Aware of the true intention behind the scheme, he refused to serve as the Envoy and handed the role to his political opponent, Imperial Prince Arisugawanomiya Taruhito, a powerful leader of pro-Choshu nobles and the Dazai no sochi (Governor-General of Dazaifu, the local government office in Kyushu).
これを察知した親王は西国鎮撫使の就任を固辞し、政敵であり長州派公卿の有力者であった大宰帥・有栖川宮熾仁親王にその役目を押し付けた。