皇帝曰：「金石刻，盡始皇帝所為也。今襲號而金石刻辭不稱始皇帝。其於久遠也，如後嗣為之者，不稱成功盛德。」丞相臣斯、臣去疾、禦史夫臣德昧死言：「臣請具刻詔書金石刻，因明白矣。臣昧死請。」制曰：「可。」

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The Emperor said[1]: "These stones were all inscribed for the First Emperor. Now I have inherited the imperial title, and the inscribed stones do not specify the name of the First Emperor. They will endure down the ages, allowing future generations to misattribute the successes and abundant virtues therein described."

The Grand Chancellors, Minister Si[2] and Minister Quji[3] and the Imperial Censor, Counselor Chen De[4], risked their lives to say, "Your servants beg that you will have a text engraved on these stones to clarify this. Your servants are willing to risk their lives to make this request."  

The decree was given: "Let it be done."

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[1] This was the second Emperor, Qin Ershi, Qin Shihuang's son Huhai. 

[2] I.e. Li Si.

[3] Li Si's junior counterpart. He would commit suicide after being imprisoned by the Second Emperor

[4] This person is not otherwise well-known. We are following modern Chinese interpretations to read this as a name.