I agree kinda, I don’t think Mao weaseled his way to becoming an absolute leader, more like history created the specific circumstances that lead to him in that position and the historical situation of the 20th century created all these leaders. We like to pretend that the west didn’t have these single person political leaders, but honestly what the fuck was Henry Kissinger or FDR? These figures exist all over 20th century history most countries literally had their leader.
Maos biggest mistake was not absolving himself of responsibility and power because guess what those things are fucking awesome and most humans who have responsibility and power love it and never want to give that shit up just look at old people.