1
耶律弘古耶律馬六蕭滴冽耶律適祿耶律陳家奴耶律特麼耶律仙童蕭素颯耶律大悲奴
Yelu Honggu, Yelu Maliu, Xiao Dilie, Yelu Shilu, Yelu Chenjianu, Yelu Teme, Yelu Xiantong, Xiao Susa, and Yelu Dabeinu
2
耶律弘古，字胡篤堇，樞密使化哥之弟。 統和間，累遷順義軍節度使，入為北面林牙。 太平元年，加同政事門下平章事，出為彰國軍節度使，兼山北道兵馬都部署，徙武定軍節度使。 六年，拜惕隱。 討阻卜有功。 聖宗嘗刺臂血與弘古盟為友，禮遇尤異，拜南府宰相，改上京留守。 重熙六年，遷南院大王，御制誥辭以寵之。 十二年，加於越。 帝閔其勞，復授武定軍節度使，卒。 訃聞，上哭曰：「惜哉善人！」 喪至，親臨奠焉。
Yelu Honggu, whose style name was Hudujin, was the younger brother of Huage, Commissioner of Military Affairs. During the Tonghe reign, he rose through successive appointments to Military Commissioner of the Shunyi Army and then entered the capital as Northern Chancellor Linya. In the first year of Taiping, he was appointed Grand Councilor of the Secretariat, then sent out as Military Commissioner of the Zhangguo Army with concurrent command of all armies and horses on the Shanbei Circuit, and later transferred to Military Commissioner of the Wuding Army. In the sixth year, he was appointed Texun. He distinguished himself in campaigns against the Zubu. Emperor Shengzong once drew blood from his own arm to seal a bond of friendship with Honggu and treated him with exceptional honor. Honggu was appointed Chancellor of the Southern Office, then reassigned as Garrison Commander of the Supreme Capital. In the sixth year of Chongxi, he was made Great King of the Southern Court, and the emperor personally composed an edict of appointment to show his favor. In the twelfth year, he was granted the exalted title Yuyue. The emperor, moved by his long service, again appointed him Military Commissioner of the Wuding Army, after which he died. When word of his death arrived, the emperor wept and said, "What a loss — such a good man!" When the coffin arrived, he went in person to offer libations.
3
耶律馬六，字揚隱，孟父楚國王之後。 性寬和，善諧謔，親朋會遇，一坐盡傾。 恬於榮利。 與耶律弘古為刺血友，弘古為惕隱，薦補宿直官。 重熙初，遷旗鼓拽剌詳穩。 為人畏慎容物，或有面相陵折者，恬然若弗聞，不臧否世務。 以故上益親狎。 三年，遷崇德宮使，為惕隱，御制誥辭以褒之。 拜北院宣徽使，寵遇過宰輔，帝常以兄呼之。 改遼興軍節度使，卒，年七十。 子奴古達，終南京宣徽使。
Yelu Maliu, whose style name was Yangyin, was a descendant of the Prince of Chu of the Mengfu line. He was mild and easygoing, skilled at wit and banter; whenever kin and friends gathered, he could charm the whole company. He cared little for rank or gain. He and Yelu Honggu had sworn a blood-oath friendship; when Honggu became Texun, he recommended Maliu for appointment as a palace duty officer. Early in the Chongxi reign, he was made Xiangwen of the Banner-and-Drum Zhuala Detachment. He was cautious and forbearing; even when someone confronted him with open insult, he remained unmoved as if he had not heard, and never passed judgment on public affairs. For this reason the emperor grew all the more fond and familiar with him. In the third year, he was made Commissioner of the Chongde Palace and appointed Texun; the emperor personally composed an edict of appointment to praise him. He was appointed Commissioner of the Palace Secretariat of the Northern Court and received favor surpassing that of the chief ministers; the emperor often addressed him as "elder brother." He was reassigned as Military Commissioner of the Liaoxing Army and died at the age of seventy. His son Nuguda eventually rose to Commissioner of the Palace Secretariat at the Southern Capital.
