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蕭孝穆 〈（撒八孝先孝友）〉 蕭蒲奴耶律蒲古夏行美
Xiao Xiaomu (See the biographies of Saba, Xiaoxian, and Xiaoyou)〉 Xiao Punu, Yelü Pugu, and Xia Xingmei
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蕭孝穆，小字胡獨堇，淳欽皇后弟阿古只五世孫。 父陶瑰，為國舅詳穩。 孝穆廉謹有禮法。 統和二十八年，累遷西北路招討都監。 開泰元年，遙授建雄軍節度使，加檢校太保。 是年術烈等變，孝穆擊走之。 冬，進軍可敦城。 阻卜結五群牧長查剌、阿睹等，謀中外相應，孝穆悉誅之，乃嚴備禦以待，餘黨遂潰。 以功遷九水諸部安撫使。 尋拜北府宰相，賜忠穆熙霸功臣，檢校太師，同政事門下平章事。 八年，還京師。 太平二年，知樞密院事，充漢人行宮都部署。 三年，封燕王、南京留守、兵馬都總管。 九年，大延琳以東京叛，孝穆為都統討之，戰於蒲水。 中軍稍卻，副部署蕭匹敵、都監蕭蒲奴以兩翼夾擊，賊潰，追敗之於手山北。 延琳走入城，深溝自衛。 孝穆圍之，築重城，起樓櫓，使內外不相通，城中撤屋以爨。 其將楊詳世等擒延琳以降，遼東悉平。 改東京留守，賜佐國功臣。 為政務寬簡，撫納流徙，其民安之。
Xiao Xiaomu, whose childhood name was Hudujin, was a fifth-generation descendant of Aguzhi, the younger brother of Empress Chunqin. His father Taogui held the post of Detailed Commandant of the Imperial Maternal Clan. Xiaomu was upright and discreet, and he upheld ritual and law. In the twenty-eighth year of Tonghe, he rose through successive appointments to Pacification Commissioner-in-Chief of the Northwest Circuit. In the first year of Kaitai, he received a remote appointment as Military Commissioner of the Jianxiong Army and was given the additional rank of Grand Guardian of Ceremonies. That same year, when Shulie and others rose in revolt, Xiaomu drove them off. That winter he marched on Kedun City. Zhala, Adu, and other chieftains of five Zubu herds plotted to act in concert within and beyond the borders. Xiaomu put them all to death, tightened defenses, and waited; the rest of the plotters then broke apart. For this achievement he was made Commissioner for Pacification of the Nine-Water Tribes. He was soon named Chancellor of the Northern Commission, granted the merit title Zhongmu Xiba, made Grand Preceptor of Ceremonies, and appointed Associate in the Department of Affairs with the title Equalizer-in-Chief. In the eighth year he returned to the capital. In the second year of Taiping he took charge of the Bureau of Military Affairs and served as Chief Deployment Commissioner of the Chinese Palatial Camp. In the third year he was enfeoffed as Prince of Yan, appointed Military Governor of Nanjing, and made Commander-in-Chief of all forces. In the ninth year, when Da Yanlin rebelled at Dongjing, the Eastern Capital, Xiaomu was appointed overall commander to suppress him and gave battle at the Pu River. When the center gave ground, Deputy Deployment Commissioner Xiao Pidi and Commissioner Xiao Punu attacked from both flanks. The rebels broke, and the pursuers crushed them north of Mount Shou. Yanlin retreated into the city and dug deep trenches to hold his ground. Xiaomu laid siege, threw up outer walls and siege towers, and severed all contact between the city and the outside world. Inside, the defenders pulled down houses for firewood. His officers Yang Xiangshi and others captured Yanlin and submitted; all of Liaodong was pacified. He was appointed Military Governor of Dongjing and granted the merit title Assisting the State. His administration was lenient and straightforward; he welcomed and settled displaced people, and the populace lived in peace.
