1
耶律覿烈 〈（羽之）〉 耶律鐸臻 〈（古突呂不）〉 王郁耶律圖魯窘
Yelu Dilie (Yuzhi))〉 Yelu Duozhen (Gu and Tulubu))〉 Wang Yu; Yelu Tulujiong
2
羽之，小字兀裏，字寅底哂。 幼豪爽不群，長嗜學，通諸部語。 太祖經營之初，多預軍謀。 天顯元年，渤海平，立皇太子為東丹王，以羽之為中臺省右次相。 時人心未安，左大相叠剌不逾月薨，羽之蒞事勤恪，威信並行。 太宗即位，上表曰：「我大聖天皇始有東土，擇賢輔以撫斯民，不以臣愚而任之，國家利害，敢不以聞。 渤海昔畏南朝，阻險自衛，居忽汗城。 今去上京遼邈，既不為用，又不罷戍，果何為哉？ 先帝因彼離心，乘釁而動，故不戰而克。 天授人與，彼一時也。 遺種浸以蕃息，今居遠境，恐為後患。 梁水之地，乃其故鄉，地衍土活，有木鐵鹽魚之利。 乘其微弱，徙還其民，萬世長策也。 彼得故鄉，又獲木鐵鹽魚之饒，必安居樂業。 然後選徒以翼吾左，突厥、党項、室韋夾輔吾右，可以坐制南邦，混一天下，成聖祖未集之功，貽後世無疆之福。」 表奏，帝嘉納之。 是歲，詔徙東丹國民於梁水，時稱其善。 人皇王奔唐，羽之鎮撫國人，一切如故。 以功加守太傅，遷中臺省左相。 會同初，以冊禮赴闕，加特進。 表奏左次相渤海蘇貪墨不法事，卒。 子和裏，終東京留守。
Yuzhi, whose childhood name was Wuli and whose courtesy name was Yindi Shen, was bold and unconventional as a youth; when grown he devoted himself to learning and mastered the languages of the various tribes. In the early years of Emperor Taizu's state-building, he took part in many military plans. In the first year of Tianxian, after Bohai was pacified, the heir apparent was installed as King of Eastern Dan and Yuzhi was appointed Right Vice Chancellor of the Central Court. Popular sentiment was still unsettled at the time; the Left Grand Chancellor Diechi died within a month of taking office, yet Yuzhi handled affairs with diligence and rigor, and authority and trust went hand in hand. When Emperor Taizong came to the throne, Yuzhi submitted a memorial that read: "Our Great Sage Heavenly Emperor first secured the eastern lands and chose worthy ministers to govern the people. Though he did not regard me as capable, he still entrusted me with office; how could I fail to speak of what helps or harms the state? Bohai once feared the Southern Court, held itself behind natural barriers, and made its seat at Hohan. It now lies far from the Supreme Capital, yet we neither put it to use nor withdraw the garrisons—what is the point? The late emperor took advantage of their divided loyalties and struck when the moment was ripe, and so conquered them without a battle. Heaven granted the opportunity and men seized it—that was a moment that will not return. Their surviving people have gradually multiplied; living now on distant frontiers, they may yet become a future threat. The Liangshui region is their ancestral homeland: the land is broad, the soil fertile, and it offers timber, iron, salt, and fish. While they are still weak, move their people back home—that is a policy for the ages. Once they regain their homeland and the bounty of timber, iron, salt, and fish, they will surely settle down and prosper. Then choose settlers to strengthen our left, with the Turks, Tanguts, and Shiwei flanking our right, and we can hold the southern states in check from a secure position, unite the realm, finish the work our sage founder left incomplete, and bequeath boundless blessings to posterity." When the memorial reached the throne, the emperor praised it and accepted his advice. That year an edict moved the people of Eastern Dan to Liangshui, and contemporaries praised the policy as wise. When the Renhuang King fled to Tang, Yuzhi pacified the populace and kept everything as it had been. For his service he was additionally appointed Acting Grand Tutor and promoted to Left Chancellor of the Central Court. At the opening of the Huitong era he went to court for the enthronement ceremonies and was granted the rank of Special Advancement. He submitted a memorial exposing the corruption and lawlessness of Su of Bohai, the Left Vice Chancellor, then died. His son Heli eventually served as Military Governor of the Eastern Capital.
