1
逆臣下○蕭胡睹蕭叠裏得古叠耶律撒剌竹奚回離保蕭特烈
Rebellious Officials 3: Xiao Hudu, Xiao Dielide, Gudie, Yelü Salazhu, Xi Huilibao, and Xiao Telie
2
蕭胡睹，字乙辛。 口吃，視斜，發卷，伯父孝穆見之曰：「是兒狀貌，族中未嘗有。」 及壯，魁梧桀傲，好揚人惡。 重熙中，為祗候郎君。 俄遷興聖宮使，尚秦國長公主，授駙馬都尉。 以不諧離婚，復尚齊國公主，為北面林牙。 清寧中，歷北、南院樞密副使，代族兄術哲為西北路招討使。 時蕭革與蕭阿剌俱為樞密使，不協，革以術哲為阿剌所愛，嫉之。 朮哲受代赴闕，先嘗借官粟，留直而去。 胡睹希革意，發其事，術哲因得罪。 胡睹又欲要權，歲時獻遺珍玩、畜產於革，二人相愛過於兄弟。 胡睹族弟敵烈為北克，薦國舅詳穩蕭胡篤於胡睹，胡睹見其辨給壯勇，傾心交結。 每遇休沐，言論終日，人皆怪之。 會胡睹同知北院樞密事，奏胡篤及敵烈可用，帝以敵烈為旗鼓拽剌詳穩，胡篤為宿直官。 及革構陷其兄阿剌，胡篤陰為之助，時人醜之。
Xiao Hudu, whose courtesy name was Yixin. He stuttered, his eyes looked askew, and his hair curled; when his uncle Xiao Xiaomu saw him he said, "This boy's looks are unlike anything our clan has ever produced. When he grew up he was tall and imposing, fierce and overbearing, and loved to broadcast other people's faults. During the Chongxi era he served as an attendant gentleman. Before long he was promoted to commissioner of the Xingsheng Palace, married the eldest princess of Qin, and was appointed imperial son-in-law commandant. Because the marriage had grown discordant he divorced her, then married the princess of Qi and was made a Northern Court linya. During Qingning he served in turn as associate privy commissioner of the Northern and Southern Courts, then replaced his clansman Shuzhe as Northwestern Route pacification commissioner. At that time Xiao Ge and Xiao Ala were both privy commissioners and did not get along; Ge envied Shuzhe because Ala favored him. Shuzhe was relieved of his post and went to court; he had earlier borrowed official grain and departed while still owing his commission stipend. Hudu, hoping to please Ge, exposed the affair, and Shuzhe was punished as a result. Hudu also sought to win power; year after year he sent Ge rare curios and livestock, and the two grew as close as brothers. Hudu's clansman Dilie served as a Northern ke; he recommended the imperial uncle's detail-stable Xiao Huduo to Hudu, and when Hudu saw how eloquent and bold he was he gave himself wholeheartedly to the friendship. Whenever they had a day off they talked from morning to night, and everyone thought it odd. When Hudu became associate administrator of Northern Court privy affairs, he memorialized that Huduo and Dilie were fit for service; the emperor appointed Dilie drum-and-banner zhala detail-stable and Huduo a night-duty officer. When Ge framed his elder brother Ala, Huduo secretly helped him, and people of the time despised him for it.
3
耶律乙辛知北院樞密事，胡睹位在乙辛下，意怏怏不平。 初，胡睹嘗與重元子涅魯古謀逆，欲其速發。 會車駕獵太子山，遂與涅魯古脅弩手軍犯行宮。 既戰，涅魯古中流矢而斃，眾皆逃散。 時同黨耶律撒剌竹適在圍場，聞亂，率獵夫來援。 其黨謂胡睹等曰：「我軍甚眾，乘其無備，中夜決戰，事冀有成； 若至明日，其誰從我？」 胡睹曰：「倉卒中黑白不辨，若內外軍相應，則吾事去矣。 黎明而發，何遲之有！」 重元聽胡睹之計，令四面巡警待旦。 是夜，同黨立重元僭位號，胡睹自為樞密使。 明日戰敗，胡睹被創，單騎遁走，至十七濼，投水死。 五子，同日誅之。
Yelü Yixin administered Northern Court privy affairs; Hudu stood below Yixin in rank and was resentful and ill at ease. Earlier Hudu had plotted rebellion with Chongyuan's son Nielugu and wanted him to move quickly. When the emperor hunted at Mount Taizi, he joined Nielugu in coercing the crossbow troops to attack the mobile palace. Once battle was joined Nielugu was struck by an arrow and died; the whole force fled and scattered. At that time their fellow conspirator Yelü Salazhu happened to be at the hunting grounds; hearing of the disturbance, he led huntsmen to reinforce them. His confederates said to Hudu and the others, "Our force is very large; if we strike while they are unprepared and fight a decisive battle at midnight, the affair may yet succeed; but if we wait until tomorrow, who will still follow us? Hudu said, "In the heat of the moment friend and foe cannot be told apart; if the inner and outer armies coordinate, our cause is lost. To set out at dawn—what delay is there! Chongyuan followed Hudu's plan and ordered patrols on all four sides to wait until dawn. That night the conspirators set Chongyuan up with a usurped title, and Hudu made himself privy commissioner. The next day they were defeated; Hudu was wounded, fled alone on horseback to the Seventeen Marshes, and drowned himself. His five sons were executed on the same day.
