Taishigong the Grand Historian said: Qin's ancestor Bo Yi once created meritorious deeds during the time of Tang Yao and Yu Shun, and he was granted land and surnames. His clan gradually declined during the Xia and Shang dynasties. After the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, Qin rose and built cities on the western border. Since Mu Gong (Duke Mu), Qin gradually encroached on the princes and finally achieved the great cause of the First Emperor. The First Emperor believed that his achievements exceeded those of the Five Emperors and that the territory he ruled exceeded that of the Three Kings. He was ashamed to be compared with the Three Kings and Five Emperors. Jia Yi's argument is great! He said:
Qin annexed princes for more than 30 counties in Shandong, repaired ferry crossings and passes, occupied steep fortresses, and trained soldiers to defend the country. However, Chen She relied on hundreds of scattered garrison soldiers, raised his arms and shouted, without bows, arrows, spears, halberds, and other weapons, only farm tools and sticks, and ate at the house whoever belonged to on the spot, and ran rampant throughout the world. The Qin people had dangerous terrain but could not defend it, had passes and bridges but could not block them, had long-handled spears but could not stab, and had strong bows and crossbows but could not shoot. The army of Chu rebels went deep into the hinterland and fought at Hongmen Ditch, but they did not encounter difficulties and crossed it easier than a fence. At that time, Shandong was in chaos, and the princes rose up, and heroes and talents successively proclaimed themselves kings. Qin State sent Zhang Han to lead the army to the east. Zhang Han used the heavy troops in his hands to threaten and seek personal gain from the court. The ministers were not trustworthy, which can be clearly seen from this incident. Prince Ziying was made king, but he did not wake up in the end. If Ziying had ordinary talents and only got ministers with medium talents, even if Shandong rebelled, Qin's old land could still be preserved, and the sacrifices to the ancestral temple would not be cut off.
太史公曰：秦之先伯翳，尝有勋于唐虞之际，受土赐姓。及殷夏之间微散。至周之衰，秦兴，邑于西垂。自缪公以来，稍蚕食诸侯，竟成始皇。始皇自以为功过五帝，地广三王，而羞与之侔。善哉乎贾生推言之也！曰：
秦并兼诸侯山东三十余郡，缮津关，据险塞，修甲兵而守之。然陈涉以戍卒散乱之众数百，奋臂大呼，不用弓戟之兵，鉏耰白梃，望屋而食，横行天下。秦人阻险不守，关梁不阖，长戟不刺，强弩不射。楚师深入，战于鸿门，曾无藩篱之艰。于是山东大扰，诸侯并起，豪俊相立。秦使章邯将而东征，章邯因以三军之众要市于外，以谋其上。群臣之不信，可见于此矣。子婴立，遂不寤。藉使子婴有庸主之材，仅得中佐，山东虽乱，秦之地可全而有，宗庙之祀未当绝也。
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