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孝穆雖椒房親，位高益畏。 太后有賜，輒辭不受。 妻子無驕色。 與人交，始終如一。 所薦拔皆忠直士。 嘗語人曰：「樞密選賢而用，何事不濟？ 若自親煩碎，則大事疑滯矣。」 自蕭合卓以吏才進，其後轉效，不知大體。 嘆曰：「不能移風易俗，偷安爵位，臣子之道若是乎？」 時稱為「國寶臣」，目所著文曰《寶老集》。 二子阿剌、撒八，弟孝先、孝忠、孝友，各有傳。
Though Xiaomu was of the empress's clan, the higher he rose, the more cautious he became. Whenever the Empress Dowager offered him gifts, he refused them. Neither his wife nor his children showed the least arrogance. In his dealings with others he was steadfast from first to last. Everyone he recommended for office was loyal and upright. He once told others, "If the Bureau of Military Affairs chooses able men and puts them to use, what task will not succeed? But if you take on petty details yourself, great affairs will stall. After Xiao Hezhuo rose through clerical skill alone, others imitated him and lost sight of the larger principles of governance. He sighed and said, "Unable to transform customs and reform habits, content merely to cling to rank and salary—is this what the way of a subject should be?" His contemporaries called him a "national treasure minister," and they referred to his collected writings as 《Collected Works of the Treasure Elder》. His two sons Ala and Saba, and his younger brothers Xiaoxian, Xiaozhong, and Xiaoyou, each have their own biographies.
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孝先，字延寧，小字海裏。 統和十八年，補祗候郎君。 尚南陽公主，拜駙馬都尉。 開泰五年，為國舅詳穩。 將兵城東鄙。 還，為南京統軍使。 太平三年，為漢人行宮都部署，尋加太子太傅。 五年，遷上京留守。 以母老求侍，復為國舅詳穩。 改東京留守。 會大延琳反，被圍數月，穴地而出。 延琳平，留守上京。 十一年，帝不豫，欽哀召孝先總禁衛事。 興宗諒陰，欽哀弒仁德皇后，孝先與蕭浞卜、蕭匹敵等謀居多。 及欽哀攝政，遙授天平軍節度使，加守司徒，兼政事令。 重熙初，封楚王，為北院樞密使。 孝先以椒房親，為太后所重。 在樞府，好惡自恣，權傾人主，朝多側目。 三年，太后與孝先謀廢立事，帝知之，勒衛兵出宮，召孝先至，諭以廢太后意。 孝先震懾不能對。 遷太后於慶州。 孝先恒郁郁不樂。 四年，徙王晉。 後為南京留守，卒，謚忠肅。
Xiaoxian, whose style name was Yanning and whose childhood name was Haili. In the eighteenth year of Tonghe he was appointed Attendant Gentleman. He married Princess Nanyang and was made Commandant of Escort. In the fifth year of Kaitai he became Detailed Commandant of the Imperial Maternal Clan. He led troops to fortify the eastern frontier. On his return he was appointed Commander of Nanjing. In the third year of Taiping he became Chief Deployment Commissioner of the Chinese Palatial Camp and was soon made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent. In the fifth year he was transferred to Military Governor of Shangjing. When his mother grew old he asked to attend her at home and again took up the post of Detailed Commandant of the Imperial Maternal Clan. He was then made Military Governor of Dongjing. When Da Yanlin rebelled, he was besieged for months before digging his way out underground. After Yanlin was suppressed, he stayed on as Military Governor of Shangjing. In the eleventh year, when the emperor fell ill, Empress Qin'ai summoned Xiaoxian to take overall charge of the palace guard. While Emperor Xingzong was in mourning, Qin'ai murdered Empress Rende; Xiaoxian, together with Xiao Fubu, Xiao Pidi, and others, played the leading part in the plot. When Qin'ai took the regency, he received a remote appointment as Military Commissioner of the Tianping Army, was made Acting Minister of Education, and served concurrently as Chief Councilor. At the opening of the Chongxi era he was enfeoffed as Prince of Chu and appointed Commissioner of the Northern Bureau of Military Affairs. As a kinsman of the empress's clan, Xiaoxian enjoyed the Empress Dowager's special favor. At the Bureau of Military Affairs he indulged his own likes and dislikes; his power overshadowed the throne, and many at court watched him with unease. In the third year the Empress Dowager and Xiaoxian plotted to depose the emperor and enthrone another. When the emperor learned of it, he ordered the palace guards out of the palace, summoned Xiaoxian, and told him of his plan to depose the Empress Dowager. Xiaoxian was struck dumb with fear and could not answer. The Empress Dowager was sent away to Qingzhou. Xiaoxian remained perpetually downcast. In the fourth year his title was changed from Prince of Chu to Prince of Jin. He later served as Military Governor of Nanjing, died in office, and was posthumously titled Loyal and Solemn.
