1
2
蕭巖壽，乙室部人。 性剛直尚氣，仕重熙末。 道宗即位，皇太后屢稱其賢，由是進用。 上出獵較，巖壽典其事，未嘗高下於心，帝益重之。 歷文班太保、同知樞密院事。 咸雍四年，從耶律仁先伐阻卜，破之，有詔留屯，亡歸者眾，由是鐫兩官。 十年，討敵烈部有功，為其部節度使。 大康元年，同知南院宣徽使事，遷北面林牙。 密奏乙辛以皇太子知國政，心不自安，與張孝傑數相過從，恐有陰謀，動搖太子。 上悟，出乙辛為中京留守。 會乙辛生日，上遣近臣耶律白斯本賜物為壽，乙辛因私屬白上：「臣見奸人在朝，陛下孤危。 身雖在外，竊用寒心。」 白斯本還，以聞。 上遣人賜乙辛車，諭曰：「無慮弗用，行將召矣。」 由是反疑巖壽，出為順義軍節度使。 乙辛復入為樞密使，流巖壽於烏隗路，終身拘作。 巖壽雖竄逐，恒以社稷為憂，時人為之語曰：「以狼牧羊，何能久長！」 三年，乙辛誣巖壽與謀廢立事，執還殺之，年四十九。
Xiao Yanshou came from the Yishi tribe. Upright and spirited by nature, he began his career late in the Chongxi reign. After Emperor Daozong acceded, the Empress Dowager repeatedly praised his merit, and he was promoted on that account. Whenever the emperor went out hunting for sport, Yanshou managed the arrangements without favoritism, which deepened the emperor's regard for him. He rose through the posts of Grand Guardian of the Literary Office and Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the fourth year of Xianyong he joined Yelu Renxian's campaign against the Zubu; after their defeat he was ordered to hold the frontier, but so many men deserted that he was demoted two ranks. In the tenth year he campaigned successfully against the Dilie tribe and was appointed its military commissioner. In the first year of Dakang he became vice director of the Southern Directorate for Palace Provisions and was transferred to Northern Imperial Scribe. In a secret memorial he warned that Yelu Yixin, uneasy now that the crown prince governed state affairs, was meeting Zhang Xiaojie repeatedly and might be plotting against the heir. The emperor took the point and posted Yixin as regent (liushou) of Zhongjing. On Yixin's birthday the emperor sent the courtier Yelu Baisiben with gifts; Yixin asked him privately to tell the throne, "I see villains at court and Your Majesty isolated in danger. Though I am away from court, I cannot stop worrying for your safety." When Baisiben returned he reported this to the emperor. The emperor sent Yixin a carriage with the message, "Have no fear—I shall summon you back soon." From this the emperor instead grew suspicious of Yanshou and appointed him military commissioner of the Shunyi Army. Yixin was brought back as Bureau Commissioner; Yanshou was banished to Wulilu for lifelong corvée labor. Even in exile he never ceased to anguish over the realm, and people said, "A wolf herding sheep cannot last long!" In the third year Yixin accused him of plotting to depose the emperor and enthrone another; he was seized, brought back, and executed at forty-nine.
3
4
Yelu Sala, whose style was Jinyin, was a grandson of the Southern Chancellery King Molugu. He was loyal, upright, and grave in character. Early in Qingning he rose through posts to Southwest Pacification Commissioner and won renown for his administration. In the ninth year of Xianyong he was made Great King of the Northern Chancellery. Soon after he became chief deployment officer of the Khitan itinerant palace. In the second year of Dakang, with Yelu Yixin as regent of Zhongjing, the court deliberated recalling him—yet none of the ministers dared speak plainly. Sala alone memorialized, "Xiao Yanshou showed Yixin guilty of crimes unfit for a bureau chief, and Your Majesty sent him away; To summon him back now will only breed suspicion throughout the realm." He pressed his advice three times without success; those around the throne trembled at his boldness. When Yixin returned as commissioner he confronted Sala: "I bear you no personal grudge—why stand alone in opposition?" Sala replied, "This concerns the fate of the state, not private resentment!" Yixin accused Sala and Susa of plotting deposition; though the inquiry found nothing, Sala was posted as military commissioner of Shiping. When Xiao Eduogan corroborated the frame-up, an envoy was finally sent to execute him. Under Qiantong he was posthumously made Prince of Qishui, his portrait placed in Yifu Hall, and his three sons granted posthumous ranks.
