145 Jiaping the La Festival

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In December of the 31st year (216 BC), the La Festival was renamed "Jiaping". Six dan of rice and two sheep were given to the people of every li. The First Emperor went out incognito to inspect Xianyang. He was accompanied by four warriors. At night, he encountered thieves in Lanchi. The situation was dangerous. The warriors killed the thieves, so a large-scale search lasted for 20 days in Guanzhong. The price of rice reached 1,600 coins per dan.

In the 32nd year (215 BC), the First Emperor went to Jieshi Mountain and sent Lu Sheng, a man from Yan, to look for the two immortals Xianmen and Gaoshi. He engraved words on the Jieshi Gate. The First Emperor ordered the destruction of the city walls and the dikes to be dug through. The inscription said: 

The emperor dispatched troops and generals to punish the unjust and eliminate the rebels. He used force to eradicate the brutal rebels and used virtue to protect the innocent good people, which was what the people wanted. He rewarded those who had made contributions, and his grace extended to the livestock and nourished the land within the borders. The emperor exerted his prestige and annexed the princes with virtue, and for the first time achieved the unification and stability of the world. He destroyed the city walls, dug through the dikes, and leveled the dangerous obstacles. The terrain has been determined, the people have no worries, and the whole world is pacified. Men enjoy their fields, women cultivate their careers, and everything is in order. The emperor's grace spread to every industry, and people who had been wandering for a long time returned to their hometowns to farm and live and work in peace and contentment. All the ministers praise his heroic deeds and ask that this stone be engraved to set an example.

The First Emperor then sent Han Zhong, Hou Gong, and Shi Sheng to search for the immortal elixir. The First Emperor went to the northern border for inspection and returned to the capital via Shangjun. Lu Sheng, a man from Yan, returned from the sea and told stories about gods and ghosts. He took the opportunity to present a book he had copied, which said "the one who will destroy Qin is Hu." The First Emprior then sent General Meng Tian to mobilize 300,000 soldiers to attack the Hu people in the north and capture the land of Henan. In the thirty-third year (214 BC), the Emperor recruited fugitive criminals, sons-in-law, and merchants to conquer the Luliang area, where Guilin, Xiang, and Nanhai counties were established, and then recruits were sent to guard. The Xiongnu were driven out of the northwest. From Yuzhong along the Yellow River to the east, all the way to Yinshan, forty-four counties were established there, and cities were built on the banks of the Yellow River as fortresses. The First Emperor also sent Meng Tian to cross the Yellow River to occupy Gaoque, Yangshan, and Beijiazhong, and built fortresses to drive out the Rong people. The exiled prisoners were moved to fill the newly created counties. Civil sacrifices were prohibited. A comet appeared in the west. In the thirty-fourth year (213 BC), officials who made unfair judgments were sent to build the Great Wall or guard the Nanyue area.

三十一年十二月，更名腊曰“嘉平”。赐黔首里六石米，二羊。始皇为微行咸阳，与武士四人俱，夜出逢盗兰池，见窘，武士击杀盗，关中大索二十日。米石千六百。

三十二年，始皇之碣石，使燕人卢生求羡门、高誓。刻碣石门。坏城郭，决通隄防。其辞曰：

遂兴师旅，诛戮无道，为逆灭息。武殄暴逆，文复无罪，庶心咸服。惠论功劳，赏及牛马，恩肥土域。皇帝奋威，德并诸侯，初一泰平。堕坏城郭，决通川防，夷去险阻。地势既定，黎庶无繇，天下咸抚。男乐其畴，女修其业，事各有序。惠被诸产，久并来田，莫不安所。群臣诵烈，请刻此石，垂著仪矩。

因使韩终、侯公、石生求仙人不死之药。始皇巡北边，从上郡入。燕人卢生使入海还，以鬼神事，因奏录图书，曰“亡秦者胡也”。始皇乃使将军蒙恬发兵三十万人北击胡，略取河南地。

三十三年，发诸尝逋亡人、赘婿、贾人略取陆梁地，为桂林、象郡、南海，以適遣戍。西北斥逐匈奴。自榆中并河以东，属之阴山，以为四十四县，城河上为塞。又使蒙恬渡河取高阙、阳山、北假中，筑亭障以逐戎人。徙谪，实之初县。禁不得祠。明星出西方。三十四年，適治狱吏不直者，筑长城及南越地。