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孝友，字撻不衍，小字陳留。 開泰初，以戚屬為小將軍。 太平元年，以大冊，加左武衛大將軍、檢校太保，賜名孝友。 重熙元年，累遷西北路招討使，封蘭陵郡王。 八年，進王陳。 先是，蕭惠為招討使，專以威制西羌，諸夷多叛。 孝友下車，厚加綏撫，每入貢，輒增其賜物，羌人以安。 久之，浸成姑息，諸夷桀驁之風遂熾，議者譏其過中。 十年，加政事令，賜效節宣庸定遠功臣，更王吳。 後以葬兄孝穆、孝忠，還京師，拜南院樞密使，加賜翊聖協穆保義功臣，進王趙，拜中書令。 丁母憂，起復北府宰相，出知東京留守。 會伐夏，孝友與樞密使蕭惠失利河南，帝欲誅之，太后救免。 復為東京留守，徙王燕，改上京留守，更王秦。 清寧初，加尚父。 頃之，復留守東京。 明年，復為北府宰相。 帝親制誥詞以褒寵之。 以柴冊恩，遙授洛京留守，益賜純德功臣，致仕，進封豐國王。 坐子胡睹首與重元亂，伏誅，年七十三。 胡睹在《逆臣傳》。
Xiaoyou, whose style name was Tabuyan and whose childhood name was Chenliu. At the beginning of Kaitai he entered service as a Junior General through his imperial connections. In the first year of Taiping, at the grand enthronement ceremony, he was made General of the Left Martial Guard and Grand Guardian of Ceremonies and was granted the name Xiaoyou. In the first year of Chongxi he rose through successive appointments to Pacification Commissioner of the Northwest Circuit and was enfeoffed as Prince of Lanling Commandery. In the eighth year he was advanced to Prince of Chen. Earlier, when Xiao Hui had been Pacification Commissioner, he had relied solely on intimidation to control the Western Qiang, and many tribes rebelled. When Xiaoyou took office, he treated them with generous reassurance; whenever they came to offer tribute, he increased their gifts, and the Qiang peoples lived at peace. In time his policy slid into mere indulgence; the fierce and unruly temper of the tribes grew stronger, and critics said he had gone too far. In the tenth year he was made Chief Councilor, granted the merit title Devoted in Service, Proclaiming Merit, and Settling the Distance, and his title was changed to Prince of Wu. Later, after returning to the capital to bury his elder brothers Xiaomu and Xiaozhong, he was appointed Commissioner of the Southern Bureau of Military Affairs, granted the additional merit title Assisting the Sage, Harmonizing with Mu, and Preserving Righteousness, advanced to Prince of Zhao, and made Director of the Secretariat. When his mother died he entered mourning, but was recalled from mourning to become Chancellor of the Northern Commission and was sent out as Military Governor of Dongjing. During a campaign against Xia, Xiaoyou and Commissioner Xiao Hui were defeated south of the Yellow River. The emperor wished to put them to death, but the Empress Dowager intervened and spared them. He again became Military Governor of Dongjing, was transferred to Prince of Yan, then made Military Governor of Shangjing, and his title was changed again to Prince of Qin. At the beginning of Qingning he was given the honorific title Imperial Father. Before long he again served as Military Governor of Dongjing. The following year he again became Chancellor of the Northern Commission. The emperor personally drafted an edict to praise and honor him. In recognition of his service at the imperial succession ceremony, he received a remote appointment as Military Governor of Luojing, was granted the additional merit title Pure Virtue, retired from office, and was advanced to Prince of Feng. When his son Hudu led the rebellion of Chongyuan, he was executed on that account at the age of seventy-three. Hudu is treated in the 《Biographies of Rebellious Subjects》.
