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耶律屋質耶律吼 〈（何魯不）〉 耶律安摶耶律窪耶律頹昱耶律撻烈
Yelu Wuzhi and Yelu Hou Helubu)〉 Yelu Antuan, Yelu Wa, Yelu Tuiyu, and Yelu Talie
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耶律屋質，字敵輦，系出孟父房。 姿簡靜，有器識，重然諾。 遇事造次，處之從容，人莫能測。 博學，知天文。 會同間，為惕隱。 太宗崩，諸大臣立世宗，太后聞之，怒甚，遣皇子李胡以兵逆擊，遇安端、劉哥等於泰德泉，敗歸。 李胡盡執世宗臣僚家屬，謂守者曰：「我戰不克，先殪此曹！」 人皆恟渙相謂曰：「若果戰，則是父子兄弟相夷矣！」 軍次潢河橫渡，隔岸相拒。 時屋質從太后，世宗以屋質善籌，欲行間，乃設事奉書，以試太后。 太后得書，以示屋質。 屋質讀竟，言曰：「太后佐太祖定天下，故臣願竭死力。 若太后見疑，臣雖欲盡忠，得乎？ 為今之計，莫若以言和解，事必有成； 否即宜速戰，以決勝負。 然人心一搖，國禍不淺，惟太后裁察。」 太后曰：「我若疑卿，安肯以書示汝？」 屋質對曰：「李胡、永康王皆太祖子孫，神器非移他族，何不可之有？ 太后宜思長策，與永康王和議。」 太后曰：「誰可遣者？」 對曰：「太后不疑臣，臣請往。 萬一永康王見聽，廟社之福。」 太后乃遣屋質授書於帝。 帝遣宣徽使耶律海思復書，辭多不遜。 屋質諫曰：「書意如此，國家之憂未艾也。 能釋怨以安社稷，則臣以為莫若和好。」 帝曰：「彼眾烏合，安能敵我？」 屋質曰：「即不敵，奈骨肉何！ 況未知孰勝。 借曰幸勝，諸臣之族執於李胡者，無噍類矣。 以此計之，惟和為善。」 左右聞者失色。 帝良久，問曰：「若何而和？」 屋質對曰：「與太后相見，各紓忿恚，和之不難； 不然，決戰非晚。」 帝然之，遂遣海思詣太后約和。 往返數日，議乃定。 始相見，怨言交讓，殊無和意。 太后謂屋質曰：「汝當為我畫之。」 屋質進曰：「太后與大王若能釋怨，臣乃敢進說。」 太后曰：「汝第言之。」 屋質借謁者籌執之，謂太后曰：「昔人皇王在，何故立嗣聖？」 太后曰：「立嗣聖者，太祖遺旨。」 又曰：「大王何故擅立，不稟尊親？」 帝曰：「人皇王當立而不立，所以去之。」 屋質正色曰：「人皇王舍父母之國而奔唐，子道當如是耶？ 大王見太后，不少遜謝，惟怨是尋。 太后牽於偏愛，托先帝遺命，妄授神器。 如此何敢望和，當速交戰！」 擲籌而退。 太后泣曰：「向太祖遭諸弟亂，天下荼毒，瘡痍未復，庸可再乎！」 乃索籌一。 帝曰：「父不為而子為，又誰咎也！」 亦取籌而執。 左右感激，大慟。 太后復謂屋質曰：「議既定，神器竟誰歸？」 屋質曰：「太后若授永康王，順天合人，復何疑？」 李胡厲聲曰：「我在，兀欲安得立！」 屋質曰：「禮有世嫡，不傳諸弟。 昔嗣聖之立，尚以為非，況公暴戾殘忍，人多怨讟。 萬口一辭，願立永康王，不可奪也。」 太后顧李胡曰：「汝亦聞此言乎？ 汝實自為之！」 乃許立永康。 帝謂屋質曰：「汝與朕屬尤近，何反助太后？」 屋質對曰：「臣以社稷至重，不可輕付，故如是耳。」 上喜其忠。
Yelu Wuzhi, whose courtesy name was Dirilian, came from the Mengfu branch of the imperial clan. He was plain and composed in manner, possessed foresight and judgment, and held his promises sacred. Even when events struck suddenly, he met them with unhurried ease, and none could read his mind. He was widely learned and versed in astronomy. During the Huitong period he held the office of tiyin. After Emperor Taizong died, the senior ministers enthroned Emperor Shizong. When the empress dowager heard of this she was furious and sent the prince Li Hu with an army to oppose them; at Taidede Spring he met Anduan, Liuge, and their forces, was defeated, and withdrew. Li Hu seized the families of all of Shizong's ministers and officials and told the guards, "If I cannot win this fight, I will kill every one of them first!" Everyone was thrown into alarm and said to one another, "If they truly go to war, fathers and sons and brothers will slaughter one another!" The two armies halted at Huanghe Ford Crossing and stood opposed on opposite banks. Wuzhi was then with the empress dowager. Shizong knew that Wuzhi was adept at strategy and wished to drive a wedge between them, so he fabricated a pretext and sent a letter to probe the empress dowager. When the empress dowager received the letter she showed it to Wuzhi. After reading it through, Wuzhi said, "Your Majesty aided Taizu in bringing the realm under rule, and your servant is ready to give his life in your service. But if Your Majesty suspects me, how can I serve you with full loyalty? The best course now is to seek a settlement through negotiation—success is certain; otherwise you should fight at once and settle the issue by force. Yet once hearts waver, the harm to the state will be grave—may Your Majesty weigh this carefully." The empress dowager said, "If I doubted you, why would I show you this letter at all?" Wuzhi replied, "Li Hu and Prince Yongkang are both Taizu's descendants; the throne will not pass outside the clan—what objection can there be? Your Majesty should think of a lasting settlement and negotiate peace with Prince Yongkang." The empress