144 Mount Zhifu 2

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The inscription on the east tower reads: "In the 29th year, the emperor went on a spring tour to inspect distant places. He came to the seaside, climbed Mount Zhifu, and faced the rising sun. Admiring the magnificent scenery, the accompanying ministers recalled the emperor's achievements and thought about the bright road that the Qin State had once traveled. When the wise laws were first implemented, they cleared up domestic troubles and quelled foreign riots. The Qin army's might was known far and wide, and it captured six kings. Expand territory, unify the world, eliminate disasters, and put an end to wars. The emperor is wise and never slacks off in governing the country. Important rules and regulations were established, weights and measures were standardized, and standards for carriages, horses and clothing were set. All the officials strictly abided by their duties and performed their responsibilities, and there was no room for suspicion in their work. The people changed their customs and habits, and the laws were the same regardless of distance. This had never happened since ancient times. Now that the conventions have been established, future generations should follow these principles and inherit this great achievement. The ministers praised the emperor's kindness and achievements, and engraved the eulogy on the stone tablet on Mount Zhifu.

Not long after, the First Emperor went to Langya and passed through Shangdang.

In the thirtieth year, nothing happened.

其东观曰：维二十九年，皇帝春游，览省远方。逮于海隅，遂登之罘，昭临朝阳。观望广丽，从臣咸念，原道至明。圣法初兴，清理疆内，外诛暴强。武威旁畅，振动四极，禽灭六王。阐并天下，甾害绝息，永偃戎兵。皇帝明德，经理宇内，视听不怠。作立大义，昭设备器，咸有章旗。职臣遵分，各知所行，事无嫌疑。黔首改化，远迩同度，临古绝尤。常职既定，后嗣循业，长承圣治。群臣嘉德，祗诵圣烈，请刻之罘。

旋，遂之琅邪，道上党入。

三十年，无事。

143 Mount Zhifu 1

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The First Emperor climbed Mount Zhifu, and had a stone carved. The words read:

In the 29th year, it was mid-spring, and the sun was just rising. The emperor traveled eastward, stopped at Mount Zhifu, and looked down at the sea. The accompanying ministers admired the sight and could not help but remember the great achievements and commemorate the origin. The great ruling sage established laws and regulations and made them clear. He taught the princes abroad, showed culture and grace, and enlightened them with righteousness and reason. The kings of the six countries were evil and perverse, cruel and greedy, and killed people without end. The emperor felt sorry for the people, so he sent troops to fight against them and promoted martial virtue. His just punishment and his honest actions spread his power to all places, and everyone submitted to him. He killed the tyrants, saved the people, and pacified the four corners of the country. He universally implemented the law, governed the world, and set an example forever. How great! The whole country obeyed the will of the sage. The ministers praised his merits and asked to carve it on the stone to be a common practice.

登之罘，刻石。其辞曰：

维二十九年，时在中春，阳和方起。皇帝东游，巡登之罘，临照于海。从臣嘉观，原念休烈，追诵本始。大圣作治，建定法度，显箸纲纪。外教诸侯，光施文惠，明以义理。六国回辟，贪戾无厌，虐杀不已。皇帝哀众，遂发讨师，奋扬武德。义诛信行，威燀旁达，莫不宾服。烹灭强暴，振救黔首，周定四极。普施明法，经纬天下，永为仪则。大矣哉！宇县之中，承顺圣意。群臣诵功，请刻于石，表垂于常式。

142 Xiangjun then Bolangsha

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When the First Emperor returned, he passed through Pengcheng, where he fasted and offered sacrifices, hoping to salvage the Nine Tripod Cauldrons of the Zhou Dynasty from the Si River. He sent thousands of people to dive into the water to search for them, but they could not find them. So he crossed the Huai River to the southwest and headed for Hengshan County and Nanjun County. He sailed on the Yangtze River and came to Xiangshan to offer sacrifices. He encountered a strong wind and could hardly cross the Yangtze River. The First Emperor asked the doctor, "What kind of immortal is Xiangjun?" The doctor replied, "I heard that Xiangjun was the daughter of Yao and the wife of Shun, and was buried here after her death." So the First Emperor was very angry and ordered 3,000 serving criminals to cut down all the trees on Xiangshan, exposing the reddish-brown rocks. The First Emperor returned to the capital from Nanjun via Wuguan.