3
耶律鐸臻，字敵輦，六院部人。 祖蒲古只，遙輦氏時再為本部夷離堇。 耶律狼德等既害玄祖，暴橫益肆。 蒲古只以計誘其黨，悉誅夷之。 鐸臻幼有誌節，太祖為於越，常居左右。 後即位，梁人遣使求轅軸材，太祖難之。 鐸臻曰：「梁名求材，實覘吾輕重。 宜答曰：『材之所生，必深山窮谷，有神司之，須白鼻赤驢禱祠，然後可伐。』 如此，則其語自塞矣。」 已而果然。 天贊三年，將伐渤海，鐸臻諫曰：「陛下先事渤海，則西夏必躡吾後。 請先西討，庶無後顧憂。」 太祖從之。 及淳欽皇后稱制，惡鐸臻，囚之，誓曰：「鐵鎖朽，當釋汝！」 既而召之，使者欲去鎖，鐸臻辭曰：「鐵未朽，可釋乎？」 後聞，嘉嘆，趣召釋之。 天顯二年卒。 弟古、突呂不。
Yelu Duozhen, whose courtesy name was Dinian, came from the Six Yuan Divisions. His grandfather Pugu Zhi had twice served as tribal chieftain of their division under the Yaolian clan. After Yelu Langde and his faction murdered the Mysterious Ancestor, their violence and arrogance grew ever bolder. Pugu Zhi lured their faction into a trap by stratagem and put them all to death. Duozhen showed moral resolve even as a youth; while Emperor Taizu still held the title of Yuyue, he kept Duozhen constantly at his side. After he took the throne, Liang sent envoys requesting timber for chariot axles, and Emperor Taizu was at a loss how to respond. Duozhen said, "Liang claims to want timber, but in truth they are testing our strength. We should answer that the timber grows only in deep mountains and remote valleys, that a spirit oversees it, and that it cannot be cut until one has prayed with a white-nosed red donkey. If we say that, their request will collapse of its own absurdity." And so it proved. In the third year of Tianzan, as the emperor prepared to attack Bohai, Duozhen remonstrated: "If Your Majesty strikes at Bohai first, Western Xia will surely fall upon our rear. Attack the west first, so that we need not fear what lies behind us." Emperor Taizu followed his counsel. When Empress Chunqin assumed the regency, she took a dislike to Duozhen and imprisoned him, swearing, "When the iron chains rust through, I shall release you!" Later she summoned him; when the messenger moved to remove his chains, Duozhen refused: "The iron has not yet rusted—may I be released?" When she heard of this, she marveled and sighed with approval, and at once ordered him freed. He died in the second year of Tianxian. His younger brothers were Gu and Tulubu.
4
古，字涅剌昆，初名霞馬葛。 太祖為於越，嘗從略地山右。 會李克用於雲州，古侍，克用異之曰：「是兒骨相非常，不宜使在左右。」 以故太祖頗忌之。 時方西討，諸弟亂作，聞變，太祖問古與否，曰無。 喜曰：「吾無患矣！」 趣召古議。 古陳殄滅之策，後皆如言，以故錫賚甚厚。 神冊末，南伐，以古佐右皮室詳穩老古，與唐兵戰於雲碧店，老古中流矢，傷甚，太祖疑古陰害之。 古知上意，跪曰：「陛下疑臣恥居老古麾下耶？ 及今老古在，請遣使問之。」 太祖使問老古，對曰：「臣於古無可疑者。」 上意乃釋。 老古卒，遂以古為右皮室詳穩。 既卒，太祖謂左右曰：「古死，猶長松自倒，非吾伐之也。」
Gu, whose courtesy name was Nielakun and whose original name was Xiamage, when Emperor Taizu was still Yuyue, once accompanied him in campaigns west of the mountains. He met Li Keyong at Yunzhou while attending the emperor; Keyong remarked in wonder, "This boy's bearing is extraordinary—he should not be kept close at hand." For this reason Emperor Taizu grew somewhat wary of him. While the army was campaigning in the west, the emperor's younger brothers rose in revolt. On hearing the news, Emperor Taizu asked whether Gu had taken part; he was told no. The emperor rejoiced: "Then I have nothing to fear! He at once summoned Gu to counsel him. Gu laid out a plan for their destruction, and events afterward unfolded exactly as he had said; for this the emperor lavished rewards upon him. At the end of the Shence era, during the southern campaign, Gu served as deputy to Laogu, commander of the Right Pishi Division; they fought Tang forces at Yunbi, where Laogu was struck by an arrow and badly wounded. Emperor Taizu suspected that Gu had plotted against him in secret. Gu understood the emperor's suspicion, knelt, and said, "Does Your Majesty think I was ashamed to serve under Laogu? Laogu is still alive—send someone to ask him." Emperor Taizu did so; Laogu replied, "I have no suspicion of Gu whatsoever." The emperor's doubts were dispelled. After Laogu died, Gu was appointed commander of the Right Pishi Division. After his death Emperor Taizu told those around him, "When Gu died, it was like a great pine toppling of its own weight—not because I felled it."