dowager asked, "Whom can I send?" He said, "If Your Majesty does not doubt me, I ask to go myself. If Prince Yongkang should listen, it will be a blessing for the realm." The empress dowager then sent Wuzhi to bear her letter to the emperor. The emperor sent Yelu Haishi, Commissioner of the Palace Secretariat, to reply with a letter whose tone was largely defiant. Wuzhi admonished him, saying, "With a reply like this, the realm's troubles are far from over. If you can lay aside grievance to secure the state, I believe nothing is better than reconciliation." The emperor said, "Their force is a rabble thrown together—how can they stand against us?" Wuzhi said, "Even if they cannot match us, what of your own kin! Besides, no one yet knows who will prevail. Even supposing you win, the families of your ministers held by Li Hu will be wiped out to the last soul. Weighing the matter thus, peace alone is the wise course." Those standing nearby turned pale at his words. After a long silence the emperor asked, "How then can peace be achieved?" Wuzhi answered, "Meet the empress dowager in person; once each side vents its anger, reconciliation will not be difficult; otherwise a decisive battle can still be fought in due time." The emperor agreed and sent Haishi to the empress dowager to negotiate terms. After several days of exchanges the terms were settled. At their first meeting they traded grievances and reproaches, with no sign of reconciliation. The empress dowager said to Wuzhi, "You must work this out for me." Wuzhi stepped forward and said, "If Your Majesty and the great king can lay aside your grievances, only then dare I speak." The empress dowager said, "Speak freely." Wuzhi took a counting stick from an attendant and, holding it, asked the empress dowager, "When Emperor Ren was still alive, why did you enthrone Emperor Sishheng?" The empress dowager said, "Enthroning Sishheng was Taizu's final command." He went on, "Why did the great king enthrone himself without consulting his mother?" The emperor said, "Emperor Ren should have been enthroned but was not—that is why I removed him." Wuzhi said sternly, "Emperor Ren abandoned his parents' realm and fled to Tang—is that how a son should behave? When the great king met the empress dowager he showed little deference or apology and nursed only resentment. The empress dowager, swayed by partial love, invoked the late emperor's dying command and rashly bestowed the throne. With matters standing thus, how can you hope for peace—you should fight at once!" He threw down the stick and withdrew. The empress dowager wept and said, "When Taizu was alive his younger brothers brought chaos upon the realm; the land was ravaged and its wounds have not healed—how can we endure this again!" She then asked for a counting stick. The emperor said, "What the father failed to do, the son has done—whom else is there to blame!" He too took a stick and held it. Those standing by were deeply moved and wept aloud. The empress dowager again asked Wuzhi, "Now that peace is settled, to whom will the throne ultimately pass?" Wuzhi said, "If Your Majesty invests Prince Yongkang, you will follow Heaven's will and the people's wish—what doubt remains?" Li Hu cried out harshly, "While I live, how can Wuyu be enthroned!" Wuzhi said, "Rites provide for succession by the direct heir; the throne is not passed to younger brothers. Even Sishheng's enthronement was widely deemed improper—how much more so yours, when you are violent