Born at the end of the Warring States Period, Li Si was born in Shangcai, Chu (now southwest of Shangcai County, Henan Province) and worked as a clerk in charge of documents when he was young. Sima Qian recorded such a thing in Biography of Li Si in Historical Records: once, he saw rats eating shit in the toilet, and people or dogs came to the toilet and they all ran away; The mice seen in the rice barn only eat big and fat, play and mate leisurely in the rice pile, and there is no threat and panic brought by people or dogs. So, he sent out such a feeling: "whether a person is promising, like a mouse, is determined by his own environment." Reese believes that people don't care whether they can do it or not, and their intelligence is similar. Whether they are rich or poor depends on whether they can seize the opportunity and choose the environment. In the Warring States period when everyone was vying for fame and gain, Reese also wanted to make a career. In order to achieve the purpose of the apprentice, Reese resigned from his position as a small official and went to Qi to study and become a teacher. Xunzi's thought is very close to that of Legalists, and he also studies how to govern the country, which is the so-called "imperial technique". After Li Si finished his studies, he decided to go to Qin after analyzing and comparing the situation in different countries. After Li Si arrived in Qin State, he quickly gained the esteem of Lv Buwei, the prime minister of Qin State, and became a junior official of Qin State, thus gaining the opportunity to get close to the king of Qin. On one occasion, Li Si said to the King of Qin, "Anyone who has a successful career should seize the opportunity. Although Qin Mugong was strong in the past, it failed to accomplish the great cause of reunification because the time was not yet ripe. Since Qin Xiaogong, the Zhou Dynasty has completely declined, and after years of war between vassal states, the State of Qin has become strong. Now that the state of Qin is strong and the king is virtuous, it is as easy to wipe out the six countries as to sweep the dust on the stove. Now is the best time to complete the imperial industry and unify the world. Don't miss it. "

The king of Qin listened to Reese's plan to alienate the monarch and ministers of various countries. For the six countries, Reese also put forward the annexation order of "destroying North Korea first to fear other countries". So he was appreciated by the king of Qin and promoted to a long history. Reese advised the king of Qin to send people to various countries to buy with precious jade, alienating the ministers of the six countries, and sure enough, he also received the effect, and he was named as a guest of honor.

Just when the King of Qin made up his mind to unify the six countries, South Korea was afraid of being destroyed by Qin, and sent water conservancy engineer Zheng to Qin to encourage the construction of canals, so as to weaken Qin's manpower and material resources and contain Qin's eastward advance. Later, Guo Zheng's purpose of building the canal was exposed. At this time, the eastern countries also sent spies to visit Qin. Ministers had a big discussion on foreign guests and said to the king of Qin: "People from all countries come to Qin to do sabotage for their own interests. Please ask the king to order the expulsion of all visitors. " The king of Qin gave an order to expel the guests, and Reese was also expelled.

Li Si wrote a letter to the king of Qin, urging him not to drive away the guests. This is the famous work "Persuade the guests and drive them away". He said: "I heard that ministers talk about expelling guests, which is wrong. Once upon a time, our wise men invited the Rong people in the west, the Chu people in the east, the uncle of the Song State, and the brave and peaceful palace in the Jin State. Qin Mugong appointed these five men, annexed twenty countries and ruled Xirong. Qin Xiaogong reused Shang Yang, implemented new laws, changed customs, made the country rich and strong, defeated Chu and Wei, expanded its territory by thousands of miles, and made Qin strong. King Hui of Qin used Zhang Yi's stratagem to disintegrate the anti-Qin alliance of the six countries and forced all countries to obey the State of Qin. Zhao Haoqi of Qin got Fan Ju, which weakened the power of nobles, strengthened the kingship, encroached on the princes, and Qin became the emperor. These four generations of kings made contributions to the State of Qin because they appointed Ke Qingshi. If these four kings also ordered the expulsion of guests, it would only make the country have no real wealth, and Qin has no strong name. "

