1
蕭兀納耶律儼劉伸耶律胡呂
Xiao Wuna, Yelu Yan, Liu Shen, and Yelu Hulu
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蕭兀納，一名撻不也，字特免，六院部人。 其先嘗為西南面拽剌。 兀納魁偉簡重，善騎射。 清寧初，兄圖獨以事入見，帝問族人可用者，圖獨以兀納對，補祗候郎君。 遷近侍敞史，護衛太保。 大康初，為北院宣徽使。 時乙辛巳害太子，因言宋魏國王和魯斡之子淳可為儲嗣。 群臣莫敢言，唯兀納及夷離畢蕭陶隗諫曰：「舍嫡不立，是以國與人也。」 帝猶豫不決。 五年，帝出獵，乙辛請留皇孫，帝欲從之。 兀納奏曰：「竊聞車駕出遊，將留皇孫，茍保護非人，恐有他變。 果留，臣請侍左右。」 帝乃悟，命皇孫從行。 由此始疑乙辛。 頃之，同知南院樞密使事，出乙辛、淳等。 帝嘉其忠，封蘭陵郡王，人謂近於古社稷臣。 授殿前都點檢。 上謂王師儒、耶律固等曰：「兀納忠純，雖狄仁傑輔唐，屋質立穆宗，無以過也。 卿等宜達燕王知之。」 自是令兀納輔導燕王，益見優寵。 大安初，詔尚越國公主，兀納固辭。 改南院樞密使，奏請掾史宜以歲月行敘，從之。 壽隆元年，拜北府宰相。
Xiao Wuna, also known as Tabuye, courtesy name Te Mian, was from the Six Yuan Division. An ancestor of his had once held the post of zhuala on the Southwestern Route. Wuna was tall and imposing, plainspoken and dignified, and excelled at mounted archery. Early in Qingning, his elder brother Tuduo came to court on business; when the emperor asked which relatives might serve, Tuduo named Wuna, and Wuna was appointed an attendant gentleman. He rose to inner attendant recorder and then Guardian Grand Preceptor. At the start of Dakang he was made Northern Court Commissioner of the Imperial Household. Yixin had already destroyed the crown prince and now argued that Chun, son of Heluwo, Prince of Wei of Song, ought to be named heir. No one else among the ministers dared object; only Wuna and Yilibi Xiao Taowei spoke up: "To pass over the legitimate heir is to hand the realm to outsiders." The emperor wavered, unable to decide. In the fifth year the emperor went hunting; Yixin asked to keep the imperial grandson at court, and the emperor was inclined to consent. Wuna memorialized: "I understand Your Majesty is about to leave on tour while keeping the imperial grandson behind; if unsuitable men are charged with his protection, I fear disaster. If he stays behind, I beg leave to attend him in person." The emperor took his meaning and ordered the grandson to come along. From that point the emperor began to doubt Yixin. Soon afterward, serving as vice administrator of the Southern Chancellery Privy Council, he drove Yixin, Chun, and their faction from court. The emperor praised his loyalty and enfeoffed him as Prince of Lanling; contemporaries said he resembled the loyal ministers of old who saved dynasties. He was appointed Chief Inspector of the Palace Guards. The emperor told Wang Shiru, Yelu Gu, and others: "Wuna's loyalty is unstained. Not even Di Renjie's service to Tang, or Yelu Wuzhi's elevation of Muzong, exceeds what he has done. Tell the Prince of Yan, so that he knows how highly I esteem this." From then on Wuna was assigned to guide the Prince of Yan and received even greater favor. Early in Da'an he was commanded to marry the Princess of Yue, but Wuna steadfastly refused. He was made Southern Chancellery Privy Commissioner and proposed that staff clerks be promoted according to seniority; the court agreed. In Shoulong 1 he was appointed chancellor of the Northern Court.