5
突呂不，字鐸袞，幼聰敏嗜學。 事太祖見器重。 及制契丹大字，突呂不贊成為多。 未幾，為文班林牙，領國子博士、知制誥。 明年，受詔撰決獄法。 太祖略燕，詔與皇太子及王郁攻定州。 師還至順州，幽州馬步軍指揮使王千率眾來襲，突呂不射其馬躓，擒之。 天贊二年，皇子堯骨為大元帥，突呂不為副，既克平州，進軍燕、趙，攻下曲陽、北平。 至易州，易人來拒，逾濠而陣。 李景章出降，言城中人無鬥志。 大元帥將修攻具，突呂不諫曰：「我師遠來，人馬疲憊，勢不可久留。」 乃止。 軍還，大元帥以其謀聞，太祖大悅，賜賚優渥。 車駕西征，突呂不與大元帥為先鋒，伐党項有功，太祖犒師水精山。 大元帥東歸，突呂不留屯西南部，復討党項，多獲而還。 太祖東伐，大諲譔降而復叛，攻之，突呂不先登。 渤海平，承詔銘太祖功德於永興殿壁。 班師，已下州郡往往復叛，突呂不從大元帥攻破之。 淳欽皇后稱制，有飛語中傷者，後怒，突呂不懼而亡。 太宗知其無罪，召還。 天顯三年，討烏古部，俘獲甚眾。 伐唐，以突呂不為左翼，攻唐軍霞沙寨，降之。 十一年，送晉主石敬瑭入洛。 及大冊，突呂不總禮儀事，加特進檢校太尉。 會同五年卒。
Tulubu, whose courtesy name was Duogun, was clever and devoted to learning from childhood. In serving Emperor Taizu he won deep trust. When the Khitan large script was created, Tulubu contributed more than anyone else to bringing it to completion. Before long he was made Linya of the Civil Class and concurrently served as Doctor of the National University and Drafter of Imperial Edicts. The following year he received an edict to draft the law on judicial decisions. When Emperor Taizu overran Yan, he was ordered to attack Dingzhou with the heir apparent and Wang Yu. On the army's return to Shunzhou, Wang Qian, commander of the Youzhou horse and foot forces, led a raid; Tulubu shot his horse from under him and took him prisoner. In the second year of Tianzan, Prince Yaogu served as grand marshal with Tulubu as his deputy; after taking Pingzhou they advanced into Yan and Zhao and captured Quyang and Beiping. At Yizhou the defenders came out to resist, forming their lines beyond the moat. Li Jingzhang came out to surrender and reported that the city had lost the will to fight. The grand marshal was about to prepare siege engines when Tulubu remonstrated: "Our army has marched far; men and horses are exhausted—we cannot afford to linger." The assault was called off. On the army's return the grand marshal reported his counsel to the throne; Emperor Taizu was greatly pleased and rewarded him lavishly. On the western campaign Tulubu and the grand marshal led the vanguard; their attack on the Tanguts succeeded, and Emperor Taizu feasted the army at Crystal Mountain. When the grand marshal returned east, Tulubu remained to garrison the southwest, raided the Tanguts again, took many captives, and returned. On Emperor Taizu's eastern campaign, Dayinzan surrendered and then rebelled again; in the assault Tulubu was first over the wall. After Bohai was pacified, he received an edict to inscribe Emperor Taizu's achievements on the walls of the Hall of Everlasting Prosperity. On the withdrawal many districts rebelled again; Tulubu followed the grand marshal in reducing them. When Empress Chunqin assumed the regency, slanders reached her ears; enraged, she drove Tulubu to flee in fear. Emperor Taizong knew he was innocent and recalled him. In the third year of Tianxian he attacked the Wugu tribe and took a great many captives. In the campaign against Tang he commanded the left wing, attacked the Tang garrison at Xiasha, and received its surrender. In the eleventh year he escorted the Jin ruler Shi Jingtang into Luoyang. At the grand enthronement ceremony he oversaw all ritual affairs and was granted the ranks of Special Advancement and Acting Grand Commandant. He died in the fifth year of Huitong.