and cruel and the people murmur against you. Every voice calls for Prince Yongkang's enthronement, and that wish cannot be denied." The empress dowager turned to Li Hu and said, "Have you heard this as well? You have brought this on yourself!" She then agreed to enthrone Prince Yongkang. The emperor said to Wuzhi, "You and I are close kin—why have you sided with the empress dowager?" Wuzhi replied, "I hold the state above all else and would not see it lightly entrusted—that is why I acted as I did." The emperor was pleased with his loyalty.
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天祿二年，耶律天德、蕭翰謀反下獄，惕隱劉哥及其弟盆都結天德等為亂。 耶律石剌潛告屋質，屋質遽引入見，白其事。 劉哥等不服，事遂寢。 未幾，劉哥邀駕觀樗蒲，捧觴上壽，袖刃而進。 帝覺，命執之，親詰其事。 劉哥自誓，帝復不問。 屋質奏曰：「當使劉哥與石剌對狀，不可輒恕。」 帝曰：「卿為朕鞫之。」 屋質率劍士往訊之，天德等伏罪。 誅天德，杖翰，遷劉哥，以盆都使轄戛斯國。 三年，表列泰寧王察割陰謀事，上不聽。 五年，為右皮室詳穩。 秋，上祭讓國皇帝於行宮，與群臣皆醉，察割弒帝。 屋質聞有言「衣紫者不可失」，乃易衣而出，亟遣人召諸王，乃喻禁衛長皮室等同力討賊。 時壽安王歸帳，屋質遣弟沖迎之。 王至，尚猶豫。 屋質曰：「大王嗣聖子，賊若得之，必不容。 群臣將誰事，社稷將誰賴？ 萬一落賊手，悔將何及？」 王始悟。 諸將聞屋質出，相繼而至。 遲明整兵，出賊不意，圍之，遂誅察割。 亂既平，穆宗即位，謂屋質曰：「朕之性命，實出卿手。」 命知國事，以逆黨財產盡賜之，屋質固辭。 應歷五年，為北院大王，總山西事。
In the second year of Tianlu, Yelu Tiande and Xiao Han were imprisoned for plotting rebellion; the tiyin Liuge and his younger brother Pendu joined Tiande and others in a conspiracy. Yelu Shila secretly informed Wuzhi, who at once brought him before the emperor and reported the plot. Liuge and the others denied the charge, and the matter was dropped. Before long Liuge invited the emperor to watch a game of pitch-pot, raised a cup in toast, and advanced with a blade hidden in his sleeve. The emperor sensed danger, ordered him seized, and questioned him personally. Liuge swore his innocence, and the emperor again let the matter drop. Wuzhi memorialized, "Liuge and Shila must confront each other in testimony; he must not be pardoned lightly." The emperor said, "You shall investigate this for me." Wuzhi led armed guards to question them, and Tiande and the others confessed. Tiande was executed, Han was flogged, Liuge was transferred, and Pendu was sent as envoy to the Kirghiz. In the third year he submitted a memorial detailing the secret plots of Prince Taining Chage, but the emperor would not listen. In the fifth year he was appointed you pishi xiangwen. That autumn the emperor sacrificed to the Yielding-the-Realm Emperor at the traveling palace; he and all his ministers were drunk when Chage assassinated him. Wuzhi heard someone say, "Do not lose the man in purple," changed his clothes and went out, urgently sent men to summon the princes, and urged the guard commander and the pishi to join in suppressing the rebels. Prince Shou'an was then returning to his tent, and Wuzhi sent his younger brother Chong to meet him. When the prince arrived he still hesitated. Wuzhi said, "Your Highness is a son of Emperor Sishheng; if the rebels seize you, they will not spare you. Whom will the ministers then serve, and on whom will the realm rely? If you fall into their hands, what regret will suffice?" The prince then understood. When the generals heard that Wuzhi had emerged, they came one after another. At dawn they marshaled the troops, caught the rebels off guard, surrounded them, and executed Chage. Once order was restored, Emperor Muzong took the throne and said to Wuzhi, "I owe my life to you." He appointed Wuzhi to oversee state affairs and offered him all the rebels' property, but Wuzhi firmly declined. In the fifth year of Yingli he was made great king of the Northern Court with authority over the western territories.
