 Duyệt 's informal manner caused him difficulties during Minh Mạng 's administration , as the second emperor 's government was more oriented towards classical Confucianism than that of his father . The younger mandarins regarded Duyệt and his southern entourage as uncultured , and the older military officials felt more uncomfortable in the court as time went by . Gia Long was also seen a direct and frank man in his dealings , while Minh Mạng was seen as being vague in expressing his thoughts to his bureaucrats . This was attributed to Gia Long 's dependence on military officers during the war years , which required him to be blunt and assertive , whereas Minh Mạng grew up dealing with court scholars after the establishment of the Nguyễn Dynasty , and was regarded as a quiet and studious monarch . After a visit to the capital in 1824 , Duyệt found the imperial court to be an uncomfortable surrounding and confided in a colleague : 
