It came as an unexpected blow to the shogun and his advisers, thoroughly convincing them that, contrary to their expectations, Hitotsubashi's resignation had been promptly accepted and positively acted upon. It also disabused the minds of the triumvirate of any hope of their being recognised by the combination at Kyoto, and Daikomitsu was forced to acknowlege that Hitotsubashi's resignation had been considered the act of the shogunate: that he as well as the adherents of the Tokyo court would be compelled to defend with arms their time-honoured institution. The last hope of conciliation had been swept away, and Daikomitsu, if not his associates, realised that it had come to a battle to the death, not for the expulsion of the foreigner, but for the very life of the shogunate itself. Immediately upon the mikadate's closing of the gates at Kyoto and declaring the shogunate at an end, the princes Owara and Kii had been despatched to the shogun with a request that he come to Kyoto, join the new government, and receive suitable recognition and position thereunder. The shogun was weak and unable to decide; he hesitated and wavered between two counsels, for there now developed a test of strength between Daikomitsu and Tetsutaisho. As usual, however, it again fell to the lot of the army to determine. Whatever may have been Daikomitsu's reasons--whether a recognition of the inevitable or a desire to obtain the best terms possible, or whether to rid themselves of the cumbersome Hitotsubashi--he continued to urge the shogun to comply with the mikado's request and go forthwith, peaceably and unattended by military display, and submit himself and his friends to the reasonable disposition of the Kyoto court. Okotsuba, in command of all the shogun's navy, gave his hearty support to Daikomitsu's proposals, and Hitotsubashi reluctantly consented, forthwith communicating his intention to the mikado's envoy, sending back to Kyoto his best respects and hearty assurances. Hitotsubashi had not gone though, nor was he to do so until Tetsutaisho's recommendations had wrought their influence. This proud samurai had not been so easily convinced of the wisdom of Daikomitsu's policy, and now that he had come to questioning the latter's motives he began quietly to break faith with the triumvirate and to approach the vacillating shogun directly, urging secretly a counter plan--one more to his own liking and carrying with it a greater enthusiasm. He argued: