It was more of an idle threat than anything.
To look down on others is to underestimate oneself. To look down on oneself is to delay others'opinions.
It is advisable to open the hearings of the emperor, to leave behind the virtues of Emperor Guang, to magnify the morale of the people with lofty ideals, not to underestimate oneself, to quote unjustly, and to take the road of loyalty and admonishment.