封建時代にもかかわらず、薩摩藩の前藩主で島津久光の兄であった島津斉彬は非常に器が大きく合理的で、有能で優秀な藩士であれば、下級武士でも藩の要職に就けていました。
Despite living in a feudalistic time period, Nariakira Shimazu, the former Satsuma Domain head and Hisamitsu Shimazu’s brother was so rational and magnanimous that as long as one is bright and competent, he was giving the low-ranking Samurai the Domain’s important jobs.
中でも誠実で人望があり、交渉の説得に長けていた西郷隆盛を藩の庭番とし、大きな信頼を寄せていました。
He was especially putting great confidence in the Domain’s secret agent, Takamori Saigo who was integrate, very popular, and remarkably talented in persuading people.
これに対して、島津久光は巧みに機転を利かせて行動できる大久保利通を政策相談役として大きな信頼を寄せ、危ういほど実直な西郷隆盛とは反目していました。
On the contrary, Shimazu Hisamitsu was putting great confidence in his political advisor, Toshimichi Ookubo who could make cleverly flexible moves, but he was fueding with Takamori Saigo who was too steady and dangerously honest.
然るに、参与会議の後、島津久光は保守的な旧体制の幕府を倒さない限り、日本がさらに西洋諸国に後れをとることになってしまいかねないと憂いていました。
However, after the Consultants Conference, he had realized that unless Bakufu, the conservative and old regime isn’t destroyed, Japan would possibly end up falling behind of the Westerners even further.
そこで、倒幕という一大事業の達成には西郷隆盛のような型破りな大人物が不可欠になるという大久保利通の進言に従い、1864年に西郷隆盛を藩の要職に復帰させました。
So, agreeing with Toshimichi Ookubo proposing that a radical and charismatic figure like Takamori Saigo would be essential to accomplish such a major task to destroy Bakufu, he gave him the domain’s important post again in 1864.
