forerunner

I think there were to any country.
In Japan, there was a Warring States period from AD1500 to AD1600.

There were many competent lords at this era.
Because otherwise they vanished soon.

Finally Tokugawa had restored peace.
As a result，this peace lasted 250 years.

"Spend without any serious errors.
Will not change precedent."
This was became the basic policy of the lords.
Lords is not competent that might better.

・・・・・・・・・

Of course there were exceptions.
For example previous lord of Satsuma named "Shimazu Nariakira".
　
"Expulsion of the foreigners is stupidity."
He said so from an early stage.
And era moved in the direction he predicted.
　
Also he discovered the talent of Saigo.　
At that time, Saigo was low class samurai yet.
It maybe the same as Katsu's presence for Sakamoto.
　
Nariakira embarked on a reform of Tokugawa regime.
At that time，he died suddenly due to illness.
Rightly helm of Satsuma had shifted to Nariakira’s rival of the throne.　
Having said that，he had respect to Nariakira.
(He had also caused Namamugi incident.)
　
However，before Nariakira become lord，there was a fierce struggle for power with him.
Therefore between he and a group of Saigo there was a tension to the end.