3
初，天祚在潛邸，兀納數以直言忤旨。 及嗣位，出為遼興軍節度使，守太傅。 以佛殿小底王華誣兀納借內府犀角，詔鞫之。 兀納奏曰：「臣在先朝，詔許日取帑錢十萬為私費，臣未嘗妄取一錢，肯借犀角乎！」 天祚愈怒，奪太傅官，降寧邊州刺史，尋改臨海軍節度使。 兀納上書曰：「自蕭海裏亡入女直，彼有輕朝廷心，宜益兵以備不虞。」 不報。 天慶元年，知黃龍府事，改東北路統軍使，復上書曰：「臣治與女直接境，觀其所為，其志非小。 宜先其未發，舉兵圖之。」 章數上，皆不聽。 及金兵來侵，戰於寧江州，其孫移敵蹇死之，兀納退走入城。 留官屬守禦，自以三百騎渡混同江而西，城遂陷。 後與蕭敵裏拒金兵於長濼，以軍敗免官。 五年，天祚親征，兀納殿，復敗績。 後數日乃與百官入見，授上京留守。 六年，耶律章奴叛，來攻京城，兀納發府庫以賚士卒，諭以逆順，完城池，以死拒戰。 章奴無所得而去。 以功授副元帥，尋為契丹都宮使。 天祚以兀納先朝重臣，有定策勛，每延問以政，兀納對甚切。 上雖優容，終不能用。 以疾卒，年七十。
While Tianzuo was still heir apparent, Wuna often spoke bluntly and offended him. Once Tianzuo took the throne, Wuna was sent out as military commissioner of Liaoxing Army with the honorary title Grand Mentor. A palace attendant named Wang Hua falsely accused Wuna of having borrowed rhinoceros horn from the imperial stores, and an edict ordered an inquiry. Wuna replied: "Under the previous reign I was allowed one hundred thousand strings a day from the treasury for personal expenses, yet I never took a coin I was not owed—why would I borrow rhinoceros horn?" Tianzuo was only enraged the more: he stripped Wuna of Grand Mentor, demoted him to prefect of Ningbian, and soon afterward transferred him to military commissioner of Linhai Army. Wuna wrote: "Since Xiao Haili defected to the Jurchen, they have begun to hold the court in contempt. We should reinforce the frontier before trouble arrives." His memorial went unanswered. In Tianqing 1 he was assigned to Huanglong Prefecture, then made commander-in-chief of the Northeast Route. He wrote again: "My jurisdiction borders the Jurchen directly, and from what I observe their ambitions are far from modest. We should strike before they rise." He sent memorial after memorial; none were heeded. When the Jin attacked and battle was joined at Ningjiang, his grandson Yidiqian was killed; Wuna fell back into the city. Leaving his staff to hold the walls, he himself crossed the Huntong River westward with three hundred horsemen—and the city fell. Later, with Xiao Dili, he tried to hold the Jin at Changli Marsh; when the army was routed he was stripped of office. In the fifth year Tianzuo took the field in person; Wuna commanded the rear guard and was defeated again. Some days later he appeared at court with the other officials and was appointed regent of the Upper Capital. In the sixth year Yelu Zhangnu rebelled and marched on the capital; Wuna opened the treasury to pay the troops, appealed to them on loyalty and treason, strengthened the walls, and fought to the death. Zhangnu withdrew without gain. For this service he was made vice commander-in-chief, and soon afterward Director of the Khitan Palace Establishment. Tianzuo, mindful that Wuna was a senior minister of Daozong's reign who had helped settle the succession, often consulted him on policy; Wuna answered without reserve. The emperor listened politely but never acted on what he said. He died of illness at seventy.
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耶律儼，字若思，析津人。 本姓李氏。 父仲禧，重熙中始仕。 清寧初，同知南院宣徽使事。 四年，城鴨子、混同二水間，拜北院宣徽使。 咸雍初，坐誤奏事，出為榆州刺史。 俄詔復舊職，遷漢人行宮都部署。 六年，賜國姓，封韓國公，改南院樞密使。 時樞臣乙辛等誣陷皇太子，詔仲禧偕乙辛鞫之，蔓引無辜，未嘗雪正。 乙辛薦仲禧可任，拜廣德軍節度使，復為南院樞密使，卒，謚欽惠。
Yelu Yan, courtesy name Ruosi, was a native of Xijin. He was descended from the Li clan. His father Zhongxi entered government service during Chongxi. Early in Qingning he became vice commissioner of the Southern Court Imperial Household. In year four he fortified the junction of the Yazi and Huntong Rivers and was promoted to Northern Court Commissioner of the Imperial Household. Early in Xianyong he was demoted to prefect of Yuzhou for a faulty memorial. He was soon recalled to his former post and made Overall Deployment commissioner of the Han mobile palace. In year six he received the imperial surname Yelu, was enfeoffed Duke of Han, and made Southern Chancellery Privy Commissioner. When Yixin and his faction framed the crown prince, Zhongxi was ordered to investigate alongside Yixin; the inquiry spread falsely to the innocent and never cleared the prince's name. Yixin praised Zhongxi's reliability; he was made military commissioner of Guangde Army and again Southern Privy Commissioner, and died with the posthumous title Qinhui.