4
蕭叠裏得，字胡睹堇，國舅少父房之後。 父雙古，尚鈿匿公主，仕至國舅詳穩。 叠裏得幼警敏不羈，好射獵。 太平中，以外戚補祗候郎君，歷延昌宮使、殿前副點檢。 重熙十三年伐夏，叠裏得將偏師首入敵境，多所俘掠，遷都點檢，改烏古敵烈部都詳穩。 十八年，再舉西伐，叠裏得奏：「軍馬器械之事，務在選將，夏人豈為難制，但嚴設斥堠，不用掩襲計，何慮不勝？」 帝曰：「卿其速行，無後軍期。」 既而叠裏得失利還，復為都點檢。 十九年，夏人來侵金肅軍，上遣叠裏得率輕兵督戰，至河南三角川，斬候者八人，擒觀察使，以功命知漢人行宮都部署事，出為西南面招討使。 族弟黃八家奴告其主私議宮掖事，叠裏得寢之。 事覺，決大杖，削爵為民。 清寧中，上以所坐事非叠裏得所犯，起為南京統軍使。 至是，從重元子涅魯古等亂，敗走被擒，伏誅。
Xiao Dielide, whose courtesy name was Hudu Jin, was a descendant of the imperial uncle's Lesser Father house. His father Shuanggu married Princess Dianni and rose to the post of imperial uncle's detail-stable. Dielide was sharp-witted and unruly as a boy and loved hunting. During Taiping, as a maternal kinsman he was appointed attendant gentleman and served as Xianchang Palace commissioner and deputy front-hall inspector. In the thirteenth year of Chongxi, during the campaign against Xia, Dielide led a detached force that was first to enter enemy territory and took many captives and much booty; he was promoted to metropolitan inspector and reassigned as overall detail-stable of the Wugu and Dilie tribes. In the eighteenth year another western campaign was launched; Dielide memorialized, "Matters of horses, arms, and equipment depend on choosing the right generals. Are the Xia people truly so hard to control? Only set scouts strictly and do not rely on surprise raids—why should we fear we cannot win? The emperor said, "Set out at once; do not fall behind the army's schedule." Before long Dielide returned after a setback and was again made metropolitan inspector. In the nineteenth year the Xia invaded Jinsu Army; the emperor sent Dielide with light troops to oversee the fighting. At Sanjiaochuan south of the river he beheaded eight scouts and captured a surveillance commissioner; for this merit he was appointed to administer the Han mobile palace deployment and sent out as Southwestern Route pacification commissioner. A clansman's slave named Huangba reported that his master had privately discussed inner-palace affairs; Dielide suppressed the report. When the affair came to light he was sentenced to heavy cudgeling and stripped of his noble rank to commoner status. During Qingning the emperor held that the offense for which he had been punished was not one Dielide had committed, and restored him as Nanjing supreme commander. At this juncture he joined Nielugu and the others in Chongyuan's rebellion, was defeated and fled, was captured, and was executed.
5
古叠，本宮分人，不知姓氏。 好戲狎，不喜繩檢。 膂力過人，善擊鞠。 重熙初，為護衛，歷宿直官。 十三年，西征，以古叠為先鋒。 夏人伏兵掩之，古叠力戰，麾下士多歿，乃單騎突出。 遇夏王李元昊來圍，勢甚急。 古叠馳射，應弦輒仆，躍馬直擊中堅，夏兵不能當，晡乃還營。 改興聖宮太保。 清寧九年，從重元、涅魯古亂，與扈從兵戰，敗而遁，追擒之，陵遲而死。
Gudie was originally from the founding-khan household division; his surname is unknown. He loved playful familiarity and did not care for restraint. His strength surpassed other men's, and he excelled at cuju. Early in Chongxi he served as a guardsman and passed through night-duty officer posts. In the thirteenth year of the western expedition Gudie was made vanguard. Xia troops lay in ambush and struck him; Gudie fought fiercely, many of the men under his command were killed, and he broke out alone on horseback. He encountered the Xia ruler Li Yuanhao coming to surround him; the situation grew extremely desperate. Gudie galloped and shot; wherever his arrow struck a man fell; he spurred his horse straight at the enemy center; the Xia troops could not withstand him, and at dusk he returned to camp. He was reassigned as grand guardian of the Xingsheng Palace. In the ninth year of Qingning he joined Chongyuan and Nielugu's rebellion, fought the emperor's escort troops, was defeated and fled, was pursued and captured, and died by dismemberment.
