The King called for the Japanese Minister.  At first he would not come.  Finally he appeared.  He had arranged that most of the work was to be done without his presence, in order to avoid diplomatic trouble.  A number of edicts had been drawn up which the King was obliged to sign.  All kinds of reforms were commanded, and the land was made on paper, in an hour, into a modern state.  The reformers did not forget their own interests.  Hong Yung-sik, the Postmaster General, was made Prime Minister, Kim Ok-kiun was made second officer of the Royal Treasury, and the lad So Jai-pil, on whom the chief command of the students and Korean soldiers now devolved, was made General Commanding a Guard Regiment.

In answer to his urgent entreaties, the King was allowed next morning to return to his palace, the Japanese and the Progressives accompanying him.  It was soon clear, even to the reformers, that they had gone too far.  As news of the affair became known, the people made their sentiments felt in unmistakable fashion.  Odd Japanese in the streets were killed, others made their way to the Legation and shut themselves in there, while the Japanese Minister and the Progressives were hemmed in the palace by an angry mob.

They were short of ammunition.  The Japanese had twenty-five rounds a man, the twenty-two students had fifteen rounds apiece, and the eight hundred Korean soldiers either had none or destroyed what they had.  There was plenty in the Legation but the mob barred the way.  General So Jai-pil (to give him his new title) was on the move day and night, going from outpost to outpost, threatening and encouraging weaklings, and arranging and inspiring his men.

The affair started on the evening of December 4th; the reformers remained in the palace until the afternoon of December 7th.  Then General Yuan Shih-kai, the Chinese leader, approached the palace gates and sent in his card, demanding admission.  The Queen had already smuggled a message out to him begging his aid.  The Japanese soldiers on guard refused to allow him to enter.  He gave warning that he would attack.  He had 2,000 Chinese troops and behind them were fully 3,000 Korean soldiers and the mass of the population.

Takezoi weakened.  He did not want to risk an engagement with the Chinese, and he declared that he would withdraw his Guard, and take them back to his Legation.  Young General So drew his sword threateningly, and told him that they must stay and see it through.  The Japanese captain in command of the troops was as eager for a fight as was So, and the Minister was for the time overruled.

A great fight followed.  The Chinese sought to outflank the reformers, and to force an entry by climbing over the walls.  One of the personal attendants of the King suddenly attacked the new Premier, Hong Yung-sik, and slew him.  The Korean soldiers seemed to disappear from the scene as soon as the real fighting started, but the students and the Japanese did valiantly.  They claimed that they shot fully three hundred Chinese.  The great gate of the palace still held, in spite of all attacks.  But the ammunition of the defenders had at last all gone.