In the 29th year (218 BC), the First Emperor went on an inspection tour to the east. When he arrived at Bolangsha in Yangwu, he was frightened by an assassination attempt. The First Emperor ordered a pursuit, but he did not catch anyone, so he ordered a large-scale search across the country for ten days.

始皇还，过彭城，斋戒祷祠，欲出周鼎泗水。使千人没水求之，弗得。乃西南渡淮水，之衡山、南郡。浮江，至湘山祠。逢大风，几不得渡。上问博士曰：“湘君何神？”博士对曰：“闻之，尧女，舜之妻，而葬此。”于是始皇大怒，使刑徒三千人皆伐湘山树，赭其山。上自南郡由武关归。

二十九年，始皇东游。至阳武博狼沙中，为盗所惊。求弗得，乃令天下大索十日。

141 Langya Terrace 2

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The King of Qin annexed the world and established the title of Emperor, so he inspected the eastern territory and came to Langya County. The Marquis Wucheng Wang Li, the Marquis Tongwu Wang Ben, the Marquis Jiancheng Zhao Hai, the Marquis Changwu Cheng, the Marquis Wuxin Feng Wuze, the Prime Minister Wei Lin, the Prime Minister Wang Wan, the Minister Li Si, the Minister Wang Wu, the Five Great Officials Zhao Ying, and the Five Great Officials Yang Qiu accompanied him and discussed with the Emperor at the seaside, saying: "In ancient times, the territory of those who claimed to be emperors did not exceed a thousand miles. The princes guarded their own fiefdoms respectively. Some paid tribute, while others did not. They invaded each other, rebelled, and harmed the people. They fought endlessly, but they still set up stones to record their achievements. The Five Emperors and the Three Kings in ancient times promoted inconsistent teachings and implemented unclear laws. Indeed, relying on the power of ghosts and gods to deceive the people in distant places is not worthy of the name, so the country's fortune will not last long. These emperors themselves have not died, and the princes have already betrayed them, and the laws cannot be implemented. Now the emperor has unified the four seas and set up counties, and the world is peaceful and stable. Carry forward the virtues of the ancestors, practice the right way and promote virtue, and the title of honor is complete. The ministers jointly praise the merits of the emperor and engrave them on gold and stone, so as to set an example for future generations. " 

After the incident, Xu Fu and others from Qi County wrote a letter saying that there are three sacred mountains in the sea, named Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou, where immortals live. Xu Fu and others asked to fast and bathe, and lead boys and girls to find the sacred mountains. So the First Emperor sent Xu Fu to select thousands of boys and girls to go into the sea to find immortals. 

维秦王兼有天下，立名为皇帝，乃抚东土，至于琅邪。列侯武城侯王离、列侯通武侯王贲、伦侯建成侯赵亥、伦侯昌武侯成、伦侯武信侯冯毋择、丞相隗林、丞相王绾、卿李斯、卿王戊、五大夫赵婴、五大夫杨樛从，与议于海上。曰：“古之帝者，地不过千里，诸侯各守其封域，或朝或否，相侵暴乱，残伐不止，犹刻金石，以自为纪。古之五帝三王，知教不同，法度不明，假威鬼神，以欺远方，实不称名，故不久长。其身未殁，诸侯倍叛，法令不行。今皇帝并一海内，以为郡县，天下和平。昭明宗庙，体道行德，尊号大成。群臣相与诵皇帝功德，刻于金石，以为表经。”

既已，齐人徐巿等上书，言海中有三神山，名曰蓬莱、方丈、瀛洲，仙人居之。请得斋戒，与童男女求之。于是遣徐巿发童男女数千人，入海求仙人。

140 Langya Terrace 1

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When the First Emperor visited the south, he climbed Mount Langya and liked it very much. He stayed there for three months. He then moved 30,000 households to the foot of Langya Terrace and exempted them from taxes and labor service for 12 years. He ordered the construction of Langya Terrace and erected a stone with carvings to praise the merits of the Qin Dynasty and express his intentions. The inscription says:

