the huế court ordered định to disband his forces and to accept a high position in an giang province. fearing that they faced extermination at the hands of the french, định's followers and lieutenants pressed him to remain. claiming that his followers would not allow him to leave, định refused his appointment to an giang, instead adopting the title of "bình tây sát tà đại tướng" ("western pacifying antiheresy general"). he continued his guerrilla attacks against french patrols and their vietnamese collaborators. the slogan "phan-lâm mái quốc; triều đình khi dân" ("phan [thanh gian] and lam [duy hiep] sell out the country; the court doesn’t care for the people") was circulated through the region. from his stronghold at gò công, định exhorted all southern vietnamese to rise against the occupying regime, an appeal that was well received. in the words of french naval artillery officer henri de poyen, by december 1862, "the insurrection had broken out and was rapidly spreading throughout the colony". french commanders were convinced that định remained in secret contact with huế and was privately supported by tự đức against the terms of the treaty. the french charged that định possessed a seal of office from huế. however, there were reports that tự đức had twice ordered the arrest of định and dương to ensure their compliance with the treaty.