Legacy of Power and Betrayal: The Rise and Fall of Qin Dynasty

During the reign of King Zhao of Qin, the realm enjoyed long-lasting peace and stability. His policies were upheld with strict adherence to law and order, ensuring the tranquility of the people. However, as time progressed, his successors diverged from his virtuous path. They disregarded the consequences of their actions, ignoring the repercussions of their deeds. They indulged in the extravagance of palaces, imposing heavy burdens on the populace without concern for the costs involved. These actions alienated the hearts of the people, leading to discontent across the land.

At this critical juncture, dissidents arose throughout half of the kingdom, yet the rulers remained oblivious to the looming threat. With Zhao Gao at his side, the inevitable encroachment upon Xianyang, the capital, became a stark reality. The court was filled with deer and wild boars, a metaphor for the chaos within the palace.

In response, King Er Shi took drastic measures, appointing Zhao Gao as the prime minister and immediately imprisoning Li Si, accusing him and his associates of conspiracy. Zhao Gao orchestrated a vicious campaign against Li Si, issuing warrants for over a thousand officials, causing immense suffering. However, Li Si’s survival was attributed to his eloquence and his contributions to the state. He managed to appeal directly to the king, who, upon awakening to the truth, granted him a pardon.

Li Si, from his prison cell, penned a letter to the king, recounting his thirty years of service as prime minister. Under his administration, the territory of Qin expanded significantly, its military strength reaching unprecedented heights. Li Si’s astute counsel and strategic alliances weakened Han and Wei, subdued Yan and Zhao, and annihilated Qi and Chu, ultimately unifying the six states and capturing their rulers. Yet, despite his accomplishments, Li Si listed seven sins: excessive building projects, heavy taxation, nepotism among nobles, neglect of ancestral rites, manipulation of weights and measures, fostering extravagant pleasures, and lenient punishments and taxes.

Despite these sins, Li Si argued that his actions were necessary to maintain the loyalty and obedience of the people. He highlighted the success of his policies in securing the unity of the realm and the reverence of the people towards the monarchy. Li Si’s letter, however, was intercepted by Zhao Gao’s agents, who prevented it from reaching the king.

Zhao Gao further manipulated the situation by fabricating charges and manipulating court officials. The king’s trusted ministers from the Three Rivers region were summoned and subsequently executed by Zhao Gao’s false accusations.

In the second year of King Er Shi’s reign, in the month of July, Li Si was subjected to the five punishments and publicly executed in the marketplace of Xianyang. His son, also implicated, shared the same fate. As they faced their demise, Li Si lamented to his son, “I wished we could chase hares together again outside the Eastern Gate of Shangcai.”

Following Li Si’s death, King Er Shi appointed Zhao Gao as the chief prime minister, granting him absolute authority over matters large and small. Aware of his newfound power, Zhao Gao presented a deer to the king, insisting it was a horse. When the king questioned his sanity, his advisors, fearing Zhao Gao’s influence, concurred that it was indeed a horse. This event marked a turning point, signaling the extent of Zhao Gao’s control over the court.

However, Zhao Gao’s influence soon faced challenges. During a hunting expedition in the Upper Forest, the king mistakenly killed a passerby. Zhao Gao instructed his son-in-law, Yan Le, the magistrate of Xianyang, to falsely accuse an innocent person of the crime. Alarmed by the king’s erratic behavior and fearing divine retribution, Zhao Gao advised the king to leave the palace to appease the spirits.

After three days, Zhao Gao fabricated a decree, ordering the imperial guards to wear plain clothes and carry weapons under the pretext of a large-scale invasion by bandits from Shandong. The king, upon witnessing this scene, was filled with fear and confusion. Taking advantage of the situation, Zhao Gao coerced the king into committing suicide. With the imperial seal in hand, Zhao Gao attempted to rally support among court officials, but they refused to comply.

Realizing that his authority was slipping away and facing opposition from his ministers, Zhao Gao summoned Prince Hu Hai, the younger brother of the late King Er Shi, and entrusted him with the imperial seal.

Prince Hu Hai’s ascension to the throne was short-lived. After only three months, troops led by Liu Bang entered through the Wu Pass and marched to Xianyang. Court officials and ministers abandoned the sinking ship, siding with the rebels.

Prince Hu Hai, along with his wife and children, chose to end their lives by hanging themselves with ropes beside the road, surrendering to the approaching troops of Liu Bang. Upon capturing Xianyang, Liu Bang declared himself the emperor, marking the end of the Qin Dynasty.

Simultaneously, the historian Sima Qian reflected on Li Si’s pivotal role in the rise and fall of the Qin Dynasty. Despite Li Si’s contributions to the realm and his loyalty to the throne, his excessive methods and manipulation of power led to widespread resentment and ultimately, his downfall. Sima Qian posited that while Li Si was condemned by his contemporaries and met a tragic end, history might judge his actions differently. He emphasized that Li Si’s achievements paralleled those of Zhou and Shao, despite their divergent paths.

In summary, the legacy of the Qin Dynasty stands as a testament to the complexities of governance, the temptations of power, and the consequences of hubris. The rise and fall of Qin reflect a cautionary tale of ambition unchecked, where the pursuit of greatness led to tyranny and eventual collapse.

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