4
蕭滴冽，字圖寧，遙輦鮮質可汗宮人。 重熙初，遙攝鎮國軍節度使。 六年，奉詔使宋，傷足而跛，不告遂行，帝怒。 及還，決以大杖，降同簽南京留守事。 遙授靜江軍節度使，歷群牧都林牙，累遷右夷離畢。 以才幹見任使。 會車駕西征，元昊乞降，帝以前後反覆，遣滴冽往覘誠否。 因為元昊陳述禍福，聽命乃還。 拜北院樞密副使，出為中京留守。 十九年，改西京留守，卒。
Xiao Dilie, whose style name was Tuning, had been a palace attendant of Khan Xianzhi of the Yaolian clan. Early in the Chongxi reign, he held the nominal post of Military Commissioner of the Zhenguo Army. In the sixth year, he was ordered on embassy to Song. His foot had been injured and he was lame, yet he departed without reporting it, and the emperor was furious. On his return, he was sentenced to a severe beating with the great staff and demoted to co-signatory of the Southern Capital garrison command. He was given the nominal post of Military Commissioner of the Jingjiang Army, served as Chancellor Linya of the Pasturage Directorate, and rose through successive promotions to Right Yilibi. His talent and capability won him repeated trust with important assignments. When the emperor campaigned westward and Yuanhao sued for peace, the emperor, mindful of Yuanhao's past reversals, sent Dilie to ascertain whether his submission was sincere. He laid out for Yuanhao the blessings and calamities of each course; once Yuanhao submitted to his counsel, Dilie returned. He was appointed Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs of the Northern Court, then sent out as Garrison Commander of the Central Capital. In the nineteenth year, he was reassigned as Garrison Commander of the Western Capital and died in office.
5
耶律適祿，字撒懶。 清寧初，為本班郎君，稍遷宿直官。 乾統中，從伐阻卜有功，加奉宸。 歷護衛太保，改弘義宮副使。 時上京梟賊趙鐘哥跋扈自肆，適祿擒之，加泰州觀察使，為達魯虢部節度使。 天慶中，知興中府，加金吾衛上將軍。 為盜所殺。
Yelu Shilu, whose style name was Salan. Early in the Qingning reign, he served as a Langjun of the basic roster and was gradually promoted to palace duty officer. During the Qiantong reign, he distinguished himself in the campaign against the Zubu and was promoted to Fengchen. He served as Grand Protector of the Guard, then was made Vice Commissioner of the Hongyi Palace. At that time the outlaw Zhao Zhongge was terrorizing the Supreme Capital with impunity; Shilu captured him, was additionally appointed Observation Commissioner of Taizhou, and made Military Commissioner of the Dalu Guo Division. During the Tianqing reign, he governed Xingzhong Prefecture and was additionally appointed General-in-Chief of the Jinwu Guard. He was killed by bandits.
6
耶律陳家奴，字綿辛，懿祖弟葛剌之八世孫。 重熙中，補牌印郎君。 坐直日不至，降本班。 會帝獵，陳家奴逐鹿圍內，鞭之二百。 時耶律仁先薦陳家奴健捷比海東青鶻，授禦盞郎君。 歷鷹坊、尚廄、四方館副使，改徒魯古皮室詳穩。 會太后生辰，進詩獻馴鹿，太后嘉獎，賜珠二琲，雜彩二百段。 兄撒缽卒，陳家奴聞訃，不告而去。 帝怒，鞭之。 清寧初，累遷右夷離畢。 適帝與燕國王射鹿俱中，王時年九歲，帝悅，陳家奴應制進詩。 帝喜，解衣以賜。 後皇太子廢，帝疑陳家奴黨附，罷之。 時西北諸部寇邊，以陳家奴為烏古部節度使行軍都監，賜甲一屬、馬二匹，討諸部，擒其酋送於朝。 偵候者見馬蹤，意寇至，陳家奴遣報元帥，耶律愛奴視之曰：「此野馬也！」 將出獵，賊至，愛奴戰歿。 有司詰按，陳家奴不伏，詔釋之。 由是感激，每事竭力。 後諸部復來侵，陳家奴率兵三往，皆克，邊境遂寧。 以老告歸，不從。 道宗崩，為山陵使，致仕。 年八十卒。
Yelu Chenjianu, whose style name was Mianxin, was an eighth-generation descendant of Gelü, younger brother of Emperor Yizu. During the Chongxi reign, he was appointed Langjun of the Seals. For failing to appear on his assigned duty day, he was demoted to the basic roster. Once when the emperor was hunting, Chenjianu chased a deer inside the hunting enclosure and was flogged two hundred strokes. At that time Yelu Renxian recommended Chenjianu, praising his vigor and agility as rivaling the eastern-sea green falcon, and he was appointed Langjun of the Imperial Cup. He served successively as Vice Commissioner of the Falconry Office, the Imperial Stables, and the Four Directions Bureau, then was made Xiangwen of the Tulugu Pishi Detachment. On the empress dowager's birthday, he presented a poem and offered a tame deer. The empress dowager commended him and bestowed two strings of pearls and two hundred lengths of assorted silks. When his elder brother Sabo died, Chenjianu learned of it and left his post without permission. The emperor was furious and had him flogged. Early in the Qingning reign, he rose through successive promotions to Right Yilibi. Once when the emperor and the Prince of Yan both struck the deer in a hunt — the prince was only nine — the emperor was delighted, and Chenjianu composed a poem on imperial command. The emperor was pleased and removed his own garment to bestow on him. Later, when the crown prince was deposed, the emperor suspected Chenjianu of siding with the deposed heir and dismissed him from office. When the northwestern tribes raided the frontier, Chenjianu was appointed Military Commissioner of the Wugu Division with overall command of the field army, given a suit of armor and two horses, and sent to campaign against them. He captured their chieftain and sent him to court. Scouts spotted horse tracks and thought the enemy had arrived. Chenjianu reported to the commander, but Yelu Ainu inspected the tracks and said, "These are wild horses!" He was about to go out hunting when the raiders struck; Ainu fell in battle. The authorities investigated and pressed charges, but Chenjianu would not confess. An edict ordered his release. Deeply moved by this, he thereafter exerted himself to the utmost in every task. When the tribes invaded again, Chenjianu led three campaigns against them, winning each time, and the frontier was restored to peace. He asked to retire on grounds of age, but the request was denied. When Emperor Daozong died, he served as commissioner for the imperial mausoleum and then retired from office. He died at the age of eighty.