In the 26th year, the First Emperor opened a new era, rectified laws and established the rules for all things. So the personnel and affairs are clarified, and the father and son work together. The wisdom of the emperor is benevolent and righteous, explicit and easy to understand. The emperor came to east pacify the regions and to inspect the soldiers. When it was close to be done, he arrived at the seaside. The emperor made outstanding contributions and worked hard for national affairs. He promoted agriculture and suppressed the insignificant commerce, and the common people lived a prosperous life. All followed the same path under the heaven, unifying the standards of measurements, and the characters of the writing. Wherever the sun and the moon shine, wherever boats and carriages go, all will live their lives to the fullest. It is the emperor's duty to take appropriate measures according to different opportunities. He rectified bad customs, crossed mountains and rivers to provide relief to the people, he has worked tirelessly from morning to night. He eliminate doubts, clarify laws, and make people aware of what to avoid. Officials perform their duties accordingly and all issues are dealt with in a concise and efficient manner. All measures are appropriate and there is no inconsistency. The emperor is full of wisdom and personally tours the four directions. The hierarchy of nobility and inferiority will not be transgressed. Treachery and evil are not tolerated, and everyone strives to be chaste and good. We should do our best in matters big and small, and not be lazy or neglectful. No matter whether we are far or near, or in remote places, we should be solemn and dignified, have upright morals and be loyal, and follow the rules. The emperor's virtue is boundless, and he blesses and stabilizes the four directions. He eliminates harm and punishes rioters, and promotes benefits for the people. He does things according to the seasons and develops various industries. The people are stable and harmonious, and no longer wage wars. The six relatives live in peace with each other, and there are no more thieves. They are happy to accept education and understand the laws and regulations. The whole world is the emperor's territory. To the west, it reaches the desert, to the south, the gates are open to the north. To the east, it reaches the East Sea, and to the north, it crosses Daxia. Wherever people go, everyone comes to pay tribute. The emperor's achievements surpass those of the five emperors, and his grace benefits livestock. Everyone is educated by virtue, and everyone lives and works in peace. 

南登琅邪，大乐之，留三月。乃徙黔首三万户琅邪台下，复十二岁。作琅邪台，立石刻，颂秦德，明得意。曰：

维二十八年，皇帝作始。端平法度，万物之纪。以明人事，合同父子。圣智仁义，显白道理。东抚东土，以省卒士。事已大毕，乃临于海。皇帝之功，勤劳本事。上农除末，黔首是富。普天之下，抟心揖志。器械一量，同书文字。日月所照，舟舆所载。皆终其命，莫不得意。应时动事，是维皇帝。匡饬异俗，陵水经地。忧恤黔首，朝夕不懈。除疑定法，咸知所辟。方伯分职，诸治经易。举错必当，莫不如画。皇帝之明，临察四方。尊卑贵贱，不逾次行。奸邪不容，皆务贞良。细大尽力，莫敢怠荒。远迩辟隐，专务肃庄。端直敦忠，事业有常。皇帝之德，存定四极。诛乱除害，兴利致福。节事以时，诸产繁殖。黔首安宁，不用兵革。六亲相保，终无寇贼。驩欣奉教，尽知法式。六合之内，皇帝之土。西涉流沙，南尽北户。东有东海，北过大夏。人迹所至，无不臣者。功盖五帝，泽及牛马。莫不受德，各安其宇。

139 Zennobling

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In the twenty-eighth year, the First Emperor traveled eastward to prefectures and counties and went up to Mount Zouyi. He had a stone set up and discussed with the Confucian scholars of Lu, the stone was carved to praise the virtues of Qin, and they further discussed the matter of zennobling (封禅fengshan) and worshiping mountains and rivers. Then he went up to Mount Tai, set up the stone, sealed it, and worshiped in the temple. On his way down, a storm came, he rested under a tree and then named the tree the Five Great Masters. He zennobled Mount Liangfu. The words engraved on the standing stone read:

