At first the objective was to take over the province's government, which was successfully done, and enter into negotiations with the regent Diogo Antônio Feijó to demand a new government acceptable to the regional elite. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Imperial Governor of the Province, , completely rejected by that elite, nevertheless took office. This was seen by the landowners as a declaration of war. Araújo Ribeiro then began gathering his soldiers who had been scattered since October, and hunting down Farroupilhos. He ordered the Provincial Assembly to be closed and removed Bento Gonçalves from the command of the National Guard. In Rio de Janeiro the imperial government closed the customs house in the provincial capital Porto Alegre for as long as the city was in the hands of the rebels, restricting the arrival of ships. Soon open conflict began, as imperial forces secured the city and rebels retaliated against them.