Han Fei tells King Tang yielded the throne to Wu Guang to hide greed, yet tricked him into suicide. Virtuous acts can be political stratagems.
The Farmer of Shihu was a man whose origins are unknown. He was a friend of Shun. When Shun offered to yield the world to him, the Farmer of Shihu remarked: “How tirelessly laborious the Lord is! He is indeed a man who exhausts his strength [for the sake of others].”
Zi Zhou Zhi Fu was a man from the time of Emperor Yao. When Yao offered to yield the throne to Xu You, Xu You declined. Yao then offered it to Zi Zhou Zhi Fu.
5.23 The Master said, “Boyi (Bo Yi) and Shuqi (Shu Qi) never bore old ills in mind and had but the faintest feelings of rancour.”