After the First Emperor's carriage arrived in Kuaiji Commandery, Luo Ling and the other Old Nobles naturally could not appear openly, but they still witnessed the splendor of the emperor's procession from afar. It was far grander than the processions of the Son of Heaven of Zhou in years past.
Xiang Yu gazed at the First Emperor from afar, his heart surging, as though he had found his life's purpose. Then he said, "Uncle, I could take that man's place."
That man could be replaced!
Xiang Liang frowned slightly at his words. "The Xiang Clan has served as Upper Ministers of Chu State for generations. That throne is not ours to sit upon."
The power of tradition and habit was immense. It would stamp a deep ideological imprint into people's minds, thereby governing their behavior.
Viewed favorably, this was called political credibility; viewed unfavorably, it meant becoming trapped in one's own fetters, unable to escape.
This was why monarchs always liked to employ the descendants of loyal ministers. In an age that placed such immense importance on ancestors, the price of disgracing an ancestor's reputation for loyalty was enormous. It could even bring down the condemnation of the entire world with the greatest ease.
Xiang Yu was somewhat displeased at these words, but when he recalled all those ancestors-he valued blood ties and kinship above all else-he said sheepishly, "Uncle, I was wrong."
Luo Ling looked at Xiang Yu in surprise. Seeing him steeped in nobility, his heroic spirit piercing the clouds, he said, "Lord Xiang, I cannot agree with what you said.
"Since Duke Yan of Luo entered Chu State, the Xiang Clan has faithfully fulfilled its duties. How many of its sons have been sacrificed? Count through All Xia states—has any clan been as loyal as the Xiang