Yao said

Yao declared:"Ah! You, Shun! The Mandate of Heaven now rests upon you. Hold fast to the Mean with sincerity! Should the people suffer poverty and hardship, Heaven’s favor will be withdrawn from you."Shun later repeated this admonition to Yu. Tang of Shang prayed:"I, Lü, dare to offer a black ox and address the August Lord of Heaven: I will not presume to pardon the guilty, nor hide the faults of your servants. Let Heaven’s will discern and choose. If I have erred, let the blame fall solely upon me." When King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed the nobles, he enriched the virtuous. He declared:"Though I have kin, none compare to men of benevolence. If the people err, the fault lies with me alone." By standardizing weights and measures, establishing clear laws, restoring neglected institutions, and enforcing governance nationwide, order prevailed. Reviving fallen states, continuing severed lineages, and elevating neglected talents won the people’s hearts. What is valued are: the people, food, mourning rites, and sacrifices.Generosity earns support; sincerity wins trust; diligence......