Originally, since Nariaki TOKUGAWA had assumed the lord of the domain, the Tenguto (the Tengu faction) who were royal to Nariaki had been in fierce conflict with the Shoseito (the Shosei faction) who emphasized the relationship with the bakufu, and the feud between them were intencified over how to handle this mitchoku.
もともと、斉昭の藩主就任以来、水戸藩では斉昭に忠実な天狗党と幕府との関係を重視する諸生党の対立が激しかったが、密勅の対応をめぐり、さらに確執を深めることとなった。