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儼儀觀秀整，好學，有詩名，登咸雍進士第。 守著作佐郎，補中書省令史，以勤敏稱。 大康初，歷都部署判官、將作少監。 後兩府奏事，論群臣優劣，唯稱儼才俊。 改少府少監，知大理正，賜紫。 六年，遷大理少卿，奏讞詳平。 明年，升大理卿。 丁父憂，奪服，同簽部署司事。 大安初，為景州刺史。 繩胥徒，禁豪猾，撫老恤貧，未數月，善政流播，郡人刻石頌德。 二年，改御史中丞，詔按上京滯獄，多所平反。 同知宣徽院事，提點大理寺。 六年冬，改山西路都轉運使。 刮剔垢弊，奏定課額，益州縣俸給，事皆施行。 壽隆初，授樞密直學士。 以母憂去官，尋召復舊職。 宋攻夏，李乾順遣使求和解，帝命儼如宋平之，拜參知政事。 六年，駕幸鴛鴦濼，召至內殿，訪以政事。
Yan was handsome and well composed, devoted to learning, and celebrated as a poet; he passed the jinshi examination in Xianyong. He served as an assistant in the Bureau of Attendants and then as a secretariat clerk, praised for diligence and quickness. Early in Dakang he served as Overall Deployment judge and then as Vice Director of Palace Construction. Later, when the two chancelleries reviewed the ministers, only Yan was singled out as exceptionally able. He was made Vice Director of the Palace Workshop and acting director of the Court of Justice, and awarded the purple official robe. In year six he rose to Vice Director of the Court of Justice; his judgments were thorough and fair. The following year he was promoted to Director of the Court of Justice. When his father died he was recalled from mourning to serve jointly in the Deployment Office. Early in Da'an he was appointed prefect of Jingzhou. He disciplined petty officials, checked the powerful, and cared for the old and poor; within months his good rule was famed throughout the prefecture, and the people carved a stone in his honor. In year two he became Censor-in-Chief and was ordered to review backlogged cases at the Upper Capital, reversing many wrongful convictions. He served as vice administrator of the Imperial Household Office and supervising director of the Court of Justice. In the winter of year six he became Overall Transport Commissioner of the Western Shanxi Route. He cleaned out abuses, fixed tax quotas, and raised county and prefecture salaries; his reforms were all enacted. At the start of Shoulong he was made Privy Council Academician. He left office to mourn his mother but was soon recalled. When Song attacked Western Xia, Li Qianshun of Xia sent envoys seeking peace; the emperor dispatched Yan to mediate with Song, and on his return Yan was made Associate Administrator of Affairs. In year six the emperor visited Yuanyang Marsh, summoned Yan to the inner hall, and questioned him on policy.
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儼素廉潔，一芥不取於人。 經籍一覽成誦。 又善伺人主意。 妻邢氏有美色，常出入禁中，儼教之曰：「慎勿失上意。」 由是權寵益固。 三子：處貞，太常少卿； 處廉，同知中京留守事； 處能，少府少監。
Yan was incorruptible by nature and would accept nothing, not even the smallest gift, from anyone. He could read a classical text once and recite it from memory. He was also skilled at reading the emperor's mind. His wife, née Xing, was beautiful and frequently entered the inner palace; Yan told her: "Take care never to displease the emperor." By this means their influence at court grew ever stronger. He had three sons: Chuzhen, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; Chulian, vice regent of the Central Capital; and Chuneng, Vice Director of the Palace Workshop.
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劉伸，字濟時，宛平人。 少穎悟，長以辭翰聞。 重熙五年，登進士第，歷彰武軍節度使掌書記、大理正。 因奏獄，上適與近臣語，不顧，伸進曰：「臣聞自古帝王必重民命，願陛下省臣之奏。 「上大驚異，擢樞密都承旨，權中京副留守。 詔徙富民以實春、泰二州，伸以為不可，奏罷之。 遷大理少卿，人以不冤。 升大理卿，改西京副留守。 以父憂，終制，為三司副使，加諫議大夫，提點大理寺。 以伸明法而恕，案冤獄全活者眾，徙南京副留守。 俄改崇義軍節度使，政務簡靜，民用不擾，致烏鵲同巢之異，優詔褒之。 改戶部使，歲入羨余錢三十萬緡，拜南院樞密副使。
Liu Shen, courtesy name Jishi, was from Wanping. Quick-witted as a youth, he later won renown for his writing. In Chongxi 5 he passed the jinshi examination and served as recorder to the Zhangwu Army military commissioner and then as director of the Court of Justice. Once while presenting a case report the emperor was chatting with courtiers and ignored him; Shen stepped forward: "Since antiquity wise rulers have held the people's lives sacred; I beg Your Majesty to hear my report. The emperor was astonished, promoted him to chief usher of the Privy Council, and acting vice regent of the Central Capital. When an edict ordered wealthy households relocated to populate Chun and Tai Prefectures, Shen objected and had the order revoked. Promoted to Vice Director of the Court of Justice, he was known for leaving no one wrongfully condemned. He rose to Director of the Court of Justice and then became vice regent of the Western Capital. After completing mourning for his father, he served as Vice Commissioner of the Three Bureaus with the added title Remonstrance Grandee and as supervising director of the Court of Justice. Known for mastery of the law and merciful judgment, he saved many from false imprisonment, and was transferred to vice regent of the Southern Capital. Soon afterward he became military commissioner of Chongyi Army; his rule was calm and unobtrusive, the people untroubled, and crows and magpies were seen nesting together—a portent of peace for which he received an imperial commendation. As Households Commissioner he delivered three hundred thousand strings in annual surplus and was promoted to vice privy commissioner of the Southern Chancellery.
