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會韓人鄭國來閒秦，以作注溉渠，已而覺。秦宗室大臣皆言秦王曰：「諸侯人來事秦者，大抵為其主游閒於秦耳，請一切逐客。」李斯議亦在逐中。斯乃上書曰： |
| | The Huihan people Zheng Guo came to spy on the Qin state, intending to build an irrigation canal, but was later discovered. The Qin royal family and high-ranking ministers all said to King Qin: "Those who come from the feudal lords to serve Qin are mostly sent by their rulers to spy on Qin. We request that all guests be expelled." Li Si's proposal was also included in the order to expel guests. He then submitted a memorial saying:
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臣聞吏議逐客，竊以為過矣。昔繆公求士，西取由余於戎，東得百里奚於宛，迎蹇叔於宋，來丕豹、公孫支於晉。此五子者，不產於秦，而繆公用之，并國二十，遂霸西戎。孝公用商鞅之法，移風易俗，民以殷盛，國以富彊，百姓樂用，諸侯親服，獲楚、魏之師，舉地千里，至今治彊。惠王用張儀之計，拔三川之地，西并巴、蜀，北收上郡，南取漢中，包九夷，制鄢、郢，東據成皋之險，割膏腴之壤，遂散六國之從，使之西面事秦，功施到今。昭王得范睢，廢穰侯，逐華陽，彊公室，杜私門，蠶食諸侯，使秦成帝業。此四君者，皆以客之功。由此觀之，客何負於秦哉！向使四君卻客而不內，疏士而不用，是使國無富利之實，而秦無彊大之名也。 |
| | I have heard that officials are discussing expelling guests, and I secretly think this is a mistake. In the past, Duke Mu sought talented people; he obtained You Yu from Rong in the west, acquired Bai Li Xi from Wan in the east, welcomed Jian Shu from Song, and brought Pei Bao and Gongsun Zhi from Jin. These five men were not native to Qin, yet Duke Mu employed them. As a result, he annexed twenty states and thus became the hegemon of the western Rong tribes. Duke Xiao employed Shang Yang's laws, which transformed customs and 风俗 (customs), made the people prosperous, enriched and strengthened the state, pleased the common people who were willing to serve, won the loyalty of feudal lords, defeated the armies of Chu and Wei, seized thousands of li of territory, and until today maintains good governance and strength. King Hui employed Zhang Yi's strategy, captured the land of Sanchuan, annexed Ba and Shu in the west, collected Shangjun in the north, seized Hanzhong in the south, incorporated the nine Yi tribes, controlled Yan and Ying, occupied the strategic pass of Chenggao to the east, carved out fertile lands, and thus broke up the alliance of the six states, making them face west to serve Qin. His achievements have lasted until today. King Zhao obtained Fan Jiu, dismissed Rang Hou, expelled Huayang, strengthened the royal family, closed private factions, gradually devoured feudal lords, and enabled Qin to accomplish imperial achievements. These four rulers all achieved success through the contributions of guests. From this perspective, how have these guests wronged Qin?! Had these four rulers rejected guests and refused to admit them, alienated talented people and failed to employ them, it would have resulted in the state lacking wealth and benefits, and Qin losing its reputation for strength.