When the emperor comes to the throne, he makes laws and regulations, and his subordinates revise them. After twenty and six years, when the world is united for the first time, and nobody dare to disobey. And he personally patrolled the people in distant places, climbed Mount Tai, and looked around to the East End. And he follows the ministers' deeds, stay focused on their careers, and only recite their merits. The way of governance is running things smoothly, and all productions are appropriate, and all follow their own laws. The great righteousness will never be forgotten, and it will be passed down to future generations. Follow it and don't abandon it. The emperor's obedience to the saints not only brought peace to the world but also made unremitting efforts to govern. He works hard from early morning till late night, builds long-term benefits and is especially good at teaching. The scriptures are taught and promulgated, and they are clear from far and near and inherit the holy will. There is a clear distinction between high and low, men and women are courteous, and they carefully obey their duties. The luminosity separates in or out, and the waste is never pure or clean.  These teachings are to be passed down to our heirs, who will extend it to infinity, abide by the edicts left behind, and uphold the precepts forever. 

The First Emperor then went eastward along the Bohai Sea, passed Huang and Shen, reached to the end of Chengshan Mountain, climbed Zhifu Mountain, erected a stone praising the merits of the Qin, then left.

二十八年，始皇东行郡县，上邹峄山。立石，与鲁诸儒生议，刻石颂秦德，议封禅望祭山川之事。乃遂上泰山，立石，封，祠祀。下，风雨暴至，休于树下，因封其树为五大夫。禅梁父。刻所立石，其辞曰：

皇帝临位，作制明法，臣下脩饬。二十有六年，初并天下，罔不宾服。亲巡远方黎民，登兹泰山，周览东极。从臣思迹，本原事业，祗诵功德。治道运行，诸产得宜，皆有法式。大义休明，垂于后世，顺承勿革。皇帝躬圣，既平天下，不懈于治。夙兴夜寐，建设长利，专隆教诲。训经宣达，远近毕理，咸承圣志。贵贱分明，男女礼顺，慎遵职事。昭隔内外，靡不清净，施于后嗣。化及无穷，遵奉遗诏，永承重戒。

于是乃并勃海以东，过黄、腄，穷成山，登之罘，立石颂秦德焉而去。

138 Triple Unifications

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The First Emperor divided the country into thirty-six counties, each with guardians, lieutenants, and supervisors. The people were renamed "Qianshou". A big feast was so ordered. All the weapons in the country were gathered together in Xianyang. After melting, they were cast into bells and twelve metal statues, each weighing a thousand stones, and placed in the palace. The standards of weights and measures were unified, the track of carriages were unified, and the characters of the text were unified. The territory of the Qin Dynasty stretched to the east to the sea and Korea, to the west to Lintao and Qiangzhong, to the south to the place where the windows opened to the north, and to the north with the Yellow River as a fortress, and the areas from the Yinshan Mountains to Liaodong. And he had 120,000 wealthy families moved across the country to Xianyang. The ancestral temples, Zhangtai and Shanglin of the Qin emperors were all south of the Wei River. Every time the Qin State eliminated a vassal state, it would imitate its palace style and build a palace on the hillside north of Xianyang, approaching the Wei River to the south. From the east of Yongmen to the Jing River and Wei River area, the palace complex roads and circular corridors were continuous. The beauties, bells and drums that the First Emperor snatched from the princely states were all filled up here. 

In the twenty-seventh year (220 BC), the First Emperor visited Longxi and Northland, came to Jitou Mountain, and passed by Huizhong. Changxin Palace was built south of the Weishui River, and soon it was renamed Ji Temple, symbolizing the North Star in the sky. A road was laid from Ji Temple to Lishan Mountain, and the front hall of Ganquan Palace was built. A corridor was built to connect Xianyang with it. This year, all were rewarded with one-class higher titles. And the express way was built.

分天下以为三十六郡，郡置守、尉、监。更名民曰“黔首”。大酺。收天下兵，聚之咸阳，销以为钟鐻，金人十二，重各千石，置廷宫中。一法度衡石丈尺。车同轨。书同文字。地东至海暨朝鲜，西至临洮、羌中，南至北向户，北据河为塞，并阴山至辽东。徙天下豪富于咸阳十二万户。诸庙及章台、上林皆在渭南。秦每破诸侯，写放其宫室，作之咸阳北阪上，南临渭，自雍门以东至泾、渭，殿屋复道周阁相属。所得诸侯美人钟鼓，以充入之。

