1
蕭撻凜蕭觀音奴耶律題子耶律諧理耶律奴瓜蕭柳高勛奚和朔奴蕭塔列葛耶律撒合
Xiao Talin, Xiao Guanyinnu, Yelu Tizi, Yelu Xieli, Yelu Nugua, Xiao Liu, Gao Xun, Xi Heshuonu, Xiao Taliege, and Yelu Sahe.
2
蕭撻凜，字駝寧，思溫之再從侄。 父術魯列，善相馬，應歷間為馬群侍中。 撻凜幼敦厚，有才略，通天文。 保寧初，為宿直官，累任珝劇。 統和四年，宋楊繼業率兵由代州來侵，攻陷城邑。 撻凜以諸軍副部署，從樞密使耶律斜軫敗之，擒繼業於朔州。 六年秋，改南院都監，從駕南征，攻沙堆，力戰被創，太后嘗親臨視。 明年，加右監門衛上將軍、檢校太師，遙授彰德軍節度使。 十一年，與東京留守蕭恒德伐高麗，破之。 高麗稱臣奉貢。 十二年，夏人梗邊，皇太妃受命總烏古及永興宮分軍討之，撻凜為阻卜都詳穩。 凡軍中號令，太妃並委撻凜。 師還，以功加兼侍中，封蘭陵郡王。 十五年，敵烈部人殺詳穩而叛，遁於西北荒，撻凜將輕騎逐之，因討阻卜之未服者，諸蕃歲貢方物充於國，自後往來若一家焉。 上賜詩嘉獎，仍命林牙耶律昭作賦，以述其功。 撻凜以諸部叛服不常，上表乞建三城以絕邊患，從之。 俄召為南京統軍使。 二十年，復伐宋，擒其將王先知，破其軍於遂城，下祁州，上手詔獎諭。 進至澶淵，宋主軍於城隍間，未接戰，撻凜按視地形，取宋之羊觀、鹽堆、鳧雁，中伏弩，卒。 明日，彗車至，太后哭之慟，輟朝五日。 子慥古，南京統軍使。
Xiao Talin, whose style name was Tuoning, was a second cousin once removed of Xiao Siwen. His father Shululie was an expert judge of horses and, during the Yingli era, held the post of Commissioner of Horse Herds. From youth Talin was earnest and steady, gifted with strategic ability, and versed in astronomy. Early in the Baoning era he entered palace service as a duty officer and was repeatedly posted to Xuju. In the fourth year of Tonghe (986), the Song general Yang Ye marched from Dai Prefecture to invade Liao territory and seized a number of towns. Talin served as deputy commander of the combined armies and, under Grand Councilor Yelu Xiezhen, routed the Song force and took Yang Ye prisoner at Shuozhou. That autumn of the sixth year he was appointed Chief Supervisor of the Southern Chancellery. On the southern campaign he attacked Shadui, fought hard, and was wounded; the Empress Dowager herself came to see him. The following year he received the additional ranks of General-in-Chief of the Right Gate Guards and Honorary Grand Preceptor, with a concurrent appointment as Military Commissioner of the Zhangde circuit. In the eleventh year he joined Eastern Capital regent Xiao Hengde in a campaign against Goryeo and broke their resistance. Goryeo acknowledged vassal status and began sending tribute. In the twelfth year the Tangut raided the borderlands. The Imperial Consort was entrusted with the Ugu and Yongxing Palace forces to suppress them, and Talin was made Chief Commander of the Zubu tribes. The Imperial Consort placed all military orders in Talin's hands. On the army's return he was rewarded with the additional office of Vice Grand Councilor and enfeoffed as Prince of Lanling. In the fifteenth year the Dilie tribe murdered their commander and rebelled, fleeing into the far northwest. Talin led light cavalry in pursuit and, in the same campaign, subdued recalcitrant Zubu groups. Thereafter the frontier tribes sent annual tribute that filled the royal stores, and their relations with the court became as close as a single household. The emperor granted him a commendatory poem and ordered Academician Yelu Zhao to compose a fu celebrating his achievements. Because frontier tribes shifted unpredictably between rebellion and submission, Talin memorialized asking to build three fortified towns to end border unrest, and the court agreed. He was soon recalled to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Capital. In the twentieth year he again campaigned against Song, captured the Song general Wang Xianzhi, destroyed their army at Suicheng, and seized Qizhou; the emperor issued a personal edict of commendation. The army pressed on to Chanyuan, where the Song emperor had drawn up his forces between the city walls and moat. Before battle was joined, Talin reconnoitered the ground and seized the Song outposts at Yangguan, Yandui, and Fuyan, but was killed by a concealed crossbow. The next day his funeral carriage arrived at court. The Empress Dowager mourned him deeply and suspended audiences for five days. His son Zhaogu later served as Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Capital.
