Their advices were meant to correct and improve the position of master on whatever the matter was. Mencius talks a lot about courtesy, I think that his main focus or his main arguments is related to learning how to be humble, to how good manners. To Mencius being good or courteous meant rejecting many good things that can be offered to us. “There are honours bestowed by Heaven, and there are honours bestowed
by man.”
What Mencius proclaimed a lot is that a leader or a Master must be a moral leader, and the source of the virtues of righteousness. “There are people who say, “I am expert at military formations; I am expert at waging war. This is a grave crime. If the ruler of a state is drawn to benevolence he will have no match in the Empire.” He goes against the unjust, everything that is false; he is in favor of being honest and with good moral education. Therefore, if a Master is good and follows these principles, he will govern right and will provide good things for the well-being of the people he governs.
I think he makes his points so strong and transparent. At the same time he gives a very positive message to readers that we must take the work of thinking a bit more about the consequences that it involves one's own relationship with the ethical principle that holds.