7
耶律特麼，季父房之後。 重熙間，為北克，累遷六部禿裏太尉。 大安四年，為倒塌嶺節度使。 頃之，為禁軍都監。 是冬，討磨古斯，斬首二千餘級。 十年，復討之。 既捷，授南院宣徽使。 壽隆元年，為北院大王。 四年，知黃龍府事，薨。
Yelu Teme was a descendant of the Jifu line. During the Chongxi reign, he served as a Northern Ke and rose through successive promotions to Grand Commandant of the Six Departments Tulü. In the fourth year of Da'an, he was appointed Military Commissioner of Daotaoling. Shortly thereafter, he was made Grand Overseer of the Forbidden Army. That winter he campaigned against Mogusi and took more than two thousand heads. In the tenth year, he campaigned against him again. After his victory, he was appointed Commissioner of the Palace Secretariat of the Southern Court. In the first year of Shoulong, he was made Great King of the Northern Court. In the fourth year, he governed Huanglong Prefecture and died in office.
8
耶律仙童，仲父房之後。 重熙初，為宿直官，累遷惕隱、都監。 以寬厚稱。 蒲奴裏叛，仙童為五國節度使，率師討之，擒其帥陶得裏。 又擊烏隗叛，降其眾，改彰國軍節度使，拜北院大王。 清寧二年，知黃龍府事，遷侍衛親軍馬步軍都指揮，歷忠順、武定二軍節度使。 致仕，封蔣國公。 咸雍初，徙封許國，卒。
Yelu Xiantong was a descendant of the Zhongfu line. Early in the Chongxi reign, he served as a palace duty officer and rose through successive promotions to Texun and Grand Overseer. He was known for his generosity and magnanimity. When Punuli rebelled, Xiantong was appointed Military Commissioner of the Five States, led troops against him, and captured their commander Taodeli. He next attacked the Wuwei rebels and accepted the surrender of their forces, was reassigned as Military Commissioner of the Zhangguo Army, and appointed Great King of the Northern Court. In the second year of Qingning, he governed Huanglong Prefecture, was made Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard Cavalry and Infantry, and served successively as Military Commissioner of the Zhongshun and Wuding armies. He retired from office and was enfeoffed as Duke of Jiang. Early in the Xianyong reign, his fief was changed to the State of Xu, and he died.
