In the process of expanding his power, he promoted central members of Seichugumi Organization, a volunteering group of middle and lower ranked feudal retainers including Toshimichi OKUBO, Sadaka IJICHI (Chuzaemon HORI), Michihira IWASHITA, Nobuyoshi KAIEDA, and Tomozane YOSHII as well as Kiyokado (Tatewaki) KOMATSU and Chuzaemon NAKAYAMA.
藩内における権力拡大の過程では、小松清廉（帯刀）や中山中左衛門などと合わせて、大久保利通・伊地知貞馨（堀仲左衛門）・岩下方平・海江田信義・吉井友実ら、中下級藩士から成る有志グループ、精忠組の中核メンバーを登用する。