1
蕭餘里也耶律合魯蕭得裏特蕭訛都斡蕭達魯古耶律塔不也蕭圖古辭
Xiao Yulili, Yelü Helu, Xiao Delite, Xiao Eduwo, Xiao Dalugu, Yelü Tabuye, and Xiao Tuguci
2
蕭餘里也，字訛都碗，國舅阿剌次子。 便佞滑稽，善女工。 重熙間，以外戚進。 清寧初，補祗候郎君，尚鄭國公主，拜駙馬都尉，累遷南面林牙。 以父阿剌為蕭革所譖，出餘里也為奉先軍節度使。 十年冬，召為北面林牙。 咸雍中，會有告餘里也與族人術哲謀害耶律乙辛，按無狀，出為寧遠軍節度使。 自後餘里也揣乙辛意，傾心事之，薦為國舅詳穩。 大康初，封遼西郡王。 時乙辛擅恣，凡不附己者出之，乃引餘里也為北府宰相，兼知契丹行宮都部署事。 及乙辛謀構皇太子，餘里也多助成之，遂知北院樞密事，賜推誠協贊功臣。 以女侄妻乙辛子綏也，恃勢橫肆，至有無君之語，朝野側目。 帝出乙辛知南院大王事，坐與乙辛黨，以天平軍節度使歸第。 尋拜西北路招討使。 以母憂去官，卒。
Xiao Yulili, whose style name was Eduowan, was the second son of State Uncle Ala. He was obsequious and facetious, and excelled at needlework and other domestic crafts. During the Chongxi era he rose through his ties as an imperial in-law. At the start of Qingning he entered service as an attendant langjun, married the Princess of Zheng State, was made Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, and was promoted step by step to Southern Court linya. When his father Ala was slandered by Xiao Ge, Yulili was posted out as military commissioner of the Fengxian Army. In the winter of the tenth year he was recalled to serve as Northern Court linya. During Xianyong someone reported that Yulili and his kinsman Shuzhe had plotted to kill Yelü Yixin; the inquiry found nothing, and he was sent out as military commissioner of the Ningyuan Army. After that Yulili read Yixin's wishes and threw himself into serving him, and was recommended for the post of State Uncle xiangwen. At the start of Dakang he was enfeoffed as Prince of Liaoxi Commandery. Yixin was then ruling arbitrarily: anyone who would not side with him was posted away. He brought Yulili in as Chancellor of the Northern Prefecture and concurrently put him in charge of Khitan mobile-palace deployments. When Yixin schemed against the crown prince, Yulili did much to make it succeed; he was then put in charge of Northern Court privy affairs and granted the title Meritious Subject of Sincere Support. He gave his niece in marriage to Yixin's son Suiye, and, trusting in his power, behaved with brazen arrogance, even uttering words that showed no regard for the sovereign; the court and the realm looked on in dismay. When the emperor sent Yixin out to administer Southern Court great king affairs, Yulili, as a member of Yixin's faction, was made military commissioner of the Tianping Army and sent home. Before long he was appointed Northwest Circuit pacification commissioner. He resigned on mourning for his mother and died.
3
耶律合魯，字胡都堇，六院舍利古直之後。 柔佞喜茍合。 仕清寧初。 時乙辛引用群小，合魯附之，遂見委任，俄擢南面林牙。 乙辛譖皇太子，殺忠直，合魯多預其謀。 弟吾也亦黨乙辛，時號「二賊」。 乙辛薦為北院大王，卒。 吾也亦至南院大王。
Yelü Helu, whose style name was Hudujin, was descended from the Six-Divisions sheriguzhi. He was pliant and sycophantic, and eager to curry favor by any means. He entered office at the start of Qingning. As Yixin was promoting petty followers, Helu attached himself to him, won his trust, and was soon raised to Southern Court linya. When Yixin slandered the crown prince and killed the loyal and upright, Helu took part in many of his schemes. His younger brother Wuye also sided with Yixin; people at the time called them "the two villains." Yixin recommended him as Northern Court great king, and he died in that office. Wuye likewise rose to Southern Court great king.
