All the vassals in Ako were ordered to come to the castle for a three day stay from 27th, where they divided into two factions: one made up of those who were dissatisfied with their treatment at the hands of the Edo bakufu and insisted on holding the castle, urging of resistance to the bitter end, and another faction who were insistent on surrendering the castle.
27日から3日間にかけて赤穂にいる家臣に総登城の号令がかけられ、赤穂城内は江戸幕府の処置に不満で徹底抗戦を主張する篭城派と、開城すべきとする恭順派に分かれて紛糾した。