3
蕭觀音奴，字耶寧，奚王搭紇之孫。 統和十二年，為右祗候郎君班詳穩，遷奚六部大王。 先是，俸秩外，給獐鹿百數，皆取於民，觀音奴奏罷之。 及伐宋，與蕭撻凜為先鋒，降祁州，下德清軍，上加優賞。 同知南院事，卒。
Xiao Guanyinnu, whose style name was Yening, was a grandson of the Xi King Dage. In the twelfth year of Tonghe he was made commander of the Right Palace Attendant Gentlemen Company and then promoted to Great King of the Six Xi Divisions. Previously, in addition to his regular salary, he had been supplied with hundreds of roe deer and elk levied from the populace; Guanyinnu memorialized to end the practice. On the campaign against Song he and Xiao Talin led the vanguard, compelled the surrender of Qizhou, and captured Deqing Army; the emperor granted him exceptional rewards. He was appointed Associate Director of the Southern Chancellery and later died.
4
耶律題子，字勝隱，北府宰相兀裏之孫。 善射，工畫。 保寧間，為禦盞郎君。 九年，奉使於漢，具言兩國通好長久之計，其主繼元深加禮重。 統和二年，將兵與西邊詳穩耶律速撒討陀羅斤，大破之。 四年，宋將楊繼業陷山西城邑，題子從北院樞密使耶律斜軫擊之，敗賀令圖於定安，授西南面招討都監。 宋兵守蔚州急，召外援，題子聞之，夜伏兵道傍。 黎明，宋兵果來，過未半而擊之； 城中軍出，斜軫復邀之。 兩軍俱潰，奔飛狐，地隘不得進，殺傷甚眾。 賀令圖復集敗卒來襲蔚州，題子逆戰，破之，應州守將自遁。 進圍寰州，冒矢石登城，宋軍大潰。 當斜軫擒繼業於朔州，題子功居多。 是年冬，復與蕭撻凜由東路擊宋，俘獲甚眾。 後聞宋兵屯易州，率兵逆之，至易境而卒。
Yelu Tizi, whose style name was Shengyin, was a grandson of Northern Chancellery Chancellor Wuli. He was an expert archer and a skilled painter. During the Baoning era he served as an Imperial Cup Bearer Gentleman. In the ninth year he was dispatched as envoy to the Han state, where he laid out a long-term plan for enduring peace between the two realms; the Han ruler Liu Jiyuan received him with exceptional honor. In the second year of Tonghe he took command alongside Western Frontier Commander Yelu Susa to attack the Tuoluojin and routed them decisively. In the fourth year, when the Song general Yang Ye overran towns in Shanxi, Tizi marched under Northern Chancellery Grand Councilor Yelu Xiezhen, defeated He Lingtu at Ding'an, and was appointed Chief Commander of Southwestern Pacification. The Song garrison at Weizhou was hard pressed and called for reinforcements. Hearing of this, Tizi laid an ambush along the road by night. At dawn the Song relief column appeared; he attacked before even half the column had passed; and when the city's defenders sallied forth, Xiezhen intercepted them as well. Both Song columns broke and fled toward Feihu Pass, but the narrow terrain blocked their escape and the slaughter was immense. He Lingtu rallied his broken troops to strike Weizhou again; Tizi met him in battle and crushed the force, after which the Yingzhou garrison commander fled on his own. He pressed on to besiege Huanzhou, scaled the walls under a hail of missiles, and the Song army collapsed in rout. When Xiezhen took Yang Ye prisoner at Shuozhou, the greater share of the credit belonged to Tizi. That winter he again joined Xiao Talin on the eastern route against Song and took a great number of prisoners. Later, learning that Song forces were encamped at Yizhou, he marched to intercept them but died upon reaching the Yi frontier.
