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逆臣上
Rebellious Officials, Part One
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The 《Book of Changes》 says: "Heaven is honored and earth is lowly; thereby Qian and Kun are set in place; Low and high are arrayed in order, and the noble and the base assume their stations." Once noble and base have assumed their stations, the distinction between ruler and minister is settled; once ruler and minister are settled, heaven and earth come into harmony; once heaven and earth are in harmony, the myriad things are formed and fulfilled. The rule of the Five Emperors and Three Kings rested on this principle. Since the Three Dynasties, ministers have murdered their rulers, and sons have murdered their fathers. Confucius wrote the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》 to embody the kingly law, condemning the dead before all eyes to warn the living who followed—a design whose reach was profoundly far-sighted. When Ouyang Xiu compiled the 《Book of Tang》, he inaugurated the 《Biographies of Rebellious Ministers》—surely in the same spirit as the 《Spring and Autumn》. Liao counts twenty-two rebellious ministers, and tracing their deeds one finds cases still worse—yet such outcomes are never the work of a single day or night alone. They are recorded in the 《Biographies》 so that condemnation may be made public under Heaven and a warning set forth for all.
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轄底，字涅烈袞，肅祖孫夷離堇怗剌之子。 幼黠而辯，時險佞者多附之。 遙輦痕德堇可汗時，異母兄罨古只為叠剌部夷離堇。 故事，為夷離堇者，得行再生禮。 罨古只方就帳易服，轄底遂取紅袍、貂蟬冠，乘白馬而出。 乃令黨人大呼曰：「夷離堇出矣！」 眾皆羅拜，因行柴冊禮，自立為夷離堇。 與於越耶律釋魯同知國政。 及釋魯遇害，轄底懼人圖己，挈其二子叠裏特、朔刮奔渤海，偽為失明。 後因球馬之會，與二子奪良馬奔歸國。 益為奸惡，常以巧辭獲免。 太祖將即位，讓轄底，轄底曰：「皇帝聖人，由天所命，臣豈敢當！」 太祖命為於越。 及自將伐西南諸部，轄底誘剌葛等亂，不從者殺之。 車駕還至赤水城，轄底懼，與剌葛俱北走，至榆河，為追兵所獲。 太祖問曰：「朕初即位，嘗以國讓，叔父辭之； 今反欲立吾弟，何也？」 轄底對曰：「始臣不知天子之貴，及陛下即位，衛從甚嚴，與凡庶不同，臣嘗奏事心動，始有窺覦之意。 度陛下英武，必不可取； 諸弟懦弱，得則易圖也。 事若成，豈容諸弟乎！」 太祖謂諸弟曰：「汝輩乃從斯人之言耶！」 叠剌曰：「謀大事者，須用如此人； 事成亦必去之。」 轄底不復對。 囚數月，縊殺之。
Xiadǐ, whose style name was Nieliegun, was the son of the ürün chijin Dila, who was a grandson of Suzu. As a youth he was sharp-witted and quick of tongue, and many crafty sycophants of the day rallied to him. During the reign of Khan Hendejin of the Yaolian line, his elder half-brother Angu'zhi served as ürün chijin of the Diela tribe. By established custom, whoever assumed the office of ürün chijin was entitled to perform the rebirth ceremony. While Angu'zhi was still in his tent changing clothes, Xiadǐ seized a red robe and a sable cicada cap, mounted a white horse, and rode forth. He ordered his partisans to cry out: "The ürün chijin has emerged!" The crowd prostrated themselves in ranks; he then performed the chice ritual of investiture and declared himself ürün chijin. He shared governance of the realm with Yelü Shilu, who held the honorary title of yuyue. After Shilu was killed, Xiadǐ feared others would plot against him; he fled to Bohai with his sons Dialite and Shuogua and pretended to be blind. Later, at a ball-game meeting, he and his two sons seized fine horses and raced back to the Khitan realm. He grew still more wicked, yet time and again talked his way out of punishment with clever speeches. When Emperor Taizu was about to ascend the throne, he offered the realm to Xiadǐ; Xiadǐ replied, "The Son of Heaven is a sage ordained by Heaven—how could a subject such as I dare accept it!" The emperor then appointed him yuyue. When the emperor led troops in person against the southwestern tribes, Xiadǐ incited Cige and others to revolt and killed those who refused to join. When the imperial procession returned to Chishui City, Xiadǐ took fright and fled north with Cige; at the Yu River they were overtaken and captured. Emperor Taizu asked, "When I first took the throne I offered you the realm, and you, Uncle, declined it; why do you now seek to set up my younger brother instead?" Xiadǐ answered, "At first I did not grasp how exalted the Son of Heaven was. After Your Majesty took the throne, your escort was so strict and so unlike that of common men that when I once presented a memorial my heart stirred, and only then did I begin to covet the throne. I judged that Your Majesty was heroic and martial and could never be overthrown; your younger brothers were weak—once one of them held power, he would be easy to overthrow. Had the plot succeeded, would I have spared your brothers!" The emperor said to his brothers, "You actually listened to this man!" Diela replied, "Great undertakings require men like him; once the deed is done, he must certainly be removed." Xiadǐ said nothing more. After months in confinement he was strangled.