二十七年，始皇巡陇西、北地，出鸡头山，过回中。焉作信宫渭南，已更命信宫为极庙，象天极。自极庙道通郦山，作甘泉前殿。筑甬道，自咸阳属之。是岁，赐爵一级。治驰道。

137 All Counties

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Shi Huang promoted the theory of the five virtues of beginning and end, and believed that Zhou had the virtue of fire. When the Qin dynasty replaced the Zhou virtue, it was invincible. Now it was the beginning of the virtue of water, and the beginning of the year had been changed. The court celebrations all started on the first day of October. Clothes, flags, and banners were all black. The number six was used as a count. The talisman and the legal cap were both six inches, and the carriage is six feet, six feet is a step, and six horses were used. The river was renamed Deshui, literally, the virtue water, which was the beginning of the virtue of water. He is strong and resolute, and all matters are decided by law. He is harsh and cruel, and has no mercy, grace, and righteousness. Then he will meet the number of the Five Virtues. So he enforced the law urgently, and those who have been in power for a long time will not be pardoned. 

Prime Minister Wang Wan and others commented: "The princes have just been wiped out, and Yan, Qi, Chu and other places are very remote. If we don't set up vassal kings there, it will be impossible to stabilize the local people. I request that the prince be made king, and I hope the emperor can approve it." The First Emperor submitted their suggestions to the ministers for discussion, and they all thought it was appropriate. Court Captain Li Si suggested: "Kings Wen and Wu of Zhou enfeoffed many children with the same surname, but the blood relationship between the descendants became alienated. They attacked each other as enemies, and the princes fought against each other. The emperor of Zhou had no way to stop it. Now the whole country is unified by your majesty's spirit, and the rest are all counties. The sons and meritorious officials are rewarded with public taxes, which is easy to control. If there is no dissenting opinion in the world, it is a way to keep peace. It is inconvenient to set up princes."  The First Emperor said: "The world has suffered from endless fighting because of the princes and kings. Thanks to the ancestral temple, the world was initially settled, and now the country is established again. This means raising troops, and then asking for peace, isn't it difficult! The court captain’s opinion is right." 

始皇推终始五德之传，以为周得火德，秦代周德，从所不胜。方今水德之始，改年始，朝贺皆自十月朔。衣服旄旌节旗皆上黑。数以六为纪，符、法冠皆六寸，而舆六尺，六尺为步，乘六马。更名河曰德水，以为水德之始。刚毅戾深，事皆决于法，刻削毋仁恩和义，然后合五德之数。于是急法，久者不赦。

丞相绾等言：“诸侯初破，燕、齐、荆地远，不为置王，毋以填之。请立诸子，唯上幸许。”始皇下其议于群臣，群臣皆以为便。廷尉李斯议曰：“周文武所封子弟同姓甚众，然后属疏远，相攻击如仇雠，诸侯更相诛伐，周天子弗能禁止。今海内赖陛下神灵一统，皆为郡县，诸子功臣以公赋税重赏赐之，甚足易制。天下无异意，则安宁之术也。置诸侯不便。”始皇曰：“天下共苦战斗不休，以有侯王。赖宗庙，天下初定，又复立国，是树兵也，而求其宁息，岂不难哉！廷尉议是。”

