, and Ying, and associate director of the Gate Department. Soon after he was given the additional titles of Grand Master with opened office equal to the Three Excellencies and acting palace attendant, and was enfeoffed Duke of Zhao. He died in Baoning year 1. His grandsons were Shaoxun and Shaofang.
11
紹勛，仕至東京戶部使。 會大延琳叛，被執，辭不屈，賊以鋸解之，憤罵至死。
Shaoxun rose to household commissioner at the Eastern Capital. When Dayanlin rebelled he was captured; defiant under interrogation, the rebels dismembered him with saws, and he cursed them to his last breath.
12
紹芳，重熙間參知政事，加兼侍中。 時延議征李元昊，力諫不聽，出為廣德軍節度使。 聞敗，嘔血卒。
During the Chongxi era Shaofang served as vice director of the Secretariat with the additional title of palace attendant. When the court debated war against Li Yuanhao he argued against it without success and was posted as Guangde Army military commissioner. When news of defeat arrived he spat blood and died.
13
孫資讓，壽隆初拜中書侍郎、平章事。 會宋徽宗嗣位，遣使來報，有司按籍，有「登寶位」文，坐是出為崇義軍節度使。 改鎮遼興，卒。
His grandson Zirang was made vice director of the Secretariat and associate director at the opening of the Shoulong era. When Song Huizong succeeded and sent notice, the record-checkers found the phrase "ascending the imperial throne"; Zirang was demoted to Chongyi Army military commissioner. Transferred to Liaoxing, he died in office.
14
韓知古，薊州玉田人，善謀有識量。 太祖平薊時，知古六歲，為淳欽皇后兄欲穩所得。 後來嬪，知古從焉，未得省見。 久之，負其有，怏怏不得志，挺身逃庸保，以供資用。 其子匡嗣得親近太祖，因間言。 太祖召見與語，賢之，命參謀議。 神冊初，遙授彰武軍節度使。 久之，信任益篤，總知漢兒司事，兼主諸國禮儀。 時儀法疏闊，知古援據故典，參酌國俗，與漢儀雜就之，使國人易知而行。 頃之，拜左僕射，與康默記將漢軍征渤海有功，遷中書令。 天顯中卒，為佐命功臣之一。 子匡嗣。
Han Zhigu, from Yutian in Jizhou, was a skilled strategist of steady judgment. When Emperor Taizu took Ji, Zhigu was six; he was taken by Yuwen, elder brother of Empress Chunqin. When she later entered the palace harem Zhigu came with her but never gained audience with the emperor. Long unrecognized despite his talents, he grew restless and slipped away to hire himself out for a living. His son Kuangsi had the emperor's ear and mentioned him in passing. Emperor Taizu summoned him, found him capable, and put him on the planning staff. At the opening of Shence he received the honorary post of Zhangwu Army military commissioner. Over time the emperor's trust deepened; he took charge of Han administration and also oversaw ceremonial protocol. Ritual protocol was still rudimentary; Zhigu drew on ancient precedents, adapted Khitan custom, and blended in Han practice until the people could follow them with ease. Before long he was made Left Vice Director; campaigning against Bohai with Kang Moji at the head of the Han army earned him promotion to Director of the Secretariat. He died in the Tianxian era, numbered among the founding merit ministers. His son was Kuangsi.
