In the same year, he was promoted to Roju, and then in 1779, due to the death of Takechika MATSUDAIRA he became Roju shuza (the head of the Roju) and was also appointed Kattegakari (Director of Finance).
同年老中にのぼり、安永8年（1779年）、松平武元死去に伴い老中首座となり勝手掛も兼ねる。