9
蕭素颯，字特免，五院部人。 重熙間始仕，累遷北院承旨，彰湣宮使。 清寧初，歷左皮室詳穩、右夷離畢。 咸雍五年，剖阿裏部叛，素颯討降之，率其酋長來朝。 帝嘉其功，徙北院林牙，改南院副部署，卒。 子謀魯斡，字回璉，初補夷離畢郎君，遷文班太保。 大康中，改南京統軍使，為右夷離畢。 與樞密使耶律阿思論事不合，見忌，出為馬群太保。 北部來侵，謀魯斡破之，以功遷同知烏古敵烈統軍，仍許便宜行事。 後以讒毀，降領西北路戍軍，復為馬群太保，卒。
Xiao Susa, whose style name was Temian, was a man of the Five Courts Division. He entered service during the Chongxi reign and rose through successive promotions to Imperial Secretariat Attendant of the Northern Court and Commissioner of the Zhangmin Palace. Early in the Qingning reign, he served as Xiangwen of the Left Pishi and Right Yilibi. In the fifth year of Xianyong, the Po'ali Division rebelled. Susa campaigned against them, accepted their surrender, and led their chieftains to court. The emperor commended his achievement, transferred him to Northern Chancellor Linya, then reassigned him as Vice Deployment Commissioner of the Southern Court, after which he died. His son Moluwo, whose style name was Huilian, was first appointed Langjun of the Yilibi, then promoted to Grand Protector of the Civil Roster. During the Dakang reign, he was made Army Commander of the Southern Capital and appointed Right Yilibi. He clashed with Commissioner of Military Affairs Yelu Asi over policy and, falling under suspicion, was sent out as Grand Protector of the Horse Herds. When the northern tribes invaded, Moluwo defeated them. For this achievement he was made Vice Commander of the Wugu-Dilie Army with authority to act at his own discretion. Later, slandered by his enemies, he was demoted to command the garrison army of the Northwest Circuit, then reappointed Grand Protector of the Horse Herds, and died in office.
10
耶律大悲奴，字休堅，王子班聶裏古之後。 大康中，歷永興延昌宮使、右皮室詳穩。 會阻卜叛，奉詔招降之。 壽隆二年，拜殿前都點檢。 乾統初，歷上京留守、惕隱，復為都點檢，改西南面招討使。 請老，不許。 天慶中，留守上京，領北南樞密院點檢中丞諸司等事。 以彰國軍節度使致仕，卒。 大悲奴舉止馴雅，好禮儀，為時人所稱。
Yelu Dabeinu, whose style name was Xiujian, was a descendant of Nieligu of the Princes' Class. During the Dakang reign, he served as Commissioner of the Yongxing-Yanchang Palace and Xiangwen of the Right Pishi. When the Zubu rebelled, he received an edict to win them back by persuasion. In the second year of Shoulong, he was appointed Chief Inspector of the Palace Front. Early in the Qiantong reign, he served as Garrison Commander of the Supreme Capital and Texun, was again appointed Chief Inspector, and then made Commissioner for Subjugation of the Southwest. He asked to retire on grounds of age, but the request was denied. During the Tianqing reign, he remained as garrison commander of the Supreme Capital and oversaw the Northern and Southern Commissions of Military Affairs, the Inspectorate, the Secretariat, and related offices. He retired as Military Commissioner of the Zhangguo Army and died shortly thereafter. Dabeinu was gentle and refined in manner, devoted to ritual propriety, and widely praised by his contemporaries.
11
論曰：遼自神冊而降，席富強之勢，內修法度，外事征伐，一時將帥，震揚威靈，風行電掃。 討西夏，征党項，破阻卜，平敵烈，諸部震懾，聞鼙鼓而膽落股弁，斯可謂雄武之國矣。 其戰勝攻取，必有奇謀秘計神變莫測者，將前史所載，未足以發之邪？ 抑天之所授，眾莫與爭而能然邪？ 雖然，兵者凶器，可戢而不可玩； 爭者末節，可遏而不可召。 此黃石公所謂柔能制剛，弱能制強也。 又況乎仁者之無敵哉！ 遼之君臣智足守此，金人果能乘其敝而躡其後乎？ 是以於耶律弘古輩諸將，不能無慨然也。
Commentary: From the Divine Register era onward, Liao enjoyed the advantages of wealth and power — reforming its laws at home while campaigning abroad. For a time its commanders shook the realm with their authority, sweeping foes aside like wind and lightning. It campaigned against Western Xia, attacked the Tangut, broke the Zubu, and pacified the Dilie; the tribes trembled in awe, and at the sound of war drums their courage failed and their legs gave way beneath them. This was truly a fiercely martial state. Surely its victories in battle and conquests in attack rested on stratagems wondrous and plans secret, on transformations divine and beyond reckoning — or were the earlier histories simply unequal to revealing them? Or was it rather that Heaven had bestowed its mandate, and none could stand against it — and so things came to pass as they did? Even so, arms are instruments of calamity — they may be sheathed but must never be trifled with; and strife is the last resort of statecraft — it may be checked but must never be summoned. This is what Master Yellow Stone meant when he said that softness can overcome hardness and weakness can overcome strength. How much more true is it, then, that the benevolent have no enemies! Had the wisdom of Liao's ruler and ministers been sufficient to uphold this principle, could the Jurchen of Jin truly have exploited their weakness and pressed upon their heels? For this reason, in reading of generals such as Yelu Honggu and his peers, one cannot but feel a deep stirring of regret.