Such a government would retain control of the military, and not shrink from deploying the most modern weapons up to and including tactical nukes as well as airpower etc. it would not shrink from starving, freezing, thirsting whole populations.
These means would be conducted in the dark, at least the media reporting the means would be thoroughly censored. The rebels would be reduced to 19th century methods of communications.
Under these circumstances much of the very necessities of life of millions of people concentrated in cities could be destroyed from the air, or with an on-off switch or with a keyboard.
Once the population is beaten, the occupation army becomes similar to the Army which did not so much occupy Japan as administered it.
So yes, I under those circumstances very few boots would be needed. Other assets, of course.
We have not even approached the question, what with the rebels have left in the wake of their insurrection, even if they were not suppressed?