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今陛下致昆山之玉，有隨、和之寶，垂明月之珠，服太阿之劍，乘纖離之馬，建翠鳳之旗，樹靈鼉之鼓。此數寶者，秦不生一焉，而陛下說之，何也？必秦國之所生然後可，則是夜光之璧不飾朝廷，犀象之器不為玩好，鄭、衛之女不充後宮，而駿良駃騠不實外廄，江南金錫不為用，西蜀丹青不為采。所以飾後宮充下陳娛心意說耳目者，必出於秦然後可，則是宛珠之簪，傅璣之珥，阿縞之衣，錦繡之飾不進於前，而隨俗雅化佳冶窈窕趙女不立於側也。夫擊甕叩缶彈箏搏髀，而歌呼嗚嗚快耳者，真秦之聲也；鄭、衛、桑閒、昭、虞、武、象者，異國之樂也。今棄擊甕叩缶而就鄭衛，退彈箏而取昭虞，若是者何也？快意當前，適觀而已矣。今取人則不然。不問可否，不論曲直，非秦者去，為客者逐。然則是所重者在乎色樂珠玉，而所輕者在乎人民也。此非所以跨海內制諸侯之術也。 |
| | Now, Your Majesty possesses the jade from Kunshan Mountain, owns treasures such as Sui and He, wears the pearl of Mingyue, wields the sword Tai'e, rides the fine horse Xianli, raises the emerald phoenix flag, and sets up the drum of Lingtuo. These several treasures were not produced in Qin at all, yet Your Majesty loves them—why is that? If only things produced in the Qin state can be acceptable, then luminous jade discs would not decorate the court, ivory and rhinoceros artifacts would not serve as ornaments or treasures, women from Zheng and Wei would not fill the harem, swift horses like Juetai would not populate the stables, gold and tin from Jiangnan would not be used, and cinnabar and pigments from Xishu would not provide color. Therefore, if only items that can decorate the harem and satisfy one's desires by pleasing the eyes and ears must originate from Qin to be acceptable, then hairpins of Wan zhu, earrings with Fuji pearls, Agao silk robes, and embroidered ornaments would not appear before Your Majesty; nor would graceful and refined Zhao women stand at your side. Striking clay pots, tapping earthen jars, playing the zeng and slapping thighs to sing loudly in a hoarse manner for ear-pleasing enjoyment—these are truly Qin musical sounds; The music of Zheng, Wei, Sangjian, Zhao, Yu, Wu, and Xiang are the music of other states. Now, if we abandon striking clay pots and tapping earthen jars in favor of Zheng and Wei music, discard the zeng to adopt Zhao and Yu music—why is this so? It is merely for immediate pleasure and visual satisfaction. But when it comes to selecting people, the situation is not like this. Without asking whether they are suitable or not, without considering their merits or faults, those who are not from Qin are dismissed and guests are expelled. In this case, what is valued lies in beauty, music, pearls, and jade, while what is undervalued lies in the people. This is not the method to dominate within the seas and control the feudal lords.
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臣聞地廣者粟多，國大者人眾，兵彊則士勇。是以太山不讓土壤，故能成其大；河海不擇細流，故能就其深；王者不卻眾庶，故能明其德。是以地無四方，民無異國，四時充美，鬼神降福，此五帝、三王之所以無敵也。今乃棄黔首以資敵國，卻賓客以業諸侯，使天下之士退而不敢西向，裹足不入秦，此所謂「藉寇兵而齎盜糧」者也。 |
| | I have heard that a large territory produces more grain, a great state has many people, and strong troops make soldiers brave. Therefore, Mount Tai does not reject soil, so it can achieve its greatness; rivers and seas do not choose small streams, hence they can attain their depth; a sovereign does not reject the common people, so he can demonstrate his virtue. Therefore, territory is not limited to the four directions, people are not restricted by nationality; all four seasons are abundant and beautiful, and ghosts and gods bestow blessings. This is why the Five Emperors and Three Kings were invincible. Now, however, we are abandoning the common people to enrich enemy states and rejecting guests to benefit feudal lords, causing talented men from all under heaven to retreat in fear of heading westward and hesitate to enter Qin. This is what is called "lending weapons to bandits and providing food for thieves."
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夫物不產於秦，可寶者多；士不產於秦，而願忠者眾。今逐客以資敵國，損民以益讎，內自虛而外樹怨於諸侯，求國無危，不可得也。 |
| | Things not produced in Qin, yet many of them are treasures; Talented people not born in Qin, but those willing to be loyal are numerous. Now, expelling guests to enrich enemy states, harming the people to benefit our enemies, weakening ourselves internally and creating resentment among feudal lords externally—seeking a state without danger is impossible.
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秦王乃除逐客之令，復李斯官，卒用其計謀。官至廷尉。二十餘年，竟并天下，尊主為皇帝，以斯為丞相。夷郡縣城，銷其兵刃，示不復用。使秦無尺土之封，不立子弟為王，功臣為諸侯者，使後無戰攻之患。 |
| | King Qin then rescinded the order to expel guests, restored Li Si's official position, and ultimately employed his strategies. He was promoted to the rank of Tingwei (Minister of Justice). After more than twenty years, he eventually unified all under heaven, honored the ruler as emperor, and appointed Li Si as Chancellor. He destroyed city walls of commanderies and counties, melted down their weapons, and showed that they would not be used again. He ensured that Qin did not have even a square piece of land granted as fiefs, nor did he establish his sons and brothers as kings or enfeoff meritorious officials as feudal lords, so that future generations would be free from the troubles of war.
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