the court records of the nguyễn dynasty in huế, the "đại nam thực lục" ("veritable records of the great south") dispute the french claims, revealing that the court attempted to prevent illegal guerrilla activity by the likes of định. however, in one edict, định claimed that tự đức endorsed his struggle, in an attempt to garner popular support. this fuelled french claims that the guerrillas were periodically traveling between french territory and the adjoining sovereign nguyễn territory to get supplies from provincial officials.