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道宗嘗謂大臣曰：「今之忠直，耶律玦、劉伸而已！」 宰相楊績賀其得人。 拜參知政事。 上諭之曰：「卿勿憚宰相。」 時北院樞密使乙辛勢焰方熾，伸奏曰：「臣於乙辛尚不畏，何宰相之畏！」 乙辛銜之，相與排詆，出為保靜軍節度使。 上終欲大用，加守太子太保，遷上京留守。 乙辛以事徙鎮雄武，復以崇義軍節度使致仕。 適燕、薊民饑，伸與致政趙徽、韓造日濟以糜粥，所活不勝算。 大安二年卒，上震悼，賻贈加等。
Daozong once told his ministers: "Today only Yelu Jue and Liu Shen are truly loyal and upright!" Chancellor Yang Ji praised him for recognizing worthy men. Shen was appointed Associate Administrator of Affairs. The emperor told him: "Do not hold back for fear of the chancellor." Yixin, Northern Privy Commissioner, was at the height of his power; Shen replied: "If I do not fear Yixin, why should I fear the chancellor?" Yixin took offense; he and his allies smeared Shen and had him sent out as military commissioner of Baojing Army. The emperor still meant to use him at the highest level: Shen was given the honorary title Guardian Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent and made regent of the Upper Capital. Yixin was transferred to Xiongwu on account of his offenses; Liu Shen retired once more, retaining the honorary rank of military commissioner of Chongyi Army. Just then famine struck Yan and Ji; Shen, together with the retired officials Zhao Hui and Han Zao, distributed porridge daily and saved countless lives. In Da'an 2 he died; the emperor was deeply grieved and granted enhanced funeral gifts and posthumous honors.
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耶律胡呂，字蘇撒，弘義宮分人。 其先欲穩，佐太祖有功，為叠烈部夷離堇。 父楊五，左監門衛大將軍。 胡呂性謙謹，於人無適莫。 重熙末，補寢殿小底。 以善職，屢更華要，遷千牛衛大將軍。 大安中，北阻卜酋磨魯斯叛，為招討都監，與耶律那也率精騎二千討平之，以功為漢人行宮副部署，兼知太和宮事。 致仕，加同中書門下平章事，卒。
Yelu Hulu, courtesy name Susa, was from the Hongyi Palace Division. His ancestor Yiwen had aided Taizu with distinction and served as yilijin of the Dielie Division. His father Yang Wu was a general of the Left Gate Guards. Hulu was modest and careful by nature and showed no partiality toward anyone. Late in Chongxi he was appointed a sleeping-hall attendant. For distinguished service he rose through one prestigious post after another and was promoted to general of the Thousand-Ox Guard. During Da'an the Northern Zhubu chieftain Molusi rebelled; Hulu served as supervising commissioner of the pacification campaign and, with Yelu Naye, led two thousand picked horsemen to crush the revolt; for this he was made vice deployment commissioner of the Han mobile palace and concurrently administrator of Taihe Palace. He retired with the added title of Co-Seal Director of the Secretariat-Chancellery and later died.
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論曰：兀納當道宗昏惑之會，擁佑皇孫，使乙辛奸計不獲復逞，而遼祚以續，比之屋質立穆宗，非溢美也。 儼以俊才蒞政，所至有能譽，纂述遼史，具一代治亂，亦云勤矣，但其固寵，不能以禮正家，惜哉。 劉伸三為大理，民無冤抑，一登戶部，上下兼裕，至與耶律玦並稱忠直，不亦宜乎！
The historians comment: At a moment when Daozong had lost his judgment, Wuna protected the imperial grandson and blocked Yixin's treachery from running its course, thereby preserving the Liao succession. To compare him with Yelu Wuzhi's elevation of Muzong is no flattery. Yan governed with outstanding talent and won a reputation for competence wherever he served; his compilation of the History of Liao, recording an entire age of order and disorder, shows real diligence as well—yet he secured imperial favor by means his wife's conduct in the inner palace rather than by keeping his household in ritual order. A pity. Liu Shen thrice held the Court of Justice and left the people free of wrongful oppression; once at the head of the Households Bureau he filled both imperial and local coffers; that he should stand with Yelu Jue among the loyal and upright—is that not exactly as it should be?