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Before the execution, Emperor Taizu said, "Uncle, your crime deserves death, and I dare not pardon you. If anything would serve the realm, speak of it fully." Xiadǐ said, "The Diela tribe is large and strong, which is why it so often rebels; divide it in two to weaken its power." His son was Dialite.
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Dialite, whose style name was Hailin. He was powerfully built and skilled at mounted archery; even when his horse stumbled he would not be thrown. He was uncannily gifted in medicine; when he examined an illness it was as though he saw through a veil—nothing was hidden from him. Even before Taizu took the throne he had favored Dialite; once enthroned, he appointed him ürün chijin of the Yaonian tribe. Taizu once craved pickled deer to clear his head after drinking; as it could be found in the hills, he asked who could fetch it. Dialite said, "I can get it." He mounted a horse from the imperial stables, chased deer, and brought one down with a shot. As he prepared a second shot, the horse stumbled and fell dead. Dialite sprang forward without slackening his bow and took another deer. The emperor was delighted and exclaimed, "My brother is a match for ten thousand men!" When the emperor suffered heart pain, he summoned Dialite to examine him. Dialite said, "There is congealed blood the size of a pellet in the deepest recesses of the chest; medicine cannot reach it—only acupuncture will cure you." The emperor agreed. He vomited the clotted blood and the pain stopped. Because he was kin, the emperor showered him with gifts; yet knowing his character, he never gave him real responsibility. Later he joined Cige's rebellion and was strangled along with his father Xiadǐ.
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Chaguo, whose style name was Ouxin, was the son of Prince Ming'an Anduan. He was skilled at mounted archery. His manner was respectful but his heart was cunning, and people mistook him for a coward. Taizu said, "He is vicious and stubborn—not timid at all." Once when his father sent him to report at court, Taizu told his attendants, "This man's eyes are like a camel's in a gale, and his face bears the look of a rebel. If I am alone, do not let him through the door." When Emperor Shizong took the throne at Zhenyang, Anduan heard the news and tried to hedge between the rivals. Chaguo said, "The Imperial Younger Brother is jealous and cruel; if he really becomes emperor, he will never spare us! Prince Yongkang is generous and friendly with Liu Ge—we should go consult with them." Anduan then joined Liu Ge in plotting to submit to Shizong. When peace was concluded, he was enfeoffed as Prince of Taining for his service.
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When Anduan became Grand Commander of the Southwest, Chaguo pretended to denounce his father and secretly informed the emperor, who summoned him at once. Before the throne he wept as though overcome with grief; the emperor took pity on him and put him in command of the Nüshilie army. He moved freely within the inner palace and was favored again and again. Whenever the emperor hunted, Chaguo claimed a hand ailment, carried no bow, and rode about gripping only a forged mace. He repeatedly reported trifling household matters to the emperor, who took this as proof of sincerity. Because his kinsmen's camps were scattered and he could not act freely, he gradually moved his tents nearer the traveling palace. Yelü Wuzhi, commander of the Right Pishi, detected his treachery and memorialized the emperor with a full account. The emperor refused to believe it and showed the memorial to Chaguo. Chaguo said Wuzhi bore him a grudge and broke into choking sobs. The emperor said, "I have never believed this—why weep over it!" Chaguo sometimes muttered complaints; Wuzhi told him, "Even if you mean no harm, my suspicions have put you under a cloud—do not do anything improper." Another day Wuzhi pleaded again; the emperor said, "Chaguo turned against his father to serve me—he can be trusted." Wuzhi replied, "A man unfilial to his father cannot be loyal to his lord!" The emperor would not listen.
