When the Japanese army started their advance to Taipei, the military force of the Republic of Formosa, which was mainly composed of mercenaries, fell apart soon, while, in Tainan, Yung-fu LIU commanded military and private soldiers and voluntary armies were formed in various places throughout Taiwan.
しかし日本軍が台北への進軍を開始すると、傭兵を主体として組織された台湾民主国軍は間もなく瓦解、台南では劉永福が軍民を指揮、また各地の民衆も義勇軍を組織して抵抗を継続した.