5
初，題子破令圖，宋將有因傷而仆，題子繪其狀以示宋人，咸嗟神妙。
Earlier, after defeating He Lingtu, Tizi had seen a wounded Song officer collapse in the field. He painted the man's likeness and showed it to captured Song troops, who marveled at the portrait's uncanny accuracy.
6
耶律奴瓜，字延寧，太祖異母弟南府宰相蘇之孫。 有膂力，善調鷹隼。 統和四年，宋楊繼業來侵，奴瓜為黃皮室糺都監，擊敗之，盡復所陷城邑。 軍還，加諸衛小將軍。 及伐宋，有功，遷黃皮室詳穩。 六年，再舉，將先鋒軍，敗宋遊兵於定州，為東京統軍使，加金紫崇祿大夫。 從奚王和朔奴伐兀惹，以戰失利，削金紫崇祿階。 十九年，拜南府宰相。 二十一年，復伐宋，擒其將王繼忠於望都，俘殺甚眾，以功加同政事門下平章事。 二十六年，為遼興軍節度使，尋復為南府宰相。 開泰初，加尚父，卒。
Yelu Nugua, whose style name was Yanning, was a grandson of Su, Southern Chancellery Chancellor and younger half-brother of the dynastic founder. He possessed exceptional strength and was adept at training hawks and falcons. In the fourth year of Tonghe, when Yang Ye invaded from Song territory, Nugua—then chief of the Yellow Pishi Regiment—defeated him and recovered every town the Song had taken. On the army's return he was promoted to Junior General of the Guards. On the campaign against Song he distinguished himself and was made Commander of the Yellow Pishi. In the sixth year, on a renewed invasion, he commanded the vanguard, routed Song scouts at Dingzhou, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Capital, and received the rank of Golden Purple Glory Grandee. He followed the Xi King Heshuonu against the Wunai tribe but met defeat and was demoted from his Golden Purple Glory rank. In the nineteenth year he was appointed Chancellor of the Southern Chancellery. In the twenty-first year he again campaigned against Song, captured the Song general Wang Jizhong at Wangdu, and killed or took a great multitude of prisoners; for this he was made Associate Director of the Directorate of Affairs. In the twenty-sixth year he was made Military Commissioner of the Liaoxing circuit and soon returned to the chancellorship of the Southern Chancellery. Early in the Kaitai era he received the honorific title of Esteemed Father and soon after died.