The king of Qin distinguished right from wrong, decisively adopted Reese's suggestion and immediately cancelled the marching order. Reese was still reused and was named Ting Wei. After the reunification of the abolished enfeoffment week, Zhou Wenwang and Zhou Wuwang had many sons and daughters, but later they were estranged and regarded each other as enemies. Wars often happen, and the Emperor of Zhou can't forbid them. Counties, the world can be peaceful. Qin Shihuang also believed that the world had been unified, and the establishment of many other countries was not conducive to reunification and peace could not be guaranteed, so he supported Li Si's opinion. Therefore, he divided the country into 36 counties, with counties under them. Compared with the enfeoffment system, the county system is an improvement and is conducive to national unity.

This whole set of centralization fundamentally eradicated the curse of the separatist regime of the vassal countries and played a positive role in consolidating national unity and promoting social development. Therefore, this system has been used for nearly two thousand years in the imperial society after Qin Dynasty. Unified Measurement After the establishment of the Qin Dynasty, in order not to affect the economic exchange and development of the dynasty, Li Si played the role of emperor, and suggested abolishing the old system of six countries and clarifying unified measurement from the chaotic situation, which was approved by Qin Shihuang. The scale system takes inches, feet and feet as units and adopts decimal counting; The metering system takes assembly, lift, bucket and barrel as units, and also adopts decimal calculation; The system of weights and measures is based on baht, two Jin, Jin, Jun and stone, with twenty-four baht as one Liang, sixteen Liang as one Jin, thirty Jin as one Jun and four Jun as one stone. In order to unify standards and instruments effectively, Reese also took measures from the system and law to ensure the accurate implementation of weights and measures.

This is another achievement after the King of Qin unified China and Li Si became prime minister. Its influence is self-evident. For thousands of years, no matter the dynasty changes, this measurement method has never changed, and it still exists in life. Unified Currency In 2 10 BC, that is, in the thirty-seventh year of Qin Shihuang, Lisi made the last important memorial to Qin Shihuang: abolishing the six-country currency originally used outside Qin Dynasty and unifying the currency of China. Although this move was of little use to the economic development of the Qin Dynasty, it had a great influence on later generations. Under the auspices of Reese, the currency stipulated that the upper currency was gold, each pot weighed 24 taels, the lower currency was half taels of copper, and ten thousand coppers were exchanged for one tael of gold. It is also forbidden to use pearls, jade, turtles, shellfish, silver, tin, etc. as decorations and treasures, let alone as money. At the same time, it is stipulated that the right to coin money belongs to the state, and private individuals are not allowed to coin money, and offenders are convicted. Reese's move was regarded as a pioneering work in economic history by later generations. The square hole (commonly known as Qin Banliang) that he presided over at the beginning was used until the end of Qing Dynasty because of its reasonable design and convenient use and carrying. Sima Qian: "Li Si became a vassal of Yan Li and joined the Qin Dynasty. Because of his flaws, he helped the emperor become an emperor. He became three officials and can be said to be respected. " Knowing the return of the "six arts", we don't care about the lack of court support. I respect the Lord, obey fornication, torture, listen to heresy, and abolish it. The vassal is already on the shore, thinking about fighting, it is better to end! All of them were executed by five sentences for their extreme loyalty to Sri Lanka. Investigating its origin is different from the general discussion. Otherwise, our achievements will be equal to those of Zhou and Zhao. "

Cao Pi: "In the past, I was jealous of charging, and I was sneered at because I didn't like it;" Jiang Chong burned the rich and made a move with guilt. Gauss's bullying, greed for power, admiration and expensive, so close to the same flesh and blood that he becomes fierce and rebellious. "

Sima Zhen: "Where rats live, everyone chooses their place. Improve your intelligence and make a name for yourself. People and ministers are extremely important in buying wine in Xianyang. Confused, easy artifact. The death of the country will be mutually assured. "

Su Shi: "Li Si and Zhao Gaoli set up Hu Hai, killed Fu Su, Meng Tian and Meng Yi, and died in Qin."

