 Because of the role of Westerners in the war between the Nguyễn and the Tây Sơn , and Pigneau 's role in recruiting European assistance , Duyệt protected Vietnamese Catholic converts and Westerners from Minh Mạng 's isolationalist and Confucian policies by disobeying the emperor 's orders . In defense of the Christians , Duyệt wrote to Ming Mạng , " We still have between our teeth the rice which the missionaries gave us when we were starving . " This came in response to an imperial edict that ordered missionaries to leave their areas of operation and move to the imperial city , ostensibly because the palace needed translators , but in reality to stop the Catholics from proselytizing . Whereas the government officials in central and northern Vietnam complied , Duyệt disobeyed the order and Minh Mạng was forced to bide his time . In the meantime , southern Christians were still publicly identifying themselves as such and praticising their beliefs without facing any obstacles from local officials . Choi said that " From the point of view of Minh Mạng and his men , the land of Gia Định was thoroughly sheltered by Lê Văn Duyệt 's prestige . " 