5
Xiao Susa, whose style was Tulujin, came from the Tulubu tribe. He was deep and resolute in temperament. During Chongxi he rose through posts to Grand Guardian of the Right Imperial Guard. When Punuli rebelled he joined Yelu Yixian's punitive campaign, captured the ringleader Taodeli, and brought him back. Under Qingning he served as Northern Imperial Scribe and military commissioner of the Zhangguo Army before entering the capital as vice commissioner of the Northern Bureau. In the tenth year of Xianyong he managed the southwestern frontier, dismantled Song border forts, and stationed the Pishi army there—the emperor commended his work. In the second year of Dakang he became acting commissioner of the Northern Bureau. While Yelu Yixin's power was at its peak and hangers-on won high office, Susa never once called at his door. Yixin resented him and accused him of leading a plot to depose the emperor and enthrone another. The inquiry found no evidence, and he was posted as military commissioner at Shangjing. Yixin had Xiao Eduogan renew the accusation; the enraged emperor questioned him no further and sent an envoy to put him to death. It was high summer; his body lay on the plain unchanged in countenance, and neither crows nor magpies would come near. Under Qiantong he was posthumously made Prince of Lanling and his portrait placed in Yifu Hall.
6
Yelu Tabuye, whose style was Saban, belonged to the younger father's lineage. His father Gaojia rose to Imperial Scribe; in Chongxi he defeated the Xia at Jinsu Army with distinction and received exceptional rewards. Under Qingning Tabuye entered service as Seal and Patent Gentleman and rose to commissioner of the Yongxing Palace. In the ninth year he helped suppress Chongyuan's revolt, was made director of the Inspection Office, granted the title Meritorious Pacifier of Disorder, and appointed military commissioner of the Huaide Army. In the fifth year of Xianyong he was transferred to Yaolianke. In the third year of Dakang he was made director of the Northern Directorate for Palace Provisions. When Yelu Yixin plotted against the crown prince, Tabuye saw through his treachery and meant to kill Yixin along with Xiao Telide, Xiao Shisan, and their faction. Yixin learned of this and had his followers accuse Tabuye of plotting deposition; he was executed. Under Qiantong he was posthumously made Prince of Qishui and his portrait placed in Yifu Hall.
7
Xiao Tabuye, whose style was Woliduan, was a grandson of Imperial Uncle Prince of the Commandery Gao Jiu. He was upright and unyielding by nature. During Xianyong he entered service as Attendant Gentleman. In the first year of Dakang he was made commissioner of the Zhangmin Palace, married the Princess of Zhao, and invested as Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant. In the third year he was made vice chief deployment officer of the Han itinerant palace. He was close to Yelu Tabuye, director of the Northern Directorate for Palace Provisions; Yixin resented this and had him falsely accused of plotting deposition. Unable to bear torture, he confessed under duress. The emperor questioned him personally; too muddled to defend himself, he was put to death. Under Qiantong he was posthumously made Prince of Lanling and his portrait placed in Yifu Hall.
8
Xiao Hugu, whose style was Asilian, was loyal and upright, quick and powerfully built. As soon as he came of age he entered the imperial guard. Early in Xianyong he joined Pacification Commissioner Yelu Zhaosan's campaign against tribes that had defied imperial orders. When the tribes sued for peace, one envoy could vault onto a camel's hump in a single bound, and they traded boasts of their agility. Zhaosan asked who among his men could match the feat; Hugu stepped forward in heavy armor, could not reach the hump with his hands, yet vaulted up in one bound—the envoys were astounded. Zhaosan gave him his daughter in marriage. When the emperor heard of this he summoned Hugu into the imperial guard. At that time Northern Bureau Commissioner Yelu Yixin had won favor through cunning flattery and ruled by violence. Hugu hid beneath a bridge to ambush him as he passed. A sudden downpour soon wrecked the bridge, and the attempt came to nothing. He later planned to strike at the hunting grounds, but kin and friends dissuaded him. In the third year of Dakang he again plotted to kill Yixin and Xiao Delite; Yixin learned of it and had him arrested in fetters. Under interrogation he would not confess and was banished to the frontier. When the crown prince was deposed and sent to Shangjing, Hugu was summoned there and executed. Early in Qiantong he was posthumously made General-in-Chief of the Dragon-Tiger Guard.
