First, he paid great attention to public opinion and induced large masses of the population to write petitions to the court asking the Han ruler to abdicate; he even fabricated "heavenly omina" in his own favour and against the Han dynasty in order to get wide support even from intellectuals.

" Lucan, too, has hit it hard: "Et laetae juranter aves, bubone sinistro:" and the Englishman who continued the Pharsalia, says "Tristia mille locis Stylus dedit omina bubo.