6
撒剌竹，孟父房滌冽之孫。 性凶暴。 清寧中，累遷宣徽使，改殿前都點檢，首與重元謀亂。 會帝獵灤河，重元恐事泄，與扈從軍倉卒而戰。 其子涅魯古既死，同黨潰散。 撒剌竹適在畋所，聞亂，劫獵夫以援。 既至，知涅魯古已死，大悔恨之，謂曰：「我輩惟有死戰，胡為若兒戲，自取殞滅？ 今行宮無備，乘夜劫之，大事可濟。 若俟明旦，彼將有備，安知我眾不攜貳？ 一失機會，悔將無及。」 重元、蕭胡睹等曰：「今夕但可四面圍之，勿令外軍得入，彼何能備！」 不從。 遲明，投仗而走，撒剌竹戰死。
Salazhu was a grandson of the Greater Father house Di Lie. His nature was fierce and brutal. During Qingning he was repeatedly promoted to palace commissioner and then made front-hall chief inspector; he was the first to plot rebellion with Chongyuan. When the emperor hunted on the Luan River, Chongyuan feared the plot would leak out and fought hastily with the escort troops. After his son Nielugu died, the conspirators collapsed and scattered. Salazhu happened to be at the hunting grounds; hearing of the disturbance, he seized huntsmen to come to their aid. When he arrived and learned Nielugu was already dead, he was filled with bitter regret and said, "Our side has only to fight to the death—why treat this like child's play and bring ruin on ourselves? The mobile palace is now unguarded; raid it by night and the great affair may yet succeed. If we wait until dawn they will be prepared—who knows whether our men will not turn disloyal? Once the opportunity is lost, regret will come too late. Chongyuan, Xiao Hudu, and the others said, "Tonight we need only surround them on all four sides and not let outside troops enter—how can they be prepared! They would not listen to him. Near dawn they cast aside their weapons and fled; Salazhu died in battle.
7
奚回離保，一名翰，字挼懶，奚王忒鄰之後。 善騎射，趫捷而勇，與其兄鱉裏剌齊名。 大安中，車駕幸中京，補護衛，稍遷鐵鷂軍詳穩。 天慶間，徙北女直詳穩，兼知咸州路兵馬事，改東京統軍。 既而諸蕃入寇，番破之，遷奚六部大王，兼總知東路兵馬事。 保大二年，金兵至，天祚播遷，回離保率吏民立秦晉國王淳為帝。 淳偽署回離保知北院樞密事，兼諸軍都統，屢敗宋兵。 淳死，其妻普賢女攝事。 是年，金兵由居庸關入，回離保知北院，即箭笴山自立，號奚國皇帝，改元天復，設奚、漢、渤海三樞密院，改東、西節度使為二王，分司建官。 時奚人巴輒、韓家奴等引兵擊附近契丹部落，劫掠人畜，群情大駭。 會回離保為郭藥師所敗，一軍離心，其黨耶律阿古哲與其甥乙室八斤等殺之，偽立凡八月。
Xi Huilibao, also named Han, whose courtesy name was Rou Lan, was a descendant of the Xi king Te Lin. Skilled at mounted archery, swift and brave, he was as renowned as his elder brother Bie Lila. During Da'an, when the emperor visited Zhongjing, he was appointed to the guard and was gradually promoted to Iron Hawk Army detail-stable. During Tianqing he was transferred to Northern Jurchen detail-stable, concurrently administered Xianzhou Route military affairs, and was made Eastern Capital supreme commander. Before long, when various frontier peoples invaded, he repeatedly defeated them, was promoted to great king of the Six Xi Tribes, and concurrently oversaw Eastern Route military affairs. In the second year of Baoda the Jin troops arrived; Tianzuo was driven into flight; Huilibao led officials and commoners to install the Prince of Qin and Jin, Chun, as emperor. Chun falsely appointed Huilibao to administer Northern Court privy affairs and serve concurrently as overall commander of all armies, and he repeatedly defeated Song troops. When Chun died his wife, Lady Puxian, assumed control of affairs. That year Jin troops entered through Juyong Pass; Huilibao, who still held Northern Court affairs, at once declared himself independent on Arrow Bamboo Mountain, styled himself emperor of the Xi state, changed the era name to Tianfu, established three privy councils for Xi, Han, and Bohai, changed the eastern and western military commissioners into two kings, and divided offices to establish a government. At that time the Xi men Baze and Han Jianu and others led troops against nearby Khitan tribes, plundering people and livestock, and popular feeling was greatly alarmed. When Huilibao was defeated by Guo Yaoshi the whole army lost heart; his faction Yelü Aguzhe and his nephew Yishi Bajin and others killed him; his false reign had lasted only eight months in all.
