in 1861, định moved his men to tân hòa sub-prefecture in the gò công area. tan hoa was an ideal location for a resistance base. it was close to newly formed resistance groups led by nguyễn trung trực, tran xuan hoa and others in the gò công and mỹ tho area, yet was also close to saigon. in february, the french attacked the citadel of ky hoa, seizing the fort after two days, along with a large quantity of weapons, artillery and food supplies. having fought at ky hoa, định incorporated soldiers from the defeated imperial army into his ranks, because its commander vo duy ninh had committed suicide. in may 1861, admiral léonard charner ordered the dissolution of the "đồn điền" of gò công. he went about confiscating the land of those vietnamese who remained loyal to the monarchy, giving it to his collaborators. french impositions against the trade of rice via nearby waterways caused a further backlash from the locals of gò công. in 1861, the resistance leaders in the gò công area delegated định to travel to biên hòa to seek permission from imperial military commissioner nguyen ba nghi to "turn around the situation".