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王郁，京兆萬年人，唐義武軍節度使處直之孽子。 伯父處存鎮義武，卒，三軍推其子郜襲，處直為都知兵馬使。 光化三年，梁王朱全忠攻定州，郜遣處直拒於沙河。 兵敗，入城逐郜，郜奔太原。 亂兵推處直為留後，遣人請事梁王。 梁與晉王克用絕好，表處直為義武軍節度使。 初，郜之亡也，郁從之。 晉王克用妻以女，用為新州防禦使。 處直料晉必討張文禮，鎮亡，則定不獨存，益自疑。 陰使郁北導契丹入塞，以牽晉兵，且許為嗣。 郁自奔晉，常恐失父心，得使，大喜。 神冊六年，奉表送款，舉室來降，太祖以為養子。 未幾，郁兄都囚父，自為留後，帝遣郁從皇太子討之。 至定州，都堅壁不出，掠居民而還。 明年，從皇太子攻鎮州，遇唐兵於定州，破之。 天贊二年秋，郁及阿古只略地燕、趙，攻下磁窯務。 從太祖平渤海，戰有功，加同政事門下平章事，改崇義軍節度使。 太祖崩，郁與妻會葬，其妻泣訴於淳欽皇后，求歸鄉國，許之。 郁奏曰：「臣本唐主之婿，主已被弒，此行夫妻豈能相保？ 願常侍太后。」 後喜曰：「漢人中，惟王郎最忠孝。」 以太祖嘗與李克用約為兄弟故也。 尋加政事令。 還宜州，卒。
Wang Yu, a native of Wannian in Jingzhao, was the illegitimate son of Wang Chuzhi, military governor of the Yiwu Army under Tang. His uncle Chucun had governed Yiwu; when he died the army installed his son Gao as successor, with Chuzhi as director of military affairs. In the third year of Guanghua, Zhu Quanzhong of Liang attacked Dingzhou; Gao sent Chuzhi to resist him at Shahe. Defeated in battle, they entered the city and drove Gao out; he fled to Taiyuan. The mutineers installed Chuzhi as acting governor and sent envoys to submit to the Liang court. Liang broke with Li Keyong of Jin and memorialized Chuzhi as military governor of the Yiwu Army. When Gao first fled, Yu went with him. Li Keyong of Jin gave him his daughter in marriage and appointed him defender of Xinzhou. Chuzhi reckoned that Jin would surely move against Zhang Wenli; if the commandery fell, Dingzhou could not survive on its own, and his suspicions deepened. He secretly sent Yu north to guide the Khitan across the border and tie down Jin's forces, promising him the succession as well. Yu had fled to Jin and constantly feared he had lost his father's favor; when this mission came he was overjoyed. In the sixth year of Shence he submitted a memorial of allegiance and came over with his entire household; Emperor Taizu adopted him as a son. Before long Yu's elder brother Du imprisoned their father and made himself acting governor; the emperor sent Yu with the heir apparent to punish him. At Dingzhou, Du held the walls and refused to come out; they plundered the countryside and withdrew. The following year he followed the heir apparent against Zhenzhou, met Tang forces at Dingzhou, and routed them. In the autumn of the second year of Tianzan, Yu and Aguzhi raided Yan and Zhao and captured Ciyaowu. He followed Emperor Taizu in pacifying Bohai, distinguished himself in battle, was made associate director of the Secretariat with the rank of grand councilor, and was then appointed military governor of the Chongyi Army. When Emperor Taizu died, Yu and his wife attended the funeral; his wife wept before Empress Chunqin and begged to return home, and the empress granted her request. Yu submitted a memorial: "I was once the son-in-law of a Tang ruler; my lord has already been murdered—on this journey how can my wife and I keep each other safe? I beg to remain in constant attendance upon the empress dowager." The empress was delighted: "Among the Han, none is more loyal and filial than Lord Wang." This was because Emperor Taizu had once sworn brotherhood with Li Keyong. Before long he was additionally appointed director of government affairs. He returned to Yizhou, where he died.
