However, because KOMATSU became sick (suddenly died next year, at the age of 36), the man who KOMATSU recommended as his substitute was Shigenobu OKUMA from the Hizen Domain.
ところが、その小松が病に倒れてしまった（翌年36歳で急死）ために、病床の小松が代役として推挙したのが肥前藩出身の大隈重信であった。