15
匡嗣以善醫，直長樂宮，皇后視之猶子。 應歷十年，為太祖廟詳穩。 後宋王喜隱謀叛，辭引匡嗣，上置不問。 初，景宗在藩邸，善匡嗣。 即位，拜上京留守。 頃之，王燕，改南京留守。 保寧末，以留守攝樞密使。 時耶律虎古使宋還，言宋人必取河東，合先事以為備。 匡嗣詆之曰：「寧有是！」 已而宋人果取太原，乘勝逼燕。 匡嗣與南府宰相沙、惕隱休哥侵宋，軍於滿城。 方陣，宋人請降。 匡嗣欲納之，休哥曰：「彼軍氣甚銳，疑誘我也。 可整頓士卒以禦。」 匡嗣不聽。 俄而宋軍鼓噪薄我，眾蹙踐，塵起漲天。 匡嗣倉卒諭諸將，無當其鋒。 眾既奔，遇伏兵扼要路，匡嗣棄旗鼓遁，其眾走易州山，獨休哥收所棄兵械，全軍還。 帝怒匡嗣，數之曰：「爾違眾謀，深入敵境，爾罪一也； 號令不肅，行伍不整，爾罪二也； 棄我師旅，挺身鼠竄，爾罪三也； 偵候失機，守禦弗備，爾罪四也； 捐棄旗鼓，損威辱國，爾罪五也。」 促令誅之。 皇后引諸內戚徐為開解，上重違其請。 良久，威稍霽，乃杖而免之。 既而遙授晉昌軍節度使。 乾亨三年，改西南面招討使，卒。 睿智皇后聞之，遣使臨吊，賻贈甚厚，後追贈尚書令。 五子：德源，德讓，後賜名隆運，德威，德崇，德凝。 德源、德凝附傳，余各有傳。
Skilled in medicine, Kuangsi served at Changle Palace, where the empress treated him like a son. In Yingli year 10 he was made temple officer for Emperor Taizu's shrine. When Prince of Song Xiyin later plotted rebellion and named Kuangsi in his confession, the emperor took no action. In his days as heir apparent Emperor Jingzong had been close to Kuangsi. When he took the throne he made Kuangsi defender of the Upper Capital. Soon enfeoffed Prince of Yan, Kuangsi was transferred to Nanjing as defender. Near the end of Baoning he served as defender while also acting as privy commissioner. Yelü Hugu, returning from an embassy to Song, warned that the Song would seize Hedong and urged early preparations. Kuangsi scoffed: "Nonsense! Soon the Song took Taiyuan and pressed toward Yan in victory. Kuangsi joined Southern Chancellor Yelu Sha and tithen Xiuge in an incursion against Song and encamped at Mancheng. As the armies drew up, the Song offered surrender. Kuangsi wanted to accept; Xiuge said: "Their morale is too high—they mean to bait us. Ready the men for a stand. Kuangsi refused to listen. Suddenly the Song charged with drums and shouts; our ranks buckled and trampled one another; dust blotted out the sky. Kuangsi hurriedly told his commanders not to meet the charge. As the army broke, ambushers blocked the retreat; Kuangsi abandoned his standards and fled, his troops scattering into the Yizhou hills; only Xiuge recovered the abandoned arms and brought his command safely back. The emperor raged at Kuangsi and listed his offenses: "You rejected your officers' counsel and drove deep into enemy country—first offense; Your orders were lax and ranks disordered—second offense; You abandoned your command and scurried off like a rat—third offense; You failed your scouts and left defenses unprepared—fourth offense; You cast away your banners and disgraced the realm—fifth offense. He ordered execution at once. The empress and her kinsmen gradually pleaded for mercy; reluctant to refuse her, the emperor stayed his hand. Eventually his anger cooled and he had Kuangsi beaten and released. He was later given the honorary post of Jinchang Army military commissioner. In Qianheng year 3 he was made Southwest Route pacification commissioner and died. When the Wise Empress heard, she sent envoys to mourn and gave lavish funeral gifts; later he was posthumously made Director of the Department of State Affairs. He had five sons: Deyuan; Derang, later granted the name Longyun; Dewei; Dechong; and Dening. Deyuan and Dening are treated in appendices here; the others have separate biographies.
16
德源，性愚而貪，早侍景宗邸。 及即位，列近侍。 保寧間，官崇義、興國二軍節度使，加檢校太師。 以賄名，德讓貽書諫之，終不悛。 以故論者少之。 後加同政事門下平章事，遙攝保寧軍節度使。 乾亨初卒。
Deyuan was dull-witted and greedy; he entered the heir apparent Jingzong's service early. When Jingzong took the throne he was ranked among the close attendants. During Baoning he held the posts of Chongyi and Xingguo army military commissioner and was made honorary Grand Preceptor. His reputation for bribery was notorious; Derang wrote urging reform, but he never changed. Critics therefore held him in low regard. Later he was made associate director of the Gate Department and acting Baoning Army military commissioner in absentia. He died at the start of Qianheng.
17
德凝，廉遜廉謹。 保寧中，遷護軍司徒。 開泰中，累遷護衛太保、都宮使、崇義軍節度使。 移鎮廣德，秩滿，部民請留，從之。 改西南面招討使，党項隆益答叛，平之。 遷大同軍節度使，卒於官。
Dening was modest, yielding, and careful. During Baoning he was promoted to Guardian Army grand steward. In the Kaitai era he rose through Guardian Cavalry grand guardian, palace intendant, and Chongyi Army military commissioner. Transferred to Guangde, at the end of his term the people asked him to stay, and the court agreed. Made Southwest Route pacification commissioner, he suppressed the Tangut chief Longyida's rebellion. Promoted to Datong Army military commissioner, he died in office.
18
子郭三，終天德軍節度使。 孫高家奴，終南院宣徽使； 高十，終遼興軍節度使。
His son Guo San ended as Tiande Army military commissioner. His grandson Gaojianu became Southern Privy Seal commissioner; Gao Shi ended as Liaoxing Army military commissioner.