In the early Meiji period, he won the internal conflict (the army controversy) with the so-called 'four-generals party' of Tateki TANI, Sukenori SOGA, Koyata TORIO, and Goro MIURA, as the Lord of Army to prevent the army from splitting, and after that he served as the Minister of Army for a long time from the middle of the Meiji period to the Taisho period, and also held various posts such as the Chief of the General Staff and prewar Home Minister (Japan).
明治前期には陸軍卿として谷干城・曾我祐準・鳥尾小弥太・三浦梧楼の所謂「四将軍派」との内紛（陸軍紛議）に勝利して陸軍の分裂を阻止し、以後明治中期から大正期にかけて陸軍大臣を長期にわたって勤め、また、参謀総長、内務大臣(日本)なども歴任。