Li Si's "Memorial on Expelling Guests": A Timeless Masterpiece in the Records of the Grand Historian and a Key Turning Point in Qin's Unification

Brief Introduction

In 237 BC, the State of Qin experienced the "Expel Guests Order" incident. Due to suspicions of espionage involving Zheng Guo, a hydraulic engineer from the State of Han, King Zheng of Qin (later Qin Shi Huang) ordered the expulsion of all officials not native to Qin. Li Si, a Guest Minister from the State of Chu, faced expulsion and thus submitted a memorial to advise against the order, composing the "Memorial on Expelling Guests" (《谏逐客书》). This essay not only successfully saved Li Si's political career but also became a critical policy turning point in Qin's process of unifying the six states. It is praised by later generations as a dual gem of ci poetry and political discourse, recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》), and has been passed down through the ages.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Historical Background: During the late Warring States period, the flow of talent between states was frequent. Although the State of Qin heavily relied on Guest Ministers, aristocratic nobles often took opportunities to exclude foreign talents. The Zheng Guo Canal incident became the fuse, triggering a political crisis. Li Si, being from Chu, was also on the list of those to be expelled.
2. Core Argument: Li Si proposed the principle that "A king does not reject the masses, thus he can manifest his virtue." He listed historical facts from four generations of monarchs—Duke Mu, Duke Xiao, King Hui, and King Zhao—who relied on Guest Ministers to strengthen Qin, arguing that "Guest Ministers have merit, not crime."
3. Rhetorical Art: The essay employs elaborate parallelism with majestic momentum. Li Si exposed the logical fallacy of "valuing objects over people," pointing out that while the King enjoyed treasures from all four directions, he rejected talents from all four directions, thus prioritizing objects over the masses. The famous line, "Mount Tai does not reject any soil, thus it achieves its greatness; rivers and seas do not select against small streams, thus they achieve their depth," has become a timeless masterpiece.
4. Final Result: After reading it, King Zheng of Qin realized his mistake, abolished the Expel Guests Order, and recalled Li Si. Afterwards, Qin continued to recruit talent, accelerating the unification process and laying the foundation for the establishment of the Qin Dynasty.

Connection to the Content of "Records of the Grand Historian"

In Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian · Biography of Li Si (《史记·李斯列传》), the full text of the "Memorial on Expelling Guests" is included. This arrangement holds profound historiographical significance:

* Characterization: By including the full text, Sima Qian vividly showcases Li Si's exceptional political foresight and eloquent talent, establishing his image as a representative figure of the Legalist school, which forms a sharp contrast with his tragic end in later life.
* Narrative Function: This piece is located at the highlight of Li Si's life. It reveals the policy tone of "openness and inclusiveness" in early Qin, serving as an important clue to understanding the rise and fall of the Qin Dynasty. Sima Qian uses this to illustrate that Qin's strength stemmed from broadly recruiting talent, while Qin's rapid decline was also related to the tightening of talent policies in its later stages.
Document Value: The Records of the Grand Historian is the primary carrier for the complete preservation of the "Memorial on Expelling Guests." Sima Qian placed it within the biography rather than only recording it in the Chronicle of the Six States*, emphasizing the agency of individuals in the historical process.

Conclusion

The "Memorial on Expelling Guests" is not only a literary classic but also a crystallization of political wisdom. Within the grand narrative of the Records of the Grand Historian, it marks a key step for the State of Qin in advancing from a feudal state towards a unified empire. Its advocacy for inclusive talent ideology has had a profound influence on later personnel policies, making it an indispensable core text for studying Qin history and ancient Chinese political culture.