 The Royal Navy, generally supportive of Satsuma and Chōshū, maintained a fleet lying at anchor in Osaka harbour, a factor of uncertainty which lead to the shogunate to maintain the garrison at Osaka with a significant part of its army in reserve rather than commit them to the offensive in Kyōto.This foreign naval presence was related to the protection orders for the foreign settlements at Hyōgo (modern Kobe), and the very recent opening of the ports of Hyōgo and Ōsaka by decree to foreign trade three weeks earlier on 1 January 1868.Tokugawa Yoshinobu was in bed with a severe chill, and could not participate directly in the operations.