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蕭柳，字徒門，淳欽皇后弟阿古只五世孫。 幼養於伯父排押之家，多知，能文，膂力絕人。 統和中，叔父恒德臨終，薦其才，詔入侍衛。 十七年，南伐，宋將範庭召列方陣而待。 時皇弟隆慶為先鋒，問諸將佐誰敢當者，柳曰：「若得駿馬，則願為之先。」 隆慶授以甲騎。 柳攬轡，謂諸將曰：「陣若動，諸君急攻。」 遂馳而前，敵少卻。 隆慶席勢攻之，南軍遂亂。 柳中流矢，裹創而戰，眾皆披靡。 時排押留守東京，奏柳為四軍兵馬都指揮使。 明年，為北女直詳穩，政濟寬猛，部民畏愛。 遷東路統軍使。 秩滿，百姓願留復任，許之。 從伐高麗，遇大蛇當路，前驅者請避； 柳曰：「壯士安懼此！」 拔劍斷蛇。 師還致仕。
Xiao Liu, whose style name was Tumen, was a fifth-generation descendant of Aguzhi, younger brother of Empress Chunqin. He was raised in the household of his uncle Paiya, became widely learned, wrote well, and possessed strength beyond ordinary men. During the Tonghe era his uncle Hengde, on his deathbed, recommended his abilities, and an edict brought him into the imperial guard. In the seventeenth year, on the southern campaign, the Song general Fan Tingzhao drew up his troops in a square formation and held his ground. The emperor's younger brother Longqing commanded the vanguard and asked which officers would face the enemy formation. Liu said, "Give me a fine warhorse and I will lead the charge." Longqing furnished him with armored cavalry. Liu took the reins and told the other commanders, "When their line stirs, press the attack at once." He then charged forward, and the enemy line gave ground. Longqing exploited the opening and attacked, and the Song army broke into disorder. Liu was struck by a stray arrow, bound the wound, and kept fighting until the enemy ranks collapsed. Paiya was then regent at the Eastern Capital and memorialized to appoint Liu Commander of the Four Armies. The following year he was made Commander of the Northern Jurchen. His rule combined firmness with mercy, and the tribes both feared and cherished him. He was transferred to Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Route. When his term expired the people petitioned for his reappointment, and the court agreed. On the Goryeo campaign the army encountered a huge serpent across the road, and the vanguard asked to go around it; Liu said, "What sort of brave man shrinks from this!" He drew his sword and cut the serpent in two. After the army returned he retired from office.
8
柳好滑稽，雖君臣燕飲，詼諧無所忌，時人比之俳優。 臨終，謂人曰：「吾少有致君誌，不能直遂，故以諧進。 冀萬有一補，俳優名何避！」 頃之，被寢衣而坐，呼曰：「吾去矣！」 言訖而逝。 耶律觀音奴集柳所著詩千篇，目曰《歲寒集》。
Liu loved jesting; even at formal banquets between emperor and ministers his wit knew no bounds, and contemporaries likened him to a court entertainer. On his deathbed he told those around him, "In my youth I hoped to serve the throne directly; unable to advance by the straight path, I made my way through humor. I hoped that once in ten thousand jests something might still benefit the state—why should I shrink from being called a performer!" A moment later he put on his sleeping robe, sat upright, and cried, "I am leaving!" With that he died. Yelu Guanyinnu collected a thousand of Liu's poems into a collection titled 《Winters Cold》.
9
高勛，字鼎臣，晉北平王信韜之子。 性通敏。 仕晉為閣門使。 會同九年，與杜重威來降。 太宗入汴，授四方館使。 好結權貴，能服勤大臣，多推譽之。 天祿間，為樞密使，總漢軍事。 五年，劉崇遣使來求封冊，詔勛冊崇為大漢神武皇帝。 應歷初，封趙王，出為上京留守，尋移南京。 會宋欲城益津，勛上書請假巡僥以擾之，帝然其奏，宋遂不果城。 十七年，宋略地益津關，勛擊敗之，知南院樞密事。 景宗即位，以定策功，進王秦。 保寧中，以南京郊內多隙地，請疏畦種稻，帝欲從之。 林邪耶律昆宣言於朝曰：「高勛此奏，必有異志。 果令種稻，引水為畦，設以京叛，官軍何自而入？」 帝疑之，不納。 尋遷南院樞密使。 以毒藥饋駙馬都尉蕭啜裏，事覺，流銅州。 尋又謀害尚書令蕭思溫，詔獄誅之，沒其產，皆賜思溫家。
Gao Xun, whose style name was Dingchen, was a son of Xin Tao, Prince of Beiping under the Jin. He was quick-witted and perceptive by nature. Under the Jin he served as Gate Commissioner. In the ninth year of Huitong (942) he surrendered to Liao together with Du Chongwei. When Emperor Taizong entered Bian (Kaifeng) he was appointed Commissioner of the Four Directions Bureau. He cultivated ties with powerful figures, served senior ministers diligently, and won their frequent praise. During the Tianlu era he became Grand Councilor with overall charge of Han military affairs. In the fifth year Liu Chong sent envoys requesting formal investiture, and the court ordered Xun to invest