8
蕭特烈，字訛都碗，遙輦窪可汗宮分人。 乾統中入宿衛，出為順義軍節度使。 天慶四年，同知咸州路兵馬事。 五年，以兵敗奪節度使。 保大元年，遷隗古部節度使。 及天祚在山西集群牧兵，特烈為副統軍。 聞金兵將至，特烈諭士卒以君臣之義，死戰於石輦鐸。 金兵不戰，特烈伺間欲攻之。 天祚喜甚，召嬪御諸子登高同觀，將詫之。 金兵望日月旗，知天祚在其下，以勁兵直趨奮擊，無敢當者，天祚遁走。 特烈所至，招集散亡，尋為中軍都統，復敗於梯已山。 天祚決意渡河奔夏，從臣切諫不聽，人情惶懼不知所為。 特烈陰謂耶律兀直曰：「事勢如此，億兆離心，正我輩效節之秋。 不早為計，奈社稷何！」 遂共劫梁王雅裏，奔西北諸部，偽立為帝，特烈自為樞密使。 雅裏卒，欲擇可立者。 會耶律兀直言朮烈才德純備，兼興宗之孫，眾皆曰可，遂僭立焉，特烈偽職如故。 未三旬，與朮烈俱為亂兵所殺。
Xiao Telie, whose courtesy name was Eduo Wan, was from the Yaolian Waqaghan household division. During Qiantong he entered night guard service and was sent out as military commissioner of the Shunyi Army. In the fourth year of Tianqing he was associate administrator of Xianzhou Route military affairs. In the fifth year, because of defeat in battle, he was stripped of his military commissionership. In the first year of Baoda he was transferred to military commissioner of the Weigu Tribe. When Tianzuo gathered tribal herd troops in Shanxi, Telie was made deputy supreme commander. Hearing that Jin troops were about to arrive, Telie instructed the soldiers in the duty between sovereign and subject and fought to the death at Shinian Duo. The Jin troops did not engage; Telie watched for an opening and meant to attack them. Tianzuo was greatly pleased, summoned his consorts and sons to climb high and watch together, intending to boast of the victory. The Jin troops saw the sun-and-moon banner, knew Tianzuo was beneath it, sent elite troops straight forward in a fierce assault no one could withstand, and Tianzuo fled. Wherever Telie went he gathered scattered fugitives; soon he was made central army supreme commander, and was again defeated at Tiyi Mountain. Tianzuo resolved to cross the river and flee to Xia; his attendants remonstrated urgently but he would not listen; the people were fearful and did not know what to do. Telie said privately to Yelü Wuzhi, "The situation is thus; the myriad people have lost heart—this is exactly the season for us to give loyal service. If we do not act early, what becomes of the altars of state! Thereupon together they seized the Prince of Liang, Yali, fled to the northwestern tribes, falsely set him up as emperor, and Telie made himself privy commissioner. When Yali died they wished to choose someone fit to enthrone. Yelü Wuzhi said that Shulie was pure in talent and virtue and moreover a grandson of Xingzong; everyone said he would do, and so they set him up with a usurped title; Telie's false post remained as before. Within less than thirty days he and Shulie were both killed by mutinous troops.
9
論曰：遼之秉國鈞，握兵柄，節制諸部帳，非宗室外戚不使，豈不以為帝王久長萬世之計哉。 及夫肆叛逆，致亂亡，皆是人也。 有國家者，可不深戒矣乎！
Commentary says: In holding the state's balance, grasping military power, and controlling the various tribal encampments, the Liao did not employ anyone who was not of the imperial clan or maternal kin—was this not meant as a plan for an emperor's rule to last ten thousand generations? Yet when they wildly rebelled and brought chaos and ruin, it was all because of men. For those who possess a state, can they not take this as a profound warning!