The Shiji says the First Emperor's chancellor and his seal-keeper forged his last letter, and his eldest son killed himself on the forged order

The Shiji, completed by Sima Qian about a century later, gives this account. The First Emperor had more than 20 sons. His eldest, Fusu, had criticised him and was sent north to the army of the general Meng Tian. In the seventh month of 210 BC the emperor fell ill at Shaqiu while on tour. He had Zhao Gao, keeper of the seals, write a sealed letter telling Fusu to hand the army to Meng Tian and come to Xianyang for the funeral. He died before it was sent. Only his youngest son Huhai, the chancellor Li Si, Zhao Gao and five or six eunuchs knew. They kept the body in a closed carriage and, when it smelled in the summer heat, loaded a cart with salted fish beside it. Zhao Gao persuaded Li Si to replace the letter with one that accused Fusu of being unfilial and sent him a sword. Meng Tian told Fusu the order might be false. Fusu said a son ordered to die by his father could not ask again, and killed himself. Huhai took the throne. Twelve princes were executed in the Xianyang market, ten princesses were killed at Du, and their property went to the state. The late emperor's childless concubines were buried with him. Li Si was executed, Zhao Gao forced Huhai to kill himself, and Qin fell in 206 BC. Farmers digging a well found the emperor's terracotta army near Xi'an on 29 March 1974.