7
耶律圖魯窘，字阿魯隱，肅祖子洽瑽之孫，勇而有謀略。 太宗立晉之役，其父敵魯古為五院夷離堇，歿於兵，帝即以其職授圖魯窘。 會同元年，改北院大王，嘗屏左右與議大事，占對合上意。 從討石重貴，杜重威擁十萬餘眾拒滹沱橋，力戰數日，不得進。 帝曰：「兩軍爭渡，人馬疲矣，計安出？」 諸將請緩師，為後圖，帝然之。 圖魯窘厲色進曰：「臣愚竊以為陛下樂於安逸，則謹守四境可也； 既欲擴大疆宇，出師遠攻，詎能無廑聖慮。 若中路而止，適為賊利，則必陷南京，夷屬邑。 若此，則爭戰未已，吾民無奠枕之期矣。 且彼步我騎，何慮不克！ 況漢人足力弱而行緩，如選輕銳騎先絕其餉道，則事蔑不濟矣。」 帝喜曰：「國強則其人賢，海巨則其魚大。」 於是塞其餉道，數出師以牽撓其勢，重威果降如言。 以功獲賜甚厚。 明年春，卒軍中。
Yelu Tulujiong, whose courtesy name was Aluyin, was the grandson of Qiazhen, a son of Emperor Suzu; he was courageous and resourceful in counsel. During Emperor Taizong's campaign to establish the Later Jin state, his father Dilugu served as chieftain of the Five Yuan Divisions and died in battle; the emperor at once gave Tulujiong his father's post. In the first year of Huitong he was made king of the Northern Court; he would dismiss his attendants to discuss weighty matters, and his counsel always matched the emperor's intent. In the campaign against Shi Chonggui, Du Chongwei held more than a hundred thousand men at the Hutuo bridge; after days of fierce fighting the army could not break through. The emperor said, "Both armies are fighting for the crossing; men and horses are exhausted—what is to be done?" The generals urged slowing the advance to regroup; the emperor agreed. Tulujiong stepped forward with a stern expression and said, "Your humble servant ventures to think that if Your Majesty delights in ease, then guarding the four borders is enough; but if you wish to expand the realm and send the army on distant campaigns, how can Your Majesty not weigh every consequence with care? If we halt halfway, we only strengthen the enemy; the Southern Capital will fall and our dependent districts will be laid waste. Then the fighting will never end, and our people will never know a night of peaceful sleep. They fight on foot and we fight on horseback—why should we fear defeat? The Han march slowly on weak legs; send light, elite cavalry to cut their supply lines first, and the matter cannot fail." The emperor rejoiced: "When a state is strong, its men are worthy; when the sea is vast, its fish are large." They blocked the enemy supply lines and sent out repeated raids to harry their forces; Chongwei surrendered exactly as Tulujiong had predicted. For this service he received lavish rewards. The following spring he died in camp.
8
論曰：神冊初元，將相大臣拔起風塵之中，翼扶王運，以任職取名者，固一時之材，亦由太祖推誠禦下，不任獨斷，用能總攬群策而為之用歟！ 其投天隙而列功庸，至有心腹、耳目、手足之喻，豈偶然哉！ 討党項，走敵魯，平剌葛，定渤海，功亦偉矣。 若默記治獄不冤，頗德持論不撓，延徽立經陳紀，紹勛秉節而死，圖魯窘料敵制勝，豈器博者無近用，道長者其功遠歟？ 稱為佐命，固宜。
The commentary says: At the opening of the Shence era, generals and ministers rose from the turmoil of the age to support the royal enterprise. Men who won renown through office were indeed talents of their day, yet it was also because Emperor Taizu dealt sincerely with his subordinates, refused to decide everything alone, and so could gather every counsel and put it to use. That they seized Heaven's openings and won their places of honor, even to the point of being called the ruler's heart, eyes, ears, hands, and feet—could that have been mere chance? In subduing the Tanguts, driving off Dilu, pacifying Lage, and settling Bohai, their achievements were likewise magnificent. Consider Kang Moji, who judged cases without injustice; Pode, who held to his principles without yielding; Han Yanhui, who established institutions and set forth the laws; Shaoxun, who died holding to his integrity; and Tulujiong, who read the enemy and secured victory—are men of broad talent useless in the present, and men of far-reaching vision rewarded only in the long run? To call them founders of the dynasty was only fitting.