9
Yelu Shiliu, whose style was Chouwan, came from the Six Chancelleries tribe. His grandfather Duzhan had been Great King of the Southern Chancellery. His father Anshi had served as deputy army commissioner. Shiliu was upright and unyielding, with a statesman's ambition. He began his career as Seal and Patent Gentleman. Early in Dakang he was made Yilibi Gentleman. Bureau Commissioner Yelu Yixin had framed the empress for execution, plotted to depose the crown prince, banished the loyal, and advanced his faction; Shiliu loathed these acts, and Yixin took notice. After the crown prince was deposed, Shiliu was judged a partisan of the heir and banished to Zhenzhou. When Emperor Tianzuo acceded he was recalled as Vice Censor-in-Chief. The court was supposed to be prosecuting Yixin's faction, yet the responsible offices treated the matter lightly. Shiliu submitted a memorial that read:
10
臣前為奸臣所陷，斥竄邊郡。 幸蒙召用，不敢隱默。 恩賞明則賢者勸，刑罰當則奸人消。 二者既舉，天下不勞而治。 臣見耶律乙辛身出寒微，位居樞要，竊權肆惡，不勝名狀。 蔽先帝之明，誣陷順聖，構害忠讜，敗國罔上，自古所無。 賴廟社之休，陛下獲纂成業，積年之冤，一旦洗雪。 正陛下英斷，克成孝道之秋。 如蕭得裏特實乙辛之黨，耶律合魯亦不為早辨，賴陛下之明，遂正其事。 臣見陛下多疑，故有司顧望，不切推問。 乙辛在先帝朝，權寵無比。 先帝若以順考為實，則乙辛為功臣，陛下豈得立耶？ 先帝黜逐嬖後，詔陛下在左右，是亦悔前非也。 陛下詎可忘父讎不報，寬逆黨不誅？ 今靈骨未獲，而求之不切。 《傳》曰，聖人之德，無加於孝。 昔唐德宗因亂失母，思慕悲傷，孝道益著。 周公誅飛廉、惡來，天下大悅。 今逆黨未除，大冤不報，上無以慰順考之靈，下無以釋天下之憤。 怨氣上結，水旱為沴。 臣願陛下下明詔，求順考之瘞所，盡收逆黨以正邦憲，快四方忠義之心，昭國家賞罰之用，然後致治之道可得而舉矣。 謹別錄順聖升遐及乙辛等事，昧死以聞。
Your servant was once framed by wicked ministers and banished to a frontier commandery. Having been fortunate enough to be recalled to service, I dare not hold my tongue. When rewards are clear the worthy are encouraged; when punishments are just the wicked vanish. When both are in place, the realm is governed without strain. I have seen Yelu Yixin rise from humble origins to a pivotal post, usurp power, and commit outrages beyond naming. He blinded the late emperor, falsely condemned Emperor Shunsheng, destroyed loyal remonstrators, and ruined the state while deceiving his sovereign—crimes without precedent. By the grace of the ancestral temples Your Majesty has succeeded to the throne, and wrongs that festered for years may at last be redressed. This is precisely the moment for Your Majesty's decisive rule to fulfill filial duty. Xiao Delite was truly of Yixin's party, and Yelu Helu failed to expose this in time; only Your Majesty's discernment set the matter right. I fear Your Majesty's excessive caution leaves officials hesitant and unwilling to pursue the case vigorously. Under the late emperor Yixin's power and favor were unrivaled. If the late emperor had believed the accusations against your late father, Yixin would count as a meritorious minister—how then could Your Majesty have ascended the throne? The late emperor dismissed his favorite consort and kept Your Majesty at his side—itself a sign he regretted his earlier error. How can Your Majesty leave your father's wrongs unavenged and spare the traitorous faction unpunished? Her remains have yet to be recovered, yet the search is pursued without urgency. The Zhuan says that among a sage's virtues none surpasses filial piety. Tang Dezong once lost his mother in the turmoil of rebellion; his longing and grief made his filial devotion all the more renowned. When the Duke of Zhou executed Feilian and Elai, the realm rejoiced. The traitorous faction still stands unpunished and the great wrong unavenged; your late father's spirit finds no comfort, and the people's outrage finds no release. Resentment gathers toward heaven, and flood and drought follow as portents. I beg Your Majesty to issue a clear edict, find your late father's burial place, apprehend the entire traitorous faction to uphold the law, satisfy loyal subjects everywhere, and make the state's rewards and punishments plain—only then can good governance truly be pursued. I respectfully attach a separate record of Emperor Shunsheng's death and Yixin's crimes, and risk my life to lay this before Your Majesty.
11
12
Commentary: The Book of Changes says, "When frost is underfoot, solid ice is not far behind"—a warning to be careful at the outset. Had Emperor Daozong heeded Yanshou and Sala, how could those frame-ups have followed, or the crown prince been deposed? Susa and Tabuye were slain for honest counsel—could the realm hope to escape turmoil after that? Shiliu's memorial, fortunately submitted only after Yixin's fall, at least found partial fulfillment. Can any ruler afford not to know his men!