"Institutional reform!"
"I have heard that the Yellow Emperor and Flame Emperor of antiquity received the Mandate of Heaven that 'Ji and Jiang unite and prosper,' and so set aside their past grievances, overcame hardships, dispelled their hatred, and united to defeat Chi You.
Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang, and even King Wu of Zhou, all received heavenly revelation, then honored Heaven's will and renewed their states, thereby gaining all under Heaven.
Since ancient times, has any ruler received Heaven's mandate yet succeeded without reforming his institutions?
I believe there has been none.
Your Majesty has established the Jianyuan era. You should follow the Sage King's will, reform your state, and align yourself with Heaven's course. Only then can you make the Altars of State ever more secure and enjoy the Mandate of Heaven for ages to come."
"What you say is correct, Minister. I am the Son of Heaven and should honor Heaven's will, reform all under Heaven, and set great affairs right."
A memorial presented in the Third Year of Origin had an enormous influence on Liu Che's thinking. He had always had something of an adolescent grandiose streak; even as an imperial prince and the King of Liang, he had considered himself extraordinary.
Then came the crown prince's deposition, as though Heaven meant to deliver the position of crown prince into his hands. In particular, the Late Emperor had passed away shortly after deposing the former crown prince, giving Liu Che the feeling that Heaven intended to place the imperial throne in his hands.
Now he had received the Sage King's heavenly revelation as well, making him feel all the more that he truly held Heaven's mandate and enjoyed divine assistance in everything he did. His adolescent grandiosity had gone completely off the charts.
Liu Che wanted