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耶律吼，字曷魯，六院部夷離堇蒲古只之後。 端愨好施，不事生產。 太宗特加倚任。 會同六年，為南院大王，蒞事清簡，人不敢以年少易之。 時晉主石重貴表不稱臣，辭多踞慢，吼言晉罪不可不伐。 及帝親征，以所部兵從。 既入汴，諸將皆取內帑珍異，吼獨取馬鎧，帝嘉之。 及帝崩於欒城，無遺詔，軍中憂懼不知所為。 吼詣北院大王耶律窪議曰：「天位不可一日曠。 若請於太后，則必屬李胡。 李胡暴戾殘忍，詎能子民。 必欲厭人望。 則當立永康王。」 窪然之。 會耶律安摶來，意與吼合，遂定議立永康王，是為世宗。 頃之，以功加采訪使，賜以寶貨。 吼辭曰：「臣位已高，敢復求富！ 臣從弟的錄諸子坐事籍沒，陛下哀而出之，則臣受賜多矣。」 上曰：「吼舍重賞，以族人為請，其賢遠甚。」 許之，仍賜宮戶五十。 時有取當世名流作《七賢傳》者，吼與其一。 天祿三年卒，年三十九。 子何魯不。
Yelu Hou, whose courtesy name was Helu, was a descendant of Puguzhi, yilijin of the Six Courts tribes. He was upright and generous, cared nothing for accumulating wealth, and did not trouble himself with farming or trade. Emperor Taizong placed exceptional trust in him. In the sixth year of Huitong he was made great king of the Southern Court; his administration was clear and unassuming, and none dared underestimate him for his youth. At that time the Jin ruler Shi Chonggui sent a memorial in which he refused to style himself a subject; his language was openly arrogant. Hou argued that Jin's offense could not go unanswered by war. When the emperor marched in person, Hou accompanied him with the troops under his command. After the army entered Bian, the other generals seized rare treasures from the imperial storehouse; Hou took only horse armor, and the emperor commended him. When the emperor died at Luancheng without a final testament, the army was gripped by fear and uncertainty. Hou went to Yelu Wa, great king of the Northern Court, and said, "The throne cannot stand vacant even for a day. If we consult the empress dowager, the succession will surely go to Li Hu. Li Hu is violent and cruel—how could he rule as a true sovereign over the people? If you mean to satisfy the people's hopes, then Prince Yongkang should be enthroned." Wa agreed. Yelu Antuan then arrived with the same view as Hou, and together they resolved to enthrone Prince Yongkang, who became Emperor Shizong. Soon afterward he was promoted to investigative commissioner for his service and rewarded with precious goods. Hou declined, saying, "My rank is already high—how dare I seek more wealth! My younger cousin Dilu and his sons were seized and their property confiscated for their offenses; if Your Majesty in mercy releases them, I will have received more than enough." The emperor said, "Hou has forgone a rich reward to plead for his kin—his virtue stands far above the common run." He granted the request and still bestowed fifty palace households. Someone then compiled a Biographies of the Seven Worthies from the leading men of the age, and Hou was counted among them. He died in the third year of Tianlu at the age of thirty-nine. His son was Helubu.
