He tried to expand Japan's trade surplus, increase gold holdings, and open trade with the Russian Empire; he also made friends with Gennai HIRAGA and others, protected Western learning, and took on men of talent based on a merit system regardless of the hereditary four-class order consisting of warrior-rulers, peasants, artisans, and merchants (shinokosho), but these sudden reformations provoked a backlash among conservatives in the shogunate cabinet.
外国との貿易を黒字化させて国内の金保有量を高め、さらには北方においてロシア帝国との貿易も行おうとしていたほか、平賀源内などと親交を持ち、蘭学を手厚く保護し、士農工商の別にとらわれない実力主義に基づく人材登用も試みたが、これらの急激な改革が身分制度や朱子学を重視する保守的な幕府閣僚の反発を買い、