status

At that time, there were about 300 lords in Japan.
Status of lords.
It was determined by the yield of rice of their's territory.

When lords stay in the Edo city,they were "attendances" to Chiyoda Castle as obligation.
　
Their’s work room at the castle.
Their's seating arrangement at that room.
It had been decided strictly by their’s status.
(Japanese Seiza，they did not use the chair.)
　
　
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Increase of rice yields.　
It meant an increase in their status.
　
However，they had obligated of public works depending on their's status.
And they had obligated of decorated formality depending on their's status.
Therefore its cost increase also was large.　
　
So they did not notify growth in tax revenue to the Tokugawa regime basically.
This was tax evasion in a sense.

This also might have the same structure as the relationship of farmers and lords.
　
But Tokugawa did not pursue this basically.

"Because many lords are doing this.
And Changing the seating order may lead to change of public order."　
Feudal era was also era of the principle of conceding anything to avoid trouble.

"In everything，precedent is important."
They were avoidance the change of circumstances.

"The Tokugawa regime does not change the status of them.
However，they assume the obligations of public works more."
The Tokugawa regime was determined like this on this matter.
　
Having said that.
Criteria of obligations was the number of public only.
And new obligations was added to it.
As result，their's obligations was became lower than the actual number.
Surplus was born there.
　
This error did not exist in the Soma clan at this time.