Nguyễn Nhạc
A civil war broke out between Nguyễn Nhạc and Nguyễn Huệ in 1787, the main forces withdrew from Gia Định, and marched north to support Nhạc. Getting the information, Nguyễn Ánh returned to Vietnam. Nguyễn Lữ was afraid, and retreated to Biên Hòa, leaving Phạm Văn Tham to defend Saigon. Ánh forged a letter from Nhạc to Lữ, and sent it to Tham. In the letter, Nhạc described Tham as an overbearing man, and ordered Lữ to kill Tham. After receiving the letter, Tham marched to Biên Hòa, with a white flag in front of the army, to justify his wrongful treatment. But the white flag was mistaken for Tham's surrender to Nguyễn lord, Nguyễn Lữ abandoned his troops and his fief, fled to Quy Nhơn and sought refuge with his elder brother Nguyễn Nhạc. Not long after he died there.