him as Emperor Shenwu of Great Han. Early in the Yingli era he was enfeoffed as Prince of Zhao, appointed regent of the Supreme Capital, and soon transferred to the Southern Capital. When Song planned to fortify Yijin, Xun memorialized asking permission to patrol the frontier and harass their works. The emperor approved, and Song abandoned the project. In the seventeenth year, when Song forces seized ground around the Yijin passes, Xun defeated them and was appointed Director of Southern Chancellery Council affairs. When Emperor Jingzong ascended the throne, Xun was advanced to Prince of Qin for his role in securing the succession. During Baoning he noted much unused land in the Southern Capital suburbs and memorialized to open paddy fields; the emperor was inclined to approve. Academician Yelu Kun declared at court, "Gao Xun's proposal surely conceals ulterior motives. If rice fields are opened and irrigation ditches cut through the suburbs, and the capital then rebels, how will government troops enter at all?" The emperor grew suspicious and rejected the plan. He was soon transferred to Grand Councilor of the Southern Chancellery. He sent poison to Imperial Son-in-Law Xiao Chuoli; when the plot was exposed he was exiled to Tongzhou. He soon plotted again, this time against Chief Minister Xiao Siwen. By imperial order he was executed in prison; his property was confiscated and given entirely to Siwen's family.
10
奚和朔奴，字籌寧，奚可汗之裔。 保寧中，為奚六部長。 統和初，皇太后稱制，以耶律休哥領南邊事，和朔奴為南面行軍副部署。 四年，宋曹彬、米信等來侵，和朔奴與休哥破宋兵於燕南，手詔褒美。 軍還，怙權撾無罪人李浩至死，上以其功釋之。 六年冬，南征，將本部軍由別道進擊敵軍於狼山，俘獲甚眾。 八年，上表曰：「臣竊見太宗之時，奚六部二宰相、二常袞，誥命大常袞班在酋長左右，副常袞總知酋長五房族屬，二宰相匡輔酋長，建明善事。 今宰相職如故，二常袞別無所掌，乞依舊制。」 從之。 十二年秋，遷都部署，伐兀惹。 駐於鐵驪，秣馬數月，進至兀惹城。 利其俘掠，請降不許，令急攻之。 城中大恐，皆殊死戰。 和朔奴知不能克，從副部署蕭恒德議，掠地東南，循高麗北界而還。 以地遠糧絕，士馬死傷，詔降封爵，卒。 子烏也，郎君班詳穩。
Xi Heshuonu, whose style name was Chouning, was a descendant of the Xi khans. During Baoning he served as chief of the Six Xi Divisions. Early in Tonghe, under the Empress Dowager's regency, Yelu Xiuge took charge of the southern frontier while Heshuonu was made Deputy Commander of the Southern Field Army. In the fourth year, when Song generals Cao Bin, Mi Xin, and others invaded, Heshuonu and Yelu Xiuge routed the Song army south of Yan, and the emperor sent them a personal edict of commendation. On the army's return he abused his authority and beat the innocent Li Hao to death, but the emperor pardoned him because of his military service. That winter of the sixth year, on the southern campaign, he led his tribal forces by a separate route to attack the enemy at Langshan and took a great number of prisoners. In the eighth year he memorialized: "Your subject observes that under Emperor Taizong the Six Xi Divisions had two chancellors and two changgun officers: the senior changgun was stationed at the chieftain's side by imperial appointment, the deputy changgun oversaw the five clans of the chieftain's lineage, and the two chancellors assisted the chieftain in governing well. Today the chancellors' duties remain unchanged, but the two changgun have no defined responsibilities. I beg that the old system be restored." The court approved his request. That autumn of the twelfth year he was promoted to Capital Commander and led a campaign against the Wunai. He encamped at Tieli, rested and fed his horses for several months, then advanced to the Wunai capital. Greedy for plunder, he refused their surrender and ordered an immediate assault. The city was gripped by terror, and the defenders fought to the last man. Seeing that the city could not be taken, Heshuonu followed Deputy Commander Xiao Hengde's advice, raided southeastward, and withdrew along Goryeo's northern frontier. The expedition had marched too far and supplies failed; men and horses perished in great numbers. By edict his noble rank was reduced, and he soon died. His son Wuye later served as commander of the Gentlemen Company.