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耶律安摶，曾祖巖木，玄祖之長子。 祖楚不魯，為本部夷離堇。 父叠裏，幼多疾，時太祖為撻馬狘沙裏，常加撫育。 神冊六年，為惕隱，從太祖將龍軍討阻卜、党項有功。 天贊三年，為南院夷離堇，征渤海，攻忽汗城，俘斬甚眾。 太祖崩，淳欽皇后稱制，欲以大元帥嗣位。 叠裏建言，帝位宣先嫡長； 今東丹王赴朝，當立。 由是忤旨。 以黨附東丹王，詔下獄，訊鞫，加以炮烙。 不伏，殺之，籍其家。
Yelu Antuan's great-grandfather Yanmu was the eldest son of the mysterious ancestor. His grandfather Chubulu served as yilijin of their tribe. His father Dieli was often ill as a child; Taizu, then serving as tamaxie shali, frequently cared for him. In the sixth year of Shence he became tiyin and followed Taizu at the head of the Dragon Army against the Zubu and Tangut, earning distinction. In the third year of Tianzan he became yilijin of the Southern Court, campaigned against Bohai, attacked Huhan city, and took or killed a great many of the enemy. After Taizu died, Empress Chunqin assumed regency and wished to enthrone the great marshal. Dieli advised that the throne should pass first to the eldest son of the direct line; and that the Prince of Eastern Dan, now coming to court, should be enthroned. This brought him into conflict with the regent's will. Accused of siding with the Prince of Eastern Dan, he was imprisoned by edict, interrogated, and tortured with branding irons. He would not confess and was executed; his property was confiscated.
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安摶自幼若成人，居父喪，哀毀過禮，見者傷之。 太宗屢加慰諭，嘗曰：「此兒必為令器。」 既長，寡言笑，重然諾，動遵繩矩，事母至孝。 以父死非罪，未葬，不預宴樂。 世宗在藩邸，尤加憐恤，安摶密自結納。 太宗伐晉還，至欒城崩，諸將欲立世宗，以李胡及壽安王在朝，猶豫未決。 時安摶直宿衛，世宗密召問計。 安摶曰：「大王聰安寬恕，人皇王之嫡長； 先帝雖有壽安，天下屬意多在大王。 今若不斷，後悔無及。」 會有自京師來者，安摶詐以李胡死傳報軍中，皆以為信。 於是安摶詣北、南二大王計之。 北院大王窪聞而遽起曰：「吾二人方議此事。 先帝嘗欲以永康王為儲貳，今日之事，有我輩在，孰敢不從！ 但恐不白太后而立，為國家啟釁。」 安摶對曰：「大王既知先帝欲以永康王為儲副，況永康王賢明，人心樂附。 今天下甫定，稍緩則大事去矣。 若白太后，必立李胡。 且李胡殘暴，行路共知，果嗣位，如社稷何？」 南院大王吼曰：「此言是也。 吾計決矣！」 乃整軍，召諸將奉世宗即位於太宗柩前。 帝立，以安摶為腹心，總知宿衛。 是歲，約和於潢河橫渡。 太后問安摶曰：「吾與汝有何隙？」 安摶以父死為對，太后默然。 及置北院樞密使，上命安摶為之，賜奴婢百口，寵任無比，事皆取決焉。 然性太寬，事循茍簡，豪猾縱恣不能制。 天祿末，察割兵犯禦幄，又不能討，由是中外短之。 穆宗即位，以立世宗之故，不復委用。 應歷三年，或誣安摶與齊王罨撒葛謀亂，系獄死。 侄撒給，左皮室詳穩。
From childhood Antuan behaved like a grown man; in mourning his father he grieved beyond the prescribed rites, and all who saw him were deeply moved. Emperor Taizong comforted him repeatedly and once said, "This boy will surely prove a man of great promise." When he grew up he was sparing of speech and laughter, kept his promises, conducted himself by strict rule, and served his mother with the utmost filial devotion. Because his father had died unjustly and remained unburied, he refused all feasts and entertainments. While Shizong was still at his princely residence he showed Antuan especial kindness, and Antuan secretly pledged himself to him. When Taizong died at Luancheng on his return from the Jin campaign, the generals wished to enthrone Shizong, but with Li Hu and Prince Shou'an still at court they hesitated. Antuan was then on palace guard duty; Shizong secretly summoned him to ask his counsel. Antuan said, "Your Highness is wise, calm, and magnanimous, the eldest son of Emperor Ren by the direct line; though the late emperor also had Prince Shou'an, the realm's hopes rest chiefly on Your Highness. If you do not act now, you will regret it when it is too late." When someone arrived from the capital, Antuan falsely spread word through the army that Li Hu was dead, and all believed it. Antuan then went to the