Ceng Gong: "Travelers in the Warring States Period were not. I don't know if it's credible, but I'm willing to say it easily. Its design, attention and stealing are just the plan of everything. Therefore, it is good to avoid losing when cheating, and to cover up your troubles when fighting. People who do it at the same speed are not only beneficial, but also harmful; The gains are not worth the loss. He died as a disciple of Su Qin, Shang Yang, Sun Bin, Wuqi and Li Si, even to death. In the Qin dynasty, the governors and users also destroyed their country. Is the catastrophe of the world; And it is still vulgar. "

Li Zhi: "When Qin Shihuang was born, Lisi was in love with him, and the sky suddenly collapsed, overturning a whole world."

Gui Youguang: "Lisi entered Romania with a harp, noodles and clouds, and at one time he breathed thunder and wind, and the sun and the moon competed for glory, and the world rushed to admire him. Things have changed, how can we let the yellow dog go out to Shangcai East Gate and listen to Huating Heming? "

Wang Fuzhi: "Qin Zheng and Li Si regard breaking feudalism as an eternal crime, while Jia Yi cries for the greatness of princes. Why are they different from solitary Qin?"

Yao Nai: "The official position of a gentleman is not hidden; A person's official position, no matter what he has learned, shows that he has learned a lot. When he saw that his country acted absurdly and unjustly, he was frequently stunned by his private house, but praised his reputation above the imperial court, knew his injustice, and advised him to do it, saying that the world would forgive my helplessness, but not my sin, knowing that he would do it for the sake of his country. It is said that my appearance can be avoided. Moreover, although the husband and the villain know that the world will be chaotic, they will not get rich easily at present. Instead, they will use wealth to make the world chaotic and enjoy prosperity for life, leaving a legacy for future generations, but they will not be accompanied. Ha ha! Before Qin died, he was punished by five punishments and three families. Evil people were punished by heaven, and sometimes they believed in evil! "

Ding Yaokang: "Reese is a treasurer and likes to watch hamsters. My view of life and death is just a mouse. I was satisfied at first, but I was bitten in the end. The Qin society was empty. The yellow dog in Dongmen, still thinking about rabbits, is not dead yet. It's not appropriate to kill and destroy your home! You are tall, you are punished more than men, and death is not enough. If her husband Tian is also guilty, he will work for the famous Qin and kill many people. This Taishi Gong is guilty. Or: What crime did Fu Su commit? If Fu Su doesn't die, then II won't be killed and Qin Neng will die? "

Wang Shizhen: "Su Yu doesn't like Li Zhi's learning, and his collection of books and his continued collection of books are also boring. From a close point of view, the article "On Mania" is the most harmful. It is said that it is crazy and imperial, King Wen is crazy and king, Taber is crazy and rich, and they are all crazy. Shun, Yu, Tang, Wu, Taigong, Zhou and Zhao are all crazy. Emperor Gaudi of the Han Dynasty, the god of madness; Wendi is a crazy saint. Such fallacies, like delirium in a drunken dream, were highly respected by celebrities at that time. Why? If Reese, Sang Hongyang, Lv Buwei, Li Yuan, Jia Xu and Dong Zhao are famous officials, and Wen Qiao is a traitor, the so-called likes and dislikes are also human nature. It is also a big mistake to take Yang Xiong, Hu Guang, Qiao Zhou and Feng Dao as officials and Tibetan foreign ministers. "

Zeng Guofan: "From ancient times to the present, such as Li Si, Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo and Su Yang, they are extremely clever and their failures are extraordinary. In modern times, Lu, He, Su and Chen all had self-knowledge, but none of them guaranteed their own outcome. Therefore, we can strive for strength in self-study, but not in winning. "

Mao Zedong: "Mencius advocated the law before the law, respected the king today, and opposed Qin Shihuang. Li Si supports Qin Shihuang, belongs to Xunzi School and advocates the law of the first king. "

Mr. Lu Xun once praised Li Si: "Qin's article, Li Si is only one person", "However, his writing style has made great achievements." His calligraphy is called the originator of calligraphy, "Xiao Zhuan Fan, Da Zhuan Miao".