11
蕭塔列葛，字雄隱，五院部人。 八世祖只魯，遙輦氏時嘗為虞人。 唐安祿山來攻，只魯戰於黑山之陽，敗之。 以功為北府宰相，世預其選。 塔列葛仕開泰間，累遷西南面招討使。 重熙十一年，使西夏，諭伐宋事，約元昊出別道以會。 十二年，改右夷離畢、同知南京留守，轉左夷離畢，俄授東京留守，以世選為北府宰相，卒。
Xiao Taliege, whose style name was Xiongyin, came from the Five-Yuan Division. His eighth-generation ancestor Zhilu had served as Keeper of the Imperial Forest during the Yaolian period. When An Lushan of Tang attacked, Zhilu met him on the southern slope of Black Mountain and defeated his force. For this achievement he was made Chancellor of the Northern Chancellery, and his descendants for generations held seats in that hereditary selection. Taliege served during the Kaitai era and rose through repeated promotions to Commissioner of Southwestern Pacification. In the eleventh year of Chongxi he was sent as envoy to Western Xia to discuss the campaign against Song and arranged for Yuan Hao to advance by a separate route to rendezvous with Liao forces. In the twelfth year he was appointed Right Yilibi and Associate Regent of the Southern Capital, then transferred to Left Yilibi, soon made Regent of the Eastern Capital, and finally elevated by hereditary selection to Chancellor of the Northern Chancellery before his death.
12
耶律撒合，字率懶，乙室部人，南府宰相歐禮斯子。 天祿間始仕。 應歷中，拜乙室大王，兼知兵馬事。 乾亨初，宋來侵，詔以本部兵守南京，與北院大王奚底、統軍蕭討古等逆戰，奚底等敗走，獨撒合全軍還。 上諭之曰：「拒敵當如此。 卿勉之，無憂不富貴。」 加守太保。 統和間卒。
Yelu Sahe, whose style name was Shuailan, came from the Yishi Division and was a son of Southern Chancellery Chancellor Oulisi. He entered government service during the Tianlu era. During Yingli he was appointed Great King of the Yishi Division with concurrent authority over military affairs. Early in Qianheng, when Song invaded, an edict ordered his tribal troops to defend the Southern Capital. He joined Northern Chancellery Great King Xidi, Commander Xiao Taogu, and others to meet the enemy; Xidi's forces were routed, but Sahe alone brought his army back intact. The emperor told him, "This is how one should resist the enemy. Press on, and you need not fear that wealth and honor will elude you." He was then given the additional rank of Guardian Grand Preceptor. He died during the Tonghe era.
13
論曰：遼在統和間，數舉兵伐宋，諸將如耶律諧理、奴瓜、蕭柳等俱有降城擒將之功。 最後以蕭撻凜為統軍，直抵澶淵。 將與宋戰，撻凜中弩，我兵失倚，和議始定。 或者天厭其亂，使南北之民休息者耶！
Commentary: During the Tonghe era Liao repeatedly campaigned against Song, and commanders such as Yelu Xieli, Yelu Nugua, and Xiao Liu all won renown for compelling cities to submit and capturing enemy generals. In the end Xiao Talin was made supreme commander and drove the army straight to Chanyuan. Just as battle with Song was about to begin, Talin was struck down by a crossbow bolt. The Liao army lost its pillar of command, and the peace settlement followed. Perhaps Heaven had grown weary of the turmoil and meant the peoples of north and south to find rest at last!