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When the Chu Emperor said, "My virtue is slight," it was the Son of Heaven blaming himself.
When Three-Part Fragrance Pavilion fled Chu, rumors in the streets claimed that the Chu court was confiscating private property on a grand scale to fill the public coffers and compensate for the nation's declining fortunes. Merchants throughout the realm heard and trembled, fleeing with their gold in droves... Yet no one had heard the Son of Heaven blame himself.
He merely lowered commercial taxes, strengthened the laws of the state, met with the merchants in person, and soothed the hearts of the people.
As he reformed the state system, many aristocratic clans were resentful. Old meritorious officials wept at the Imperial Ancestral Temple; those who cursed him after drinking were without number. Both court and countryside were visibly unsettled... Yet no one had heard the Son of Heaven blame himself.
He merely drove the old meritorious officials to the Imperial Ancestral Temple himself, smiled off the rumors of memorials, and then continued pressing forward with his policies, single-mindedly carrying them through. Those old officials could curse him, and they could weep at the Imperial Ancestral Temple—but if they truly tried to obstruct the new policies, he would raise his hand and strike them down with a blade.
After the disastrous defeat at River Valley, hearts were gripped by panic, and court and countryside alike were terrified... Yet no one had heard the Son of Heaven blame himself.
He merely drilled his troops and fed his horses, making ready to welcome the next great war.
The present Chu Emperor was a man who never admitted fault.
Today, he had slain the Transcendent Gongsun Xi with his sword, establishing peerless martial merit—yet he blamed himself over Zhuge Yixian's death.
That alone showed the depth