Final answer:
Li Si recommended that Shi Huangdi should destroy a vast number of books and texts that could be used to criticize his rule, aiming to consolidate power and enforce Legalist doctrine as part of the 'burning of books and burying of scholars' incident of 213 BCE.
Step-by-step explanation:
Li Si was a significant political figure during the reign of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. As the chancellor, he recommended that Shi Huangdi should destroy a vast number of books and texts, particularly those related to philosophy and history that could be used to criticize his rule.
Li Si's recommendations were part of a larger effort to consolidate power and enforce Legalist doctrine across the empire. This censorship was also enacted in hopes of standardizing knowledge and eradicating any idea that could potentially undermine or challenge the Emperor's authority.
The recommendation to burn the books was also aimed at eliminating Confucianism, which advocated for a societal structure counter to Legalist principles.
By destroying texts associated with past dynasties and philosophies, Li Si and Shi Huangdi sought to create a singular narrative that would support the legitimacy of the Qin Dynasty and suppress any dissenting views or thoughts of rebellion.
This radical policy is known as the 'burning of books and burying of scholars' incident of 213 BCE, and it underlines the lengths to which the Qin regime went to maintain control over the empire.