great kings of the Northern and Southern Courts to consult them. Wa, great king of the Northern Court, rose at once and said, "We two were just discussing this very matter. The late emperor once wished to make Prince Yongkang heir apparent; with us here today, who would dare refuse! Yet I fear that enthroning him without informing the empress dowager will sow strife for the realm." Antuan replied, "Your Highness already knows the late emperor wished Prince Yongkang as heir; moreover he is worthy and wise, and the people are eager to follow him. The realm has only just been settled; hesitate even briefly and the opportunity will be lost. If we inform the empress dowager, she will surely enthrone Li Hu. Moreover Li Hu's cruelty is known to everyone on the road; if he truly succeeds, what will become of the realm?" Hou, great king of the Southern Court, said, "He is right. My mind is made up!" They marshaled the army, summoned the generals, and enthroned Shizong before Taizong's bier. Once enthroned, the emperor made Antuan his closest confidant and placed him in overall charge of the palace guard. That year peace was concluded at Huanghe Ford Crossing. The empress dowager asked Antuan, "What grievance lies between us?" Antuan answered by citing his father's death; the empress dowager said nothing. When the Northern Court commissioner of military affairs was established, the emperor appointed Antuan to the post, granted him a hundred servants, favored him beyond any other, and left all major decisions to him. Yet he was excessively lenient, handled affairs in a lax and perfunctory way, and could not restrain the powerful and unscrupulous. Late in the Tianlu period Chage's troops breached the imperial quarters and he failed to suppress them; court and country alike faulted him for it. When Emperor Muzong took the throne, because Antuan had helped enthrone Shizong he was no longer given office. In the third year of Yingli he was falsely accused of plotting rebellion with Prince Qi Yansage, imprisoned, and died in custody. His nephew Sagie served as zuo pishi xiangwen.
7
撻烈凡用兵，賞罰信明，得士卒心。 河東單弱，不為周、宋所並者，撻烈有力焉。 在治所不修邊幅，百姓無稱，年谷屢稔。 時耶律屋質居北院，撻烈居南院，俱有政跡，朝議以為「富民大王」云。
In all his campaigns Talie made rewards and punishments clear and reliable, and won the loyalty of his troops. Hedong stood alone and weak; that Zhou and Song did not absorb it owed much to Talie's efforts. At his post he cared nothing for personal appearance and won no praise from the people, yet harvests under his rule were repeatedly abundant. At that time Yelu Wuzhi governed the Northern Court and Talie the Southern Court; both left records of sound administration, and the court called them the "kings who enrich the people."
8
贊曰：立嗣以嫡，禮也。 太宗崩，非安摶、吼、窪謀而克斷，策立世宗，非屋質直而能諫，杜太后之私，折李胡之暴，以成橫渡之約，則亂將誰定？ 四臣者，庶幾《春秋》首止之功哉。
The encomium says: Establishing an heir by the direct line is ritual propriety. When Taizong died, had Antuan, Hou, and Wa not schemed with firm resolve to enthrone Shizong; had Wuzhi not been upright and able to remonstrate, checking the empress dowager's partiality and breaking Li Hu's violence to complete the peace at the ford crossing—who would have ended the chaos? These four ministers approach, one might say, the achievement of "first stopping" praised in the Spring and Autumn Annals.