Li Si was a statesman of the Qin Dynasty. He was born in Shangcai (today's southwest Shangcai of Henan province) of the Chu state in the late Warring States Period. In his early years, Li Si served as a county official of the Chu state. Later, he learned politics from Xunzi and went to the Qin state after completing learning. There he was first appointed as a lang (an official title in Chinese feudal society) by Lv Buwei and later as a Zhangshi (also an official title, similar to an adjutant) by the king of the Qin state after Li Si persuaded him to wipe out the vassals and proclaim himself as the emperor. The king of Qin adopted Li Si's advice and sent his counselors to persuade the six states in Guandong (east of the Hanguguan Pass) with a large sum of treasures and fomented dissensions between the kings and their ministers. Li Si was then appointed as a foreign-born official. In 237 BC, Zheng, the king of Qin, ordained to expel the officials from the six states. Li Si successfully dissuaded the king by presenting his Expostulation on the Expelling of the Foreign-born Officials. Soon he was conferred as the tingwei (Supreme Court official). He played an important role in the king's unification of the six states.

Emotional and sincere, Li Si's expostulation indeed reflected the real situation of Qin history and status quo, representing the opinions of the then men of insight. He stated that the mightiness of Qin lay in the vassals' great emphasis on employing talents from all states through dynasties. All the treasures of the Qin State were not necessarily from Qin. If only things of Qin state could be kept, then the country would suffer a great loss of many great treasures. Li Si also queried in this letter: "Why treasures can be kept and the foreign-born officials shall be expelled? So from this, I can figure out your majesty only value materials but not talents. The result is that the power of all the other states will be strengthened and Qin state will be frustrated in its unification cause." The king of Qin was greatly moved by Li Si's article and took back his order of expelling foreign-born officials. Li Si resumed his official position and was soon promoted to be a Supreme Court official.

This article is not only a historical literature of great value, but also an excellent composition appealing to most people. Mr. Lu Xun once said: "Among all the Qin writers, Li Si was second to none!"