4
蕭得裏特，遙輦窪可汗宮分人。 善阿意順色。 清寧初，乙辛用事，甚見引用，累遷北面林牙、同知北院宣徽使事。 及皇太子廢，遣得裏特監送上京。 得裏特促其行，不令下車，起居飲食數加陵侮，至則築圜堵囚之。 大康中，遷西南招討使，歷順義軍節度使，轉國舅詳穩。 壽隆五年，坐怨望，以老免死，闔門籍興聖宮，貶西北統軍司，卒。 二子：得末、訛裏，乾統間以父與乙辛謀，伏誅。
Xiao Delite belonged to the palace division of Yaolian Khan Wokohan. He was adept at flattery and at reading others' expressions. At the start of Qingning, when Yixin was in power, Delite was heavily used and rose through Northern Court linya to associate administrator of Northern Court Xuanhui commissioner affairs. When the crown prince was deposed, Delite was sent to supervise his transfer to the Upper Capital. Delite hurried the journey along, would not let him step down from the cart, and repeatedly humiliated him in his daily needs and meals; on arrival he built a round earthen enclosure and imprisoned him there. During Dakang he was transferred to Southwest pacification commissioner, served as military commissioner of the Shunyi Army, and then became State Uncle xiangwen. In the fifth year of Shoulong he was charged with resentment and complaint; because of his age he was spared execution, his entire household was registered to Xingsheng Palace, and he was demoted to the Northwest Military Control Office, where he died. He had two sons, Demo and Eoli; during Qiantong, because their father had plotted with Yixin, both were executed.
5
蕭訛都斡，國舅少父房之後。 咸雍中，補牌印郎君。 大康三年，樞密使乙辛陰懷逆謀，乃令護衛太保耶律查剌誣告耶律撒剌等廢立事。 詔按無狀，皆補外。 頃之，訛都斡希乙辛意，欲實其事，與耶律塔不也等入闕誣首：「耶律撒剌等謀害乙辛，欲立皇太子事，臣亦預謀。 今不自言，恐事泄連坐。」 帝果怒，徙皇太子於上京。 訛都斡尚皇女趙國公主，為駙馬都尉。 後與乙辛議不合，銜之，復以車服僭擬人主，被誅。 訛都斡臨刑，語人曰：「前告耶律撒刺事，皆乙辛教我。 恐事彰，殺我以滅口耳！」
Xiao Eduwo was descended from the State Uncle Shaofu branch. During Xianyong he was appointed seal-and-tally langjun. In the third year of Dakang, Privy Commissioner Yixin secretly harbored treasonous intent and had Defender of the Guard grand guardian Yelü Zhala falsely accuse Yelü Sala and others of plotting to depose the emperor and install another. An edict ordered an inquiry; when nothing was found, all were posted to offices outside the capital. Before long Eduwo divined Yixin's intent and, wanting to make the accusation stick, entered the palace with Yelü Tabuye and others to make a false confession: "Yelü Sala and the others plotted to kill Yixin and put the crown prince on the throne; I too was in on the plot. If I do not speak up now, I fear that when the matter comes out I will be punished along with the rest." The emperor was indeed enraged and transferred the crown prince to the Upper Capital. Eduwo married the imperial daughter, Princess of Zhao State, and was made Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant. Later he disagreed with Yixin and nursed a grievance; he was again executed for carriages and regalia that imitated the sovereign's. As Eduwo faced execution he told those present: "The earlier charge against Yelü Sala—Yixin taught me every word of it. He is afraid the truth will come out, so he kills me to seal my lips!"
6
耶律塔不也，仲父房之後。 以善擊鞠幸於上，凡馳騁，鞠不離杖。 咸雍初，補祗候郎君。 與耶律乙辛善，故內外畏之。 及太子被譖，按無跡，塔不也附乙辛，欲實其誣，與訛都斡等密奏：「太子謀亂事本實，臣不首，恐事覺連坐。」 帝信之，廢太子。 改延慶宮副使。 壽隆元年，為行宮都部署。 天祚嗣位，以塔不也黨乙辛，出為特免部節度使。 及樞密使耶律阿思大索乙辛舊黨，塔不也以賂獲免。 徙敵烈部節度使，復為敦睦宮使。 天慶元年，出為西北路招討使。 以疾卒。
Yelü Tabuye was descended from the Zhongfu branch. Because he excelled at cuju he won the emperor's favor; whenever he rode at full speed, the ball never left his stick. At the start of Xianyong he was appointed attendant langjun. He was on good terms with Yelü Yixin, and for that reason everyone at court feared him. When the crown prince was slandered and the inquiry found nothing, Tabuye sided with Yixin to make the charge stick; with Eduwo and others he secretly memorialized: "The crown prince's plot of rebellion was real; if I do not come forward first, I fear that when it is discovered I will be punished with the rest." The emperor believed them and deposed the crown prince. He was reassigned as deputy commissioner of Yanqing Palace. In the first year of Shoulong he became mobile-palace chief deployer. When Tianzu succeeded to the throne, Tabuye, as a partisan of Yixin, was posted out as military commissioner of the Tejian tribe. When Privy Commissioner Yelü Asi launched a sweeping purge of Yixin's old faction, Tabuye bought his way free. He was transferred to military commissioner of the Dilie tribe, then restored as commissioner of Dunmu Palace. In the first year of Tianqing he was posted out as Northwest Circuit pacification commissioner. He died of illness.