136 The First Huang Di

A6.14

Qin had just annexed the rest of the country. The King of Qin issued an order to his prime minister and imperial censors, saying, "In the past, the King of Han offered land and handed over his seal to Qin, and asked to become a vassal of Qin. Soon, he broke the agreement and joined forces with Zhao and Wei to rebel against Qin. So I sent troops to attack Han and captured the King of Han. I thought this was a good idea and might help to put an end to the war. The King of Zhao sent his prime minister Li Mu to conclude an alliance, so I returned the hostage to Zhao. Soon, Zhao broke the alliance and rebelled in Taiyuan, my country, so I sent troops to punish Zhao and captured the King of Zhao. Prince Jia of Zhao then declared himself King of Dai, so I sent troops to destroy him." . The King of Wei initially agreed to submit to Qin, but soon he planned to attack Qin with Han and Zhao. Qin's soldiers went to punish them and defeated them. The King of Chu ceded the land west of Qingyang, but soon he also violated the agreement and attacked Nanjun of our country. Therefore, I sent troops to punish Chu, captured the King of Chu, and finally pacified Chu. The King of Yan was incompetent and rebellious, and his Prince Dan secretly instructed Jing Ke to be an assassin. I sent soldiers to punish them and destroyed Yan. The King of Qi adopted Hou Sheng's strategy, cut off his contacts with Qin, and wanted to make trouble. I sent soldiers to punish them, captured the King of Qi, and pacified Qi. I relied on With my insignificant body, I sent troops to attack the rebellious countries. Thanks to the power of my ancestors, the kings of the six countries all confessed their crimes and surrendered, and the world was completely pacified. If I don't change my title now, I will not be able to praise my achievements and pass them down to future generations. The title of the Emperor is the matter to be discussed for your ministers." Prime Minister Wang Wan, Imperial Censor Feng Jie, Court Judge Li Si and others said: "In the past, the Five Emperors ruled an area of a thousand miles in radius, and the princes of the outer Houfu and Yifu regions could not control whether they came to pay tribute. Today, Your Majesty has raised an army of righteousness, punished the cruel bandits, and pacified the world. The whole country has been divided into counties and the laws are unified. This has never happened since ancient times and was beyond the reach of the Five Emperors. We seriously discussed with the doctors, 'In ancient times, there were Tianhuang the Emperor of Heaven, Dihuang the Emperor of Earth, and Taihuang the Emperor of Tai, among which the Emperor of Tai was the most honorable.' We risked our lives to offer the title of honor. The king will be called 'Emperor of Tai', the order will be called 'Edict', the command will be called 'Decree', and the emperor will call himself ‘Zhen myself '. " The King of Qin said: "Remove the prefix 'Tai', and keep the suffix 'Huang', and add the title of 'Di' like in ancient times, titled it ‘Huang Di the Emperor, and all others stayed as discussed." The decree said :"Okay!" And King Zhuang Xiang was posthumously honored as the Supreme Emperor. The decree said: "I have heard that in ancient times, people had titles but no posthumous titles. In the middle times, people had titles, and their deeds were used as posthumous titles after death. In this way, sons would criticize their fathers, and ministers would criticize their monarchs. This is pointless, and I do not accept it. From now on, the "Posthumous Title Law" will be abolished. I am the First Huang Di, The First Emperor. Future generations will count by the second, third, and even tenth thousands of generations, and the title will be passed down endlessly."

秦初并天下，令丞相、御史曰：“异日韩王纳地效玺，请为藩臣，已而倍约，与赵、魏合从畔秦，故兴兵诛之，虏其王。寡人以为善，庶几息兵革。赵王使其相李牧来约盟，故归其质子。已而倍盟，反我太原，故兴兵诛之，得其王。赵公子嘉乃自立为代王，故举兵击灭之。魏王始约服入秦，已而与韩、赵谋袭秦，秦兵吏诛，遂破之。荆王献青阳以西，已而畔约，击我南郡，故发兵诛，得其王，遂定其荆地。燕王昏乱，其太子丹乃阴令荆轲为贼，兵吏诛，灭其国。齐王用后胜计，绝秦使，欲为乱，兵吏诛，虏其王，平齐地。寡人以眇眇之身，兴兵诛暴乱，赖宗庙之灵，六王咸伏其辜，天下大定。今名号不更，无以称成功，传后世。其议帝号。”丞相绾、御史大夫劫、廷尉斯等皆曰：“昔者五帝地方千里，其外侯服夷服，诸侯或朝或否，天子不能制。今陛下兴义兵，诛残贼，平定天下，海内为郡县，法令由一统，自上古以来未尝有，五帝所不及。臣等谨与博士议曰：‘古有天皇，有地皇，有泰皇，泰皇最贵。’臣等昧死上尊号，王为‘泰皇’。命为‘制’，令为‘诏’，天子自称曰‘朕’。”王曰：“去‘泰’，著‘皇’，采上古‘帝’位号，号曰‘皇帝’。他如议。”制曰：“可。”追尊庄襄王为太上皇。制曰：“朕闻太古有号毋谥，中古有号，死而以行为谥。如此，则子议父，臣议君也，甚无谓，朕弗取焉。自今已来，除《谥法》。朕为始皇帝。后世以计数，二世三世至于万世，传之无穷。”