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天祿五年七月，帝幸太液谷，留飲三日，察割謀亂不果。 帝伐周，至詳古山，太后與帝祭文獻皇帝於行宮，群臣皆醉。 察割歸見壽安王，邀與語，王弗從。 察割以謀告耶律盆都，盆都從之。 是夕，同率兵入弒太后及帝，因僭位號。 百官不從者，執其家屬。 至夜，閱內府物，見碼瑙碗，曰：「此希世寶，今為我有！」 詫於其妻。 妻曰：「壽安王、屋質在，吾屬無噍類，此物何益！」 察割曰：「壽安年幼，屋質不過引數奴，詰旦來朝，固不足憂。」 其黨矧斯報壽安、屋質以兵圍於外，察割尋遣人弒皇后於柩前，倉惶出陣。 壽安遣人諭曰：「汝等既行弒逆，復將若何？」 有夷離堇劃者委兵歸壽安王，餘眾望之，徐徐而往。 察割知其不濟，乃系群官家屬，執弓矢脅曰：「無過殺此曹爾！」 叱令速出。 時林牙耶律敵獵亦在系中，進曰：「不有所廢，壽安王何以興？ 籍此為辭，猶可以免。」 察割曰：「誠如公言，誰當使者？」 敵獵請與罨撒葛同往說之，察割從其計。 壽安王復令敵獵誘察割，臠殺之。 諸子皆伏誅。
In the seventh month of Tianlu 5, the emperor visited Taiye Valley and lingered there drinking for three days; Chaguo plotted a revolt but failed. On campaign against Zhou, the court reached Xianggu Mountain; the empress dowager and emperor offered sacrifice to Emperor Wenxian at the traveling palace, and the whole court was drunk. Chaguo went to Prince Shou'an and asked to speak with him; the prince refused. Chaguo revealed the plot to Yelü Pendu, who joined him. That night they led their troops in and murdered the empress dowager and the emperor, then seized the imperial title. Officials who refused to follow had their families seized as hostages. That night he inspected the inner treasury, found an agate bowl, and exclaimed, "A treasure of the age—and now it is mine!" He showed it proudly to his wife. His wife said, "Prince Shou'an and Wuzhi are still alive—we shall not leave a soul alive; what good is this bowl!" Chaguo said, "Shou'an is young, and Wuzhi commands only a handful of slaves—they will come to court at dawn; there is nothing to fear." His follower Shengsi reported that Shou'an and Wuzhi had surrounded them outside with troops; Chaguo then sent men to murder the empress before the coffin and hurried out to give battle in confusion. Prince Shou'an sent a messenger to declare, "You have already murdered your sovereign—what do you plan to do next?" An ürün chijin named Hua laid down his arms and went over to Prince Shou'an; the rest of the troops watched him and drifted over one by one. Seeing that he could not prevail, Chaguo bound the officials' families, took up bow and arrow, and threatened, "I need only kill this crowd!" He shouted for them to come out at once. Among those bound was the linya Yelü Dilie, who came forward and said, "Unless someone is removed, how can Prince Shou'an ascend the throne? Use that as your plea and you may yet save yourselves." Chaguo said, "If you are right, who shall go as envoy?" Dilie offered to go with Yansage to negotiate; Chaguo agreed. Prince Shou'an then had Dilie lure Chaguo out and had him hacked to pieces. His sons were all put to death.
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Louguo, whose style name was Mianxin, was a son of Emperor Wenxian. In Tianlu 5 he was appointed Military Commissioner of Wuding by remote commission. When Chaguo rebelled, Muzong and Wuzhi adopted the linya Dili's stratagem to lure him out, and Louguo killed Chaguo with his own hand. He was transferred to serve as prefect of Nanjing. Muzong drowned himself in wine and neglected affairs of state; Louguo began to covet the throne and incited Dilie and other malcontents to plot rebellion. When the plot was discovered, he was interrogated under torture but would not confess. The emperor said, "When I was still Prince Shou'an, you raised this very matter with me again and again—can it be empty talk today?" Louguo had no answer. After the remaining conspirators had submitted, he was strangled in the western valley of Kehan Prefecture, and an edict directed the authorities to choose a burial site that would cut off his line forever.
