In 1873 he returned to the Saga prefectural governmentin which he was appointed as Gontenj (middle-class clerk), and soon was promoted to Daisakan (senior clerk) and to dominate the government.
明治6年、佐賀県庁に復帰し、権典事に任官し、間もなく大属に昇進し、県庁を牛耳るようになる。