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蕭蒲奴，字留隱，奚王楚不寧之後。 幼孤貧，傭於醫家牧牛。 傷人稼，數遭笞辱。 醫者嘗見蒲奴熟寐，有蛇繞身，異之。 教以讀書，聰敏嗜學。 不數年，涉獵經史，習騎射。 既冠，意氣豪邁。 開泰間，選充護衛，稍進用。 俄坐罪黥流烏古部。 久之，召還，累任劇，遷奚六部大王，治有聲。 太平九年，大延琳據東京叛，蒲奴為都監，將右翼軍，遇賊戰蒲水。 中軍少卻，蒲奴與左翼軍夾攻之。 先據高麗、女直要沖，使不得求援，又敗賊於手山。 延琳走入城。 蒲奴不介馬而馳，追殺余賊。 已而大軍圍東京，蒲奴討諸叛邑，平吼山賊，延琳堅守不敢出。 既被擒，蒲奴以功加兼侍中。 重熙六年，改北阻卜副部署，再授奚六部大王。 十五年，為西南面招討使，西征夏國。 蒲奴以兵二千據河橋，聚巨艦數十艘，仍作大鉤，人莫測。 戰之日，布舟於河，綿亙三十餘里。 遣人伺上流，有浮物輒取之。 大軍既失利，蒲奴未知，適有大木順流而下，勢將壞浮梁，斷歸路，操舟者爭鉤致之，橋得不壞。 明年，復西征，懸兵深入，大掠而還，復為奚六部大王。 致仕，卒。
Xiao Punu, whose style name was Liuyin, was a descendant of the Xi King Chubuning. Orphaned and poor in his youth, he was hired out to a physician's household to herd cattle. He trampled people's crops and was flogged again and again. Once the physician saw Punu sleeping soundly with a serpent coiled around his body and took it as an omen. He taught him to read. Punu was quick-witted and eager to learn. Within a few years he had read widely in the classics and histories and trained in horsemanship and archery. After he came of age, his bearing was bold and spirited. During the Kaitai era he was selected for palace guard service and gradually won promotion. Before long he was convicted of a crime, tattooed, and exiled to the Wugu tribe. After a long interval he was recalled, repeatedly given demanding assignments, and was promoted to Great King of the Six Xi Tribes, where his administration won wide praise. In the ninth year of Taiping, when Da Yanlin seized Dongjing and rebelled, Punu served as Commissioner, led the right wing, and met the rebels in battle at the Pu River. When the center gave ground, Punu and the left wing struck from both flanks. He first seized the strategic passes toward Goryeo and the Jurchen, cutting off their avenues of aid, and again defeated the rebels at Mount Shou. Yanlin fled into the city. Punu rode bareback in pursuit and cut down the fleeing rebels. Before long the main army besieged Dongjing. Punu suppressed the rebel towns and pacified the bandits at Mount Hou, while Yanlin held the city and dared not venture out. After Yanlin was captured, Punu was given the additional title of Attendant Grand Master for his achievements. In the sixth year of Chongxi he was made Deputy Deployment Commissioner of the Northern Zubu and again appointed Great King of the Six Xi Tribes. In the fifteenth year he became Pacification Commissioner of the Southwest Circuit and led a western campaign against Xia. Punu took two thousand men to hold the river bridge, gathered several dozen large warships, and had great hooks fashioned as well, so that no one could guess his design. On the day of battle he spread boats across the river in a line more than thirty li long. He posted men to watch upstream and seize whatever floated down. The main army had already been defeated, but Punu did not yet know. Just then a great log came floating downstream, threatening to smash the pontoon bridge and sever the line of retreat. The boatmen vied to hook it in, and the bridge held. The following year he campaigned west again, led a detached force deep into enemy territory, plundered heavily on the return march, and was again appointed Great King of the Six Xi Tribes. He retired from office and died.