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重元，小字孛吉只，聖宗次子。 材勇絕人，眉目秀朗，寡言笑，人望而畏。 太平三年，封秦國王。 聖宗崩，欽哀皇后稱制，密謀立重元。 重元以所謀白於上，上益重之，封為皇太弟。 歷北院樞密使、南京留守、知元帥府事。 重元處戎職，未嘗離輦下。 先是契丹人犯法，例須漢人禁勘，受枉者多。 重元奏請五京各置契丹警巡使，詔從之，賜以金券誓書。 道宗即位，冊為皇太叔，免拜不名，為天下兵馬大元帥，復賜金券、四頂帽、二色袍，尊寵所未有。 清寧九年，車駕獵灤水，以其子涅魯古素謀，與同黨陳國王陳六、知北院樞密事蕭胡睹等凡四百餘人，誘脅弩手軍陣於帷宮外。 將戰，其黨多悔過效順，各自奔潰。 重元既知失計，北走大漠，嘆曰：「涅魯古使我至此！」 遂自殺。
Chongyuan, whose childhood name was Beijizhi, was the second son of Emperor Shengzong. His talent and bravery were unmatched; his face was handsome and clear; he spoke and laughed little, and men feared him at first sight. In Taiping 3 he was enfeoffed as Prince of Qin. After Shengzong's death, Empress Dowager Qin'ai ruled as regent and secretly plotted to set Chongyuan on the throne. Chongyuan reported the plot to the emperor, who valued him all the more and enfeoffed him as Imperial Younger Brother. He served in turn as Commissioner of the Northern Commission, Prefect of Nanjing, and Director of the Marshal's Bureau. Though Chongyuan held a military post, he never strayed far from the imperial carriage. Previously, when Khitan broke the law they were tried by Han officials, and many were wronged. Chongyuan memorialized that each of the Five Capitals should have Khitan patrol commissioners; the court approved, and he was granted a golden pledge certificate. When Daozong ascended the throne, Chongyuan was made Imperial Younger Uncle, exempted from bowing and from having his name spoken aloud, appointed Grand Marshal of all armies under Heaven, and again given golden certificates, a four-peaked cap, and a two-colored robe—honors never granted before. In Qingning 9, while the emperor hunted on the Luan River, Chongyuan—acting on the long-laid plot of his son Nielugu—joined Prince of Chen Chen Liu, Northern Commissioner Xiao Hudu, and more than four hundred others to coerce the crossbow troops into forming battle lines outside the curtain palace. Just before battle, many of his followers repented and went over to the emperor, scattering in flight. Realizing his plan had failed, Chongyuan fled north into the desert and cried, "Nielugu has brought me to this pass!" Thereupon he took his own life.
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涅魯古，小字耶魯綰。 性陰狠。 興宗一見，謂曰：「此子目有反相。」 重熙十一年，封安定郡王。 十七年，進王楚，為惕隱。 清寧三年，出為武定軍節度使。 七年，知南院樞密使事，說其父重元詐病，俟車駕臨問，因行弒逆。 九年秋獵，帝用耶律良之計，遣人急召涅魯古。 涅魯古以事泄，遽擁兵犯行宮。 南院樞密使許王仁先等率宿衛士討之。 涅魯古躍馬突出，為近侍詳穩渤海阿廝、護衛蘇射殺之。 滑哥，字斯懶，隋國王釋魯之子。 性陰險。 初蒸其父妾，懼事彰，與克蕭臺哂等共害其父，歸咎臺哂，滑哥獲免。 太祖即位，務廣恩施，雖知滑哥凶逆，姑示含忍，授以惕隱。 六年，滑哥預諸弟之亂。 事平，群臣議其罪，皆謂滑哥不可釋，於是與其子痕只俱淩遲而死，敕軍士恣取其產。 帝曰：「滑哥不畏上天，反君弒父，其惡不可言。 諸弟作亂，皆此人教之也。」
Nielugu, whose childhood name was Yeluwan. He was secretive and ruthless by nature. At first sight Emperor Xingzong said, "This boy's eyes bear the look of a rebel." In Chongxi 11 he was made Prince of Anding. In the seventeenth year he was promoted to Prince of Chu and appointed tiyin. In Qingning 3 he was posted as Military Commissioner of Wuding. In the seventh year he took charge of Southern Commission affairs and urged his father Chongyuan to feign illness so that when the emperor came to inquire in person, they could strike. During the autumn hunt of the ninth year, the emperor adopted Yelü Liang's counsel and urgently summoned Nielugu. When Nielugu learned the plot was exposed, he hastily raised troops and assaulted the traveling palace. Southern Commissioner Prince Xu Renxian and others led the palace guards against him. Nielugu spurred his horse and broke out of the line, but was shot down by the close attendant commander Bohai Asi and the guard Su. Huage, whose style name was Silan, was the son of Shilu, King of Sui. He was secretive and treacherous by nature. He first violated his father's concubine; fearing exposure, he murdered his father with Ke Xiao Taishan and others, blamed Taishan, and Huage went unpunished. When Emperor Taizu took the throne, he sought to extend favor broadly; though he knew Huage was vicious and rebellious, he temporarily showed forbearance and appointed him tiyin. In the sixth year Huage joined in his younger brothers' revolt. After order was restored, the ministers debated his crime; all agreed Huage could not be spared; he and his son Henji were then executed by dismemberment, and soldiers were permitted to seize his goods at will. The emperor said, "Huage fears neither Heaven nor his obligations; he rebelled against his lord and murdered his father—his wickedness is beyond words. My younger brothers' rebellion was all instigated by this man."