7
蕭圖古辭，字何寧，楮特部人。 仕重熙中，以能稱，累遷左中丞。 清寧初，歷北面林牙，改北院樞密副使。 辨敏，善伺顏色，應對合上意。 皇太后嘗曰：「有大事，非耶律化哥、蕭圖古辭不能決。」 眷遇日隆。 知北院樞密使事。 六年，出知黃龍府。 八年，拜南府宰相。 頃之，為北院樞密使，詔許便宜從事。 為人奸佞有餘，好聚斂，專愎，變更法度。 為樞密數月，所薦引多為重元黨與，由是免為庶人。 後沒入興聖宮，卒。
Xiao Tuguci, whose style name was Hening, was a man of the Zhute tribe. He served during Chongxi, won renown for his ability, and was promoted step by step to Left Vice Censor. At the start of Qingning he served as Northern Court linya, then became associate Northern Court privy commissioner. He was quick and perceptive, skilled at reading the emperor's mood, and his replies always suited the sovereign's wishes. The empress dowager once said, "For any great matter, nothing can be decided without Yelü Huage and Xiao Tuguci." His favor grew greater day by day. He was put in charge of Northern Court privy commissioner affairs. In the sixth year he was sent out to administer Huanglong Prefecture. In the eighth year he was made Chancellor of the Southern Prefecture. Before long he became Northern Court privy commissioner, and an edict allowed him to act at his own discretion. In character he was surpassingly treacherous and fawning, greedy for gain, wilfully obstinate, and given to changing laws and institutions. After only a few months as privy commissioner, most of those he recommended proved to be partisans of Chongyuan; for this he was stripped of rank and made a commoner. Later his property was confiscated to Xingsheng Palace, and he died.
8
論曰：舜流共工，孔子誅少正卯，治奸之法嚴矣。 後世不是之察，反以為忠而信任之，不至於流毒宗社而未已。 道宗之於乙辛是也。 當其留仁先，討重元，若真為國計者； 不知包藏禍心，待時而發耳。 一旦專權，又得孝傑、燕哥、十三為之腹心，故肆惡而無忌憚。 始誣皇后，又殺太子及其妃，其禍之酷，良可悲哉。 嗚呼！ 君子所親，莫皇后、太子若也。 奸臣殺之而不知，群臣言之而不悟。 一時忠讜，廢戮幾盡。 雖黑山親見官屬之盛，僅削一字王號，至私藏甲兵然後誅之。 籲！ 乙辛之罪，固非一死可謝天下，抑亦道宗不明無斷有以養成之也。 如蕭餘里也輩，忘君黨惡，以饕富貴，雖幸而死諸牖下，其得免於遺臭之辱哉！
The commentary says: Shun exiled Gong Gong, and Confucius executed Shaozheng Mao—the standards for dealing with traitors were severe indeed. Later ages lacked such discernment and instead took traitors for loyal men and trusted them, not stopping until their poison had spread through the altars of state. Emperor Daozong's treatment of Yixin was exactly such a case. When he kept Yelü Renxian at court and campaigned against Chongyuan, it looked as though he truly had the state's interests at heart; who could have known that he was hiding a treacherous heart and biding his time to strike. Once he held power alone and had Zhang Xiaojie, Yelü Yange, and Xiao Shisan as his inner circle, he therefore committed evil without restraint or fear. First he slandered the empress, then killed the crown prince and his consort—the cruelty of the harm he wrought is truly lamentable. Alas! Among those whom a gentleman holds dear, none compare with the empress and the crown prince. Treacherous ministers killed them, yet he did not know; the assembled ministers spoke out, yet he did not understand. For a time the loyal and outspoken were nearly all destroyed or put to death. Even when at Black Mountain the emperor personally saw the grandeur of Yixin's retinue, only one character was struck from his princely title; not until he was found secretly hoarding armor and weapons was he put to death. Ah! Yixin's crimes truly could not be answered by death alone; yet it was also Daozong's dimness and want of resolution that had nurtured them. Men such as Xiao Yulili forgot their sovereign and sided with evil to gorge themselves on wealth and rank; though fortunate enough to die in their own homes, how could they escape the shame of a name that stinks forever!