He realized that continuing the battle was disadvantageous and tried to release captives Shishido and Odamura on his own, who were the chief retainers of the Choshu Domain and attempted to create an advantageous peace pact.
やがて戦争継続の不利を悟り、捕虜にしていた長州藩の宍戸・小田村両家老を独断で釈放し、有利な和平工作を試みた。