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耶律蒲古，字提隱，太祖弟蘇之四世孫。 以武勇稱。 統和初，為涿州刺史，從伐高麗有功。 開泰末，為上京內客省副使。 太平二年，城鴨淥江，蒲古守之，在鎮有治績。 五年，改廣德軍節度使，尋遷東京統軍使。 蒞政嚴肅，諸部懾服。 九年，大延琳叛，以書結保州。 夏行美執其人送蒲古，蒲古入據保州，延琳氣沮。 以功拜惕隱。 十一年，為子鐵驪所弒。
Yelü Pugu, whose style name was Tiyin, was a fourth-generation descendant of Su, the younger brother of Emperor Taizu. He was famed for martial valor. At the beginning of Tonghe he served as Prefect of Zhuozhou and distinguished himself in the campaign against Goryeo. At the end of the Kaitai era he was Deputy Commissioner of the Inner Guest Bureau at Shangjing. In the second year of Taiping, when fortifications were raised along the Yalu River, Pugu held the post and won a strong record of governance. In the fifth year he was made Military Commissioner of the Guangde Army and soon transferred to Commander of Dongjing. His rule was stern and disciplined, and the tribes submitted in awe. In the ninth year, when Da Yanlin rebelled, he sent letters to win over Baozhou. Xia Xingmei seized the envoy and sent him to Pugu. Pugu then entered and took Baozhou, and Yanlin's morale collapsed. For this achievement he was appointed Tiyin. In the eleventh year he was murdered by his son Tieli.
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夏行美，渤海人。 太平九年，大延琳叛，時行美總渤海軍於保州。 延琳使人說欲與俱叛，行美執送統軍耶律蒲古，又誘賊黨百人殺之。 延琳謀沮，乃嬰城自守，數月而破。 以功加同政事門下平章事，錫賚甚厚。 明年，擢忠順軍節度使。 重熙十七年，遷副部署，從點檢耶律義先討蒲奴裏，獲其酋陶得裏以歸。 致仕，卒。 上思其功，遣使祭於家。
Xia Xingmei was a man of Bohai. In the ninth year of Taiping, when Da Yanlin rebelled, Xingmei was then commanding the Bohai forces at Baozhou. Yanlin sent envoys to urge him to join the rebellion. Xingmei seized them and sent them to the commander Yelü Pugu, then lured in a hundred rebel partisans and put them to death. Yanlin's plans were thwarted. He then shut himself in the city to hold out, and after several months it fell. For his achievements he was made Associate in the Department of Affairs with the title Equalizer-in-Chief and received lavish rewards. The following year he was promoted to Military Commissioner of the Zhongshun Army. In the seventeenth year of Chongxi he was made Deputy Deployment Commissioner. Following Inspector Yelü Yixian, he campaigned against Punuli, captured its chieftain Taodeli, and brought him back in triumph. He retired from office and died. The emperor remembered his service and sent envoys to offer sacrifices at his home.
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論曰：不有君子，其能國乎？ 方其擒延琳，定遼東，一時諸將之功偉矣。 宜其撫劍抵掌，賈余勇以威天下也。 蕭孝穆之諫南侵，其意防何其弘遠歟，是豈瞋目語難者所能知哉！ 至論移風俗為治之本，親煩碎為失大臣體，又何其深切著明也。 為「國寶臣」，宜矣。 孝先預弒仁德之謀，猶依城社以逃熏灌，為國臣蠹，雖功何議焉。
Commentary: Without superior men, how could a state endure? When Yanlin was captured and Liaodong pacified, the achievements of the generals of that hour were truly magnificent. One would expect them to stroke their swords and clap their palms, eager to spend their remaining valor in awe of the world. Yet when Xiao Xiaomu remonstrated against the southern invasion, how far-reaching his foresight was — how could men who glare and shout in debate ever grasp it! As for his teaching that transforming customs is the root of governance, and that a great minister loses his proper stature when he busies himself with trifles — how penetrating and lucid that was. To call him a "national treasure minister" was only fitting. Xiaoxian took part beforehand in the plot against Empress Rende, yet still sheltered behind the altars of state to escape punishment. He was a canker upon the realm's ministers; what merit of his could be weighed?