oy shih as administrators</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">Indeed it is probable that the First Emperor employed the pliant <em>shih</em>, i.e. those not advocating revolt, to administer his huge empire. As with every large operation, the administrators provide a vital continuity through the myriad changes of leadership. While the First Emperor disrupted the feudal system with its hereditary privileges, it is likely that his administrators were chosen from the <em>shih</em> class primarily because of their literacy combined with the attendant need for